ATVPT

All Terrain Vehicle Product Tests ATV Technical Magazine

Reasons for choosing Gale Banks Engineering:
 To replace the poor quality OEM Ford exhaust manifolds & broken stock exhaust studs.
 
I have been driving Fords most of my life, yes I know, it's my personal preference. In 2000, I purchased a used 1999 F-350 Ford Super Duty Lariat model with 45,000 miles. I was very disappointed at the weak shifting and the lack of power from my V-10 Triton motor. So like any normal Car/Truck Crazy guy, I started my hunt for a fix for this problem.
 
I meticulously searched through the various companies that offered aftermarket performance solutions for my truck, and came up with Gale Banks Engineering. This company has been around for many years, and offered many choices in different levels of performance to get me up and going.
I chose the Stinger System, coupled with the TransCommand (for firmer crisper shifts). The only thing missing from this package was the Torque Tubes, which we are basing this review on.
 
I was so impressed with this system that I wrote a letter to Gale Banks complimenting him on the quality of the system that I had purchased for my truck. This letter was published in Gales site 09-25-01 and is still posted. It can be seen at http://www.bankspower.com/BraggingRights_StingerStart.cfm  under the bragging rights section of the Banks Power Web Site.
 
The quality of the Stinger Kit is superb. While working on this article, we inspected the original Stinger Kit that I installed in 2001 and found it to be in perfect condition still. Let me tell you the last few years have not been easy ones for this truck. We have used this truck to haul & launch my 32" Marinette Dive Boat, trailer ATV's all over Michigan during the summer & blustery Michigan winters, and used as a daily commuter which adds up to the tune of 105,000 miles later.
 
To my dismay I discovered a major flaw with my truck during trouble shooting a code that my truck displayed. I found that the majority of my exhaust manifold studs were broken and had been for some time. I contacted Ford Motor Company to find answers to why the studs were broken, and if there was some kind of bulletin or recall out on this issue. Ford Motor Company Customer Service & Supervisors flatly told me there were no problems with my exhaust manifold studs. I guess they have their heads in the sand, because after doing a minimal amount of research I found that this was not an isolated incident. I also came across a bulletin from Ford Motor Company, that was letting the dealerships know about the same potential problem with the 5.4L 2V Engine.
 
In this bulletin, # TSB 05-5-4, it stated that you needed to replace the manifolds, studs with stainless steel studs, and new gaskets where they found broken studs. In my case the V-10 manifolds go for the tune of $1,100 a piece. The Ford Dealerships that I talked to, told me they had many cases involving V-10's with broken studs and also warped exhaust manifolds.
 
This brings us up to speed on how we were going to deal with this problem. I decided to approach this issue from both sides and offer two solutions to fix and repair the broken stud problem.

# 1 : Gale Banks Engineering gladly came on board to provide a solution, by installing the Banks Torque Tubes, which come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
 
# 2 : My Ford Dealership (Pauli Ford Mercury, St. Johns MI) offered to repair the existing broken manifold bolts, by replacing the broken studs with stainless steel studs and new exhaust gaskets.
 
During this review of the Gale Banks Engineering Torque Tubes we will try to effectively point out the differences between both fixes for the broken studs.
 
Note:
Torque Tubes were supplied by Gale Banks Engineering for this review.
 
All repair work and installation of the Gale Banks Torque Tubes was done by:
Pauli Ford Mercury
Service Advisors: Ron King / Robert Richards
Mechanic: Ronald L. Schafer
2380 S US #27 HWY.
St. Johns, MI 48879
Ph: 989-224-6711


Banks Power Torque Tube Exhaust Manifold

Features & Specifications:


Banks 100% stainless Torque Tubes are tuned-length, parallel 5-tube exhaust manifolds.

Banks integrates five tuned-length tubes into a design that allows rotational firing of the cylinders through the exhaust.

Banks' exclusive Power Pickle high-velocity pulse converter works to pull exhaust from your engine, liberating huge torque increases.

