Automakers have gotten good at making efficient, powerful engines that get excellent gas mileage and produce low emissions. But there are still dozens of aftermarket companies happy to help your truck make even more power. Depending on the extent of your need for speed, you can do something major, like add a supercharger, or do something simple, like swap in a cold-air intake. Here are some of the newest performance upgrades on the market.
| Pick Your FocusComp Cams' Tri-Power Xtreme kits allow you to optimize your truck for torque, horsepower, or fuel economy, depending on what you need. Each kit includes a Tri-Power Xtreme camshaft and a FAST-Flash Power Programmer, designed to work together. Kits are available for most Chevy and GMC trucks, with Ford 4.6-liter and Dodge Hemi versions coming soon. Comp Cams, 800/999-0853.www.compcams.com
| Unichip Plug N' PlayUnichip offers fully programmable engine-management systems for most truck and SUV applications. The Plug N' Play computer is said to increase power and torque in the 2006 Nissan Titan by 25 horsepower and 26 pound-feet, and in the 2006 Toyota Tacoma by 27 horses and 31 pound-feet. Unichips work with a vehicle's standard ECU and are compatible with OBD1 and OBD2 vehicles. The company provides dyno numbers and vehicle applications on its Web site. Unichip, 866/UNI-CHIP.www.unichip.us
| Force AirThe ROUSHcharger, a Roots-type supercharger, will push more air into your 2004-2006 Ford F-150's 5.4-liter, three-valve V-8. More air means more power--112 extra horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque, to be precise. The kit is 50-state legal and is backed by a three-year/36,000-mile drivetrain warranty. An intercooled version is good for a 145-horse gain. Roush Performance Products, 800/59-ROUSH.www.roushperf.com
| Induction JunctionAFE's Super Stock Induction System for the 5.4-liter 2004-2005 F-150 adds eight horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque while retaining the factory airbox and cold-air supply. It replaces the restrictive OE paper filter element with a high-performance washable/reusable air filter and eliminates the constricting factory air tubes with a contoured, high-flow tube that features a second cold-air inlet. Advanced Flow Engineering, 951/493-7100.www.afefilters.com
| Give It Some SpaceTrans-Dapt's Torque-Curve multiport fuel-injection spacer increases the volume of air available for combustion and is dyno proven to provide gains in torque and fuel economy. The 50-state-legal spacer is available for V-10 1999-2004 F-250/350s and Excursions. Trans-Dapt Performance Products, 562/921-0404.www.tdperformance.com
| Get WiredHotWires are said to provide a seven- to 15-percent improvement in fuel economy for V-8 pickups and SUVs as well as gains of approximately four to seven rear-wheel horsepower. These ignition wires allow energy from the coil to accumulate in a built-in capacitor until the voltage at the spark-plug electrodes reaches the ionization point. The power of the stored spark is then discharged at once, creating a spark that's 300 times more powerful. Nology Engineering, 800/NOLOGY-1.www.nology.com
| Dam ItIn independent dyno testing, Airaid's Cool Air Dam Intake System for 2007 Chevy Tahoes and Yukons with the AFM 5.3-liter V-8 generated an additional 22 horsepower and 28 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels. The system uses a 1600-cfm Airaid Premium SynthaFlow filter, which is isolated from engine heat by a computer-designed cool-air dam. It also fits 2007 Cadillac Escalades with the new 6.2-liter V-8. Airaid Filter Company, 800/498-6951.www.airaid.com
| Flow BetterGranatelli Motor Sports' high-performance mass airflow sensor for 2004-2006 Fords with 4.6-liter engines generates 47 percent more air than the stock MAF, good for 17 more ponies at the rear wheels. It's compatible with cold-air induction systems, features a 90-day limited warranty, and won't void your factory warranty. Granatelli Motor Sports, 805/486-6644.
| Second BrainJET has two new performance modules for Dodge trucks and SUVs with V-6 and V-8 engines. Each provides performance gains of up to 25 horsepower while increasing torque and improving overall throttle response. The plug-in module installs between the factory computer and wiring harness for inline tuning of ignition advance, air/fuel ratio, and other parameters. JET Performance Products, 714/848-5515.www.jetchip.com
| Get Blown AwayVortech's supercharging system is said to increase horsepower in 2004-2005 F-150s (with the 5.4-liter V-8) by 43 percent, plus you'll pick up 30 percent more torque. It comes with a V-2 SQ S-Trim gear-driven centrifugal supercharger, an integrated air-to-water charge cooler, high-flow fuel injectors, and a Diablo-Sport handheld programmer. Vortech Engineering, 805/247-0226. www.vortechsuperchargers.com
| Slip and SlideNot only is lubrication essential for your engine, it also can enhance performance. Independent tests have shown horsepower increases of 1.7 to 2.9 percent with a switch to Royal Purple high-performance synthetic motor oil. This fluid also can improve fuel economy by as much as five percent. Royal Purple Ltd., 281/354-8600.www.royalpurple.com
| Suck It InAEM's Brute Force intake for the Hemi-powered Dodge Durango provides dyno-tested gains of 14.8 horsepower and 15.6 pound-feet of torque. The system includes AEM's reusable Dryflow synthetic filter, which never needs oiling, as well as a steel powdercoated heat shield. Advanced Engine Management, 310/484-2322.www.aempower.com
| Get StackedVararam's Velocity Stack is said to provide an extra four to 13 horsepower and six to 13 pound-feet of torque on 1996-2005 full-size Chevy and GMC trucks equipped with 4.8-liter and larger engines. According to the company, the Velocity Stack eliminates the need for a ported throttle body by smoothing and reshaping the throttle entrance, increasing the incoming air's velocity at any rpm. Vararam Industries, 713/477-8100.
