GPE HI-FLO Ported Throttle Body & Intake Manifold - Install & Review

[MWILD]

This is a follow-up to my previous post about the GPE HI-FLO ported Throttle body for 2.3/2.7/3.0 Ecoboost engines. I recently installed the GPE HI-FLO ported Intake Manifold and wanted to share my experience with the combo. I also created a video to share my thoughts and outline the installation process if anyone is interested.

Link to the combo on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256637688245



Specs for HI-FLO Throttle Body:

• Inlet is Ported to 69mm in a tapered style
• Front shaft is removed for a 4mm increase in the air flow path
• Outlet (behind blade) is mildly ported to avoid idle surging and/or the need for a custom tune
• Retains OEM electronics for reliability and a smooth plug and play installation
• Compatible with any aftermarket CAI or Spacer that fits a stock throttle body

Specs for HI-FLO Intake Manifold:

• Inlet behind the TB has been enlarged by 4.5mm, so it has a 4.5mm cross sectional area increase
• Port exits have the parting lines blended and are enlarged internally by 1-2mm depending on the port
• Retains OEM electronics for reliability and a smooth plug and play installation
• Custom tune not needed

Here are the advantages I've experienced after installing this combo:

• Better throttle response (Had to turn my throttle controller down a notch)
• Improved low end and mid range power
• Daily driving acceleration has improved.
• Dropped over a tenth off my 0-60 and 1/4 mile time (Dragy verified)

Before TB & Intake Best 0-60 Before TB & intake After TB & Intake installed

Overall, I'm happy with the purchase as I really had no idea if the gains would be worth it. IMO, this is a nice upgrade for those that have already done every bolt-on and not ready to drop big money on larger Turbos. I fit nicely into that camp

Also, I'm not the only one that has installed this combo. @Migo has mentioned in another thread that his experience was similar after the install.

I plan to go back to the dyno to see if I've gained anything, but that will also include the gains from the down-pipes and charge-pipes.

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[CatMonkey]

Nicely done. I can't get over how small that manifold is and looks like a pretty easy swap. I opted to get the manifold not knowing what the transition between the TB outlet and the manifoid inlet would be with only the TB enlarged. I don't see enough port work to think that there would be a lot of difference under boost, but a tenth is a tenth. On a heavy truck like this, it's probably a 10 hp improvement verified by using a drag strip performance calculator on your draggy times. Most of which is only going to be coming in on the top end. I'm not surprised there might be some improvement in drivability when not under boost. Going from 66mm to 69mm would be almost a 10% increase in effective throttle area. It's nothing to sneeze at. The pick up in power just through basic bolt-ons for this engine is pretty impressive.

My mods to date are the Mishimoto turbo pipes, intercooler and cold air intake, with SPD downpipes and GESI cats. I'm running it with a 170° thermostat that keeps engine temps in the 185° range with most driving. Exhaust gases come through a Borla Touring climber cat back, which is just loud enough at WOT to not be annoying. I'm running a Pro Cal tune and waiting on a Turbosmart BOV that shipped this morning. Once the BOV, manifold and TB are installed, I'm going with a ZFG tune. It should add a little more fun factor.

 

[CarmeloS]

Throttle Bodies for the 2.3??

 

[CatMonkey]

Throttle Bodies for the 2.3??

 

[CarmeloS]

Exactly, I might order one friday

 

[Ducati1098]

@MWILD

 

[swamp2]

Isn't a 1/10 sec gain pretty well in the noise? How much estimated power gain per dollar?

 

[mikec426]

Hits to mpg?

 

[CatMonkey]

Isn't a 1/10 sec gain pretty well in the noise? How much estimated power gain per dollar?

Maybe, maybe not. Gains could be higher too. It's hard to put a price on improved drivability, but it's also subjective.

I think OP's already picked all the low hanging fruit and aside from cranking up the boost with bigger turbos, I'm not sure what's left to bolt on this little engine. 12.7's is pretty damn impressive for a 5,000 lb brick from 165 cu. in. with a few bolt ons. I really doubt tweaking the tune is going to yield any further gains, but you don't know until you try. This mod uses a new intake manifold and a refurbished throttle body, so yes the price of those parts are going to inflate the cost, but I doubt most of us have the skill level to achieve anything other than a hack job with a porting tool. But that option might save some pennies. So, there is some cost for the convenience of not sending your parts in and waiting a few weeks while your rig is down for turn around and return shipping. Clink on some links if you need to know pricing and do a little math, but I doubt that was your objective anyway.

 

[MWILD]

Hits to mpg?

Nope, same MPGs

 

[MWILD]

Maybe, maybe not. Gains could be higher too. It's hard to put a price on improved drivability, but it's also subjective.

I think OP's already picked all the low hanging fruit and aside from cranking up the boost with bigger turbos, I'm not sure what's left to bolt on this little engine. 12.7's is pretty damn impressive for a 5,000 lb brick from 165 cu. in. with a few bolt ons. I really doubt tweaking the tune is going to yield any further gains, but you don't know until you try. This mod uses a new intake manifold and a refurbished throttle body, so yes the price of those parts are going to inflate the cost, but I doubt most of us have the skill level to achieve anything other than a hack job with a porting tool. But that option might save some pennies. So, there is some cost for the convenience of not sending your parts in and waiting a few weeks while your rig is down for turn around and return shipping. Clink on some links if you need to know pricing and do a little math, but I doubt that was your objective anyway.

You hit the nail on the head. I’ve run out of power mods, so this was the next logical step without going bigger turbskis.

If I had to guess the peak HP/TQ gained from this combo is in the realm of 10-15. Of course dyno results are done at WOT, but most of us are not WOT daily driving and that’s where most of the improvements are felt IMO. Daily driving is more enjoyable and acceleration is better. I will say, it takes a few days for the ECU to learn the combo, but definitely noticeable when it does.

 

[CarmeloS]

Any plans for a ported 2.3 manifold?

 

[Ducati1098]

Any plans for a ported 2.3 manifold?

That would probably be a lot harder to hand port considering the way its shaped.

 

[CarmeloS]

That would probably be a lot harder to hand port considering the way its shaped.

Gotcha. Not my area of expertise, so I wasn't sure. Thanks Duc

 

[RideClimbNJ]

You hit the nail on the head. I’ve run out of power mods, so this was the next logical step without going bigger turbskis.

If I had to guess the peak HP/TQ gained from this combo is in the realm of 10-15. Of course dyno results are done at WOT, but most of us are not WOT daily driving and that’s where most of the improvements are felt IMO. Daily driving is more enjoyable and acceleration is better. I will say, it takes a few days for the ECU to learn the combo, but definitely noticeable when it does.

Should this always be the last performance upgrade or would you get decent benefits if you started with this?

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