5.0 performance upgrades
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5.0 performance upgrades
Just swapped my built F250 diesel for a super clean 16 Platinum with all the goodies on it. Towed about 3,000 Lbs. on an 18' trailer last week from OKC to Arkansas and while the 5.0 did OK, it was obviously nothing like the diesel where I could set the cruise on 80 and roll like there was nothing back there. (Yes, I got SPOILED) So I'm considering the usual S&B intake, Maggie exhaust and 5 Star tunes. My question for any who have gone this route is did it get good results and any towing experience? The dealership did make a big goof and put on 35" mud tires on the factory wheels so it killed some gearing and they were HEAVY! I went back to 33" A/T's on aluminum wheels and while I haven't towed I can tell the truck is more responsive now.
In other words, if I drop just over a grand on goodies, will the butt dyno feel the difference, especially when towing?
Thanks for any feedback on this!
In other words, if I drop just over a grand on goodies, will the butt dyno feel the difference, especially when towing?
Thanks for any feedback on this!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
None of those will help as much as gearing will. What is your gear ratio? Lots of 5.0 trucks had 3.31 gears and with a 33 its terrible. Swap to a 3.73 or 4.10. I went with 4.10 gears and 35's.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Las Vegas
Everything I've read said there's very little to be gained from the usual mods(CAI, tune, exhaust). The intake and exhaust are already pretty optimized for these engines, unless you go forced induction. Tune will just change the transmission strategy and improve driveability, but you won't see much HP/TQ gains, especially on 87 octane.
It's a shame because the 5.0 is probably one of the best V8 engines in a mass produced vehicle, but Ford did something to restrict the hell out of it in the F-150. Mustang owners are getting some pretty good power out of them, but you can't do much with the trucks unless you stick a supercharger on it. I'm told the 18+ has a lot more power hidden away that you can tap into(but also some reliability issues).
It's a shame because the 5.0 is probably one of the best V8 engines in a mass produced vehicle, but Ford did something to restrict the hell out of it in the F-150. Mustang owners are getting some pretty good power out of them, but you can't do much with the trucks unless you stick a supercharger on it. I'm told the 18+ has a lot more power hidden away that you can tap into(but also some reliability issues).
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LOL! - I love blower motors!! I built an 02 Harley truck with about 600 HP and my wife had a 12 GT500. I think what we find here short of a blower is the old rule "There is no substitute for cubic inches"
Intake and exhaust by themselves won't really trigger the butt dyno but a good tune should help wake it up, but these trucks are heavy (mine is a 6.4' bed) I will change the exhaust mainly because even at almost 70 years old, I love the sound of a nice V8.
I'm also not sure what actual differences there are between my wife's 17 Mustang GT's 5.0 and ours. Possibly cams, timing etc.
Intake and exhaust by themselves won't really trigger the butt dyno but a good tune should help wake it up, but these trucks are heavy (mine is a 6.4' bed) I will change the exhaust mainly because even at almost 70 years old, I love the sound of a nice V8.
I'm also not sure what actual differences there are between my wife's 17 Mustang GT's 5.0 and ours. Possibly cams, timing etc.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2018
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The f150s have slightly less compression and less lift on the cams than the mustangs. There are the boss and cobrajet intakes but the power they give is on the top end. You could put mustang cams and have it tuned but that is not a cheap option unless you find used cams.
I would say forced induction. A diesel is going to be a tough comparison for most gas motors when towing.
I would say forced induction. A diesel is going to be a tough comparison for most gas motors when towing.
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LOL - that's why I started by saying I was spoiled by the diesel - worse yet, I deleted it completely and added a good intake and Tyrant tune. 600 HP was no joke on that truck. It was lifted 6" on 35" Toyo's and it was just time to get a more "adult" truck since I will be 70 this year. The Platinum is just a much nicer truck and my knees like the power running boards.
So not wanting to go blown I changed the exhaust to a Borla, intake to S&B and got 5 Star tunes. I will lock out 6th gear and if it drops to 4th on a hill it's no big deal. We're moving back home to Arkansas soon so I will not be towing long distances then anyway.
So not wanting to go blown I changed the exhaust to a Borla, intake to S&B and got 5 Star tunes. I will lock out 6th gear and if it drops to 4th on a hill it's no big deal. We're moving back home to Arkansas soon so I will not be towing long distances then anyway.
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Laughing Gas
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So not wanting to go blown I changed the exhaust to a Borla, intake to S&B and got 5 Star tunes. I will lock out 6th gear and if it drops to 4th on a hill it's no big deal. We're moving back home to Arkansas soon so I will not be towing long distances then anyway.
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OK, I have now towed with the S&B intake, Borla exhaust and 5* tune - total of about 500 miles.Towing a 12' trailer with a side by side on it, BIG improvement over my first trip where the 5.0 was struggling, Locking out 6th gear I was able to run at 75 MPH with some downshifting to 4th and occasionally 3rd in the Arbuckle Mountains. Mileage was up about 3 MPG as well over the first trip!
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