| 2003 Ford F350 burning Out
Who's the big dog on the street, you ask? Bully Dog, of course. Based out of Aberdeen, Idaho, this diesel specialist company has made leaps and bounds in the technology of diesel performance. You've seen the countless tech how-to articles on installation of various products, and we do them, too, but we thought that it would be good to take a real-life look at what it takes to install, drive, and generally tool around town with Bully Dog's new Triple Dog combo and Bully Dog's Rapid Flow induction system and custom exhaust.
| 2003 Ford F350 the Kit
Our vehicle of choice is no trailer queen. This bad boy is an honest, hard-working daily driver. Todd McNaughton of Canyon Lake, California, owns California Sun Landscape, and his truck is an '03 Ford F-350 powered by a 6.0L Power Stroke turbodiesel. If you have ever been around this part of California you know there are hills and mountains everywhere, which causes fuel economy to be virtually non-existent when driving a heavy truck like this one loaded down with equipment.
| "Power Stroke" pretty much says it all. This is a badass motor that is beggin' for more power.
With the help of expert fabricator and Ford specialist, Jeremy Hayter, of Corona, California, we will get the real story on life with a Bully Dog. Todd complained of the lack of power and performance from the turbodiesel, which added strain when he pulled his 14,000-pound utility trailer loaded with equipment. Equipped with a 38-gallon fuel tank, Todd estimated he was getting anywhere from 9-10 mpg. One of the daily routes he has to travel features a 10 percent grade, which is extremely steep. On this grade, pulling a 14,000-pound trailer, he manages a whopping 35 mph. One thing we need to mention is that Todd's truck is lifted with a 4-inch lift and rolls on 35-inch tires, which also adds to the strain.
| Bryan Rodgers of BBK has the tedious duty of not only operating the computer side of the dyno but the very important job of safely securing the truck during testing. Once it gets strapped down to the dyno, off we go!
The first stop on this buildup was to BBK Performance in Temecula, California. Performance guru Brian Rodgers decided to dyno the turbodiesel to see how it checked out. After securing the big red behemoth and plugging in all the necessities, Brian revved the Power Stroke to maximum performance. The numbers weren't bad, but we knew we could do better. Maximum power to the wheels was an average of 231 hp. After several runs, we knew that was probably the best we were going to get.
| Bryan dials in the big Ford at 231.12 hp at the wheels. This not bad for stock, but we knew we could do better.
Back at the shop, Jeremy jumped at the chance to help create the ultimate diesel street fighter. This application can be done at home if you have more than your wife's kitchen tool kit and possess some mechanical skills. There is drilling, cutting, and electrical wiring to be done, so if you're lacking in these departments, we recommend you visit a shop that installs this type of product, such as an authorized Bully Dog dealer.
Once the Triple Dog, the Rapid Flow induction system, and the custom exhaust were installed, it was time to go back to the dyno. Brian again tied the Blue Oval down and started the testing. We were wowed. The truck sounded awesome, and it had the numbers to prove it. It now made 340.39 hp, as measured by the dyno. That's an increase of more than 110 hp at the wheels. This daily driver was more than ready for the street. We went back and had Todd pull his 14,000-pound trailer up the grade once again, and this time he managed 45 mph, which is a 10 mph increase from stock.
Another improvement was in the fuel economy department. Prior to the buildup, we mentioned Todd was getting around 9-10 mpg on the freeway. After the install and about a week and a half later, he noticed that his mileage had increased to 10-11 mpg. The Bully Dog display module allows you to switch from Economy to Performance at a touch of the button. Now, normal, more economy-minded people may show better results than our test vehicle, since Todd kept his truck set on the Performance mode for 80 percent of the time we tested the vehicle. Also, stoplight-to-stoplight racing Camaros and the occasional import car didn't help his mileage reading either.
Either way, Bully Dog's Triple Dog, combined with the Rapid Flow induction system and custom exhaust, proved to be a winner on the street.
Special thanks go out to everyone at Bully Dog for their help and support.
| 2003 Ford F350 the Kit
The InstallHere's Bully Dog's Rapid Flow induction system as it comes out of the box. With a few handtools, you too can install one. The Triple Dog assembly is a little more complicated but can be installed by a mechanically inclined person. We recommend a Bully Dog dealer or your local friendly Ford dealership.
The Final WordTodd was so happy with his newfound power he asked us if we wanted to see him do a burnout. Of course, Sport Truck and burnout go together like beer and pretzels. So, we said, "Hell, yeah!" Who wouldn't want to see a big, red Ford diesel do a burnout? Todd proceeded to fry the 35-inch tires like he was sitting in a puddle of butter. Ah, the sweet smell of burning rubber. After the smoke cleared, Todd said, "I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks." We don't know if he was talking about himself or the truck. But, nonetheless, it was an impressive display of power.
