I got a 2002 f350 4x4 crewcab with 5.4 gasser. Im looking to put new headers on after i get my taxes but cant choose between LT's or shorty. Right now i got stock manifold and y-pipe with 3 inch pipe into 3inch duals. I pull a gooseneck trailer sometimes and drive it daily also! What would you guys recommend??

 

This thread details talks about the same conversation started recently.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...4-headers.html
Save your money on the headers.

What gears do you have?

Welcome to FTE.

 

3.73 wished they were 4.10!!

 

How much would it cost to change the gears for the 4x4?

 

It'll cost between $1,900.00 and $2,400.00 if you have them installed. If you have the expertise and tools to install them yourself you can cut those figures approximately in half.

If you opt to change gearing you'll want to look at 4.30's if you have shorter tires (31.5") and if you have taller tires you might want to look at 4.56 or even 4.88.

 

So for daily driving or pulling 12,000 pounds with 4.30 is better? What about mpg? With stock tires on 17 in rims

 

As ken said with stock tires 4.30 is the way to go. I have 3.73's with a v10 but from reading about guys that tow a 4.30 ratio will keep you from down shifting like crazy on the good grades and will move the weight of the truck off the line better.

If you don't have a limited slip or locker or something for the rear you might add that as well.

 

Ok then ill look into that!! Now where would i order the gears? Can i get a kit for 4x4? And how can you tell if you have limited slip or locker?

 

Limited slips came factory. Look on the door frame tag. It will have an axle code. Then locate the chart here with all the info. Probably in the tech folder. Best bet is to search here and excursion forum for which gears brand to purchase.

 

if you still want headers check out Banks Headers

 

Im thinking of going 4.56 with banks headers if there are reasonable and 5 star tune from mike sct x3 is what he recommened? After the truck gets paid off i will be making a kit to fit my 70mm t3/t4 turbo on it!!! 8) I know it seems alot but im gunna take my time.

 

As far as the headers if your going to tow its probably not a great idea. The reason the trucks come with manifolds over headers is because manifolds can withstand the heat generated from towing better. Aside from the fact that they're cheap

Gears go for it, I have the 4.10s with 33s and for a daily driver its got plenty of grunt for me, but general consensus is gears are the absolute best bang for your buck and will improve the truck the most or of anything your suggesting.

Tuner.... eh. Mike's a great guy plenty of information, nice. But I think for the 2v 5.4 it's a waste of money. I have one granted I don't want to spend a extra .40 cents a gallon for 93 octane so I did all 87 tunes and there's no improvement that's worth 4-500$

Consider a transgo 4r100/e4od HD shift kit with metal valves. It will form up the transmission shifts abs make it less of a "slush box"

Turbo would be sweet but you might need a smaller one then a 70 to not have lag at take off and you'll want to engineer the kit to be fully spooled before 2000rpm

Just my 02 cents.

Good luck

 

Agreed on the tuner, I have one as well and didn't notice any difference in the power, The 2V 5.4 doesn't respond to if like some of the other motors do.

 

Like I said stick with the gears. Save money on the headers and search for a V10 swap or if you want a 5.4 search for a supercharged lightning or harley davidson engine. Even a navigator engine has 32valves. Those would be potent and worth the effort.

 

If you're pulling 12,000 lbs. on a regular basis I'd think about going with the 4.56 even with stock height tires. I'm pulling around 9,000 lbs. and although I'm very happy with the 4.30's there are rare occasions bucking a wind in a moderately hilly area I believe the 4.56 would be nice and might even save me some gasoline, too. If I'm dragging 12,000 lbs. around any more frequent than occasionally I'm sure I'd want the 4.56.

I got my gears from Randy's out in Washington State. They are very knowledgeable and helpful but not sure they're going to be the least expensive. I would also go with a tried and true aftermarket limited slip in addition to the gear change. I had new clutch packs installed at the time of my gear change and really wish I'd gone with an aftermarket system. Many here, including myself, can give several reasons why.

As far as fuel mileage is concerned I can only speak referencing my own experience. And that is with the 3.73 gear prior to going to the 4.30's I was getting between 15 and 16.5 MPG empty not towing. After installing the 4.30's it dropped to between 14 and 15.5 MPG empty not towing.

Towing mileage went from between 7 and 8.5 MPG with the 3.73's to 8 to 9.5 MPG with the 4.30's. These are average figures. In windy conditions or hilly terrain the mileage may be lower. These figures come from checking at the pump and are a basic cross section of mileage over a indeterminate period of time and driving miles but they are representative of what the differences are.

The most important aspect of my particular gearing change was the ease and enjoyment of the towing that we do. This little V-8 doesn't turn into a diesel-like power plant by no means when going to a lower gear (higher numerically) but it does give it the ability to utilize much more of the horsepower and torque she's capable of making.