Ford Performance Tune for 2018+ GT

[Dfeeds]

I've been following most of this thread and am still having trouble figuring out a consensus. For someone who has absolutely 0 interest in voiding their warranty (just had a $5k transmission rebuild courtesy of Ford) is this package worth it? Given my recent major repair at Ford, I couldn't imagine having to foot that bill myself because they blame a tune from Lund or something.

My car just hasn't been reliable enough in its short ownership for me to justify throwing caution to the wind. However, I still would like to wring out whatever power I can.

There's no consensus because it's subjective. We're all happy with it but if it's worth the price point is debatable.

Sponsored

 

[Cobrakit]

It's not perfect, but i'm happy. Yes we can debate price. A custom/dyno tune on pump gas may make more peak horsepower by 10 to 20, but at 6500rpm. Not sure about the rest of you, but unless you drag race, this isn't that useful for a daily driver. Also, i believe that Ford messed with a lot of things beside fuel/timing. I have yet to get on it, but noticed immediately more power/responsiveness. I do have an a10, so that probably makes a difference. I would bet that this tune is as good if not better than the Roush kit based on prior experience.

Again, for all those that worry about voiding warranty, you can always removed kit and reflash ecm. I can say that unless i blew up the engine, the service writer at my dealer would probably not give me a hard time. I did get cats replace with ford supercharger kit and i installed myself. So its not as black and white as some would make you think!

 

[Rpinaiii]

I paid $1,008 for the kit. So I looked up some parts. JLT Cold air intake $350 need a tune, another brand or better one will have higher cost, 87mm throttle body $215, adapter $95 = $660. A tune cost is ~$500 or higher. So $1160. I dont see a problem with the costs. Of course people can argue after market parts and tune are better for performance, IDK. But for me getting all this at one time is simple. Let me know of I am wrong on prices. Later down the road, I'll probably go after market tune headers, etc. But for now this works for me.

 

[Dfeeds]

It's not perfect, but i'm happy. Yes we can debate price. A custom/dyno tune on pump gas may make more peak horsepower by 10 to 20, but at 6500rpm. Not sure about the rest of you, but unless you drag race, this isn't that useful for a daily driver. Also, i believe that Ford messed with a lot of things beside fuel/timing. I have yet to get on it, but noticed immediately more power/responsiveness. I do have an a10, so that probably makes a difference. I would bet that this tune is as good if not better than the Roush kit based on prior experience.

Again, for all those that worry about voiding warranty, you can always removed kit and reflash ecm. I can say that unless i blew up the engine, the service writer at my dealer would probably not give me a hard time. I did get cats replace with ford supercharger kit and i installed myself. So its not as black and white as some would make you think!

Because the engine uses VCT/VVT/VTECH YO the cam timing can be adjusted to suit many needs. The stock tune most likely runs the cam timing a bit retarded for safety and for those who absolutely insist on using 87 octane. This lowers the compression ratio and effectively kills the low end. Peak power actually benefits from retarded cam timing. So the top end won't feel very different but the "throttle response" will feel very laggy. Requiring 91+ only means the tune can have a lot more cam advancement to increase the compression ratio and produce more force. It's also why the e85 crowd notices such a large benefit in the low and mid range. To reiterate what's been said several times, peak power is only a part of the picture.

Once upon a time a user had to make a choice. Big lopey cam for nice top end power but absolutely dogged low end (69 boss 429, I'm lookin at you), or a nice amount of seat of your pants in exchange for a power band that falls on its face (the pushrod 5.0 with the e7 heads).

 

[AZ18yote]

Because the engine uses VCT/VVT/VTECH YO the cam timing can be adjusted to suit many needs. The stock tune most likely runs the cam timing a bit retarded for safety and for those who absolutely insist on using 87 octane. This lowers the compression ratio and effectively kills the low end. Peak power actually benefits from retarded cam timing. So the top end won't feel very different but the "throttle response" will feel very laggy. Requiring 91+ only means the tune can have a lot more cam advancement to increase the compression ratio and produce more force. It's also why the e85 crowd notices such a large benefit in the low and mid range. To reiterate what's been said several times, peak power is only a part of the picture.

Once upon a time a user had to make a choice. Big lopey cam for nice top end power but absolutely dogged low end (69 boss 429, I'm lookin at you), or a nice amount of seat of your pants in exchange for a power band that falls on its face (the pushrod 5.0 with the e7 heads).

To be fair though people who purchase a GT wouldn't actually run 87 right? I mean unless they let their mother borrow the car and she thought she'd do them a favor by filling it up?

