Update computer with hardware changes
Thread Starter
feather ruffler
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Update computer with hardware changes
We've made a couple changes to a 97 f150 and would like to make changes to reflect in the computer.
We've put in a more powerful engine, a different rear end, and larger tires.
Any home consumer diy options for doing this?
We've put in a more powerful engine, a different rear end, and larger tires.
Any home consumer diy options for doing this?
Last edited by Hexxus; Nov 26, 2017 at 03:40 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 129
Likes: 5
Moates quarterhorse is what I used in my mustang days with binary editor. Id recommend sct advantage and a handheld tuner for easier functionality. For a 97 Im pretty sure you change the speedo gear in the tailshaft of the trans. And depending on how much more power we are talking,aka bigger injectors, cams etc, it may be fine as is.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,544
Likes: 2,552
From: Alaska
If you put in any pre-2000 P71 4.6 into our pre-1999 GEN 10 trucks, you are losing HP. The truck 4.6 97-98 is rated 220 hp and the CV P71 is 215 hp. Later on, starting with 2000, trucks were 231 and the CV was 235. The 04 up CV were 250 hp and the 3V's were 245.
If you installed any CV engine, prior to 2000 model, your computer will compensate for the engine sensors and such. If your truck was a 97-98, you'd need to install the sensor in the crossover tube if you use a 1999 or newer CV engine.
The speedometer is NOT computer set in 97-98. It is analog and uses a color coded gear in the transmission tailshaft. 1999 and later all are digital and can be set by hand held units. On the rear end....did you change to a different gear or did you just swap a 9.75 in where an 8.8 was with the same ratio? If that is the case, there is only the transmission gear to change. If you did a ratio change, then you will need to go to the charts that give the correct speedogear to use.
Installing a police engine into our trucks is okay to use as a long block, but you have to change the intake to make the engine match everything up. The intakes are designed to give mid range power in the cars, and low range for torque in the trucks.
If you installed any CV engine, prior to 2000 model, your computer will compensate for the engine sensors and such. If your truck was a 97-98, you'd need to install the sensor in the crossover tube if you use a 1999 or newer CV engine.
The speedometer is NOT computer set in 97-98. It is analog and uses a color coded gear in the transmission tailshaft. 1999 and later all are digital and can be set by hand held units. On the rear end....did you change to a different gear or did you just swap a 9.75 in where an 8.8 was with the same ratio? If that is the case, there is only the transmission gear to change. If you did a ratio change, then you will need to go to the charts that give the correct speedogear to use.
Installing a police engine into our trucks is okay to use as a long block, but you have to change the intake to make the engine match everything up. The intakes are designed to give mid range power in the cars, and low range for torque in the trucks.
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Thread Starter
feather ruffler
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Here is a quote from me in a previous topic.
I took the 9.75 rear end with disk brakes and put it in the truck, replacing the 8.8. not sure what you mean about changing the gear ratio so I'll assume I didn't.
The rear end paired with the driveshaft that is NOW in the truck is a 12 bolt S919D (9.75), driveshaft is shorter. This shaft and rear end was in the 2000 F-150.
The rear end paired with the driveshaft that WAS in the truck is a 10 bolt S869b (8.8), drive shaft is longer. This shaft and rear end was in the 97 F-150.
The engine is the Triton 4.6, this is in the 97 F-150.
The rear end paired with the driveshaft that WAS in the truck is a 10 bolt S869b (8.8), drive shaft is longer. This shaft and rear end was in the 97 F-150.
The engine is the Triton 4.6, this is in the 97 F-150.
Last edited by Hexxus; Nov 28, 2017 at 06:55 AM.
98 F150 5.4L E40D/4R100
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 28,519
Likes: 7,630
From: MI
If you put in any pre-2000 P71 4.6 into our pre-1999 GEN 10 trucks, you are losing HP. The truck 4.6 97-98 is rated 220 hp and the CV P71 is 215 hp. Later on, starting with 2000, trucks were 231 and the CV was 235. The 04 up CV were 250 hp and the 3V's were 245.
If you installed any CV engine, prior to 2000 model, your computer will compensate for the engine sensors and such. If your truck was a 97-98, you'd need to install the sensor in the crossover tube if you use a 1999 or newer CV engine.
The speedometer is NOT computer set in 97-98. It is analog and uses a color coded gear in the transmission tailshaft. 1999 and later all are digital and can be set by hand held units. On the rear end....did you change to a different gear or did you just swap a 9.75 in where an 8.8 was with the same ratio? If that is the case, there is only the transmission gear to change. If you did a ratio change, then you will need to go to the charts that give the correct speedogear to use.
Installing a police engine into our trucks is okay to use as a long block, but you have to change the intake to make the engine match everything up. The intakes are designed to give mid range power in the cars, and low range for torque in the trucks.
If you installed any CV engine, prior to 2000 model, your computer will compensate for the engine sensors and such. If your truck was a 97-98, you'd need to install the sensor in the crossover tube if you use a 1999 or newer CV engine.
The speedometer is NOT computer set in 97-98. It is analog and uses a color coded gear in the transmission tailshaft. 1999 and later all are digital and can be set by hand held units. On the rear end....did you change to a different gear or did you just swap a 9.75 in where an 8.8 was with the same ratio? If that is the case, there is only the transmission gear to change. If you did a ratio change, then you will need to go to the charts that give the correct speedogear to use.
Installing a police engine into our trucks is okay to use as a long block, but you have to change the intake to make the engine match everything up. The intakes are designed to give mid range power in the cars, and low range for torque in the trucks.
