Hey guys - I'm new to the board, having just discovered it the other day. I have had the itch to do something with my 2000 F-350 4x4 V-10 since it was new. Just recently the itch has gotten quite strong. I am considering several items and thought I might get some direct feedback from those that have actually tried some of these products. Any thoughts on the following:

1) Banks Stinger System

2) Cyclone Power Fan (U.S. Gear) - claiming 40 HP to the rear wheels by powering the fan only when necessary

3) Poweraid - Trottle Body Spacer

I'm not pulling anything heavy, just looking for noticable improvement in performance and better sound.

 

Keep searching, you'll find lots of info already here but here's my take on your question...


>1) Banks Stinger System - Don't have one. Won't comment. It'll just make me want it more.

>2) Cyclone Power Fan (U.S. Gear) - claiming 40 HP to the
>rear wheels by powering the fan only when necessary

It's been discussed in this forum and also in the diesel forum.
The topic in the V10 forum here is titled "Ever heard or used one of these" by your truly. It's titled "Cyclone Power Fan" up in the diesel forum.

3) Poweraid - Trottle Body Spacer - Don't have one but think they are waste of money...I could see it's value sitting underneath a carburator or if the V10 had throttle body injection, maybe...But not behind our throttle body. I hear they just make noise...

 

I have the Banks Powerpack and love it. I put the Stinger on first and drove the truck for a couple of days till I had enough time to install the headers. I felt a difference in the top end of the truck. Passing and getting out on the interstate the truck seemed quicker on accleleration from third gear to OD, but nothing earth shattering. After putting the headers on I got the seat of the pants experience. The truck is more responsive and sounds cooool too. Problem is, is, it wants to run and the gas mileage suffers.

There are other intake and exhaust combos out there, Borla, Gibson, JBA that will do what the Banks system does at probably more reasonable prices. I just like the amount of time Banks has put into engineering their stuff, and their header flanges are 5/8" thick.

I have heard good and bad about the Poweraid spacer, but one common thing I have heard is that it takes some of the "slop" out of the throttle linkage and the throttle response is better. I don't think the bang is there for the buck.

I don't think messing with my fan/cooling system is worth it. I would chip my truck way before that. As for seat of the pants, yeah baby, kind of reactions, chips and exhaust seem to be the way guys are going with the Triton V-10 at this point. Plus chip companies are starting to make flip chips available for the V-10 which would be pretty sweet.

Hope this rambling has helped some. JPS

 

First, welcome to FTE!!

Monsta and JPS summed up the issue pretty well. I'd just like to add that V10man (another member here) also noted slight power gains with just a cat-back exhaust. He noted a more substantial gain when he installed the JBA headers. I, like JPS, opted for the Banks system- which I'm waiting impatiently to arrive!

 

Thanks guys, for the qquality responses. JPS: How did the Stinger system sound before you added the headers? Much difference than factory? I'll admit that I am after a good sound as much as the power increase. Also, does the Banks/K&N filter that comes with the Stinger system amount to the same thing as the K&N FIPK?

Has anyone experimented with altering the factoring air cartridge set up?

 

Yeah JPS, got any sound files of your truck?

The Banks filter isn't quite the same as a K&N FIPK. Banks just gives you a larger filter housing and element- you still use the factory tubing up to the throttle body.

 

>Thanks guys, for the qquality responses. JPS: How did the
>Stinger system sound before you added the headers? Much
>difference than factory? I'll admit that I am after a good
>sound as much as the power increase. Also, does the
>Banks/K&N filter that comes with the Stinger system amount
>to the same thing as the K&N FIPK?

Well the Stinger definately gave it a rumble- tha Banks muffler is a straight shot through. It was not as throaty as I was expecting, but not bad. It wasn't the V6 on steroids I had heard on some trucks.When I added the headers it was a whole different story. Those cast iron manifolds really soak up the sound. I really like the way it sounds now.
Like Nomo said, Banks just a little bigger.

> Has anyone experimented with altering the factoring air
>cartridge set up?


Yeah, I altered it right out of the truck.

Ok so now I have a question.... I would love to send a sound file, but I have no clue as how to do it. Please let me know and I will be happy if I can . JPS

 

Do you have a website somewhere that you can "post" the file?

If not, let me know and I can stick it up on our site and you can link to it where ever you want. Send me a pm and I'll give you my e-mail addy. I'd post it here, but someone has been scanning the boards harvesting addresses for spam.

 

Congrat's on the Banks purchase, NoMo. Where'd you pick it up from? It'll be a great addition.

The Banks filter comes with a new housing. The part in the back. The filter also has a cone on the front, similar to the one that comes on the stock paper filter. Why doesn't K/N do that?

 

Thanks. The PP is my early B-day present. I got it from www.outlawperformance.com for $1495- includes residential delivery. While I had heard that Banks had a price increase, I was shocked to see how much it had gone up. I called a couple of other places and they were $400-$500 higher. :-staun

Not sure why K&N doesn't put the cone on their filter. Although, I've heard of guys cutting the cone off of a paper filter and gluing it to the K&N.