I just bought a 96 F-150 with a 5.0, and I'm looking too get a bit more "Ooomf" out of it. Nothing crazy, just basic performance/efficiency. Tuners/Intakes/Exhaust/Throttle Body, and things of that sort. I don't want to do much internally, rather, more of the "bolt on" route. I've got a $1,500 - $2,000 budget, but I'd prefer to stay under that. I'm not a motorhead by any means, so all help is appreciated!

 

Full exhaust system and gears, don't waste any of your money on anything upstream of the camshaft because it will be a total waste.

 

So, true duels, high flow cat, and a mild cam? What gear ratio would you recommend?

 

Also, any brands that you'd recommend?

 

A set of full roller 1.7 ratio rockers would be a good investment as well. Easy bolt on 15 hp and a huge loss of friction in the valvetrain. I would put new pushrods in at the same time as the roller rods don't rotate in service and the rocker ends wear on two sides due to that over time. A free flowing air cleaner and removing the silencer from the air box helps too. While you're at it, new plugs wires and distributor cap and rotor would be in order if not done recently. The 96 already has a "mild cam" in it now. 256/266 advertised duration, .422/.445 lift. Those figures change to ,445/.473 with the 1.7 rockers. This cam is one step below the HO roller.

 

You can also pull spout connector out and bump the base timing up a couple of degrees....that mod is free.

 

FYI...there is no such thing as "high flow cats"...so as long as you oem cats are working fine...keep em and save some $.

The myth about high flow cats

http://www.catalyticconverter.org/news/news_page.cfm?Key=catalytic_converter-&News=89