newbie questions
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New User
Joined: Aug 2011
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newbie questions
aloha, i just bought an2001 f250 superduty crew with the v10. it has a 8"lift all spring no blocks and some type of resavior shocks two per side in the front singles in the rear. the shocks look to be stainless but no identifying brand on them. my question is, is there any way to soften the ride this thing is so tight and bouncey you almost need a kidney belt my 75 bronco rides smoother than this. could i make one of the shocks upfront a dummy shock by draining the nitrogen out or take a leaf out of the pack or something. i dont think im gonna keep the truck if i cant get a better ride out of it. next question ive ran acouple tanks of fuel thru the truck and the best mileage ive gotten is alittle over seven not quite eight. the truck has 80,000 on it. is this the best mileage im gonna get thats nuts, what can i do to help that. the tire size is 37"bfg with 17" rims dont know if that helps. im not diggin on the truck but damn. i guess thats all i got for now again thanks for the input and aloha
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,604
Likes: 149
From: SE Georgia
1. Get your speedo recalibrated. Your tires are 4-5" oversize from the OEM size. I'd bet money the original owner didn't get the PCM recalibrated. Most Ford Dealerships will do it for $50. or you can grab a SCT tuner and it's one of the options.
5. Consider a re-gear. With those big tires, you most likely have the stock gears. Some 4.88 or 5.xx gears might be needed. They gears will help put your final driveline ration back to what is was when stock. This means the motor works less...which equals better MPG and overall a much better performing truck. Gears can make your truck feel like an extra +30 RWHP (feel, not real)
The bigger tires are turning slower than the OEM size. This makes your MPG's seem very low. They could be in fact much better than you think.
My truck has 35/12.5/18, but it's supposed to have 32" tires. Speedo isn't calibrated. My speedo shows about 5 mph slow when driving, and my MPG thingie is saying 14 MPG right now. I plan on getting a custom SCT tune in 1-2 months, so I'll get it fixed then. Good thing I didn't buy this thing to get MPG's though...although strangley it is getting better MPG than my 2009 Mustang was (it was somewhat "modified")
2. Tune up. Most people don't do maintenance on vehicles. I once bought a 1994 F-150 with the I-6 and it still had the factory plugs at 117,000 miles. Plugs were so eroded, the motor barely ran and the guy sold it to me thinking the motor was blown.My truck has 35/12.5/18, but it's supposed to have 32" tires. Speedo isn't calibrated. My speedo shows about 5 mph slow when driving, and my MPG thingie is saying 14 MPG right now. I plan on getting a custom SCT tune in 1-2 months, so I'll get it fixed then. Good thing I didn't buy this thing to get MPG's though...although strangley it is getting better MPG than my 2009 Mustang was (it was somewhat "modified")
Fuel Filter is huge item that is frequently missed.
Plugs
Check that the COPs are in decent shape
Air Filter
Oil change
3. How many leafs do you have front and rear?Plugs
Check that the COPs are in decent shape
Air Filter
Oil change
You can soften the ride up, and keep the height by removing some of the leafs and making up the height difference with a block. I personally would drop back down to the factory # of leafs, and then use a 5-6" lift block. It will soften up the ride quite a bit. Too many leafs is a bad thing.
4. don't mess with the shock reservoirs. Those are there to help the Main shock do it's job. If you disable it, the main shock doens't have that expansion buffer and the ride will get worse5. Consider a re-gear. With those big tires, you most likely have the stock gears. Some 4.88 or 5.xx gears might be needed. They gears will help put your final driveline ration back to what is was when stock. This means the motor works less...which equals better MPG and overall a much better performing truck. Gears can make your truck feel like an extra +30 RWHP (feel, not real)
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New User
Joined: Aug 2011
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thanks for input
aloha thanks for the input it has 6pack rear springs and 10pack front. i cant confirm the gearing but they have changed the diff covers to aftermarket large capasity covers and the power seems pretty good no lugging or having to really step on it to get out into traffic, it will light up the tires trying to get out in traffic if not careful so i was thiinking good possabillity that it has gears but cant confirm until i pull a cover. i will definatley do a tune up, and i do like the truck and knew the mpg wasnt going to be great but looking at what everybody else seems to be getting on this forum 10-15mpg somethings not right.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 7
From: OR and UT
No wonder it rides like a dump truck!
Jack up the rear end and spin a tire. Count how many times the driveline turns for one full rotation of the tire. Example: If the driveline turns 5 and 1/3 times for one tire rotation, you have 5.33 gears.
You are turning a lot of weight in those 37" tires, not to mention the width of them on the pavement. I think you would be doing well to get 10MPG on the highway, after a good tune up and running a 5Star tuner.
Got pics of your truck?
You are turning a lot of weight in those 37" tires, not to mention the width of them on the pavement. I think you would be doing well to get 10MPG on the highway, after a good tune up and running a 5Star tuner.
Got pics of your truck?
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