need advise
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New User
Joined: Sep 2005
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need advise
Need some imput. With an 05 F250 4x4 cc 5.4 6 speed 4.10 limited slip and between 500 to 1000 to spend on performace mods what would you suggest. My preference is closer to the 500 mark. Im not really looking to improve mpg, if that happens that would be great. Would a programmer alone be fine? does it work with a stick? or do I need to add an exhaust? ( a quiet one if possible) intake? I rarely tow, if I do its just at most a couple four wheelers or small fish/duck boat. This truck suits my needs. I dont expect a "quick" truck, just a little more gitty-up. thanks for your time.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 3
From: Phenix City, AL
Shocks. Good Shocks.
Get some RS9000X's or Bilstein's. The ride was infinitely better after I put the 9000's on mine. Best purchase I made for mine dollar for dollar.
Get some RS9000X's or Bilstein's. The ride was infinitely better after I put the 9000's on mine. Best purchase I made for mine dollar for dollar.
Last edited by BFR250SD; Sep 18, 2005 at 10:57 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,440
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From: Ventura County, CA
I have a 2002 with the 5.4L. I tried headers: very little help; sold them and went back to stock. Added a cat-back exhaust: realized afterward that all I needed to do was change the muffler to a freer-flowing muffler; could've saved about $200 there had I known. Cold air intakes can actually hinder performance, so be cautious there. Very little bang for the buck anyways.
I never did a programmer, but that'd be my best guess for ways to help out your towing needs. You could program it for towing mode when you need it, and regular stock settings for all other times. But, as previously mentioned, you'll have to wait for someone to make one for the '05-'06's. Unfortunately, there's not a whole heckuva lot to do for the 5.4's. The diesels and the V-10's have a handful of performance mod's. Us 5.4'rs just keep pluggin' along with our stock motors.
Probably the best thing you've done so far is to get the 4.10 rear gears. I have the stock 3.73's. The 4.10's will give you a bit more punch. Don't go with big tires, or you'll lose that punch due to the extra weight of the big tires.
Best,
DS
I never did a programmer, but that'd be my best guess for ways to help out your towing needs. You could program it for towing mode when you need it, and regular stock settings for all other times. But, as previously mentioned, you'll have to wait for someone to make one for the '05-'06's. Unfortunately, there's not a whole heckuva lot to do for the 5.4's. The diesels and the V-10's have a handful of performance mod's. Us 5.4'rs just keep pluggin' along with our stock motors.
Probably the best thing you've done so far is to get the 4.10 rear gears. I have the stock 3.73's. The 4.10's will give you a bit more punch. Don't go with big tires, or you'll lose that punch due to the extra weight of the big tires.
Best,
DS
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 3
From: Phenix City, AL
Originally Posted by webmaster
Give me the PCM code of the truck and there's a good chance I can program an SCT Xcalibrator2 for it.
I have the SCMT right now. How much of a punch can you really get out of the Xcalibrator's?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
Standard tunes to standard tunes its about the same.
If I massange some values with the tune, you're gonna get more from the Xcal than the SCMT. One member recently dyno'd 35HP. Of course it was newer V10 but I can get you in that ballpark. Plus "unlock" the XCal2 so you can play with shift points, firmness and the magic items: air/fuel ratio and timing. :-)
If I massange some values with the tune, you're gonna get more from the Xcal than the SCMT. One member recently dyno'd 35HP. Of course it was newer V10 but I can get you in that ballpark. Plus "unlock" the XCal2 so you can play with shift points, firmness and the magic items: air/fuel ratio and timing. :-)
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 3
From: Phenix City, AL
Hehehe! Scotty, we need more power.
I'm assuming the 35 hp was on captchas truck. I may have to upgrade when I get home!
I'm assuming the 35 hp was on captchas truck. I may have to upgrade when I get home!
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Guest
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,988
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From: north west new jersey
i am in know way of knowing who ken or web master is talking about.
mine is a new v10 3 valve with headers, intake cold air kit and a custom exhaust and super tuned excalibrator from motor heaven and retuned on the dyno.
which i just got back from, all total is a 57 hp gain over stock. again this is a 05 v10 not a 05 5.4,
for our new user start off with a excal 2 from motor heaven "webmaster ken" and go from there, this is a tuner that you can do as he said in every way form and manner.
just understand in my case it's v10 and it's well massaged.
mine is a new v10 3 valve with headers, intake cold air kit and a custom exhaust and super tuned excalibrator from motor heaven and retuned on the dyno.
which i just got back from, all total is a 57 hp gain over stock. again this is a 05 v10 not a 05 5.4,
for our new user start off with a excal 2 from motor heaven "webmaster ken" and go from there, this is a tuner that you can do as he said in every way form and manner.
just understand in my case it's v10 and it's well massaged.
Trade it in for the same truck with a Power Stroke.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
Yes, its essentially the same motor. One thing though (Charlie knows this now too! :-)), if its a Super Duty and the gear ratio and/or tire size deviates from stock you've got to let me know when making the tune. Actually, let me know it anyways, because the files have base gear ratios and tire revs per mile. On the Super Duty, because it handles the speedo differently its a good thing to tell me, because if for some reason your vehicle's ROM has different ratios than the base line I send you're going to get some weird shifting patterns.
With a stick shift you'll obviously not get the tranny tuning benefits, which can be a big deal for some, but you'll still get the power enhancements and reducing of Ford's torque-reduction strategies.
With a stick shift you'll obviously not get the tranny tuning benefits, which can be a big deal for some, but you'll still get the power enhancements and reducing of Ford's torque-reduction strategies.