More Power!!!!!
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Texas
More Power!!!!!
Probably the easiest (maybe not the cheapest) was a K&N air filter, about $50 from pretty much anyone that has em.
I've seen a few 4.6's in both F-150s and Mustangs with an air intake kit that eliminates the cold air box. I've always thought of this as a hot air intake kit but seems like everyone who has one calls it a true cold air setup. Doesn't seem like the air would be too cold coming straight in off the engine without the cold air box. I've been told you get more horsepower and better gas milage. As you can tell, I'm not too knowledgeable on that deal. Prices seem fickle too. I've heard as low as $40 all the way up to $200. Guess it's all who you know.
My mechanic suggested Ford Motorsports performance spark plug wires, they're a heavier gauge so the plugs get more juice and have a hotter spark, burning more efficiently. Didn't get a price on those yet.
I've seen a few 4.6's in both F-150s and Mustangs with an air intake kit that eliminates the cold air box. I've always thought of this as a hot air intake kit but seems like everyone who has one calls it a true cold air setup. Doesn't seem like the air would be too cold coming straight in off the engine without the cold air box. I've been told you get more horsepower and better gas milage. As you can tell, I'm not too knowledgeable on that deal. Prices seem fickle too. I've heard as low as $40 all the way up to $200. Guess it's all who you know.
My mechanic suggested Ford Motorsports performance spark plug wires, they're a heavier gauge so the plugs get more juice and have a hotter spark, burning more efficiently. Didn't get a price on those yet.
Last edited by Fordtrucktexan; Jun 9, 2003 at 09:05 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Long Island
More Power!!!!!
Cowboy,
I've done no mods yet. But the consesus on the two "Ford Boards" seems to be:
1) If money is no object, TURBO or SuPERCHARGE.
2) Free flow exhaust + K&N type intake (not as much power but "more bang for the buck")
3) Superchips MicroTuner.
My first mod will be Electric Fans. (free up a few ponies and gain 1 to 2 MPG)
Good Luck with Your Truck,
Bill
I've done no mods yet. But the consesus on the two "Ford Boards" seems to be:
1) If money is no object, TURBO or SuPERCHARGE.
2) Free flow exhaust + K&N type intake (not as much power but "more bang for the buck")
3) Superchips MicroTuner.
My first mod will be Electric Fans. (free up a few ponies and gain 1 to 2 MPG)
Good Luck with Your Truck,
Bill
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TEXAS
More Power!!!!!
To tell you the truth the 4.6 is a **** poor engine. Where I live you cant get inspected without proper emmissions. I dont know about your area. Wana go fast? Buy a old 68 - 79 f150 or even 100. Dump money into that. you will get more horse power for your buck.Go ahead and put a super charger on the engine. Go smoke a Lightning and brag about how you invested 20k in a old truck. While that Lightning owner pays them payments for poor performance.
Ive owned new old worn and banged up Ford Trucks. I have to say These new engines ford has SUCK.
Ive owned new old worn and banged up Ford Trucks. I have to say These new engines ford has SUCK.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
More Power!!!!!
the new lightning will whoop up on a blown 4.6... and I agree w/ you that the 4.6 is junk... I think the whole modular concept is junk, but Ford's factory power adder cars have always had great emissions legal potential. and the current lightning is no exception.
my buddy's got a 99 4.6 F150 with ported heads, Vortech supercharger, aftercooler, etc. etc. and it barely hangs with lightly modified 5.4 lightnings.
Forrest
my buddy's got a 99 4.6 F150 with ported heads, Vortech supercharger, aftercooler, etc. etc. and it barely hangs with lightly modified 5.4 lightnings.
Forrest
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Texas
More Power!!!!!
I'm not far from you Rick, just a stone's throw away here in Beaumont. Around here we've learned not to mess with the old trucks, you never know what the heck them guys put in em.
We never raced any Mustangs or Lightnings, but my bud had a 1980 Gmc, truck looked like hell. Seven different shades of blue and two primer colors. Not a straight peice of sheet metal anywhere on the thing. Smoked bad, louder than heck, basically lookde like an old ratted out truck. Under the hood there was a 455 Buick V8. Performance mods? Ha, none. didn't need em. I don't know if it'd beat a performance 4.6 or 5.4, but it'd give em a dang good run.
