Project M-P-G
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From: Canastota
Project M-P-G
I recently ran across this site during my sufing. I found the tests and mods done(most of them) to be relatively simple and the performance gains to be quite good. For example, a tune up consisting of timing increase, TPS adjustment(how and why????) new plugs, cap/rotor and wires gave a 4.7% hp increase and a 4.9% tq increase. This sounds a bit steep to me. Do yall buy the gains they claim?? What I am really interested in (by means of gains) is the; Thermostat, Cold Air, Filter, and Tune Up. Does all this seem worth doing and do the gains seem right(w/o getting the thread deleted)??
http://performanceunlimited.com/projectmpg/overall.html
http://performanceunlimited.com/projectmpg/overall.html
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From: Woodbridge
I remember reading this article when it was published in Four Wheeler Magazine several years ago. I was very interested in the specifics because their project truck had the same powerplant that my truck has in it. The numbers are decent for what they did, but 4.7 percent improvement really isn't that great an increase. Plus, for the money they spent on the new parts, you were not going to make cheap power. I priced the heat reflective tape they used to wrap the air intake and found the cost to be beyond my budget at the time! Most of what they did to the truck was setting things straight after many miles of use - adjust the TPS, change the wires, etc. The cumulative effect of all these items and services gave a fairly small benefit, as the article in Four Wheeler attests.
By the way, your Ford truck manual will tell you how to adjust the TPS - just remember to be careful when probing the wiring connector.
By the way, your Ford truck manual will tell you how to adjust the TPS - just remember to be careful when probing the wiring connector.
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From: Canastota
Well, the parts they used were high quality brand name parts. Im sure you could get the same results from cheaper mid grade parts. Is there a special type if tape they used to cover the air tubes and stuff?? Is it just reflective aluminum tape or something else?
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From: MA
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From: Canastota
Hmm, ill look around for a cheaper type, theres gotta be something similar. I wonder if regular reflctive tape would do the same. And the thermostat, would that make a difference? But, do the % gains seem right? If someone (me) were to do a few of the things, would they get about the same results?? I'm just lookin for stuff to do and if that stuff seems right I might attempt some of it.
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From: MA
I would assume you could get similar results with a cheaper reflective tape. A better thermostat can make a difference, but I think each vehicle and their "State of health" have a lot to do with it. You would get similar results, because Four Wheeler is a reputable magazine. Also, figure that the combination of these upgrades contribute to the numbers. I think the law of marginal utility comes into play (4% efficieny gain of a product + 3% efficiency gain of a second product does not necessarily equal 7% efficiency gain).
Rich
Rich
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From: Canastota
Cools, I could get some reflective tape. Bout the thermostat, should I get the 190 or the 180?? The site said they used a 180, but ive heard that I shouldnt use that one. OR, should I say screw it and stick with the one already in there? My coils lookin kinda beat up and junky(metal thingy that goes round it is rusted/cracked), so maybe ill get an MSD TFI Blaster coil to replace.
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