I am looking for advise one my next move. You get to a point where the HP gain per dollar starts to level off and I am at that point. I want advise on where you think my next dollars should be spent.

I have a 2001 F250 SD 5.4L 4x4 auto trans. Not an everyday driver but used for hunting and trips to the beach so I don't want to cross a line where it become a truck I need to trailer to the off-road site. Must remain legal.

Already added K&N Mass Cold Air Induction, Trottle body spacer to improve air flow and fuel mixture, Gibson Shorty Headers, custom exhast with wide open converter and Vortex Muffler, Superchip programmer dailed in to the max performance with 93+ octane fuel, another chip (forget the brand) to correct for the over size tires to get the shift points and engine to work correctlly allowing the trans to be dailed in to the max. Skyjacker lift with 37x12.5x17 BFG M/T on the truck typically, but I run 35x10.5x16 STL Boggers in the Mud Bogs.

I want torque off the line with the bogger. I can't get any more air into it or exhast out of it. Is my next step to change to aftermarket comp heads and change the cams or can I get much just with a cam change. I have consider the hotter coil packs for better ignition, but if I am not adding more fuel is that a waste, do I need to up size the injectors. Is an aftermarket performance air intake to feed the heads a possibleity. I can't add a supercharger or NOS and run in the class I am use to. Are under drive pulleys worth the benefit to get a horse or two there. I dont want to change gear ratio because I run in 4low and I dont want to loss important wheel speed.

I think the heads can only move so much in and out and they are my weak link now. But will just a cam change do it or do I need to get over port comp heads with cams and a new custom dyno computer program. Money is not the problem I just dont like to waste it for HP I cant fell in the seat. The other real problem is that most aftermarket cams etc. or for 2005+ F150 5.4L. Will they work on my 2001 F250 5.4L.

Finally should I just start over with a crate Navigator 5.4L DOHC 4V and build on that.

I will be watching for advice.

 

Sounds like you are pretty maxed out with all the normal bolt-ons. What gear do you have turning the boggers?

 

i dont know too much about heavy engine modification but id say the next move would be some cams and aluminum/ported heads

 

I think the only choice you have is to increase the breathing, wind it up even further in RPMs, and go for more gearing so you can use the RPMs...

That means head porting, cams, intake, anything. DOHC doesn't sound too bad, actually. You'd get a lot more RPMs with usable torque that way.

But then, with RPMs, so goes rods and crank.

Does it have to be a stock engine size? Or can you go for a 460 conversion with the appropriate stroker kit or something?

 

think about a super charger!!!

 

Man, the V10 at $600($498 invoice) is a heck of a deal!

 

I'd Say Drop a Supercharged V10 in the truck and you won't have any problems.

 

I am running stock 4.10LS gears. We run in Low lock 4x4 because this would be like nailing the trottle from a dead stand still while standing in wet cement trying to get the forward motion and wheel speed up as fast as possible. This takes torque. Yes when the rpm get in the high range the parties on then but if you cant get the rpm up because you are bogged down it just dose not work. The gear choice is a balance if i go to 4.30 or 4.56 i will get more start line torque but my max wheel speed and forward motion when the rpm get up will be slower so it is a balance. Even if I change gears I would still want more torgue.

No, I can't change to a V10 or add a supercharger in this class. It must remain as stock as I started. I can change motors but it must still be a 5.4L.

Let me explain my felling on the 5.4L because people get the wrong idea. This truck if bad to the bone. I am the ONLY person any of these people know with a new truck. Everyone else runs pre-emmision, pre-computer, 1970s and 1980s motors where more can be done to them and stay legal and where more power options are available to them. They all run light weight F150s and chevy. I run a late model SD that weights a whole 2000+ lbs more and I have and big fan base because people love to see THEIR truck in the show. I kick A.. I always finish second or third out of 20. I love the 5.4L and it has plenty of power. I am just looking for the win. FOR THE FORD GUYS!

