Power is the rate of doing work, so an engine pushing a vehicle travelling at a constant speed is generating some constant amount of power (some of which is dissipated through heat and friction). Ford rates the 5.4 V8 at a max of 300 hp at 5000 rpms (this also happens to be the redline). Looking at my trans and rear end ratios, the only time I could even reach 5000 rpms, before the 100 mph limiter kicks in, is in first or second gear.

trans ratios 1st 2.84:1, 2nd 1.55:1, 3rd 1.0:1, OD 0.70:1
rear end 3.73:1
Tires 265/70 R17 (tire circumference 99.29 in)

so at 5000 rpm, speed = 1st 44.4 mph, 2nd 81.3 mph, 3rd 126 mph, OD 180.1 mph) note 3rd and OD are past limiter speed

So the max available power in 3rd or OD is considerably less than 300 hp, which is fine since most us don't need to go over 100 mph. However, if you want to make these vehicles perform better at lower speeds and utilize more available power and torque you must increase the rear end ratio. Of course your highway fuel mileage will suffer due to the higher rpms. Too bad we don't have 2 OD gears and could then have the best of both worlds - highway fuel economy and low end performance, but a 5 or 6 speed trans, geared properly, could do nearly the same thing. Dropping 500 lbs from the vehicle weight wouldn't hurt either.

In my opinion, these trucks are dogs in the acceleration department, not because of a weak engine, but because they are too heavy (heaviest of all full size pickups) and they sorely need 1 or 2 more gears. I hope Ford is looking at improvements in these areas for the upcoming model years. If not, they could lose a lot more sales to Dodge and Nissan.

 

Ohh Yeah!!! They lost a **** load of sells to Dodge and Nissan last year...Didn't they!For your information people who buy trucks, buy them to work and not to kick *** in the quarter mile...I have a corvette for that. I buy a truck to pull my boat comfortably and without breaking down. I was at the lake this weekend and a Nissan was sitting on the ramp..crapped out---his rearend was locked up. I guess when he gets it fixed he can go pill out again.. I've had fords from day one and they have never let me down. Pull up to any constructions site and see how many nissans you can count..

 

what rpm does the torque come in? Thats what counts.

 

The ford is heavier than the other offering is becuase it is built to pull a lot of weight safely and do it over and over. Another thing most people dont know is that the truck will pull a lot harder and devolp more power when a trailer is hooked up because of the governor chip.

The 300 HP rating is misleading- You are right about this since it is done at flywheel, meaning there is no loss of energy through the transmission, driveshaft and axles. Course in the same sense, all numbers are misleading from all truck companies since they all do it by flywheel instead of RWHP

 

You are correct - keep this in mind though.

Dodge rates the Hemi @ 340bhp BUT in the Ram the engine NEVER reaches the peak horsepower for the advertised rpm to reach the 340bhp.

When I hasd my 03 Hemi people were goimng to the dyno & realized the rear wheel hp with drive train loss doesn't equal 340bhp. Some people pulled the ABS fuse which allowed the truck to rev to peak HP. Excellent marketing scheme.

 

oh and ford has NEVER replaced a rear end on these new 04-05 f150s???? i think you need to read this board a little more...what about the vibrations while driving...hear of that one yet??

 

Well I think the hemi name is very misleading. People just see hemi and instantly think ahhh. People run down the new 150 thinking it has no power. Burns me up. People dont look at the facts before talking. And Dodges after thirty thousnad miles the rear ends go out. Thts just some off the Dodges problems Ive heard about.

 

I really do not care if it has 290, or 310 HP. It has enough power for me. If really needed more, I would have bought a Powerstroke

 

Actually redline for the Ford 5.4 is 5250, with peak HP @5,000. 85% of the torque is in the 1,000rpm range, and that's exactly where I want it to pull my boat. Actually they could get more acceleration by just changing the gear ratios, in the transmission.

 

My 5.4 Screw gets it pretty good. It feels well powered to me. Of course though, I'm always up for more HP.

 

I have a 1958 BMW Isetta - they have a "hemi" engine in them. The engine displacement is 300 cc and it puts out a whopping 13 horsepower! (I obviously don't pull a trailer with it)

 

Yes, the truck is heavy. I'd rather have a heavy truck, with a strong frame that still gets descent gas milage, then have excellent gas mileage and only have the truck for 5 yrs. The acceleration isnt THAT bad. I mean, Its got sum get up and go. Hp doesnt play a huge roll in acceleration. If the tranny had a 5th gear, problem solved, the Titan would have a serious competitor. It still has lots of low end grunt, which helps a lot, but a 5th gear is necessary if Ford wants to be a competitor in the "hemi" market.

 

[QUOTE=J Jones] Dropping 500 lbs from the vehicle weight wouldn't hurt either.
In my opinion, these trucks are dogs in the acceleration department, not because of a weak engine, but because they are too heavy (heaviest of all full size pickups)



I gladly take the "excess" weight. Weight is the number one factor in a collision w/ another vehicle. Besides, where would Ford lose the 500lbs.? In the frame? Body? It's heavy for a reason. If it were 500lbs lighter it would be like the "plastics R us" nissan.

 

what do you mean when you plug a trailer it gives you more power?

 

I have to agree with the trailor comment. It seems my truck will run faster when I have a little weight in it. There was an ad in the Off-road Adventures magizine this week that showed where hypertech was showing HP and TQ gains with there new tuner. Ya'll should check out there site or something. This 5.4 make a ton of TQ almost right of idle. According to the chassis Dyno this 5.4 is better that Sh^terolet's 6.0. Oh by the way if you will hold you right foot on the floor when at a dead stop you'll see that tach hit 5 grand.