| Switch SticksLunati offers three Voodoo hydraulic roller cam grinds for LS1 engines for about a 20- to 25-horsepower increase. These bumpsticks provide better throttle response, quicker acceleration, and more vacuum. Asymmetrical lobe designs with slower closing ramp speeds set the valve down easy, reducing engine noise, valvetrain harmonics, and premature valvetrain failure. Lunati, 901/365-0950.www.voodoocams.com
| Hum FasterMagnuson is finishing development on a supercharger for the Hummer H3, Chevy Colorado, and GMC Canyon. The complete Magna Charger system is said to provide power gains off idle while maintaining reliability and driveability. There will be intercooled and nonintercooled versions; expect power increases of 30 to 40 percent at the wheels. Magnuson Products, 805/642-8833.
| Slick SlugsIf the engine in your Suburban, Tahoe, SS, or Escalade needs some TLC, Mahle's Vortec PowerPak can help give it a new lease on life. The high-performance piston assembly kit includes forged low-expansion aluminum-alloy pistons coated with a phosphate dry-film lubricant and Mahle's Grafal anti-friction skirt coating that reduces drag and cylinder wear. Each kit also includes round wire locks, high-quality steel pins, and Mahle's low-drag ultraflat rings. Mahle Motorsport, 888/255-1942.www.mahlemotorsports.com
| Quick TuningEdge Products' cab-mounted Evolution programmer for the 2004-2006 F-150 offers three levels of increased performance for up to 35 additional horsepower and 50 extra pound-feet of torque. It also works as a scan tool and displays up to four engine functions at a time. It compensates for oversize tires and aftermarket gear ratios. Edge Products, 888/360-EDGE.www.edgeproducts.com
| A Better Tune-UpSometimes the road to better performance and better fuel economy is improved efficiency. ACCEL's Truck Super Tune-Up kits include 8mm custom-fit Extreme 9000 double-silicone spark-plug wires with low-resistance Ferro-Spiral cores, U-Groove copper-core spark plugs, and a quality distributor cap and rotors. There are applications for most trucks. ACCEL, 216/688-8300.www.accel-ignition.com
| Horsepower-Freeing FanFlex-a-lite's Black Magic X-Treme electric fan replaces the stock belt-driven fan, providing bolt-on horsepower, improved gas mileage, cooler A/C output, and extended life for the water pump. The 16-inch shrouded S-blade electric fan moves 3300cfm of air, draws only 18 amps, and dissipates over 50-percent-more heat than other electric fans its size. Flex-a-lite, 800/851-1510.www.flex-a-lite.com
| Race ReadyVolant's intake system for 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT10s offers up to a 36-horsepower gain. It includes an insulating filter box; sculpted, low-restriction air ducts; a cleanable, reusable high-grade filter; silicone hose connectors; and a new polished-aluminum lid. The intake is intended for "off-road" use only; if you do run it on the street, Volant highly recommends using a pre-filter in extremely wet weather. Volant Performance, 909/476-7225.www.volantperformance.com
| Commanding PresenceK&N's 77 Series High-Flow Performance Kit fits the 4.7-liter 2006 Jeep Commander and 2004-2006 Grand Cherokee and is said to increase power by 7.96 ponies in the Commander. It comes with a polished-aluminum finish. K&N Engineering, 800/858-3333.www.knfilters.com
| Flash DanceSuperchips' Flashpaq for 2005-2006 4.2-, 4.6-, or 5.4-liter F-150s and 5.4-liter F-250s offers different levels of performance. Its Performance mode provides 14 to 27 more horsepower, 15 to 33 pound-feet more torque, and increased fuel economy. Flashpaqs read diagnostic trouble codes, and the latest calibrations are available at www.flashpaq.com. Superchips, 407/585-7000.www.superchips.com
| Power + SavingsHypertech's Power Programmer for 2006 Cadillac Escalades, GMC Yukon Denalis, and Silverado SS trucks equipped with the 6.0-liter H.O. Vortec V-8 is good for gains up to 20 horsepower and 18 pound-feet of torque; some owners have reported increased fuel economy. Its Dual Fuel tuning calibrations deliver virtually the same power increases with regular gas as they do with premium, so you can save money at the pump. Hypertech, 901/382-8888.www.hypertech.com
| Breathe DeeplyS&B Filters' intake kit for the 2006 Nissan Titan 5.6-liter V-8 features an eight-layer filter for greater airflow and increased performance. It includes a roto-molded air box with a clear lid so you can inspect the filter, a single-piece, cross-linked, roto-molded intake tube, and a billet aluminum, CNC-machined MAF-sensor adapter plate. S&B Filters, 800/358-2639.www.sbfilters.com
| Screw It OnFord Racing Performance Parts and Whipple Industries codeveloped a screw-type supercharger swap kit for 1999-2004 Lightnings and 2002-2004 Harley-Davidson edition pickups. The swap from the factory Roots-type blower to the screw-style unit produces a 20-percent power increase. No engine-management programming changes are necessary. Ford Racing Performance Parts, 586/468-1356.www.fordracingparts.com
| We've Got IgnitionMSD's 6LS Ignition Control for LS1 and LS2 engines improves performance and is particularly important if you've added a supercharger or nitrous. Installed in conjunction with the company's EFI harness, the controller allows you to run one of MSD's preprogrammed timing curves or use the company's software with a laptop to custom-tune the truck. You can even program a launch rev limit, set a step retard, or plot a boost-timing map. MSD Ignition, 915/857-5200.www.msdignition.com
