5.0L F-150 getting Ford Performance Calibration Tune

[andy18_00]

Saw this article

https://fordauthority.com/2025/03/5...0-pickups-to-get-performance-calibration/amp/

Recently, Ford Truck Enthusiasts uncovered this new offering via the California Air Resources Board (CARB) website, where they discovered a listing for a Ford V8 Power Pack Calibration. Taking a closer look, it seems as if 2021-2024 Ford F-150 pickups with the Coyote V8 are among that list under CARB E.O. D-431-11 and – specifically – the part numbers of M-9603-F50 for 2021-2023 F-150 pickups, and M-9603-F50A for the refreshed 2024 model.

Though the details of this future performance calibration for V8-powered Ford F-150 pickups haven’t been released as of yet, we can assume that it’ll look a lot like the existing tunes that Ford Performance already offers for a host of vehicles. That means the calibration will likely come pre-loaded on a ProCal4 programmer, which enables users to make adjustments for tire size and gear ratio to ensure the speedometer is functioning properly. As for power gains, we can look to a couple of existing F-150 calibrations for clues on that topic.

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[Hkak45]

This is great news! Hope they actually do come out with a Ford Performance 5.0L tune that keeps the factory warranty.

 

[Dakar09]

This is great news! Hope they actually do come out with a Ford Performance 5.0L tune that keeps the factory warranty.

Agreed! Retaining the warranty is key for me to do a tune. Anybody know what the EB tune cost through them? I assume they'd have to "install" it, too.

 

[Hkak45]

Agreed! Retaining the warranty is key for me to do a tune. Anybody know what the EB tune cost through them? I assume they'd have to "install" it, too.

If it's like the others you need an ASE certified tech to install it for warranty purposes. And generally will cost $600-$700 plus install.

 

[Larrymoe]

If it's like the others you need an ASE certified tech to install it for warranty purposes. And generally will cost $600-$700 plus install.

$700 for 50HP? Hard pass.

 

[Hkak45]

$700 for 50HP? Hard pass.

When I got it for my bronco I did it to retain the warranty, disable A.S.S, and have rev match. Biggest thing was to keep warranty. I do hope that when this releases other tuners can crack the code and make their own tunes from places like Livernoise and 5 star

 

[Larrymoe]

When I got it for my bronco I did it to retain the warranty, disable A.S.S, and have rev match. Biggest thing was to keep warranty. I do hope that when this releases other tuners can crack the code and make their own tunes from places like Livernoise and 5 star

Ya, I'm not paying $14/HP for anything. I'm good.

 

[Dakar09]

HP costs money. I wonder what the actual HP and torque increase will be, as that article only references the 3.5L tune. Having tuned European cars over recent years and building an older V8 for a classic, I can assure you HP costs money. And 50 hp (if that's what it is) is not something to scoff at.

 

[Hkak45]

HP costs money. I wonder what the actual HP and torque increase will be, as that article only references the 3.5L tune. Having tuned European cars over recent years and building an older V8 for a classic, I can assure you HP costs money. And 50 hp (if that's what it is) is not something to scoff at.

I have a bad feeling it will be less than 50HP if I had to guess. Harder to get HP gains off of just tune than it is with Ecoboost. I'm sure it will gain some HP but will moreso change shift patterns and points along with hopefully allowing ASS to be disabled and the ability to change gear and tire sizes.

 

[Larrymoe]

HP costs money. I wonder what the actual HP and torque increase will be, as that article only references the 3.5L tune. Having tuned European cars over recent years and building an older V8 for a classic, I can assure you HP costs money. And 50 hp (if that's what it is) is not something to scoff at.

As I've said in other threads, I don't get off on that stuff.

If it were cheap, maybe I'd consider it, but for that price, I'm good.

 

[Dakar09]

Than all due respect, Larry...you are likely not the target market for this product. NOTHING is inexpensive any more. Period. Is it "worth" the money? Depends on where you are in life and what your goals are with your truck. All comes down to personal preference. I wouldn't fault anyone for either buying one or passing it over. Pretty simple.

 

[Dakar09]

I have a bad feeling it will be less than 50HP if I had to guess. Harder to get HP gains off of just tune than it is with Ecoboost. I'm sure it will gain some HP but will moreso change shift patterns and points along with hopefully allowing ASS to be disabled and the ability to change gear and tire sizes.

I agree with you. It is way easier to get more power out of turbocharged engines with small tweaks. So the EB tune was probably a best case scenario for this type of product.

Then again, we are also speculating on price, too.

 

[ThumperF150]

You guys got me curious so I asked Grok if $14 per HP was a good deal or not. According to AI, seems like it is at least a fair deal.

"The cost to increase a car's horsepower (HP) can vary widely depending on the car, the method used, and the extent of the modification. There’s no universal “cost per horsepower” because it depends on factors like the starting point (e.g., a naturally aspirated engine vs. a turbocharged one), labor rates, parts quality, and whether you’re doing simple bolt-ons or a full engine rebuild. That said, I can break it down into some common scenarios to give you a rough idea.
For basic upgrades—think cold air intakes, exhaust systems, or ECU tuning—you’re looking at $50 to $200 per horsepower gained. These are popular with enthusiasts because they’re relatively affordable and don’t require major surgery on the car. For example, a $500 tune on a turbocharged car might net you 50-100 HP, landing you around $5-$10/HP at the low end. On a naturally aspirated car, a $300 cold air intake might only add 5-15 HP, pushing you closer to $20-$60/HP.
If you go deeper—say, adding a turbocharger or supercharger to a car that didn’t have one—you’re in the $3,000 to $8,000 range for parts and labor, often yielding 100-300 HP. That’s roughly $20-$80/HP, though it can climb if you need supporting mods like a stronger clutch or better cooling. High-end builds (e.g., forged internals, custom turbos) can spiral into $10,000-$20,000+ for 500-1,000 HP, averaging $20-$50/HP but with diminishing returns as you push the engine’s limits.
Labor’s a big variable. DIY saves money but requires skill; professional shops might charge $80-$150/hour, and complex jobs can take 10-50 hours. Parts pricing also fluctuates—OEM-grade stuff is pricier than aftermarket, and supply chain issues (still lingering in 2025) can jack up costs.
So, ballpark? $20-$50/HP is a reasonable average for moderate upgrades on a typical car. If you’ve got a specific car in mind (make, model, current HP), I can narrow it down further. What are you thinking about modding?"

 

[Hkak45]

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603-M8B


This makes me less hopeful for the actual power gains considering this also includes throttle body and CAI with the tune for very small gains.

 

[JExpedition07]

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603-M8B


This makes me less hopeful for the actual power gains considering this also includes throttle body and CAI with the tune for very small gains.

+42 LB FT of torque at 2,000 rpm is hardly a small gain in my world, that’s a healthy increase in grunt for a few hundred bucks. The F-150 also all ready comes with that larger 87 mm throttle body and intake snorkel they are selling with that old GT one, the mustang used a smaller 80 mm throttle body.

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