F-150 3.5L EcoBoost Turbo Upgrade Guide: Bigger Turbos and Downpipes, Explained

Your 3.5L EcoBoost F-150 already runs two turbos from the factory. That's the actual configuration, not a marketing line: one small turbo per bank, standard since 2011. Upgrading them is a different job than the Stage 1 build covered elsewhere on this site (intake, tune, cat-back). Here you're swapping forced-induction hardware itself, and the price and complexity jump accordingly.

RideBuildList earns commissions from some retailer links, including the parts below.

Why upgrade the turbos at all

Stock turbos have a flow ceiling. Past a certain point, more boost from a tune doesn't make more power, it just spools the stock turbos harder until they run out of headroom. A turbo upgrade raises that ceiling. This is a Stage 2 or Stage 3 move, something you do after intake, exhaust and a tune are already sorted, not a first mod.

The turbos themselves

Three tiers show up in the active catalog for this engine: single-turbo replacements, matched twin-turbo kits, and full race-spec builds.

At the factory-backed end, {{part:TURBO-FORDPERF-BW-1316}} is the safest bet if keeping the factory relationship intact matters to you. It's a genuine Ford Performance part for 2013-2016 trucks. The catalog's sourced figure for it is explicit that the "up to 150 hp" claim only applies when it's paired with exhaust, intake, spark plugs, 93 octane fuel, and a custom tune, not from the turbos alone.

If you want to replace one side at a time, {{part:TURBO-KC-GPMS2-R-1720}} and {{part:TURBO-KC-GPMS2-L-1720}} are sold individually for 2017-2020 trucks. KC Turbos' own listing claims support for "up to 700+ BHP," explicitly asterisked to depend on the vehicle's modifications, calibration and fuel, not the turbo alone. No independent dyno backs that number.

Full twin-turbo kits step up fast. {{part:TURBO-GPM-S1-1116-TURBOS}} is Garrett's PowerMax Stage 1 matched pair for 2011-2016 trucks. On the high end, {{part:TURBO-CRP-S5-2425-NEW}} is CR Performance's Stage 5, an 8-blade turbine set the manufacturer says "supports over 560 RWHP on 93 octane" and "700+ RWHP on E85." That's an airflow-support ceiling from the manufacturer, not a measured before-and-after gain.

At the far end sits gear that isn't street equipment. {{part:TURBO-DAYLIGHT-1525}} and {{part:TURBO-TRUSTREET-1824}} are both explicitly labeled by their own sellers as off-road or race use only. Building for the strip or a dyno day is a different conversation than a daily driver.

None of the turbo gain figures in this catalog are independently tested. Every one is either the manufacturer's own claim or has no published number at all. Treat every hp figure above as a support ceiling the part is rated for, not a guarantee of what your truck will make.

Downpipes: the other half of the equation

A downpipe replaces the factory pipe, and in most cases the catalytic converters, between the turbos and the rest of the exhaust. On a turbo build, a restrictive downpipe backs up flow right where the turbos are trying to spool, so most turbo upgrades get paired with one.

This is also where the legal flags cluster. Every catted downpipe in the active catalog for this platform carries the same flag: not legal for sale or use in California. {{part:DP-CPE-35-1114-CAT-TRACK}} goes further. Its flag notes it actually omits the catalytic converter entirely despite the product name, and its seller marks it off-road and competition use only, not street legal anywhere with an emissions inspection. None of that is this site's call, it's what the sellers themselves publish. Emissions and street-legality rules vary by state and change over time. This isn't legal advice. Talk to an attorney or your state's inspection program before you buy if it matters to your build.

On coverage: {{part:DP-CVF-35-1114-CAT}} is the budget entry for early trucks, 2011-2014. {{part:DP-SW-2CB-1520-CAT}} covers both the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost for 2015-2020 trucks in one part. {{part:DP-SPD-35-2123-CAT}} is built for 2021-2023 trucks, and {{part:DP-SPD-35PB-2124-CAT}} is the version specific to the PowerBoost hybrid's 3.5L, which doesn't share exhaust routing with the standard 3.5L.

Almost none of these downpipes publish a real hp or tq figure. Most are marketed as tune-supporting parts. Their job is opening up flow so a tune has more room to work, not making power on their own.

Install difficulty is not the same for both parts

Turbos in this catalog run difficulty 5 across the board: shop builds, often 10-plus hours, professional tuning required afterward. Downpipes run difficulty 2, some listed around 1 to 2 hours. Budget for the turbo labor plus a tune, not just the parts. Nearly every turbo listing here carries a flag that the hardware needs custom tuning to run safely, and can affect a factory powertrain warranty depending on the parts and your state.

| Priority | Consider | Why | |---|---|---| | Keep factory warranty intact | Ford Performance kit | Only OEM-built option in this scope | | Replace one failed turbo | KC Turbos single-side pair | Sold individually | | Max headroom on E85 | CR Performance Stage 5 | Highest support ceiling on file | | Track or strip only | Daylight or TruStreet kits | Sellers mark these off-road/race use only |

What's actually worth it

Match the part to your intent instead of chasing the biggest number on the page. If keeping the truck's warranty position clean matters, the Ford Performance kit is the only option built by Ford's own performance division. If you're already running E85 and want real headroom, the CR Performance Stage 5 or a similar full twin kit is built for that. If you're not planning custom tuning or E85, none of the numbers in this guide apply to you, because every one of them assumes a supporting tune.

Pair whichever turbo path you pick with a downpipe rated for your exact years and engine. The 2.7L and 3.5L aren't always interchangeable, and the PowerBoost hybrid has its own part. Treat every catted downpipe's California flag as the floor of what to check, not the ceiling. Confirm your own state and county rules before you buy.

FAQ

Do I need a tune to run bigger turbos?

Every turbo upgrade in this catalog carries a flag stating custom tuning is required to run the hardware safely. None of the published gain figures assume a stock tune.

Are these downpipes legal in Texas?

Texas doesn't require the emissions testing that trips up California-market parts in most counties, but local rules can vary and change over time. This isn't legal advice. Check with your state's inspection program or an attorney before you buy if it matters to your build.

Is a single-side turbo replacement enough, or do I need the whole kit?

Depends on why you're replacing them. If one turbo failed and the other is fine, a single-side listing like the KC Turbos parts above covers that. If you're chasing more power across the board, the matched kits are built and rated as a pair, not as standalone parts, so mixing a new side with an old stock turbo isn't what these figures describe.