2006 5.4 Upgrades
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 884
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From: Shreveport, LA
2006 5.4 Upgrades
A cousin has asked me to work on his '06 F150 with the 5.4. He wanted to do headers, exhaust and a cold air kit. I have almost talked him out of the headers. I did some reading/research on here and it seems they can help the '04 - '06 but not so much on the '07 - '08 models as they had better manifolds from the factory.
Then I also read some stuff about how difficult it was to even change the manifolds not to mention it wasn't really worth it unless you went with a long tube.
I've got him looking at a cat back type exhaust plus a cold air kit then maybe a programmer/tuner. Are we headed in the right direction? Could anyone recommend any brands or any experiences with gains/losses? Thanks.
Then I also read some stuff about how difficult it was to even change the manifolds not to mention it wasn't really worth it unless you went with a long tube.
I've got him looking at a cat back type exhaust plus a cold air kit then maybe a programmer/tuner. Are we headed in the right direction? Could anyone recommend any brands or any experiences with gains/losses? Thanks.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 884
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From: Shreveport, LA
I've heard the data about some of the newer cars. Case in point, the '12 and newer 5.0 Mustang, the replacement K&N filter actually lost a little power over the stock filter in the intake kit.
But I wouldn't figure that was the case with an older truck like this with the convoluted tubing and resonance chambers in the intake tract. Thanks for the info.
Anyone else?
But I wouldn't figure that was the case with an older truck like this with the convoluted tubing and resonance chambers in the intake tract. Thanks for the info.
Anyone else?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
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I've ran a K and N filter on mine and actually went back to a paper filter. I am not sure it helped with any gains and I figured the paper element would filter better and have no risk of oil problems on the MAF sensor. I think the only real upgrades in performance you'll get are if you go with a tuner. Either a custom tune or a canned one like the super chips flashpaq tune will give you noticeable results, everything else, not so much.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 5
From: Shreveport, LA
I've ran a K and N filter on mine and actually went back to a paper filter. I am not sure it helped with any gains and I figured the paper element would filter better and have no risk of oil problems on the MAF sensor. I think the only real upgrades in performance you'll get are if you go with a tuner. Either a custom tune or a canned one like the super chips flashpaq tune will give you noticeable results, everything else, not so much.
Did you find your exhaust helped with power or more for the sound?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
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Manufactures don't spend millions on R & D and not expect to get a return on their investment. Oiled Air filters were a practical application for Moto Cross but a road vehicle?
The complex union of Exhaust, Intake & Computer Management makes the addition of a trash can to replace a engineered muffler at best a sound enhancement to the individual. Again IMHO.
The complex union of Exhaust, Intake & Computer Management makes the addition of a trash can to replace a engineered muffler at best a sound enhancement to the individual. Again IMHO.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
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From: West Virginia
I've heard the data about some of the newer cars. Case in point, the '12 and newer 5.0 Mustang, the replacement K&N filter actually lost a little power over the stock filter in the intake kit.
But I wouldn't figure that was the case with an older truck like this with the convoluted tubing and resonance chambers in the intake tract. Thanks for the info.
Anyone else?
But I wouldn't figure that was the case with an older truck like this with the convoluted tubing and resonance chambers in the intake tract. Thanks for the info.
Anyone else?
IMO the weakest part of the entire truck is the transmission, but there's really nothing to do about that. If he really wants to spend some money that will make a noticeable improvement, install an oil filter relocation kit; the stock location really sucks, it's hard to reach, and when the oil spills out it pretty much misses that built in "funnel" and runs all over everything else.
I did do the Bambi mod on mine which worked really well. But that's about it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 884
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From: Shreveport, LA
Well, it's been a little while but he went with a Roush intake and a Borla single cat back. That's what he wanted. I installed them. He said he thought it had a better seat of the pants feel, "more peppy" is what he said.
The tuner. We ran into some issues with that one. He bought an SCT Livewire and we changed some parameters but it was really basic. He said he didn't really notice anything. Then we adjusted the shift firmness. IT DID NOT LIKE THAT. So he changed it all back to stock and sent the tuner back.
The tuner. We ran into some issues with that one. He bought an SCT Livewire and we changed some parameters but it was really basic. He said he didn't really notice anything. Then we adjusted the shift firmness. IT DID NOT LIKE THAT. So he changed it all back to stock and sent the tuner back.
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