Wake up the demons
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
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Wake up the demons
I have a 1993 Ford bronco 5.0 and as bad as I don't want to admit it this engine is TIRED it won't spin the tires anymore and just feels unresponsive and sluggish ODO says 323,877 so it's old it was rebuilt I got it at around 80,000 I've done 4 oil changes so that adds 12,000 miles so it's sitting around 100,000 but dash reads 323k what can I do to unleash the demons I know are hiding in this engine.. what have you done... ( MSD ignition coil and distributor K&N intake JBA competition shorty headers) even with that it feels unresponsive I dont expect it to run like a dragster but I'd like it to perk up a bit. -thanks
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
What is the axle code on the drivers door pillar? There were ratios available everywhere from 3.08 to 4.10 and the 5.0 really benefits from shorter gears to get it up into it's powerband(2000+ rpm) quicker.
This engine was never much of a powerhouse with the tiny stock cam and restrictive exhaust. Longtubes with a single 2.5" exhaust really helps and then you need to swap out the stock cam for one that actually allows the engine to breath. Those two mods could add 50-100hp depending how big you go with the cam, but be aware the further the cam is away from stock the worse the engine will run. A good bumpstick to use would be the Comp 35-512-8.
This engine was never much of a powerhouse with the tiny stock cam and restrictive exhaust. Longtubes with a single 2.5" exhaust really helps and then you need to swap out the stock cam for one that actually allows the engine to breath. Those two mods could add 50-100hp depending how big you go with the cam, but be aware the further the cam is away from stock the worse the engine will run. A good bumpstick to use would be the Comp 35-512-8.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
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What is the axle code on the drivers door pillar? There were ratios available everywhere from 3.08 to 4.10 and the 5.0 really benefits from shorter gears to get it up into it's powerband(2000+ rpm) quicker.
This engine was never much of a powerhouse with the tiny stock cam and restrictive exhaust. Longtubes with a single 2.5" exhaust really helps and then you need to swap out the stock cam for one that actually allows the engine to breath. Those two mods could add 50-100hp depending how big you go with the cam, but be aware the further the cam is away from stock the worse the engine will run. A good bumpstick to use would be the Comp 35-512-8.
This engine was never much of a powerhouse with the tiny stock cam and restrictive exhaust. Longtubes with a single 2.5" exhaust really helps and then you need to swap out the stock cam for one that actually allows the engine to breath. Those two mods could add 50-100hp depending how big you go with the cam, but be aware the further the cam is away from stock the worse the engine will run. A good bumpstick to use would be the Comp 35-512-8.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
No, any cam that does that is not compatible with the EFI system in your truck.
Nothing besides gaskets.
Nothing besides gaskets.
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Axle says 19 on the sticker no clue what that means
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
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Has 33" General Grabber BAJA tires on it depends what kind of mood the truck is in sometimes I can chirp them sometimes it doesn't when I had my 29" tires it could light them up....or at least sound like it only the passenger side would spin lol I Wana put a posi kit in the rear end so bad but don't know how to do it I work in a shop and can stay late after hours and do whatever I want but I just don't wanna try it and get stuck there because I can't get it back together
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
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From: Kentucky
33" tires, 5.0L engine. 3.55 gears and 100k on the engine. All ingredients for poor performance. You wasted your time on the K&N hot air intake. Headers are a step in the right direction.
Since your issue "appears" to be intermittent I highly suggest running the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) tests and stored code (aka Continuous Memory) display.
If you get System Pass for each that's a step in the right direction. Open up some free HP by bumping the timing up from 10 BTDC to 12-14. If you somehow have the stock converters, toss them for a single high-flow version.
Since your issue "appears" to be intermittent I highly suggest running the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) tests and stored code (aka Continuous Memory) display.
If you get System Pass for each that's a step in the right direction. Open up some free HP by bumping the timing up from 10 BTDC to 12-14. If you somehow have the stock converters, toss them for a single high-flow version.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2016
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33" tires, 5.0L engine. 3.55 gears and 100k on the engine. All ingredients for poor performance. You wasted your time on the K&N hot air intake. Headers are a step in the right direction.
Since your issue "appears" to be intermittent I highly suggest running the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) tests and stored code (aka Continuous Memory) display.
If you get System Pass for each that's a step in the right direction. Open up some free HP by bumping the timing up from 10 BTDC to 12-14. If you somehow have the stock converters, toss them for a single high-flow version.
Since your issue "appears" to be intermittent I highly suggest running the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) tests and stored code (aka Continuous Memory) display.
If you get System Pass for each that's a step in the right direction. Open up some free HP by bumping the timing up from 10 BTDC to 12-14. If you somehow have the stock converters, toss them for a single high-flow version.
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Junior User
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I was doing it for sound.. how about an off-road H pipe? I hear good things about those on mustangs and they make it sound mean