As auto manufacturers fight to provide smaller, more efficient engines to meet government guidelines, they have introduced forced induction to provide extra power when needed. The 2017-2020 Ford F150 and Raptor trucks are a perfect example of this effort, with twin turbochargers on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines. The 3.5-liter can make anywhere from 395 to 450 horsepower, depending on the variant. Edelbrock saw room for improvement and introduced Twin-Force Turbocharger Kits to ensure you have enough pulling power.
The Ford 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost comes in two flavors — a standard 395 HP and a high-output (HO) 450 HP unit. Though the earlier iterations of the 3.5-liter had a couple of problems, the 2017-2020 versions were widely regarded as stout engines. They can even be described as peppy for a truck weighing between 4,000 to 5,600 pounds — that is, until you start towing something of significance. While not anemic, the 3.5L could use extra oomph when trying to pass with a load on board. This is where Edelbrock saw a need for its Twin-Force Power Packages.
Forced Induction Introduction
We spoke with Edelbrock Forced Induction Product Manager David Page to get the scoop on Edelbrock’s first foray into the turbo market and the specifics of the three Twin-Force stages for F150 and Raptor trucks. Page was excited to see Edelbrock expanding its forced induction lineup with something outside the norm for which the company is typically known.
“Everyone thinks of Edelbrock for hot rods and racing applications,” Page says. But we are actually in the problem-solving business — it just usually involves hot rods and racing. The Ford F150 and Raptors are very popular trucks, but we saw a need to give them a little help.
“During the pandemic, people were buying campers and trailers, loading up their families, and hitting the road for vacations. They quickly realized that more power and torque would be extremely beneficial, especially in the mountains. The challenge was not only finding a solution to the problem but one that was economical and easy enough to adopt, and we wanted it to be 50-state legal.”
Cost versus reward was a significant consideration to the success of the project. A supercharger would have required removing the turbo system and intake at the least, not to mention re-tuning the engine. Knowing that it would be too costly (and too much work for the average person) to develop a supercharger on the V6, Edelbrock sought to improve upon what was already there. Edelbrock engineers collaborated with the experts at Garrett Motion for their first turbocharger offering.
The Twin-Force Turbos
Garrett has been the leader in turbo technology for more than 65 years. It made sense for Edelbrock to work with them on the all-new design of the Twin-Force turbochargers for the 3.5-liter EcoBoost trucks. These new direct bolt-in turbos incorporate the latest turbocharger technology, offering a 54% increase in airflow over the factory turbos.
A 60mm billet compressor wheel greatly improves compressor efficiency and flow. The 50mm Inconel turbine wheel and larger .45 A/R stainless steel turbine housing result in a 52% increase in turbine flow. The 2.75″ compressor inlets are 38% larger than the factory turbos complementing Edelbrock’s high-flow turbo inlet piping. When combined with Edelbrock’s larger Intercooler, air inlet tubes, and high-flow air filter, these turbochargers offer huge increases in power potential for this application.
Built In Twin-Force Stages
As mentioned before, realizing everyone’s needs and budgets differ, Edelbrock set out to give consumers economical options regarding the Twin-Force kits. Therefore, they made the Twin-Force Turbocharger kits available in three upgradeable stages. With each Stage, you can expect excellent increases in performance with tremendous low-end RPM torque for towing or hauling, whether you have the HO or non-HO engine. Surprisingly, the non-Ho engine had slightly more significant gains over the HO version in testing.
The Twin-Force Power Packages offer anywhere from 100 to 164 RWHP increase to suit your individual performance or budgetary needs. That is up to as much as a 52-percent gain in horsepower over the factory configuration! All Twin-Force Power Packages are 50-state legal if used with the Edelbrock calibration. Additionally, you get a 3-year, 36,000-mile limited powertrain warranty as long as you use the Edelbrock calibration.
Each package is a relatively easy bolt-on installation with no fabrication or engine modifications required. For those who start with Stage 1 and want to upgrade for more power later, easy-to-install upgrade kits can transform a Stage 1 Power Package into a Stage 2 or 3 Turbo System. Let’s look at each Stage first and then move to the upgrade kits.
Stage 1 (PN# 158331) Price: $2,276.87
The Twin-Force Stage 1 Power Package is the first of three levels to enhance these popular trucks’ torque and horsepower output while maintaining 50-state-legal status. Stage 1 optimizes towing and overall performance using a larger capacity intercooler, high-flow turbo inlet piping, a high-flow air filter, and a Stage 1 calibration and tuner. Engineered for easy installation and an OEM-quality fit and finish, the Stage 1 Power Package does NOT include the Garrett turbochargers.
Stage 1 offers a 100 to 117 RWHP increase over the stock configuration. This package gives a good bump in towing performance and can be installed in just a few hours. When you want more power and torque, it can easily be upgraded to a Stage 2 or Stage 3 Turbo System.
Stage 2 (PN# 158330, 158332) Price: $5,458.87 w/no tuner, $6,192.87 w/tuner
The Twin-Force Stage 2 Turbo System offers the next level of performance. It includes all Stage 1 Power Package components plus a pair of 60mm turbos incorporating the latest technology from Garrett. If you know your way around an engine bay, it can be installed in a day, but we suggest taking your time and doing it over a weekend.
The Stage 2 Turbo System PN#158332 includes a tuner with the Stage 2 calibration and offers a 130 to 142 RWHP gain over stock. PN# 158330 Stage 2 kit does NOT include a tuner, allowing the installer to use an existing tuner to flash the appropriate calibration into multiple vehicles.
Stage 3 (PN# 158333) Price: $6,782.87
The Twin-Force Stage 3 Turbo System builds even further off the Stage 2 Turbo System by adding an electronic booster for the fuel pump to enhance fuel delivery, a Stage 3 calibration, and a tuner, unlocking up to 164 RWHP gain over stock.
Upgrade Kits, Stage 1-2 (PN# 158337) Price $4307.87, Stage 2-3 (PN# 158338) Price: $835.87
If you start with either Stage 1 or 2 and decide you need more, upgrade kits are available to increase horsepower later. The Stage 1-2 Turbo System Upgrade Kit (PN# 158337) will upgrade your Stage 1 Power Package to the Stage 2 Turbo System. The Stage 2-3 Turbo System Upgrade Kit (PN# 158338) will fully complete your system with the Stage 3 electronic fuel pump booster and matching calibration unlocking the max potential of your truck.
Conclusion
The engineers racked up thousands of test miles on the new Twin-Force system while awaiting emissions results. As most of these vehicles will likely be driven daily, testing them in real-world applications was imperative to prove the hardware and ensure the calibrations met engineering standards. The test mules were put through their paces in every imaginable scenario, including towing on the “Baker grade,” a grueling 19-mile climb on Interstate 15 from Baker, California, at 960 feet above sea level to 4,130 feet at Halloran Summit Road.
Upgrading to the Twin-Force packages will require upgrading the fuel to 91 octane, but the performance enhancement is worth it. “We are really excited about getting up to 52% gains with our Twin-Force Turbocharger kits,” Page says. “We met or exceeded all of our goals, including the 50-state-legal classification with our calibrations.”
Suppose your 3.5-liter EcoBoost powered 2017 to 2020 Ford F150 or Raptor could use some help in the power department. In that case, the Edelbrock Twin-Force Turbocharger kits are an easy bolt-on installation offering an OEM-quality fit and finish. You will be happy with the upgrade in horsepower and torque no matter what Stage you choose.
