banks V10 power pack
 

After reading about the merits of the Banks System I had one installed on my 03. The exhaust note is terrible. It sounds like my grandfathers 300 I-6 (which is a great engine) and so far the mileage according to the dash has dropped from 13.6 to 13.1. I have put my foot in it a couple of times and it does seem to have more punch once the truck is underway. From a stop light it almost feels more sluggish. Some of the taller overpasses in the area which used to kick it out of overdrive can now be taken in overdrive. But with it sounding like a Nissan instead of Ford's biggest I'd have to say the kit was a complete waste of money.

Actually, the truck had sufficient power until I drove the competitions large V8. Ford got out of the large gas engine business when they dropped the 7.5. I've tried to give the V10 a honest chance in this truck and my last and the truth is in real world driving, the 7.5 would out work it all day long and you didn't have to worry about flutter, piston slap or spark plug blowout.

I've always been Ford man and have no plans to change, I just wish they would put half as much effort and interest into their gas engines as they do the diesel.

banks V10 power pack
 

You might give the system a couple of weeks and see if the ECM will adjust to the new free-flowing exhaust. I noticed that my truck seemed to run a little lean at first then it finally started to "richen" the fuel mix to compensate for the added flow.

As for the exhaust note, it too will change over time. But, if you are/were looking for a big-block V8 sound, you'll NEVER get it out of the V10. Might try doing some searches here and dig up some sound clips from other mufflers and see if you like their note better. Regardless, it sounds like the performance is there- even if you don't like the sound.

banks V10 power pack
 

Did you install the Banks "Ottomind" along with the Power Pak? This might have an effect on the engine performance. This is what other Banks owners tell me.

banks V10 power pack
 

13.1 MPG! http://mrrottndog.smugmug.com/photos...6276-Thumb.gif
I can only dream about that kind of gas mileage! :(

banks V10 power pack
 

yes I got the Otto-mind and the Trans Command shift module. It has great power at 2,500 rpm and up, but around 1900-2200 (which is where it is during most of my driving) it is worse than stock. I've been driving with OD off to get the rpms up and the truck seems happier. I typically drive 100-150 miles per day which is mostly highway and the indicator vary's between 13.4 to 13.6 mpg. Yesterday I had to do slightly more in town driving and it dropped to 12.5 but after driving home and then back to work this morning it is sitting on 13.2.

banks V10 power pack
 

In the last two weeks I've installed, or had installed; Banks Stinger, <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/"><a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Superchip</a>s</a> Micro tuner (thanks Ken) and ATR rotors and pads (thanks Dean) thanks to a great bonus from the Boeing Company and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Throttle response, acceleration and overall performance is greatly improved. The sound is OK, not like that of my old '68 Dart GTS, but still OK. Gas milage? Don't need no stinkin' gas milage!

Tick

banks V10 power pack
 

Sorry you're not happy. I'll buy your banks kit off of you when you dump that POS V10....LOL.

Seriously, I've owned the 454/turbo 400, 460/C6 and 460/5speed and now the V10 and I can honestly say that the V10 is far and away the best between these 3. The stock '85 <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>and '87 454 were very close until I put the Edelbrock cam, manifold, timing gear set, Thorley headers on the 460. Only then did the mighty <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>wake up. Stock for stock the V10 would kill the 460's of old. All these combos have been tested with the same loads up and down Baker Grade between Vegas and LA.

On a couple of the major complaints I've seen here on the V10 were with the 3.73 gears. I do have the 4.30's and am very happy. Just an observation.

My best and only highway MPG check was from Vegas to LA at a mind numbing 70-75 MPH, I was right at 14 MPG. Overall I'm around 11MPG.

Considering I've got nearly 25 pounds more torque, 80 more horsepower, 3-4 MPG better fuel economy and a way smoother powerplant over the last 460's I'd say Ford did a heck of a job.

Now if they'd give us those 3 valve heads so we can go after the 8.1, I'd be ecstatic!!

banks V10 power pack
 

Jakebrake may be on to something. I never liked the chips offered by Banks so I didn't have one on my V10 w/Powerpack. I'd pull the Ottomind and see if performance changes any. I will also note that my truck liked premium (93 octane) fuel- especially after the powerpack install.

banks V10 power pack
 

I have a "quasai-PowerPack" in that I have the Banks headers with a Gibson cat-back. I just got my reprogrammed <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Diablo</a> installed and it is quite noticable! My <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Diablo</a> chip had to be pulled since the dealer reflashed my PCM right after I installed the headers. I was pleased with the headers even without the chip, but with the new chip, all I can say is WOW!!!

I have a manual transmission, so the improvement that I feel is not being generated by modifying shift points in a slush box. I can tell that there are more ponies coming out of the engine now.


Best regards,

Jeff

banks V10 power pack
 

As you can see in my signature I have a Banks Power Pack on a V10, and 460.The V10 has a <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Diablo</a> chip and the <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>has an MSD ignition and the timing bumped to the high factory setting.

