W.H.S.

The Tymar filter and intake will prevent dusting damage & improve air flow 100 % better than the OEM upgraded filter & intake box early models were retro fitted with. (for dust damage in the S.West U.S.A.) Yours probably came with the OEM upgrade from the factory. Go with a Tymar intake once problem is found & fixed. If it's still got the orange intake boot/hose (the elbow shaped intake hose) check it for cracks/leaks. That's what causes intake fin damage.

If it has exhaust fin damage--it's worn & needs rebuilding or replacement. Any up pipe leaks will effect performance--but it would take a big leak that you should hear as loud exhaust compared to his buddies truck to not boost or have very poor boost. The soot Csipsd mentioned is a good clue. It would be more than a small leak and easy to find to cause the symptoms you have. All 94.5-97 F-series PSD's with miles on them will have some degree of leakage at the manifold/pipe connection and still boost good as said. Once fully warm, they seal better. : ) It takes an obviously bad pipe etc that needs replacing to not boost or have very poor boost.

Since it's new to you--check 4 something simple. A sticky EBPV. It's the flapper inside turbo housing assembly that closes in cold weather for fast warm up. When closed exhaust tone is noticeably different and flow is 1/3 of normal at the tail pipe. Compared to normal open warm operation, it's easy to hear a closed EBPV.