90k on a 99 EB Expedition

It it worth doing any mods?

Considering any all of the following and I would appreciate your feedback.

Cat back system, would like the improved flow, sound and not too concerned with the power gain on this mod - Brand?

Performance chip? Had a hypertech on another brand of vehicle and it was great. Any thoughts on a chip for Ford, brand, dealer results etc.?

Air intake or supercharger kit?

Thanks!

 

The chip and exhaust are good mods and all, aside from the supercharger, are relatively simple and inexpensive. To get the most bang for your buck, add a chip or get a chip tuner. I haven't kept up with all the brands and latest hype, but I've got a superchip programmer and have always liked the gains as well as the flexibility. If you go cat back, I've heard gibson is probably the best choice. Try a search here and on the f150 board and you'll find tons of info on cat backs. You're right about not really realizing any performance gains with the exhaust though. Personally, if I were to dual my Expy (I just can't force myself to do it....that's what my '68 F250 is for), I'd have true duals run from the cats back and exit on the right side. I wouldn't waste too much time and money on an air intake although they look kinda cool with the hood open.

Good Luck.

 

I've heard Borla is good for exhaust. Get the programmer so you can easily change the programming instead of having the chip reburned. A guy on here put a supercharger on, and he loves it. If you really want power, have your heads worked, and put a supercharger on, and exhaust. Then you should be feelin it in your but when you press the happy pedal.

 

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate the info.

I started to look for chips on the Hypertech website and all they has listed was a "programer" that plugged into the computer port on the Expe. It supposedly remapped the computer. Is this what you are talking about or is there an actual chip that you can program and replace?

 

Yep, thats the one I'm talkin about. The one that plugs into the diagnostic port. I believe that superchips makes one too.

 

Cool, I was just reading up on the superchip model. Looks pretty simple to use.

It has two modes, full performance (towing not reccomended) and Perf/towing.

I tow a boat on the weekends so I would need to use perf/tow setting but wonder how hard it would be to switch programs before I go to the lake?

Any thoughts?

Also thoughts regarding any draw backs to doing exhaust or performance mods to the truck since it has 90K on it?

 

I think that all you have to do is plug the programmer in and change which setting. Fairly easy and quick IMHO. Go for it on the exhaust and performance upgrades, nowadays, the engines will run a long time before needing to be rebuilt. Just make sure you keep it maintained.

 

The Superchip can be as easy as installing one of the preprogrammed settings or as complicated as individually tuning/changing factory settings. On my vehicle, I opted for the simple preprogrammed approach (although I keep saying, "one of these days I'll customize my settings"......yeah right). To answer your previous question, there were actual "chips" that were plugged into the PCM in the past. Nowdays most use the programmers for the exact same purpose, ease of use and dual function as a code reader.

I love the idea of supercharging, but would NOT do with a high mileage engine unless I planned on a complete rebuild (new long block) at the same time.

Have fun with your mods.

 

Thank you gentlemen, I have decided on using the Superchip brand model 1715. Found it on a website www.2dperformance.com special phone in price of 319.99

Still not sure on the exhaust, I have a rattle in both of the cats on my expe when it is a fresh start. Once the engine warms up it goes away.. Think a clamp or two might fix that...

Anyway the exhaust I want would add more sound but not be real loud inside or out. Just a little growl and sound like a real v8 instead of the mommy wagon.. I had another brand truck with at 5.7 ltr. (now that gives it away...) and just put turbo muflers on it and it was perfect.. Not sure that is an option on this thing..

How loud would you guys say the gibson or flow master systems?

Thanks!


P.s. What is with the crazy 4 cats on this thing with the complicated pipe system...

 

Why are you trying to get a 6000lb Expy to go fast? They are to haul the boat, grocerys, and the family around. If you are looking to go fast then buy a Mustang. No offense, just my 2 cents....

 

Good question, I agree with you 100% on the go fast part.

To be brutally honest the reason I would like to up the power is that I do pull a boat. I am sorry to say the 5.4L ford plant and tranny does not pull well or deliver the power it supposedly has.

I love my Expe, it is by far the best class. More room & comforable than the others.

My only dissapointments are:

It just doesn not pull as well as a compareable vehicles I have owned. It seems to work too hard and shift poorly under load. I think this is partly due it's size/weight and to who it was designed for. Just hoping improved computer mapping may help a bit.

I dont think it breaths very well for a big ride with a V8. Too much back pressure, you can feel it in the gas pedal... and it sounds like a quiet sedan not the nice truck that it is... I Would attribute this to EPA and the target owner. Bottom line, I just think a little more tone/growl from the exhaust would be nice. (not looking for a lot of noise)

Alright sorry for the lengthy response but I had to get that off my chest.. I feel better now and I won't let it happen again.

This is my first Ford product and those are my only complaints. Not huge complaints mind you but if I had to be picky those would be about it...

 

I would try the chip first then. People say it is real good for the money, and it would change the shift points also helping your xmission complaints. Mine seems to do really good towing. I've had a trailer load of wood behind it with hardly noticing it was there. Have you done a tune up on it latley?

 

Nope, just routine oil changes, had the tranny flushed a couple of weeks ago and changed the fluid in the rear diff..

Thought about changing the pluggs but my mechanic suggested otherwise. He indicated the factory plug was a double tip bosch platinum which should be good over 100k (not sure about that). Hi main concern was the coils on each plug, the pain it was to replace them and that his experience was that once you pulled the coils they seemed to start going bad and that they were very expensive to replace.. Again, new to the Ford thing so I am not sure??

I pull a small 18' ski boat that weighs 2300 lbs. which is light by most standards. It won't accellerate up to speed quickly at all (don't mean fast but relative to others) and has a hard time maintaining 65 or70 mph.

I'll say the evil... Pulled the same boat behind a Tahoe and it was like you said, would not know anything was back there..

Wonder if the A4WD has anything to do with it? But then again to did that other vehicle.....I dunno........

 

You can turn the A4WD off by pulling fuse #104 in the engine compartment fuse box. As for the plugs, they are motorcraft plugs, and you do need to change them soon. Coils aren't gonna go bad just by removing them.

 

Sounds good, I'll change them this weekend. Is there any special tools required or cautions I need to take?

As for the A4WD, I seem to have a problem with the 4wd engaging and disengading intermitantly and it seems to be attributed to the computer sensing false wheel slip when the tires are not exactly the same size due to wear/air pressure.

do you know if pulling the fuse would solve? Are there problems with driving it that way for an extended length of time?