5.4 beginner mods
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Santa Fe, TX
5.4 beginner mods
Hi guys, I am new to this site and felt that it was a good place to start asking questions about beginner mods for my 5.4 F350. Everything on my truck is stock with the exception of my exhaust. I have a flowmaster dueled past the muffler and no cat, thats all. What I am looking for in mods to improve my truck's performance is to make a reliable daily driver that will not fall on its face when hooked up to a trailer. I know its no comparison to my dad's 7.3 but it will run circles around my truck when towing. I rarely exceed 5,000 lbs on loads but on long hauls by truck struggles more than I would like it to going up and down the hills of west Texas. My thoughts thus far have been to get shorty headers, performance y pipe made, maybe eventually lower my gear ratio to 4.11s to compensate for 305 tires, and maybe an intake kit. I have read that cold airs are a waste of money, but I am unsure why. What do ya'll suggest for my truck, but keep in mind I am new to this so turbos and other blowers are out of my reach for now. Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 528
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From: Canada, ON New Market
I would have to say start with a tunner from sct then custome tunes from the good man Mike... at five star. Y-pipe and headers of course you can never go wrong with more gear but that depeneds how much of a hit your wallet can take.
New User
Joined: Jun 2011
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From what I've read on various websites, you can't go wrong with exhaust, headers, and a tuner. If you decide to go with the cold air intake get a larger mass air flow sensor. Let me know what works for you I'm going to be doing similar things to my truck once I get home.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 528
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From: Canada, ON New Market
I know heddman offers shorty headers with the egr pipes, JBA, doug thortley, gibson are a few to name, though i'd go the way of buying regular ones and drilling a hole and welding a bung on it to reattach that un for giving egr piping....
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
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Ive done all those bolt ons, and have to say, gears will be the most noticeable one.
I bought a set of obx SS long tubes from ebay for 495 which were awesome too (they have all the factory openings along with the egr opening).
You will notice electric fans too and of coarse that with an edge programmer and a custom tune will make your ride feel way better... Oh and do a gotts mod, very cheap and effective as well
I bought a set of obx SS long tubes from ebay for 495 which were awesome too (they have all the factory openings along with the egr opening).
You will notice electric fans too and of coarse that with an edge programmer and a custom tune will make your ride feel way better... Oh and do a gotts mod, very cheap and effective as well
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,157
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From: Stanton DE
Stay away from shorty headers!!!
There is NO power gain from them,,,so there a big wast of money!
Only headers that will help are the long-tube headers. A lot of companies make them for the 5.4 and they also have the EGR port.
A tune for the computer and gears would be a big help also.
Oh yeah, and a larger MAF will do nothing! Another wast of money...lol
There is NO power gain from them,,,so there a big wast of money!
Only headers that will help are the long-tube headers. A lot of companies make them for the 5.4 and they also have the EGR port.
A tune for the computer and gears would be a big help also.
Oh yeah, and a larger MAF will do nothing! Another wast of money...lol
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 138
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From: Santa Fe, TX
With the long tube headers how much exhaust room will I have to make up the y-pipe or will I have to true duel it. And for that matter what is wrong with the shorty headers; I mean I am not making a drag truck at all just looking for some easy performance.
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Post Fiend
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From: Stanton DE
The biggest thing wrong with them is NO BETTER performance!
Didn't I already say that? lol
Even with duals all the way back, both pipes run down the same side under the truck. So theres plenty of room to run a Y or duals. Whatever you want.
Long-tube headers will add a good 30 HP. Shortys will add (O)!
Didn't I already say that? lol
Even with duals all the way back, both pipes run down the same side under the truck. So theres plenty of room to run a Y or duals. Whatever you want.
Long-tube headers will add a good 30 HP. Shortys will add (O)!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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2.) No such thing as "easy" gains on these engines.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Newark, DE
X2, these 5.4's love the extra mechanical advantage of gears. 4.56's imo...
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