Looking for suggestions on how to help my motor perform better under load. Are there some tricks or ways to help boost performance? Anything at all is greatly appreciated. Plan on taking mine camping and pulling a small travel trailer. I know it will pull it no problem but enhancements won't hurt. It is a 1997 4.0L. Thanks

 

 

It isn't really sluggish. I have had the regular maintenance done (New Radiator with coolant flush, oil changes, full tune up, etc.). Just looking for a little extra power for the trailer. Ill have to look into the tuner idea.

 

You can install a high performance cam. This is the more aggressive model from Comp Cams:

49-422-8 - High Energy? Hydraulic Roller Camshafts

It will require EEC tuning.

The less aggressive cam can use the stock EEC:

49-410-8 - High Energy? Hydraulic Roller Camshafts

If you want all-out performance and cost is no object, check out Tom Morana:

Tom Morana Racing Engines

 

changing the rearend ratio is the easiest way to increase acceration with a loss of gas mileage.

 

replace the paper air filter with a K&N air filter.

 

As someone who has used a K&N filter for over 30 years, I can tell you that it doesn't do anything except lighten your wallet, unless your engine needs significantly more air than stock. That's not going to happen unless you do something to enhance air flow by:

1. Install a bigger cam
or install rocker arms with higher lift

2. Install a bigger intake manifold

3. Install heads with bigger ports and valves

or any combination of above, which will result in a yet lighter wallet, but at least you will see significant power increases.

 

so you have been using K&N air filters for 30 years even though they do nothing?

 

That's a single filter for the last 30 years. I like the re-usable aspect. Plus, it's a lot tougher than the typical Fram. Once I was doing routine maintenance on the car and found the Fram filter had broken apart. No idea how much dirt I must have sucked in. I swap in a regular filter when I pull out the K&N to clean it, and wait for it to dry. I forgot about it that time. The K&N has a pretty tough silicon rubber structure that held up over all this time, and many swaps.

As for power enhancement, it did nothing.

 

I also use K&N filters in my Jags and though the power increase is not really felt in stop and go traffic, it does make a difference when you step on the throttle, the engine seems to like it.

 

I think that's where the benefit may be, in powerful engines that did not get a big enough air cleaner from the factory, running at WOT. However, I did not notice anything with it on my Mustang GT with it, other than a little more intake noise.

The stock Aerostar engine will probably not benefit from a freer flowing air cleaner. Note that the stock air box has a tiny tube inlet, that faces a baffle plate that looks like it completely blocks that tiny opening. I removed that plate a long time ago, and, nada.

 

If you are looking to get a small edge on a budget I suggest some or all of the following:
All prices assume you do it yourself.

#1 Change motor oil to synthetic. Less than $100
#2 Change differential and transmission oil to synthetic. Less than $100
#3 Install new Spark plug wires and Iridium Spark Plugs and replace the O2 sensors if they have more than 50K. O2 sensors are similar to spark plug in that they wear out and performance degrades slowly over time. I replaced my O2 sensors with 100k and no CEL, yet it was like a set of fresh spark plugs, a noticable improvement in power. Less than $200

I agree changing the differential ratio is a quick fix, lower gears will give you more acceleration and torque to move the trailer. This is a lot of work and well worth it if you tow often. For less money and work you could get new tires and wheels that would change the effective drive ratio and just run them when you tow or run the 24/7. I did this going the other direction as I wanted a bit more mileage so I went up 1" in tire height with 94 mustang 15" wheels running 215/75/15 Michelln's. These alloys are 1" wider and 1" taller than the stock 14" wheels. I had several cracked alloys on my 96 Aerostars that had the factory alloy, no problem with these and the wider rims fit perfectly. I tell people that I have the rare Aerostar with the Mustang option, it has Mustang alloy wheels, running boards and electric door locks. Almost showroom condition 60K<. It is my daily driver. 1996 AWD XLT Extended 4.0 4 captain chairs. I installed a Hellwig rear sway bar and used polyurethane bushings in the front stock sway bar, KYB gas shocks all around. It is amazingly steady in the wind, unlike my other Aerostars.