2011blueoval

I love non aspirated engines (especially v-8) and I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that the Eco has better numbers in every aspect of the game that are important. (towing, gas mileage, HP, torque, 0-60) So far all I have heard about the 5.0 is that its $750 cheaper, sounds better and is flex fuel.

Both engines are capable enough to do what I need in a truck. Is there anything I can do to bring the 5.0 up to par with the Eco even a little bit without being to crazy? i.e no superchargers or turbos. I would like to keep some sort of warranty but realize it is a double edged sword. If you could please give some feed back on things you have done that have helped. How much it helped and where you got the parts would also be greatly appreciated.

I am not looking to get into a huge warranty battle here. I am just looking for some ideas to make the 5.0 a little more competitive against the Eco so that some people who would rather have a V-8 can do so with out so much "envy". I realize that the 6.2 is the easy solution but it is not available in all models so it is out of the equation.

Dan Vac

Summit racing sells a 5.0 with 412 hp and a warranty for about 6 grand and some change.

soonerjoe

Add a Tunder, CAI, and Exhaust and you will have more horsepower and be closer on the torque. I also would think you could get some takeoff headers from the mustang guys dirt cheap.

Of course an Eco with those mods will eat your lunch. I have the 5.0 and it has more than enough power and I am getting great MPGs. If you are super concerned about the power I would just get the Eco.

2011blueoval

Thank you guys for your quick responses. I realize that mods are not the economical way to go with the eco being only $750 more and already creating more power. I know I want to do a little something extra with the 5.0.

What kind of gas mileage are you getting? with what rear end?

justjimmy

Just got my 1st oil change with 6,300 miles. Only performance mod is a Magnaflow Catback Dual exhaust.

I'm getting 15-16 mpg pretty consistently in town and 19.5ish highway at 70-75mph. I rarely hit 20 mpg.

Also, when I tow 8k, it gets anywhere from 8.8 mpg at 65 mph ave to 9.5 mpg at 58 mph ave.

blackknight87

My 5.0 so far with 3.73s has 1200 miles. I get about 15 around town so far and the only time i had it on the highway i got 17.

Hopefully it will get better as it breaks in. I am planning borla catback and a tune.

I am currently working on a mild project to make the stock airbox a little more "ram air" style. this involves adding an air tube to the vent in the driver side wheel well, behind the headlight thru the front bumper right next to the license plate. Hopefully it will force air into the intake a bit better than the stock setup sucking from the wheel well. I plan on posting pics and parts list when im done.

and then maybe when more options come out i would add cold air intake kit. right now the only intake kit for the 5.0 is AFE. and i dont like the kit at all. of course the best thing you could do would be a tune.

5 star tuning is big around this forum. its probably what i will get when its time for one.

soonerjoe

19.8 hand calc. The worst I have gotten since about 2000 miles is 18. I drive it really easy. I have a plat with 3.55 gears so I am in no hurry most the time.

blackknight87

is this majority highway?

soonerjoe

This one was. I went to Amarillo TX from Edmond OK, but I did 19.6 on my tank before that was 50/50 if not even more city. I have really used the instant mileage to get good at driving for max efficiency. Make top speed 65 on the highway you and you will see the mpgs go through the roof. 45mph in 6th gear will get you 30+mpgs so I try and stay at that speed in town. I am pretty obsessed with the mpgs. If I drive it normal it is more like 18mpg.

blackknight87

yea ive noticed if get up to 45-50 i take my foot off the gas to let it shift from 5 to 6. the graph goes way up then.

My commute is just rough. lots of turns and stop and go and stop lights. a lot of speeding up and slowing down. not the best situations for mpgs