im in a state where they dont smog and i have almost 200,000 on the 5.4 in my truck. i just bought it a couple weeks ago and its going to be my running project. everything is bone stock but i want more power out of it. im thinking about getting a tuner, figure out how to remap the CPU, cold air intake and maybe a throttle body spacer. im used to old trucks. anything 85 and older and i have never messed with all this computerized junk. i thought about going with the supercharged route but that sounds like more of a headache than i want to deal with unless i get the 32 valve heads and start fresh. any ideas?

 

A little perspective is in order.
First you need to know that the computer controls the engine operation and outside hardware does not have the same level of effect as on older carbed engines.
A custom tune accounting for the added hardware is the best way to go.
Done by a shop that specializes in this is the better way to go.
Using an off the shelf tuner and program often does result is noticeable improvements but still is not the ultimate.
Depends on what type of performance your looking for such as towing or high rpm HP etc as to how you go about it.
At 200k, I would be ready for something to come apart when used hard because there is the wear/age factor in the background.
Throttle body spacer, forget that as any kind of power improvement on an FI engine.
Yes it adds some small amount of length to the intake tract but is of no consequence.
As far as air twist, that action is so far from the intake port that it gets lost shortly after the air passes it. Not at all like placing this action under a carb and it's effect on the gas in suspension with the air, improving torque.
It's just a different ball game.
Intake tract improvements before the throttle body may have some effect at high rpm otherwise the air volume through the stock tube and filter is still more than enough for normal driving.
Other things like the rpm limit is about 5500 rpm before the converter could begin to come apart.
trans shifting could be improved with valve body/changes etc..
Lower rear gears would help.
Good luck.

 

the throttle plate and air intake modification will result in no added HP, but quite a bit lighter wallet.

 

thanks for the advice. this is going to be my toy/tow rig until i get a powerstroke im going for at least a 6" lift with 35's possibly bigger, 4.56 gears, tossing the stock ford limited slip and putting lockers in the front and rear. after all that i know im going to need a little more high rpm HP but right now it seems to be do-able. i have been searching online and have not found any reasonable bolt on power options for the 16 valve motor so when and if this motor finally blows up i was thinking about going with the 32 valve crate 5.4 i heard it has considerably more power. anything i need to do or buy to adapt it? other than a basic motor swap.

 

actually now that i think about it my buddy has the same truck i do and he put the cold air intake, throttle body spacer and bigger exhaust and it actually went slower down the drag strip, on average, he added almost a second to his time. with electronic motors like the 5.4 could add ons like these conflict with eachother and rob power?

 

Your learning curve is beginning.
The reason you don't find much of value is for the reasons that "addons" trying to over ride the computer program don't work up to expectations. The computer overrides much of the benifits there may be by shifting it's various tables as 'corrective' actions.
The system is designed to do this over about a 20% range +/- to account for normal long term wear and short term changes etc.
To get the results you are looking for takes a planned approch to compliment the hardware changes with program changes to take advantage of them.
As for swapping to a Lincoln motor, you must realize that again programming is involved such that all of the 32 valve operating system must be in place and bugs worked out first before power modification are made so you don't get into a situation of not knowing what is right or wrong with no reference to go from.
As some passing info, the last I knew, an owner in my area had the fastest quarter miler but that setup was done by a shop specializing in modified work.
The truck was streetable but was really a race truck.
So you have a ways to go to get a perspective on the project.
Good luck.

 

ok im begining to understand now and yes it is definately gonna be a learning experence. i appriciate the advice its gonna come in handy.