I've been able to put a few miles on both trucks now and will share my thoughts, but first here is the original thread I started which has all the details during the process: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-upgrades.html

I will say the F350...with the KC S300 turbine and Riffraff 4+4 billet wheel and bellowed up-pipes...did loose some bottom end. The truck was always quick to get moving from a standstill. I will attribute this to a couple things...the original 130k mile up-pipes had absolutely no leaks and the compressor wheel looked new and had absolutely no fin damage given the turbo also only has 130k miles. This turbo was making power about 1,400+- rpm's when the go pedal was on the wood. Now with the new wheels that is bumped up to about 1,600+- rpm's, but boy when it gets a tad over 2,000 rpm's it's game on. I attribute this due to the heavier turbine wheel and could probably get the same scenario as with the original setup lighting up a little earlier, by running a billet version of the stock 9+0 compressor wheel. You can hear more air being moved going through the down pipe...even my daughter noticed and asked...and I thought it was a leak. I didn't put my foot into it good until yesterday and once it gets spooled up you hear the compressor wheel whine...it's not over bearing at all and only happens after you hear the rush of air being moved through the down pipe. I rolled the back window down so I could hear the exhaust and it does sound a little different...especially if you let off the go pedal after getting into it a bit. I will put some miles on it and play with the tunes a little...I have the tow tune in it now...before needing to hook up to my trailer with the Kubota tractor to take it back down to south Texas. I will then also check mileage both ways to see where it shakes out. Then I will be installing the AIS for another shake down.

The Excursion got it's power back, which was probably due to leaky up-pipes and the turbo needed to be rebuilt...it would just lay down in the upper rpm range. This turbo did get the 360* rebuild kit, but I put it on my truck and took the 130k turbo off my truck and put it on this truck along with a Riffraff 4+4 compressor wheel. I may install the KC s300 turbine wheel when it's time to rebuild, but that may be awhile given we don't put alot of miles on them...especially now that we've got the Ford Edge Limited to zoot around in. I'm hoping to get some mpg back as I noticed it fell off from 20-21 down to 17-18 when the power was falling off. I am also hopeful to have found the oil consumption it's had for as far back as I remember given I found a leak on the back seal of the turbo and it would blow quite a bit of black smoke when you were into the throttle hard. I'll be monitoring both, but I've already noticed the exhaust is cleaned up to where it should be with just a tad of smoke when into the throttle. Yesterday I was also able to take some spirited drives with it and noticed the same with my truck, in that the compressor wheel creates a little bit of whistle once it gets spooled good over 2,000 rpm's, which will be good for the wife and road trips. The whistle is a little less noticeable than my truck, but that could be due to the Excursion having more sound deadening insulation on the firewall. I still need to see where it's lighting up in the rpm range...which I may can do today...and expect it to be a little lower in the rpm range than my truck since it still has the stock turbine wheel.

Overall I'm happy with my choices for both trucks given we use them for different scenarios...the Excursion is the wife's grocery getter and what we take road trips in, while my F350 is what gets hooked up to a trailer when need be. Both trucks are on stock injectors and hopefully will be for awhile given they got shimmed, along with the solenoid spacers drilled to help get that oil out. I strive to concentrate on modifications to these trucks for their individual intended uses which focuses on longevity, mpg, and maybe a little more getty-up-n-go. I did do quite a few other things for these reasons as seen in the other thread aforementioned...

 

on the truck, what kind of boost do you see from 1600-2000?

 

Assuming you're taIking about the F350. I need to hook up a boost gauge...I did do the AIH mod so it'll be somewhat easy. I also did the 7-turn mod...8 turns on the F350...

 

Yep the F350.

 

So on the truck with the KC turbine, you haven’t tried anything besides a tow tube yet correct?
I assume your comparisons taking that aspect into consideration? I tow tune to tow tune?

I also wonder if maybe you’ll see less of a low rpm “loss” while using a more aggressive type of tune. Like maybe there is a more significant difference in a conservative toe tune but the gap is relatively small in a high HP tow or a daily driver type of tune.

This is a really good breakdown of your experience with the modifications. I need to remember to link this thread on the “link post” (post #5 I think) of the turbo matrix thread. I would also love to get your information to add into the overall matrix.

