When you think of high performance trucks, a full-size Ford dually powered by a diesel engine even one that's turbo charged-probably does not leap to mind. But TTS Power Systems of Compton, California, is out to change your mind. With their new module and exhaust pipe, TTS can not only turn your big Ford into a tow vehicle extraordinaire, but they can actually make your dually really fly on the top end. And the best part is that the Ford will still be smog legal because the upgrades are CARE certified.

According to Jim Cole, owner of The Turbo Shop, there are two things wrong with the Ford turbo diesel in its stock configuration: the computer program, and the restrictive shape of the exhaust pipe as it exits the turbo. In the old days, when you wanted to make your truck stronger, you "hopped up" the engine; you know, carbs, intake, exhaust and such. Now, thanks to the miracle of electronics, what used to take hours of machine work and hundreds if not thousands of dollars to accomplish, you can now do in minutes with the installation of a high performance module or "chip." The module is the brain of the computer, where all the programming is stored. Without a program to instruct it how and when to handle the thousands of functions needed to make a modern truck run properly, a computer is just a collection of electronic parts. And with the ever-changing government guidelines, it is becoming more and more difficult to make modern trucks run well at all, let alone properly.

There are different schools of thought about the best way to improve the programs found inside today's truck computers. Some chip manufacturers feel that the best way to improve on the original is to change just a few sites or "addresses" in the program, and leave the rest of the stock settings intact. However, TTS feels that it is better to take total control of the program, arguing that by making only a few modifications to certain parts of the program, the truck could actually end up running worse. When making their modifications, TTS takes into consideration all the variables that the trucks will actually be working under. They also take into consideration how the factory designed the engine to run.

When making modifications to the exhaust system, TTS examines the operation of the turbo in relation to the exhaust pipe. Instead of a typical round exhaust tube, the one found in stock Fords is almost flat in places. In a turbo system, the exhaust gases coming out of the engine are routed through the turbo unit, and it is the force of this exhaust that spins or "spools up" the turbo. It only makes sense that with a round, less restrictive tube the exhaust would travel more quickly and spin the blades of the turbo faster. So TTS developed a new three-inch tube that is not only round but is also mandrel bent so it does not have the sharp bends that the stock unit has. Sharp bends create turbulence and slow the exhaust flow, which adversely affects the speed of the turbo.

The new TTS pipe has a drastic affect on the performance of the Ford. Simply adding the pipe increases boost pressure by one psi, reduces the operating exhaust temperature by 50 to 100 degrees, and increases fuel efficiency by up to a mile per gallon.

The TTS module simply plugs in. With that the unit is reinstalled and ready to go.

	Installing the new pipe is a little more involved. The easiest way to remove the stock unit is to cut it out with a sawzall. Make two cuts: one on the top side about four inches back from the turbo, and one below at the bend. as always, be careful not the cut the wrong thing.
	A hole is drilled for the pyrometer at the junction to the turbocharger.
	A little trimming is necessary to ge the new pipe in place. Take the top half of the pipe and install it loosely in the turbo, using a pen to mark the spot where it hits the body seam. This seam will have to be shaped to fit. Ise the saw again to make relife cuts and then bend the seam against the body.
	The last step is to install the pyrometer.
	TTS recommends cutting a section out of the rubber in front of the air intake to increase air flow to the engine.
	TTS also produces a very nice looking console for mounting additional gauges. Here, exhaust temperature, tranny temperature, and boost gauge have been installed. The unit is made of material that matches the stock colors and has cutouts for switches.