Constructed with .625"-thick flanges welded on both sides. Includes heat shielding.

Stock Ford Exhaust Manifold "Versus" the Gale Banks Engineering Torque Tube System
You be the judge for the best performing system?
Ford Dealership offers 1 year warranty "versus" Gale Banks limited Lifetime Warranty!

Stock Ford Exhaust Manifolds with EGR  or  Banks Torque Tubes with EGR


         

         



Stock Manifold with O2 Censors  or  Banks Torque Tubes with O2 Censors
                   


Stock Y Pipe from Manifolds to Cat  or  Banks Pipe from Torque Tubes to Cat


         

         



Stock Exhaust Manifolds  or  Banks Torque Tube System


         

         



Stock Cat Connection  or  Banks Pipe to Cat Connection

Banks Torque Tube System comes standard with metal guards & wrap, that shield your starter and other key components from the engine heat.
Starter Shield



Left Side Shield



Heat Shield Wrap

My Impressions:
 
Pros:
Banks Torque Tubes cost $1,271.05, plus labor to install "versus" the OEM Ford Exhaust Manifolds cost of $2,200($1,100 each), plus $853.40 in parts & labor to install.
Banks Torque Tubes are roughly half price compared to having to replace the OEM exhaust manifolds.
 
The Banks Torque Tubes are designed to flow the exhaust gas evenly, where the OEM exhaust manifolds are inefficient and ineffective.
 
The Banks Torque Tubes have a hardy 5/8" thick flange that will be very hard to warp versus the cast iron OEM exhaust manifold that is prone to warping.
 
The Banks exhaust studs (& Torque Tubes) have a limited lifetime warranty versus the stainless steel replacement studs that have a 1 year warranty.
 
The Banks head pipe with the 2 into 1 collector pipe eliminates the OEM horseshoe pipe, allowing better uninterrupted exhaust gas flow.
 
Cons:
None with Banks.
 
Bottom Line:
The first thing we noticed after installing the Banks Torque Tubes is the enriched sound coming from the Torque Tubes.
Power delivery if much smoother and feels like there is much more available then before. With the addition of the Banks Torque Tubes we now have a total package.
[We are now running the Bank Engineering PowerPack System which is made up of the Banks Ram-Air Intake, OttoMind Engine-Calibration Module, TorqueTubes Exhaust Manifolds, Dynaflow Muffler, and the Monster Exhaust. We also added the TransCommand for stiffer more crisper shifts.]
 
Time will tell if we get better gas mileage. During the year we will be checking to see how the truck pulls the trailer, and we will see how much more power we have gained with this set up.
 
I have no doubt that this system will last the lifetime of my truck.
 
 If you were to replace the OEM exhaust manifolds, gaskets, stainless steel studs and labor like the 5.4L bulletin requested, you would be looking at some major repair costs with a very short one year warranty from your Ford Dealership.
 
Go the Gale Banks route and you will save money, get a quality system, that includes a limited lifetime warranty. You gain power, your engine runs better, and with just this much info I think it is not a hard decision to make to which direction a person should take.
 
The bottom line is that I would highly recommend checking out Banks Engineering, if you feel the need for more power for your vehicle.
 
Note:
Our mechanic pointed out that the system was very high quality. He was impressed with the construction and appearance of the Torque Tube System.
He noted that he spent a little more time installing the system because of the high mileage of the truck. He figured a lower mileage truck would be much easier to work on.
So take his advice and install your Banks System as soon as possible. Don't wait like I did!

Choose Banks for your Ford V-10 Triton
                              

Contact Info:
 
Gale Banks Engineering
546 Duggan Avenue
Azusa, California 91702
USA
 
Direct Orders & Free Test Reports
800-601-8072
Fax:626-334-1743
 
Product Info & Sales:
800-438-7693
 
Customer Support:
888-839-5600
 
Installation Support:
888-839-2700

Web Site:

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