...this is my first post here...so be gentle!!

i just picked up an '03 f-150 5.4L 4x4 (with what looks like a dealer/factory lift) and was wondering - what, if anything, i need to look out for - or should address right away...(ive had several fords so i know theres 'always' something)

now - this wont be my daily driver - but she will be used for camping - moto'ing - and some high speed desert drivin'!!

i can already tell she needs gears and im sure that the shocks have to go too (theyre all black - so im guessing theyre stock) then naturally she'll get exhaust and maybe a chip (or maybe not).

(and as long as shes under warranty i prefer to keep her NA)

...260hp from a 330cu in motor is a bit lacking...but i know she has tons of potential!!

other than that - its nice to be here and finally have a reason to chime in...


thanks
drj

ps - where in the heck is my sig? huh.

 

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i still cant seem to get my sig workin' - and ive checked my settings twice...any ideas?

 

Welcome to the forum drj777

Only paid Club FTE members can have a signature showing at the bottom of their posts.
For everyone else you can hover your mouse over where it says "signature" in the top right side of their post and see what it says.

 

Welcome to FTE, and congratulations on your new pickup! There's nothing that comes to mind to look out for immediately. How many miles are on it? The only problems these trucks seem to commonly have is EGR valves (stupid emissions stuff), and Coil-On-Plug pieces, if they get wet. I've never had either of those on my '01. Come to think of it, my truck, now with 85k on it, has never been to a shop. Black shocks don't mean they're stock. I did rotors and shocks on my buddy's mustang last night, and the ones we replaced them with were cheapies, and all black. It doesn't mean they're original, they're just probably not top of the line. When it comes to power, you're lookin at the wrong number . 260 hp from a 330 is pretty weak, but 350 lb/ft of torque isn't. Trucks need torque moreso than horsepower. Gears are a great investment, since the usual 3.55 or 3.73 makes the truck feel weak. There's not ALWAYS something, I think you'll be surprised.

 

...no biggee about the sig - it only said
-'03 f-150 4x4 XLT - (stock- for now)
-'86 FSB XLT (4.56's/headers)

the new truck has only 30k on it - and she is super clean. im pretty sure shed NEVER BEEN OFFROAD (@ least till last weekend that is!!) now she has a couple of minor 'beauty marks', but that just adds character - theres nuthin' worse than a 4wheelr thats never been 4 wheeled!! shes got fiberglass baja fenders front and rear (they look cool - and scratch easy :-(

is the dana 60 the stock rear end?

ok - so i'll look out for the emmissions stuff...
im probably gonna skip the chip...
but gears ARE a must...maybe 4.10's for the 33's shes wearin'.

there IS one more thing - shes quite a bit 'bouncy' @ 70+ mph. it almost feels like the BFG MTRs are out of balance - OR - its just the tires themselves. i wasnt sure - but it seemed too exaggerated to be 'normal'...

and lastly - i got her a 40 series flowmaster with a 3" turndown...and shes still pretty quiet.

thanks for the info!!

drj

oh - and thanks for not flaming me!!

 

hahaha! You won't get flamed around here, unless you start posting
"CHEBBY RuLeZZZZ!!!111oneone one!"
About the bouncing, I'd take it to a local shop for an aligment, because that's what it sounds like, and with some 33's, you'll definitely want gears.

About being quiet still, these trucks wear 4 cats. Yes. 4. You can eliminate two of them altogether, and get 2 high flow cats, and it will be much, MUCH louder, along with junking that exhaust manifold and getting some shorty headers.

 

thats funny - because I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ASK...about headers and losing some of those cats...(did the same thing on my stang - made a big diff)

ive been spoiled by my bronco for years with LONG TUBE HEADERS AND GEARS...despite the 230+k on the O.G. motor - she never ceases to amaze me!!

so with all the creature comforts of the new truck (no incessant rattling - no wandering in my lane @ speed - and A/C, WHATS THAT?!!) - all shes missing is that feel and sound of power and torque...and it sounds like some headers and gears will fill that void!!

its things like this that keep me almost perpetually in debt!!!
(but - i dooo love them sooo!!)

drj

 

No.

You have a choice of 3 rears. You'll need to look at the diff tag to verify which. The second line has the stock gear ratio in the first three numbers, then the next two or three digits is the ring gear size.

All three rears are Ford corporate or Visteon (Sterling) built.

The 8.8" and the 9.75" are the most common. The 4.2 will definitely have the 8.8 and only the 8.8. The 4.6 and 5.4 could have either the 8.8 or the 9.75. The 5.4 usually has the 9.75, though. Then there's the 7700 GVWR, or heavy duty payload. The 7700 has the 10.25. On the diff tag you'll see either "8 8," 9 75," or "10 2" on the second line.

-Kerry

 

DO THE CHIP!!and all the other stuff u said u will b happy with her

 

im pretty sure its the 60 - but now i can double check to be sure!! thanks for the tip!

ive got a 6yr/75k warranty - so im gonna wait on the chip (they tried to burn me on my stang with that one before)


so - heres my quick summary -
...gears
...shorty headers/free flow cat back
...and shocks (ive been looking @ the bilstein 5150 series lately)

so, any final thoughts on the rest of 'the plan'?

thanks

drj

 

ah yes - a lovely string of numbers was found on the tag...

9.75...like music to my ears!!


drj