haha you shoulda seen my face when I saw this thread. Well if you remember I am one of the non-believers in bolt on performance (minus chips, superchargers, turbos etc). Mainly because I think people look at things one sided.
People want Horsepower so bad that they don't think about torque. Most bolt on items may bump up like 1/2 hp individually, but they have a very negative affect on torque. Just something to keep in mind. But to be honest we don't know. If we were a ford technician who went through a 2 year automotive program, the answer would probably be very simple. we are all just guessing. Perhaps only God knows the answers....

 

Yeah, Yeah, BOB, we all know cold dense air is better, but a large blast at high volocity is better than nothing, I'm not a fan fan of gutting the airbox, it's only temperary. Do you know Bob why some cai give you no hp, or you lose hp on some applications? The first thing you do when you install a cai, or any mod for that matter, is disconect the ground on the battery for about half hour. This will reset the computer, so it can relearn, and increase the fuel, for proper air, fuel ratio. Some computers can't adjust enough for a good cai, so you run lean, and lose power, or gain none, thats where the bama tuner comes in. Some vehicles take to mods with just resetting the computer, and some have to have a new program. For more extensive mods, such as cams, bigger injecters, ported head, bigger tb, you need a programer, and possibly a dyno tune as well by a profesonal at a shop. I can't speak for all rangers, or ranger motors, like Waves, on my 2000 ranger 4.0 4x4 auto trans, I installed an k&n cai, it had a smoother idol, and excellerated harder in the higher rpm range, I didn't know about resetting the computer then, wish I did. On my current ranger with the 4.0 sohc, I don't have a cai yet, but I had Doug go ahead and tune for it, thats why I chopped my box, to help the tune some. It may need some tweaking once the cai is installed, don't know yet. So I agree with you buddy, it is possible to put on a cai, and lose power, or gain none in some applications. The problem isn't that the cai's are no good, it's the computers inability to adjust for it. The 04, and down jeep grand cherokee's with the 4.7 gained 20 hp with the k&n fipik cai, it was in in all the offroad mags awhile back, so k&n used the jeep gc as thier poster child for a while, the test were done my the mags, not k&n. But those kind of numbers are the exception, not the rule, but the jeeps computer adapts well to mods, some don't. if a catback gives you 5 hp lets say, it's hard to feel 5 hp in a truck, but every little bit helps, when added with others. Headers, and a catback is more inpressive. Bob, your not totally wrong, theres just more to it than meets the eye.

 

Pintopower8, with all do respect, if you have a 4.0 sohc, bolt on a cai,headers,catback,bama chips,udp,e-fan, and 411 gears, and you will believe, if done properly. walk the walk, and then you can talk the talk. I respect your opinion, but to many people throw a part on, and if that one part doesn't snap t5hier neck, then it's junk. Your so right about torque, most mods raise your torque range, they did mine, I had to have Doug at bama chips program me a torque tune, it helped alot. A 4x4 with no lowend end, is worthless offroad, also the e-fan, and udp help in the torque department. 456's would be great also, but with gas prices, I an't going there. I haven't heard from you for awhile, I am glad to see your still kickin buddy!!

 

Wendell, just a little physics lesson for you.....if you increase the diameter of the intake (as an example), the air volocity (velocity) will drop, not increase!

 

haha I'll tell ya what wendel, I didn't realize we were including the e-fan and gearing mods. I also believe the chip is worth while. My only beef is with the cold air intake and exhaust mods done without tunning the engine to run with them. If you did all this and threw in a chip I can see why you have good results. I just believe K@N's lean out the air/fuel ratio, unless the computer knows its there. A chip should solve the torque issue there too. there is a lot more science to bolt on performance than some realize. Nice hearing from you too.

 

Bob, I'm not a scientist, I just know what makes my truck perform, and so do you, you just won't addmit it, come on, lets see a big smile, you know, you just like the thrill of the chase!
Pintopower8, your so right, it's so much trial, and error on these newer vehicles, every company claims thier product gives you a 100 hp, and it's up to us consumers to sort through the crap, but the secert, like you say, is in the tunning. With out a good tune, you have a bunch of expensive worthless parts, for the most part. Some parts will perform well, some won't, the tune makes all the difference.

Guys, I think we should give this a rest for awhile, there's alot of folks posting, that need our help with some serious ranger issues, we need to consentrate on trying to help them for awhile. The one thing we all have in common, we all love, and know rangers, lets give these other folks some help. And besides, some poor sucker will make the mistake of asking a performance question next week, and we'll be off, and running again, hee hee !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

can everyone agree to end this post? its gotten a little out of hand.. and nothing is getting accomplished

 

How about those magnets that increase MPG? And setting the intake temp at a constant 60 degrees for 30 HORSEPOWER!!! lol God knows those all work! (sarcasm in case you didn't see that...).

fordboy, it's your forum. Do what you think is best. It'll get started again, we'll run with it again. My opinion is to just let it run. It'll never get settled, but at least we can debate and come to some conclusions.

Comp needs to relearn for...practically everything.
Individually mods do little.
302 will run over them all.