1996 460 7.5L performance upgrades?
 

Did some searching and couldn't find anything specific so I'll ask again. Looking for some simple and low cost upgrades to give my truck a little more grunt. I've read of some mods to the intake tract - air filter box? headers, and cat back exhaust. So I'm looking for more info/how to open up the intake air. Any homebrew projects? I need to replace some exhaust manifold studs on passenger side so I've considered upgrading to long tube headers as well. And I'm sure the factory exhaust system is starting to get holes and will be ready for replacement soon so muffler suggestions or catback systems (if not too expensive). I've actually considered just putting headers on it and having custom exhaust bent as sometimes that's cheaper than these prepackaged kits. That would likely mean eliminating the cat (which isn't an issue from a testing standpoint) but I'm sure that would cause the idiot light even if I replumb the o2 sensors. But what about taking a 1" spade bit to the cat and leaving it in place?

Transmission upgrades - E4OD - open the valve body and install shift kit and aux cooler only? What about something like the banks trans programmer?


All of this without purchasing a $1500 banks kit.:-X04

Banks torque tubes/ y-pipe and Banks ram air intake 800
3" custom exhaust w 3" highflow cat and 3" 20 series flowmaster 500
USED Vortech S/C 1000
BBK throttle body 125
Cut the "horns " out of the intake tube FREE

BLOWING THE DOORS IN ON A LATE 99 POWERSTROKE W 140HP CHIP/EXHAUST/INTAKE= PRICELESS

Put a cold air intake on it.

Okay, it seems that exhaust is the best way to improve these engines. Use some off the shelf long tubes (do a search on Summits website for a 95 for a full selection, choose which one you like [tuned and coated are the best] and then shop around for the best price). It'll be your choice when it comes to getting it out the back but use high flow cat(s) if you use them, mandrel bent piping, a min of 2.5" for dual or 3" for single, a good Y pipe for a single or an H pipe for dual, and your choice of high flow muffler. Though there are some aftermarket kits on the market, none are complete from header back, or will be as good as a one off for your truck.

Cutting the air "horns" is a quick, free way to pick up a couple ponies

I haven't tried a TB yet but they get good reviews.

Oh if you can find a used SC then jump on it. They are getting hard to find. If you don't use it, shoot me a line and I'll take it off your hands

If after doing these you still want more, and if you're anything like me you will, then look at this

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ts-are-in.html

It's a long read, and beyond the scope of most of us, it seems to show us what the best we can do with our stock parts.

Now if none of this will work for you, or just isn't enough then you're going to have to get aftermarket heads (or ported early models) as stockers will only work with a factory EFI intake and swap to a carb or aftermarket EFI. If you do that then it is game-on and the sky's and your wallet is the limit!

As for your hopes on cheap upgrades, I'm sorry Brother. There's not much out there and what is isn't going to make a huge difference.

If you have distributor ignition, this is the best bang for your buck. You'll even see an MPG increase:
http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...ht=timing+bump