Hello
long time member here, but in the 7.3PSD forum.
just bought my son a 04 fx4 (5.4l)crew cab with 170k on the clock.
it seems like a good truck and its an upgrade from his 01 Ranger Edge...

now my questions.

what are the required upgrades/mod's to make to this truck?
and what are the things we should look for and fix...
i know there were a handful on the F250's that we've done that extended the life, maintenance and performance of the 7.3, and i'm sure the 150 isnt any different.

thanks in advance for all your help.

-mike

 

I love the Yellow they used that year ....

I'ld first make sure all maintenance is caught up, plugs changed at least twice by 170K, check for any undone factory fixes, that kind of stuff. Is the engine quiet? Read up on cam phazers nd I think maybe some reading on injectors, but I think injectors was maybe a 05 issue with some.

I think the 2004s in many cases had what was unserviceable U-joints that were staked in at the caps, there are kits now that replace them by cutting out the stakes and using clips with replacements .... but it's a special U-joint.

 

thanks for the reply.
we're going to replace the oil, with synthetic, which brand does everyone recommend? (hoping not to start a war with that comment...)
flush the radiator, check out the tranny and change fluid, check the brakes and replace if needed.
also want to get rid of the factory air intake and filter assembly. any recommendations on brand to replace with? K&N, airaid?
we'll also probably get a suspension bushing kit as well.
this is more of a project truck than a daily driver right now
thanks for all your help, btw, i like the color too.. .

-mike

 

Any oil that meets the current SN specification will be excellent in the 5.4. That said, I use Pennzoil products myself. The factory air intake gets cold air from the fender so performance gains from a CAI will be minimal. The Amsoil EAA air filter is on clearance now for $19 shipping included added to the DWV intake mod it's a cheap intake setup. If you're going for looks as well the S&B intake looks really nice.

 

OIL ..... I use Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 5W20 or 5W30 and Motorcraft Filter exclusively in my '08 GT and '07 FX4 as well as our low miles trip car '01 Merc GM ..... but the two Birds (92&95) and my '77 and her Scoobie get either Valvoline, Castrol, or Havoline conventional oils as the mood strikes.

Oh yeah, I forgot .....

Save money, do the GOTT's MOD for intake. Factory air cleaner is fine, .... GOTT's MOD just improves on getting cool air from fender to filter. I have two foam filters that fit there, a K&N (came with a Ebay factory intake box / tube / etc and was so cheap I felt like I stoled it .... I just wanted a factory intake to "keep" to go with the truck) and a TrueFlow (it came in my truck) which I currently have in there .... (though I do run K&N on both bikes and the trike).

No question in my mind but that it's worth the effort and likely $20 ..... as I have compared both back to back. Here's a thread.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...gotts-mod.html

And that truck just SCREAMS for a pair of nice rolled edge slant cut polished stainless steel exhaust tips poking under the rear bumper, about 2.5" diameter .... there are many aftermarket cat back systems out there. There's a long straight section of 2.5" pipe between the front Y and the muffler that makes a great place to substitute a long 2.5" ID glass pack with extension pipe as an "auxillary drone killer" ahead of the rear muffler if the aftermarket cat back with performance muffler proves too "droney" (like my FM cat back) .... that's what I did and now it's about as loud as a stock Mustang GT of 2005-09 vintage with a purr & no drone.