I almost hate to post this here, because it has probably been answered several times. I ran across references to the "Sixlitre" tune up info and I'm going to do it. I just got the truck and want to do a tune up anyway, so I figure what the heck, I'll try that method. I have found the method detailed on another (Bronco) site, but it is 119 pages long! I was going to try to read through it, but I'm about to go cross-eyed! I'm hoping someone here can help me out and save my old, tired eyes!! I've read through the first 5 pages of that thread and have found I should get:

cheapo Autolite plugs
Ford Motor sports 9mm wires
MSD cap and rotor and 48000 coil
gap plugs to 0.055
advance timing to 13.5 btdc

I realize all of this info is from 9+ years ago. I decided to jump to the end of that thread and go backwards looking for current info. I found references that seem to say that it has been found that the original coil is fine and you can just use it. Is that right? Is there anything else I need to know that I haven't yet stumbled across? That thread is specific to the 5.0L, have any differences been found specific to the 5.8L?

 

I don't know about the difference between the 5.0 vs 5.8 or the 6.0 tune but A tuneup from the local parts supplier that included plugs, wires, cap and rotor and a timing bump up to 12° Advanced was the best thing I ever did to my 94 5.8.....

 

Sixlitre is the user who made it popular, not the engine lol.

@OP
Coil made a massive difference in mine.
I went with an MSD Streetfire Coil, Autolite 25 (Copper, no platinum/iridium plugs) spark plugs, Ford Racing 9mm Wires, MSD Cap/Rotor combo, and bumped the timing.
If you want to take it a step further, replace the vacuum lines with rubber/silicone, swap in some Bosch Type III 19# injectors, replace the fuel filter, and put in an adjustable fuel reg.

 

What kind of difference would one expect from changing the coil? My 351 has 157k on it. It's an '89.

 

My '88 had ~50k miles on it when I did that 3 years ago. Quite the low mileage example. It bumped mileage from 8~ to 11-12~ with my habits.

 

Lol, I was being a smart a$$ on the 6.0 and figured that's probably where the name came from as most of the other mods I've seen with names have the same connection.... And didn't intend by any means to insult the Sixliter tuneup (no one implied this but just want to make that clear).

 

I would try and spring for some motorcraft spark plugs instead of the auto lite brand.

 

I would not worry about an adjustable fuel pressure regulator.

13 degrees may be to high for the speed density setup for a 351W...Some do okay...I had to keep mine around 12 degrees on my 95 F4TE.

IF you had mass air then the computer would adjust the curves for fuel air ect..

I prefer copper Autolites

 

Autolite is the "old" Motorcraft brand... either one is fine.

Bump the timing as high as you like until you get where you want or til you get spark knock under load, then back it off just to the point it goes away.

 

I THINK the goal in using a higher voltage coil and the better plug wires is to allow you to open the gap on the plugs more.

And again, I THINK the point of that is to allow you to advance the timing a little farther.

If I'm not off base on that, there would be no advantage to the hotter coil unless you also did the wires, gaps and timing.

 

I think you are completely correct.
Plugs, Wires, cap/rotor and a 12° timing advance improved my truck significantly without a coil replacement and was still running better then the day I bought it at 110k and sold at 189k.