Need more power!
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: CENTRAL PA
Need more power!
OK, The family and I just returned from Carova beach at the northernmost end of the Outer Banks. I drove my 2003 5.4 auto Excursion with 410 gears and my son in law drove his 2003 F250 4dr long bed 7.3 PSD. Needless to say he destroyed me on the road, fuel mileage and on the sand. I just do not have enough power. I know I will never match his diesel but I would like to get more. The EX runs good otherwise and I don't want to get rid of it. I already have a SPD Y pipe 3" magnaflow exhaust and a K&N intake system. I would like to put a 5" Rough country lift kit and a set of 315s
on it for the next beach trip and I know that combo will eat more power. I just dont know what I can do go get more guts fron the 5.4. I thought of an add on overdrive unit or a supercharger ($$). Any ideas?
on it for the next beach trip and I know that combo will eat more power. I just dont know what I can do go get more guts fron the 5.4. I thought of an add on overdrive unit or a supercharger ($$). Any ideas?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: CENTRAL PA
I bought it from a salvage yard and only paid 4200 for it (owned by Penn State and had a clean title Needed a rear bumper and a grille. Also paid 1750 for a rebuilt trans. Rest is minor. Been driving it for 5 years. Still worth more than what I got in it. No payments!
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 7
From: OR and UT
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,602
Likes: 147
From: SE Georgia
get 4.88 gears. runs about $700 per axle. best bang for your $$$$ until you get a Supercharger.
it'll offset the bigger tires, and you'll feel like you just bolted on +30 RWHP
you will run at higher rpm on highway however...so MPG might go down some. the higher RPM will be offset by the larger tires. but don't be surprised to see +200-300 higher rpm at speeds than you currently do
and of course, get her custom tuned. throttle response and trans shifting make a huge improvement
it'll offset the bigger tires, and you'll feel like you just bolted on +30 RWHP
you will run at higher rpm on highway however...so MPG might go down some. the higher RPM will be offset by the larger tires. but don't be surprised to see +200-300 higher rpm at speeds than you currently do
and of course, get her custom tuned. throttle response and trans shifting make a huge improvement
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 2
From: Summit, MS
get 4.88 gears. runs about $700 per axle. best bang for your $$$$ until you get a Supercharger.
it'll offset the bigger tires, and you'll feel like you just bolted on +30 RWHP
you will run at higher rpm on highway however...so MPG might go down some. the higher RPM will be offset by the larger tires. but don't be surprised to see +200-300 higher rpm at speeds than you currently do
and of course, get her custom tuned. throttle response and trans shifting make a huge improvement
it'll offset the bigger tires, and you'll feel like you just bolted on +30 RWHP
you will run at higher rpm on highway however...so MPG might go down some. the higher RPM will be offset by the larger tires. but don't be surprised to see +200-300 higher rpm at speeds than you currently do
and of course, get her custom tuned. throttle response and trans shifting make a huge improvement
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MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,602
Likes: 147
From: SE Georgia
at some point though, you get negative return
typically with 35" tires, a 4.56 gearing is sufficient
seeing as he has the 5.4 motor + a 8,000 lbs rig, I suggest the 4.88 gears to offset the tires + see a performance increase.
a deeper gearset like 5.13 is just going to make highway RPM's excessive. he is already running 4.10 gears to move the beast around.
btw, what are your RPM @ 60 mph?
typically with 35" tires, a 4.56 gearing is sufficient
seeing as he has the 5.4 motor + a 8,000 lbs rig, I suggest the 4.88 gears to offset the tires + see a performance increase.
a deeper gearset like 5.13 is just going to make highway RPM's excessive. he is already running 4.10 gears to move the beast around.
btw, what are your RPM @ 60 mph?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 2
From: Summit, MS
at some point though, you get negative return
typically with 35" tires, a 4.56 gearing is sufficient
seeing as he has the 5.4 motor + a 8,000 lbs rig, I suggest the 4.88 gears to offset the tires + see a performance increase.
a deeper gearset like 5.13 is just going to make highway RPM's excessive. he is already running 4.10 gears to move the beast around.
btw, what are your RPM @ 60 mph?
typically with 35" tires, a 4.56 gearing is sufficient
seeing as he has the 5.4 motor + a 8,000 lbs rig, I suggest the 4.88 gears to offset the tires + see a performance increase.
a deeper gearset like 5.13 is just going to make highway RPM's excessive. he is already running 4.10 gears to move the beast around.
btw, what are your RPM @ 60 mph?
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 611
Likes: 4
From: Northern NV
Save the 5.4 Ex for a run-around-town SUV and get yourself a cheap V10 or 6.0PSD Ex if you need more power. It's going to be tough to get much more performance out of your 5.4 but for that money I would have bought it too! 
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
I have 4.30s and I'm just over 2,000 RPMs at 60 MPH. There is a fuel economy penalty I pay for these gears though, this thing simply will not exceed 14 MPGs on the highway. I work with a guy who has a V10 Excursion with 3.73s and he can see over 15.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 627
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
Is that downhill with a 30 mph tailwind? R u sure its a v10?
Holy cow.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Yeah, this is at 65 MPH on a steady cruise. Around town or driving much faster than that it's no better. I can't even get much over 14 at 60 MPH on the lie-o-meter.