09/29/2026
Realized I haven't posted for quite a while... Been slowly working on Meredith Fox Curless' "new to us" daily driver for the last few months.
When we bought it, there was a nasty drivability issue that would happen once in a while and it was low on fuel pressure. Along with that, the air inlet / throttle body / aftermarket air filter-box assembly was all mix matched in sizes and angles... Horrible for airflow.
So we got to work, replaced the fuel pump by installing a 535 pump along with our fuel sending unit modifications. Then we ripped the stock throttle body and adapter off of the blower and replaced it with a Katech 103mm throttle body bolted directly to the blower. Then we made a simple 4" inlet pipe, we welded fittings onto the bottom side to allow us to still use the factory snap lock pcv fittings for valve cover breathers. It will be black powder coated to match the blower at a later date.
We also added a SCIAP sensor to aid in drivability as well. I couldn't just hack it onto the blower so I modified the Whipple vacuum port adapter to accept a quick release swivel 90° fitting.
Then we were off to Baker Engineering LLC. to tickle the keys and see what our changes yielded. Can't thank the crew out there enough for their hard work and constant pursuit of horsepower!
The results are seriously incredible, she made 585-590 on 93 octane before we started.... Today we put down 660 rwhp on 93 octane and 675 with a 93-E mixture (42.5% ethanol content). We would have gone full monty with E85 but the injectors said NO.... That's a 70-75 horsepower gain with little more than a large throttle body and better piping!!!! To say we are happy with these results is an understatement!!!
If you see a blonde running down the road in this truck and you get the idea of seeing if she'll run you, make damn sure you are not bringing a knife to a gun fight!!!