 

Both trucks run the same tow tune by the same manufacture. Until now, what I've done to one truck, I typically do to the other whether it needs it or not. I am hoping a hotter tune...plan on trying both the 80 and 120...helps both trucks. Two things which make them different is lighter 2wd Excursion with 33" tires versus heavier 4wd F350 CC long box with close to 35" tires. Thank you for the compliment and let me know if you need anything more for the natrix...

 

Thanks for the update. I also have yet another turbo thread running around. I just did our taxes and for the first year since I was a single contractor I owe a bit. So my turbo upgrade may be put off awhile as I have no shaft play and no real need. Unless someone is absolutely blown away by one, lol.

 

But are your up-pipes leaking? Neither one of these turbos had any significant play either, just a little side to side with no in and out. Both turbos were equal on the amount of play, with the F350 turbo at 130k miles and the Excursion at just shy of 260k miles. What I did find once I was in the turbo that came off the Excursion is the back seal was, and had been leaking for some time. Rebuilding the turbos wasn't too bad on the pocket book, it's all the other stuff that adds up...bellowed up-pipes, EBPV delete, high flow exhaust outlet, AIH delete, new CAC boots and clamps, plenum inserts, injector shim kit, glow plugs, UVCH, CCV o-rings, HPO lines etc. Since this was for both trucks, this was one reason I decided not to spend more money on the additional KC s300 turbine. When it comes time to rebuild that turbo, I may opt to install it at that time.

 

Unfortunately I’m an idiot and when I replaced the up pipes, I pulled the turbo and did a new exhaust housing and pedestal but did Not rebuild the turbo… real dumb

 

Look at the bright side, now you're familiar with the process and hopefully you rubbed the v-band clamps with some gray anti-seize to make it easier the next go-round...

 

A link to your thread has been added to the Turbo Matrix post #5. See here. Turbo Matrix Links


I'll gather what I can about your rigs based on your signature and then send a PM about the remaining items for your turbo matrix entries.
Be thinking about the few sentence summary you would like to submit for each truck. There's some examples on the submission form.
To get it to fit within the matrix it has to be just cliff notes of the high points. That's why I also like to have links to these threads with the full details.

 

Yes, I'll get to it in a day or two. Can this information be updated as I haven't hooked up to a trailer, checked mpg, run on hotter tune, etc. yet?

 

No hurry.

Sure. I can go back and change anything you want. It just takes me a little bit to do it sometimes because I don't get on the laptop often. So have to carve out a little time to do updates, but no big deal.
You could also wait and submit all at once after towing and getting some mpg info.

But I would highly recommend just jotting out your initial impressions so they don't fade in your mind (like they do in mine). You have a lot of details within this thread that's already recorded which is great. But I would write down a quick summary of the "now" and then update/modify later after towing. I tend to think I'll remember but then don't. At least I'm starting to come to grips with it and do some preemptive things to avoid.

 

I have been able to get some more seat time in the trucks with the hotter programs installed. I changed the oil in the F350 yesterday and looked for leaks one last time with nothing to be found. Both trucks have very clean exhausts when the go pedal is on the wood. What I really like about the Riffraff 4+4 compressor wheel is it's quiet during normal to moderate driving, but when you put and keep your foot into it you can hear that slight whistle/whine above 2.2k, which is just right IMHO, as I don't want to hear it all the time...especially in the Excursion. The 120 tune in the F350 did move the turbo spool time down about 150-200 rpms which works well with the low stall torque convertor. I have an extra set of the 2004 18" wheels and 275/70/18 (33") tires I will get ready for the F350 when I tow heavy, so I can change out the same wheels with 295/70/18 (35") tires on it now. It will be fine with the 35" tires from what I'm seeing running down the road...and may get better mpg...but better with the 33" tires in a stop and go situation...

 

I took the F350 down to south Texas over the weekend for a little road trip basically empty...minus the kayak, weed eater, aluminum patio table set, etc. in the bed...and can definitely see a little increase in mpg. I can tell it's going to tow the 8k lbs. tractor/trailer easier when I hook up to it in a couple months to take it back down there. I'll leave the 35" tires on it for comparison, but move the hot tune down to the middle tune. The smaller tires will add some more mpg and be quieter, though I like being able to run a little...5-6 mph...faster at the same 1,800 rpm sweet spot. I can really here the increased air flow in the down pipe going up the over passes with the cruise set, so without the hum of the tires that'll be interesting...may be a good excuse to get that new stereo head unit...