We never raced any Mustangs or Lightnings, but my bud had a 1980 Gmc, truck looked like hell. Seven different shades of blue and two primer colors. Not a straight peice of sheet metal anywhere on the thing. Smoked bad, louder than heck, basically lookde like an old ratted out truck. Under the hood there was a 455 Buick V8. Performance mods? Ha, none. didn't need em. I don't know if it'd beat a performance 4.6 or 5.4, but it'd give em a dang good run.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
More Power!!!!!
Originally posted by RickDill1
To tell you the truth the 4.6 is a **** poor engine. <snip> Ive owned new old worn and banged up Ford Trucks. I have to say These new engines ford has SUCK.
To tell you the truth the 4.6 is a **** poor engine. <snip> Ive owned new old worn and banged up Ford Trucks. I have to say These new engines ford has SUCK.
If you're driving a 4.6L, then you deserve what you have... I've owned a '96 t-bird 4.6l and still have a '97 Cougar with the 4.6L. GREAT MOTOR. For a two-door rear-wheel drive car, anyway...
The 5.4L is a step up, especially in endurance, after Ford realized the 4.6L wasn't going to do the job. The V10 is a giant leap past the 5.4L. The torque curve is so flat that the V10 puts out 350ft/lbs of torque at 1000 RPM. That's what the 5.4L puts out (for 2002 and 2003 at least) at PEAK!
Most people say their 5.4L and 6.8L/V10 are great in their TRUCKS. If you are driving anything with a 4.6L from Ford, then you aren't driving a "TRUCK" ...
ak
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
More Power!!!!!
krewat, Forrest Nearing, and RickDill1.....
I was looking for positive input on how to get more power out of my 4.6....I dident really want you three coming in here and telling me that the engine is crap. No it is not a V10...but ya know what, I work 10 hours a day and I got what I could afford, and I love it...and to say that driving a truck with a 4.6 is not really driving a TRUCK...that is absurd. That is like saying that driving a truck with a 6 cylinder is not as much a truck as an 8 (and say that anyone who has owned a 300 I6, and they will run you over) I can get 300 HP out of my 4.6 w/o a supercharger…and that is nothing to laugh at….maybe it is not the most powerful engine on the market, but it is a work horse none the less. I just think that you three should stay out of MY thread and you can go talk about your V10’s and 5.4’s, instead of bashing MY 4.6.
--Cowboy
I was looking for positive input on how to get more power out of my 4.6....I dident really want you three coming in here and telling me that the engine is crap. No it is not a V10...but ya know what, I work 10 hours a day and I got what I could afford, and I love it...and to say that driving a truck with a 4.6 is not really driving a TRUCK...that is absurd. That is like saying that driving a truck with a 6 cylinder is not as much a truck as an 8 (and say that anyone who has owned a 300 I6, and they will run you over) I can get 300 HP out of my 4.6 w/o a supercharger…and that is nothing to laugh at….maybe it is not the most powerful engine on the market, but it is a work horse none the less. I just think that you three should stay out of MY thread and you can go talk about your V10’s and 5.4’s, instead of bashing MY 4.6.
--Cowboy
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
More Power!!!!!
Originally posted by FordCowboy2000
krewat, Forrest Nearing, and RickDill1.....
I was looking for positive input on how to get more power out of my 4.6....I dident really want you three coming in here and telling me that the engine is crap. No it is not a V10...
--Cowboy
krewat, Forrest Nearing, and RickDill1.....
I was looking for positive input on how to get more power out of my 4.6....I dident really want you three coming in here and telling me that the engine is crap. No it is not a V10...
--Cowboy
On Edit: Yeah, I guess I did kinda bash the 4.6. Sorry about that. I'd like it in a lighter truck than my SD F250, like the F150. But it's only 281 cubes and you can only go so far before it becomes impractical...
ak
Last edited by krewat; Jun 16, 2003 at 11:07 PM.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
More Power!!!!!
Originally posted by Lectrocuted
Why have ten cylinders when only eight are needed? Because of SBD (small bore disease). I agree the mods are 2 steps backward, one step forward.
Why have ten cylinders when only eight are needed? Because of SBD (small bore disease). I agree the mods are 2 steps backward, one step forward.
4.6L's ROCK!
ak
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 7
From: Gretna ,LA.
More Power!!!!!
Cowboy, do a gear change, at least 4.10,s to help the 281 down low.Get a chip or micro tuner, get a bigger throttle body, open up the exhaust.The gear change would be my first thing,it is something you can truly feel.