I like the <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>very much!
However,the V10 will flat whip it's a$$ everywhere,and the 02 SD even weighs quite a bit more than the 96,460.

If you want V8 sound you'll have to buy a V8.IMO,you'll be hard pressed to find a system that sounds better than the Banks on the V10.

If you want to hear a pathetic sounding V10 find a Dodge to listen to.

banks V10 power pack
 

to be honest I do like the V10. My 03 V10 is much smoother and quieter than my 2000. It does seem to have more power in the higher rpms than the stock 460. I too had a Banks Power Pack installed on the 97 to get rid of that dead spot that the later 460's had in the power band. But for stop and go driving the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">460 </a>with a 4.10 rear end seemed to have a little more get up and go than the V10 with a 3.73. There in lies my mistake. I should have gone with 4.30 gears and the second mistake was using the Banks system to make up the difference. It does have much better power once you are underway, yes, even more than the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">460 </a>with the Banks and 4.10 rear end. But for some reason it seems to struggle in the 1500 to 2000 rpm range. This could be the Ottomind. I am going to disconnect it and see what happens.

Also, I did fill up with premium fuel as opposed to the regular grade I typically use and I could definately tell it seems to have a preference for the higher octane with the Banks kit installed. I guess the computer also has to acclimate to the new system. Should I have the ecm reflashed?

If Ford doesn't come out with a large V8 again, then I will not have a V8. I like the stock sound of the V10 over the enhanced sound. It is sort of like Teddy Roosevelt once said - "speak softly and carry a big stick."

banks V10 power pack
 

I regret choosing the 3.73. It's not the gear of choice, especially for towing.

What do you guys mean when you say your Powerpack likes premium fuel? Banks feels that premium fuel is unecessary, and designs their systems without the need for it. I don't believe your computer makes any adjustment for premium fuel. IMHO, it's unecessary.

P.S., If your going to chip your Powerpacked V10 with anything but a Banks chip, a generic burn or the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Microtuner</a></a> is not going to give you best power. It will also run lean. As explained to me over at another Ford site, "not lean enough to melt pistons, but too lean for best power". 'Al' at <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Superchip</a></a>s</a> told me the same thing. A custom program will give you the correct #'s.

Take Care
D Buck
(formerly 3992824)

banks V10 power pack
 

P.S., If your going to chip your Powerpacked V10 with anything but a Banks chip, a generic burn or the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Microtuner</a></a> is not going to give you best power. It will also run lean. As explained to me "not lean enough to melt pistons, but too lean for best power".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I purchased a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a> Delta two program chip at this web site and it was custom burned with the Banks Power Pack taken into account.One program is for 91 octane and the other is for 93 octane.
I personally don't think the Ottomind option is worth the $$$ they get for it.IMO,a custom burned <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a> will accomplish more.

banks V10 power pack
 

4x4x4x4, How log have you been running the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a>, and what does your tailpipe look like. Are you confident with the program? What info did you provide when you ordered the chip?

Thanks
D Buck
(formerely 3992824)

banks V10 power pack
 

LOL- I wonder if Mike T. was/is basing his information off of the information I gave him. Right after I installed the Powerpack on my (former) truck, I called him up to see about a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Superchip</a>- sorry Ken. He said he hadn't done one before, so he thought I should try the standard program. When I told him that my pipe was already turning white (indicates lean condition), he then said we should go with a custom program.

As an FYI, I didn't buy the chip. One of the important things I wanted was speedo correction and they couldn't do it for my V10's ECU code.

Anyway, it was a month or so later that the pipe started to "darken" again. Which, to me, indicates that the ECU was learning to richen the fuel mix on it's own. Because of this, I think it may be possible to run the standard chip program. However, I would definitely keep an eye on things to make sure the truck doesn't start running too lean.


On the issue of premium fuel...
Don't know what to say other than the truck towed noticeably better, ran stronger empty and even got slightly better MPG on premium fuel. Is there a knock sensor on the V10?

banks V10 power pack
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Btravelen
[B]4x4x4x4, How log have you been running the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a></a>,

More than 7 mos.

and what does your tailpipe look like.

Chrome on the outside and dark soot on the inside. Not black enough to discolor the painted surface of the body panel near the exhaust.

Are you confident with the program? Extremely!

What info did you provide when you ordered the chip?
The computer code #(EGB3)and the Power Pack info.

A few thoughts....
If you run a Power Pack with the factory computer program I wouldn't worry too much about a lean condition.As NoMo stated earlier,the computer,( based largely on O2 sensor input)will adjust the fuel mixture to compensate for the engine's new found breathing abilities.My truck took a few hours to feel stronger after installing the Banks kit.This was before the chip was purchased and installed.
From what I understand a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">performance chip</a> runs a bit leaner in most situations compared to the stock computer program on an otherwise unmodified engine.

