96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: onatrio, canada
96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
I was wondering if there is anything i could do to make this thing have some get up and go. Maybe even a increase in gas milage. I was thinking some dual exhausts and a intake but not sure what to do. I'm looking to spend around 1000 bucks us...
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,554
Likes: 2,035
From: North Texas
96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
Well ~220HP in a truck from the factory is pretty anemic if you ask me (esp from a 351W). If your truck is stock, it will probably run in the high to mid 16's in the 1/4mi. That isn't fast by any means...
Anyway, you van is a 1996 right?
I'd get a set of underdrive pullies too. ASPs are nice and what I use. Make sure you get the 1.75" alternator pulley for minimal charging problems. Those are cheap power.
A full exhaust would do wonders. Get some long tube headers (a but more work) with 2.5" collectors would be fine. But since you have a Van, get a set of 5.0 Mustang unequal length shorties as they are easier to install. Run a 2.5" y pipe to a 3" collector to a 3" cat too. Y-pipes are cheaper to do. A Magnaflow or Dynomax muffler will flow well but not too loud. An 18" case is pretty mellow.
Most people don't like K&N FIPKs but I have used a few with good results. An open filter will flow more than a little 2"x5" opening in your stock air box. I would just get a drop in K&N and saw the bottom of your stock air box off. It will flow a bunch more and be cheap. If you are scared of hacking up your stock box, get another from a junk yard.
There is some other stuff you can do to get more power like... bumping timing, dropping fuel pressure a bit, electric fan, etc.
Anyway, you van is a 1996 right?
I'd get a set of underdrive pullies too. ASPs are nice and what I use. Make sure you get the 1.75" alternator pulley for minimal charging problems. Those are cheap power.
A full exhaust would do wonders. Get some long tube headers (a but more work) with 2.5" collectors would be fine. But since you have a Van, get a set of 5.0 Mustang unequal length shorties as they are easier to install. Run a 2.5" y pipe to a 3" collector to a 3" cat too. Y-pipes are cheaper to do. A Magnaflow or Dynomax muffler will flow well but not too loud. An 18" case is pretty mellow.
Most people don't like K&N FIPKs but I have used a few with good results. An open filter will flow more than a little 2"x5" opening in your stock air box. I would just get a drop in K&N and saw the bottom of your stock air box off. It will flow a bunch more and be cheap. If you are scared of hacking up your stock box, get another from a junk yard.
There is some other stuff you can do to get more power like... bumping timing, dropping fuel pressure a bit, electric fan, etc.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,554
Likes: 2,035
From: North Texas
96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
Is your van distributor-less?
Chips just bump timing and play with your fuel, which you can do if you have a distributor.
TB spacers are very debated from what I have read. Order one from a place that you can send it back if it doesn't do what you thought it was supposed to do.
Chips just bump timing and play with your fuel, which you can do if you have a distributor.
TB spacers are very debated from what I have read. Order one from a place that you can send it back if it doesn't do what you thought it was supposed to do.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,557
Likes: 44
From: Concord, NC
96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
The best way I've found is just trial and error. I set the timing ahead until i just start to hear it ping, then i back off just a tad. That should give you the best performance and economy with no pinging. I don't even bother with a timing light to fine tune things.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 148
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From: onatrio, canada
96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
i bumped the timing and put in a electric fan in since my buddy gave it to me for free. I noticed a slight improvement and for free i was happy. I'm planning on making my own air intake sytem out of some aluminum tubing and flex tubing i will proably run a K&N filter with a outwear over it. I am hoping to put a full dual exhaust and some shirt tube headers on it where should i locate the O2 sensors?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,554
Likes: 2,035
From: North Texas
96-E-50 5.8 Performance???
Since you have a 1996 you are OBD-II. Meaning you have more than one O2 sensor.
If you have 2 upstream/1 downstream sensors put them fairly close to the header collectors as they run off heat. Then put aftercat sensor after the cat.
If you just have 1 up and 1 down, put the upstream one in the drivers side as that bank runs a bit lean. Then the downstream one just behind the cat.
If you have more than 50K on those sensors, replace them. Old ones need to be replaced every 50K or so for the computer to run at its best.
If you have 2 upstream/1 downstream sensors put them fairly close to the header collectors as they run off heat. Then put aftercat sensor after the cat.
If you just have 1 up and 1 down, put the upstream one in the drivers side as that bank runs a bit lean. Then the downstream one just behind the cat.
If you have more than 50K on those sensors, replace them. Old ones need to be replaced every 50K or so for the computer to run at its best.