 

[Dfeeds]

To be fair though people who purchase a GT wouldn't actually run 87 right? I mean unless they let their mother borrow the car and she thought she'd do them a favor by filling it up?

Go look through the 87 vs 91+ threads. Plenty of people do and many bought this because they can run 87. Then there's a slew of repeated, paragraph long comments stating something something "only lose 5 hp you won't feel that in the real world," or "you won't notice the power loss down low where most of us spend our time" which is exactly where you'd notice it but, alas.

 

[Bowlerguy92]

I paid $1,008 for the kit. So I looked up some parts. JLT Cold air intake $350 need a tune, another brand or better one will have higher cost, 87mm throttle body $215, adapter $95 = $660. A tune cost is ~$500 or higher. So $1160. I dont see a problem with the costs. Of course people can argue after market parts and tune are better for performance, IDK. But for me getting all this at one time is simple. Let me know of I am wrong on prices. Later down the road, I'll probably go after market tune headers, etc. But for now this works for me.

Nice analysis. I think I'll probably pick this kit up as a "one and done" type of deal and just put engine mods to bed and enjoy the car for what it is which is already a stupid fast machine. I think a wing and a Roush axleback will be the finishing touches for me.

For the record, I'm one of those that primarily runs 87 just for the every day economy. If I was going to go race I'd throw 93 in it. With this kit I'll obviously swap to 93 but in general driving, I haven't noticed a difference. I wonder how much this tune would take advantage of 100 octane race fuel.

 

[lb18]

Great discussion going here. Anyone with the manual transmission running 91 octane have this installed yet? Trying to decide between this or a Lund Flex/E85 tune. Unfortunately the E85 I tested near me is only 67% so not sure how much it will benefit me vs. this power pack.

 

[AZ18yote]

Great discussion going here. Anyone with the manual transmission running 91 octane have this installed yet? Trying to decide between this or a Lund Flex/E85 tune. Unfortunately the E85 I tested near me is only 67% so not sure how much it will benefit me vs. this power pack.

A flex tune on e67 will still beat the pants off 91. In AZ our flex fuel is e54 for the most part (there are like 2 stations with real e85) but even then I loathe the times I occasionally have to fill up with 91. There is no comparison.

 

[bigmac5166]

Enjoying reading the different experiences with this kit so far. I have a base GT without any options other than wheels and the spare tire, no drive modes or anything. I'm keeping my expectations in check, but I am excited to see what this does to my base 6speed. Ordered on Friday, not sure how long it will take as I'm sure there was a decent order influx after the initial release. Also fingers crossed mine arrives with the air inlet!

 

[Rpinaiii]

I have a manual transmission and only run the highest premium gas which is 93 around here. I think it's 93. Even before the kit install. So I couldnt tell you if there was a difference with lower and higher octane gas with the kit. BUT I will say that I feel a difference in 2nd gear doing a pull at only 40 mph. It moves. Feel it in the seat. Before install, I would start the pull at 55 to 60 mph and RPM up around 6,000. Now at 40 mph at 3,500 RPMs its pulling way better at that point. I am still learning the change though.

I want to try e85 one day. But I would need that flex tune I believe, is that correct?

 

[gismo4]

I have a manual transmission and only run the highest premium gas which is 93 around here. I think it's 93. Even before the kit install. So I couldnt tell you if there was a difference with lower and higher octane gas with the kit. BUT I will say that I feel a difference in 2nd gear doing a pull at only 40 mph. It moves. Feel it in the seat. Before install, I would start the pull at 55 to 60 mph and RPM up around 6,000. Now at 40 mph at 3,500 RPMs its pulling way better at that point. I am still learning the change though.

I want to try e85 one day. But I would need that flex tune I believe, is that correct?

Nice. I'm hoping for similar results. 2nd gear pull is sluggish until you get up to around 5k rpms. This car is nice if you go all out from a dig, but for daily driving, you really need to downshift to get up to speed. ~40lbs of tq at 2k rpms is very appealing. I hope to see more positive reviews from the 6 speed crowd.

I assume normal daily acceleration from a stop is a bit better at getting up to speed as well?

 

[qtrmiler2]

Before and after quarter mile results please,thanks

 

[AZ18yote]

I want to try e85 one day. But I would need that flex tune I believe, is that correct?

Flex or straight e85 tune. Will be an enjoyable night and day difference.

 

[Rpinaiii]

^^I need to look into that. Want to try it. I'll search to see cost and what is all involved.

Sponsored