 

What RPM are the stock crank/rods/pistons good for? Depending on which is the weak link as far as RPMs is concerned, valves or crank, I'd go with a cam change. I'd start by changing out the cam and add matching, better rated springs. This should increase the breathing and the redline. Don't go too wild with overlap or you'll lose streetability. More air in, more HP. See how it works, go from there.

 

There are no aftermarket heads available. They are all ford castings that are ported. The 4v conversion with big cams is your best bet for a N/A motor.

For boltons, you can get a 75mm throttle body and fuel rail kit with adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Ethyenol injection is another option. Perhaps a bigger MAF. IF you are running a custom tune, you could change your valvesprings out and get another couple hundred RPMs out of the motor.

 

(Quote: I am just looking for the win. FOR THE FORD GUYS!) Rock on Soilman and let us know when you beat those older rust buckets. Glad to see someone else is not afraid to get their ride dirty.

 

Update on my research. Comp Cams makes nothing for me but high range HP cams. Crower has the Baja Beast #62905-2 for low end torque. Crane suggest the #379601 but says I must change the valve springs to use it. Anyone used these yet?

I am ordering a underdrive pully set. My engine pro I found ( finally with relative experience with the 5.4L modular motor ) said it will let the motor spin up faster not to mention free up a few horses. He also said hotter coil packs are a ripoff. He is using the same stock coils we have in our trucks to make 800+ hp in a Mustang. I have another appointment on the chassis dyno with him to drop the aftermarket Superchip program and let him use his own custum program to max it out. I will let you know the results.

By the way another advantage I have is Im water proof. The early model engines get the distributer and plugs wet and die, even had a few take water into the pistons. Ever seen a day lighted engine? COOL as long as its not your engine. In spite of efforts to close the wheel wells, I have more mud on top of my engine block as 99% of new truck owner get in their wheel wells. I lift the hood and spend 2 hours washing off the engine with a garden hose, close hood, restart engine, ready for more!

PS. A hint on my current HP gains ( i'll give you real numbers later ). How many of you with 5.4L can lay down 100+ foot twin black marks on pavement with 37" tires just from stomping the gas, not power braking it. I love the smell!

 

Impressive. I'm interested to hear how your #'s come back. I'm going to have my truck done soon.

 

Had to call of my next chassis dyno appointment, Dman it! The boss ( wife, we all got one )already blew the play time budget this month, just a short delay.

But my research continues. I have been advised that the next mods should include the underdrive pulley set but I didn't get the ones I was because they turned out not to be the one I needed. I can't find a straight answer from even the makers on whether the ones listed for the 2001 or newer F150 4.6L & 5.4L will work on my 2001 F250 5.4L. Any one tryed the pulleys yet and were do I get them?

I have been told to invest in electric fans to free up HP, but have the same problem as above, availablity for my truck. Will the others work on my truck? Also, if my alternator is slowed down with a pulley change I am told I could notice some small charging issues that I could live with, but combined with the added power demands of the e-fans does this become a bigger problem? Any advise?

If you can believe this I learned all the Mass flow air tubes and over size throttle bodys are a waste because that big black plastic spider behind them they call the air intake is accually the most limiting factor. They make aftermarket versions of this but where for my truck? Anyone know where to get them?

I am starting to settle with the Crane cam because everyone is saying I should change the valve springs like Crane recommended. The Crower looks better for torque on paper but specs out to lift the valves harder than the Crane and Crower doesn't say a spring change is needed, sounds fishy.

The 2001 5.4L already comes with the PI heads. The best I can do with them is just get them ported. No need to do any more then that and I will be as good as any aftermarket heads for SOHC.

Plan of attack if I can find the parts: add underdrive pulley, e-fans, change air intake manifold, add Crane torque cam and valve springs, port heads and custom tuner program peaked on a chassis dyno between each step to track progress. Now completely maxed out with "bolt-ons". Then run till she blows and then start over with a crate Navigator 5.4L 4V DOHC. Hopefully I won't need that last step any time soon!

I know there are some very experience engine people on this forum, am I on the right track or have I been lead astray? Yes I know this could probably be better answered on the 5.4L forum, but I started it here and I am looking for F250 SD parts.

Hopefully, waiting on your advise!

 

Stroker motor.