driveaford

Hi all. Long time reader, first time poster. I am wondering your thoughts of performance mods for a 2003 5.4L V8 Screw 4x4. I am interested in adding headers, new exhaust, cold air intake, performance chip, and other mods. I am interested in hearing what you have done and what worked for you. I would like the modifications to work together, creating the optimal performance for HP and torque. I am willing to spend roughly $1,500 - $2,000 on parts. I will be doing most of the labor. I live in Michigan, so I do not believe that the emission standards are as strict as Cali, but I have not looked too far into that. I want the truck to remain street legal. The previous owner only made one modification to the stock truck, and that is 22 inch rims and with the rims the truck has the inserts to properly level it. Due to this the truck has roughly a 2-3 inch lift. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

jollyroger331

I've done E-fan,SCT Livewire, and K&N fipk intake on my 02 5.4 screw. Headers are in the plans then custom tunes for my sct. She runs pretty darn good for 165,000 miles and tows like a beast, for which I've also added a heavy duty trans cooler. I'm also in S.E. MI. Are you the red truck with the big wheels on the F.B. Page?

Z7What

My opinion is that with $2000 to spend I would.

*EFans with a GREAT controller. I had FAL Monsters on my 03 and had to replace the control 7 times yes 7 times. The new FAL controler has been on there for years and haven't heard from the current owner about issues with it. This mod doesn't make power, it frees up power by reducing rotating mass the engine has to turn.

*Tuner, SCT custom tune. The shifting improvements are worth it alone. The power is a added bonus. I'd suggest upgrading you belt also cause With the firmer shifts it's known to cause the belt to squeak with shifting. A Goodyear Gatorbaxk belt fixes this issue.

*Exhaust, although there isn't much power to be had with exhaust it gives you more sound to make you think it's got more power. Headers IMHO isnt worth it in N/A form. I ran from my cats to a dual 2.5" to single 3.5" into a Aeroturbine 3535XL muffler out the side like a Lightning with a 4" MBRP tip. Sounded awesome if you ask me. Have a BNIB 3535XL if interested.

Intake, well the stock intake does well and is a true cold air intake. If changing I would find one with a enclosed filter housing to prevent hot engine air being introduced to the engine.

Tranny Cooler, helps when towing and helps prolong the life if the tranny. Many guys install 7.3L PSD coolers.

As for the other money do some PMs. Change fuel filter, plugs, clean MAF, clean TB, change PCV valve, check air pressure in the tires, and spare, change oil and filter, change tranny fluid and filter, change diffs oils(don't forget the friction modifier)

If there's any money after that upgrade your headlights and fill her up and enjoy.

Wayne

Lon3Wo1f

Intake: Gott's mod is by far the cheapest and has proven dyno gains. I did mine for <$10 with some spare ABS tubing I had around (coupler was most expensive part). Use the savings of doing Gott's on another upgrade.

Here's the thread to the dyno gains: http://www.f150online.com/forums/200...ts-2009-a.html

driveaford

Thanks all for the replys. Since I have had the truck, I have done a few general maintenance things, such as oil, filter, new u-joints on rear drive shaft, new brakes and rotors, new brake line to front brakes, cleaned the MAF sensor (the check engine light was on and this fixed it), and monroe sensatrac shocks all the way around. I appreciate all the feedback. It sounds like an Efan and controller, maybe a gotts mod, a turner to start. Thank you all again for the ideas and opinions.

P.S. jollyroger331 I am not the red truck, mine is silver.

jollyroger331

If you find yourself having to replace the other from brake line, I would suggest braided stainless. I got the set from 4wheelparts for $53 and it made a noticeable difference in braking.

Luckyse7ens

That mustve been a sale price or something, because I have not seen it there less than $75 lately.

jollyroger331

I got and installed them last spring, but that price was not on sale. I guess they could have gone up since then. Even at $75 it's not bad for the improvement in performance and they will probably outlast the truck.

Micahdogg

I recently did OBX longtubes with dual 2.5's into a single 3 inch mandrel bent Magnaflow rear section. It's fully mandrel bent with no cat. I was pleasantly surprised at how much power it picked up. It was probably between 15-20 RWHP which is more than I thought it would gain.


I modified the merge point at the y-pipe though because the OBX system was dual 2.5 into single 2.5. I couldn't live with that choke-point so I cut the y-pipe and massaged a 3 inch outlet. IT flows well.