I see you have posted in the computer forum.Ken has a wealth of info.If you decide to go with a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a> chip mention the V10 ,open loop,WOT upgrade.Basically it means more fuel and a bit more hp. at full throttle.


Thanks

Anytime
:-X22

banks V10 power pack
 

After 3,500 miles of normal driving I have found the solution to my complaint about the Banks System. I put the factory muffler and tailpipe back on while retaining the Ottomind chip, transcommand, headers and K&N filter. I am pleased to say that doing that made the torque and horsepower return to the lower rpms and although the exhaust note does not sound totally stock, it is much much better, especially while travelling at highway speed. Also, the fuel economy improved to better than what it was before the Power Pack. The dash readout - (I just use it for a benchmark) was 13.4 before the Power Pack, 12.5 after the Power Pack, 13.7 with the Power Pack, stock exhaust and no Ottomind chip and 14.2 with the Power Pack, stock exhaust and Ottomind chip.

I tried it without the Ottomind when I changed back to the stock muffler and found that it performed better with Ottomind. It seemed to have more fuel delivery under hard throttle.

As far as power goes, in low rpms it has everybit as much as it did before the changes and going back to the stock muffler and tailpipe did not seem to take any of the gains made from the headers and chip.

But I think in the future, I'll live with what the factory did, just get go with the 4.30 gears as opposed to the 3.73.

banks V10 power pack
 

Paul

banks V10 power pack
 

Paul, do you have a spacer between your TB and you intake? I think if you added your exhaust back on and did this mod your torque and power would move down in the rpms

banks V10 power pack
 

I'll check for the spacer. Is it a Ford part? If non is present, do you have a part brand or number so that I can try it? Thanks for the info.

banks V10 power pack
 

mrrottndog---I have 35's on mine and I get bad gas milage- im scared to ask, but what do you get?

Banks Powerpack for FORD 6.8L V-10
 

I have a Motor Home on a Ford F-450 super duty frame it is a 1999, there is a Banks powerpack with a ford logo on it. I changed the Banks air filter and installed a new one, when I went to drive it its seem I have lost power when trying to drive it. It feels like it's not getting any air intake. when I do get enough speed it seems to drive ok, but when you come to s stop and take off again it has no power and you start driving about 15 miles an hour. This did not happen before I replaced the air filter, it drove fine had no issues, but only after I had changed the air filter. can anyone help me? My owners manual does not go into detail all it does is show you how to replace and install a air filter. Thank you

Can you put the old filter back in and see if the problem goes away? Maybe there's something wrong with the new filter

well the old filter has been gone, because it was dirty, it had to be replaced needed to much cleaning. so I bought a new one. Never had an issue with the old one that was in it. all I did was replaced the Air Filter and I have the right one too. I was going to take it to the Ford Dealership since it was installed on these vehicles, but it's the holidays and they are closed and I'm trading this in for a 2007 sun voyager 37 foot A class, funny it too has a V-10 engine and a Banks Powerpack system. So I can't trade it in when it is not even running right

Is the filter an oiled filter? If it is, you might need to clean the MAF sensor.

ok stupid question, the MAF sensor is where located? I'm new at this. My manual only shows how to install filter I have nothing else, plus could not find any manuals online, this model was installed in 1999, all I found was new models that had all kinds of crap with it, lol Thank you for helping me

The MAF sensor is a sensor with wiring at the base of the air cleaner housing situated right below and next to the air filter itself, toward the engine from the air cleaner. The electrical connector could have come unplugged.

I have seen people install an air filter with the plastic cover still on it. Make sure there is no obstruction such as this in any of the air inlet piping. The filter should be bare naked when installed into the housing. And make sure all the vacuum hoses are reconnected correctly when the air cleaner housing is reinstalled.

Ok I have found it, cleaned the MAF sensor, that did not work, I then replaced the MAF sensor, and still doing the same thing. All I did was changed the air filter to a new one, and now still not working right While driving it after I installed the new air filter I had no power to take small hills. Little neighborhood hills were slowing me to 10 mph. This motor home did not come with any computer to hook up to see what codes are effecting it. Nor to even hook anything to it. Like I was saying it was running great until I replaced the filter. My only next step is to take it to the Ford dealer. Unless someone else has a better ideal to trouble soot this?

Maker sure the air cleaner housing is put back together correctly and securely sealed and all the vacuum hoses that run to it are connected correctly.
If it was right before you messed with it then wrong after you messed with it, fix whatever you broke.
Or it could be just coincidental that a different problem just happened to pop up at this time.
If nothing is visually apparent to be broken or out of place scan it for codes or you are just guessing at the problem.

Thank you I just bought a code reader to see whats going on, my last resort is the Ford dealership might as well open up my wallet, lol

ok the code reader talked to the motorhome and it says one detection code PO358. I just had a complete 100,000 mile tune up to include replacing all 10 spark plugs last month, I think the code means one of the plugs are bad?

That code means the #8 coil is not firing.
Either bad coil, or bad wiring somewhere between the PCM and the harness to the coil.