Gears or not?
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 52
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From: Itasca USA
Gears or not?
Hey guys I really need some personal input on this one. I have a 97' reg. cab short bed 4x4 f150 w/5.4, e4od and 3.55 gears. I bought this truck w/113,000 mi.(131,00mi. currently) and it had harley davidson wheels and 275/55r20 cooper discoverer h-way tires. It looked good but it needed a rednecks touch, so I went and put a set of Eagle alloy 589's and 285/75/r16 BFG mudders on it and I have lost a lot of top end power around the 70mph range. It just doesn't have the guts it used to when going up hills and especially with a load behind it. I did a gear swap in my 92' f150 from 3.55's to 4.10's because I went from stock tire to a 33" BFG mudder. My question is can I do anything short of gear swap to feel a hp difference at the 70mph range...Programmer,chip, cold air intake???
BTW the only current mod is a K&N filter and a modified airbox which at night time(cooler atmosphere air) seems to really help.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
BTW the only current mod is a K&N filter and a modified airbox which at night time(cooler atmosphere air) seems to really help.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 52
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From: Itasca USA
No actually I am going about 76mph but last night, just for the heck of it I put the 20's back on it to see how big of a loss I had and it has no problem running 75 to 80 mph uphill with a headwind. The thing that really gets under my skin is I always see this model truck w/the same size setup (tires & wheels)running at highway speeds w/out a problem. I have never really had the chance to talk to anyone with the same motor, tranny, tire-size that I have so I dont really know what to expext from my truck.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 52
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From: Itasca USA
How will the chip/programmer help w/shifting? just less downshifting or what?
I have been looking at the superchips microtuner for the easy plug and play usability as well as the fact that I have experience w/superchips on my boss's powerstrokes.
I have been looking at the superchips microtuner for the easy plug and play usability as well as the fact that I have experience w/superchips on my boss's powerstrokes.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 191
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From: San Diego, CA
SkorpioN,
I have the same truck and found it needed gears to tow my horses. I also had an AirRaid Intake with K&N filter for 4 years. After 2 years and several re-oilings I cleaned the MAF sensor and it made a huge difference. After 2 more years and several oilings and MAF cleanings I got sick of the freaking bother and put back the stock intake. Dang if it doesn't run better than ever. I hate it when I get sucked in by the HP hype. Anyway, clean your MAF, put in a Motorcraft paper filter, and get 4.56 gears. You will love the jump in performance and my mpg went up from 11-12 to 13-14 city driving.
I have the same truck and found it needed gears to tow my horses. I also had an AirRaid Intake with K&N filter for 4 years. After 2 years and several re-oilings I cleaned the MAF sensor and it made a huge difference. After 2 more years and several oilings and MAF cleanings I got sick of the freaking bother and put back the stock intake. Dang if it doesn't run better than ever. I hate it when I get sucked in by the HP hype. Anyway, clean your MAF, put in a Motorcraft paper filter, and get 4.56 gears. You will love the jump in performance and my mpg went up from 11-12 to 13-14 city driving.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10
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From: Cincinnati
Most chips/programmers adjust the shift points due to the larger tire changing your overall drive ratio. This will help with acceleration, but other then downshifting better may not do anything for the highway speed power loss you are feeling.
If you do go with a programmer, most of them also allow for adjustments due to gear changes. So you could go with a programmer first to adjust the shift points, correct the speedo, and gain a little power. If that doesn't cut then swap the gears and use the programmer to update your computer for the new gears. That way your speedo and tranny will still be correct and at best performance.
Just a thought. I'm looking to upsize from stock 30's to 32 or 33's and that is route I'm taking. BTW I have a 99 4.6L 4x4 with 3.55 gears. Only the K&N filter for mods so far.
Let us know what you do and how it turns out!
If you do go with a programmer, most of them also allow for adjustments due to gear changes. So you could go with a programmer first to adjust the shift points, correct the speedo, and gain a little power. If that doesn't cut then swap the gears and use the programmer to update your computer for the new gears. That way your speedo and tranny will still be correct and at best performance.
Just a thought. I'm looking to upsize from stock 30's to 32 or 33's and that is route I'm taking. BTW I have a 99 4.6L 4x4 with 3.55 gears. Only the K&N filter for mods so far.
Let us know what you do and how it turns out!
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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I have a 2001 with 275-70-17 tires so about your size. has 5.4 with auto and 3.55 rear end. motor running about 1750 RPM when you are going about 65 mph. i dont drive 70-75, but have no horsepower problems at 65. IF you need more acceleration ro horsepower, then you need the motor to be running higher on the HP curve. I dont know the curve, but 2800- 3000 range should get a lot of HP.--- trying holding the transmission in the next lower gear and going up to 2500 RPM what ever speed that is. stomp on the throttle and see if you have enough HP. --- if you really need more, you problaby need rear gears to get ypur motor speed up.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 52
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From: Itasca USA
Thanks for all the input guys. I think when I get the money I will go w/the programmer seeing as how it is only a $400 investment compared to a $1000 to $1600 investment for the gears. Just like Jon Bauman said, if that dont pep it up enough then go w/gears.
I'll post back when I get the programmer.
Thanks all!
I'll post back when I get the programmer.
Thanks all!
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
Cool. Make note of what FasterHorses said as well. I forgot that the 97's still used a gear driven speedo. You'll have to actually replace the driven gear to fix the speedo. Scan some of the other threads on gears, tires and you will see what he means.
Good luck!
Good luck!