Alright guys, this is where I need the emotional support of my fellow Triton Powered Super Duty owners. I am involved in a heated debate with a friend of mine, who lit a fire under my rear making the blanket statement that the 5.4L SD's are UNDERPOWERED, especially in comparison to the General Motors Vortec 5300 and 6000 series small block.

Now I for one will stand behind my Triton 5.4 until the little engine that can does me wrong. In fact, I prefer my 5.4 over the general's pushrod engines. They may go fast (a lot faster), but I feel they are not as suited for all-around truck applications as the mod motor in these SD's.

Does anybody have a horsepower/ torque curve for the 5.4 and any testimony/ opinions regarding our debate?

 

I run a Triton V10, but I have driven several 5.4L's and all I will say is: The "feeling" that a vehicle is underpowered is nothing more than an opinion.

Underpowered for what? The vehicle moves briskly under its own power and does the speed limit easily; Even with 3.73s the thing can tow close to 10,000 pounds, and there are countless stories on here about guys with the 5.4 pulling semi's out of the snow/mud.

There is no way to "prove" that his opinion is wrong, because there are no facts being presented in his argument. Speaking strictly in terms of horsepower and torque, the newer 3 valve 5.4s are making 300HP and 365 ft lbs. of torque. Those numbers are very close to what the 6.0L Vortec output up until the new body style 07s which they upped to 353 hp (but torque only up about 5 ft lbs to roughly 370).

But thats all beside the point, since Chevy doesn't even really make a truck if you define a truck as a vehicle with two live axles.

 

According to the seat of my pants dyno, a 6.0L chevy will smoke a 5.4L ford, and a 5.3L chevy is pretty comparable.

 

We had two 2v 5.4L vehicles and just traded in a 2005 F-350 RC 4x4 with the 3v 5.4L. The 3valve 5.4L is a powerful engine, but it makes it's power peaks :300hp@5,000rpm & 365 lb./ft.@3,750rpm which is perfect for the deeper 4.10:1 optional gears. Our '05 SD had 3.73:1s, so it was sluggish off the line, pulling, but we've driven 3valve 5.4L trucks with the optional 4.10s& TorqShift tranny, and these felt much stronger. I hear the 5.4L/6-speed/ 4.10 gears is a nice combo, but we haven't found any to testdrive. Our '04 F-350 RC 4x4 had a 2v 5.4L, 4R100 trans, and 3.73s and felt stronger than our 3v 5.4L, 5R110 trans, 3.73s truck did. Why? Well, mainly because the older 2v 5.4L engines rated peak torque came in at 2,500rpm(350 lb.ft.). Ford should offer the 4.10s STANDARD, but make the 4.30s optional with the 3v 5.4L. I'm sure, it would be a whole different story then! I've heard a rumor the 5.4L may get a power increase before it's phased out in the next few years. I'm guessing now, but maybe 325-330hp? 300 really is plenty with the right tranny, and axle gears, but you know the horsepower war. More torque, at lower engine speed would be even better in a heavy truck.

 

Compare apples to apples. The GM trucks are faster because they weight a lot less than a Super Duty. Put about 1000 pounds in the bed of that 5300, then let's drag race.

It's wonderful to brag about how fast your truck is, but I didn't buy a truck to drive fast. I purchased a truck to tow a heavy load. A Super Duty flat out-tows a GM truck.

Put my trailer behind a 3/4 ton GM truck with the 5300, middle of winter on I-39 heading north out of Normal IL, steady 40 MPH cross wind, 10 degrees out, snowing.......you'll learn real fast which is beter, heavy or fast.

Also, is it fair to compare the 5.4 Triton to the 6.0L GM V-8? Maybe we should be comparing that to the V-10?

 

Also, the 2v 5.4L didn't make more low end torque. This is from Ford's specifications, 2007 model year:

Ford’s modular 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton V-8 delivers 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. More than 80 percent of peak torque – nearly 300 pound-feet – is available starting as low as 1,000 rpm.

 

I know my 2001 F250 CC 4x4 5.4/3.73 is faster than my 1989 F350 CC 2wd 351/C6/4.10 at any speed--> out of the hole or top end. I think the 5.4 is fine and better suited with 4.10 gears.

 

What do you mean "smoke". Speed I agree, but i need someone to donate a 6.0 3/4 ton silverado to chain my hitch too to prove a "truck point"

 

U are also comparing a 6.0l to a 5.4l. The 6.0l already has .6L over the 5.4 and the 6.0l has pushrods. We all kno pushrod engines make more power. But even if it does make more hp, id rather have SOHC motor just because i wouldnt be afraid to actually rev it. Id rather have less power and have a OHC engine.

 

HEY let me tell ya something opinions are like A$$hloes everybodys got one and yours all stink( mine dosnt) I didnt buy this truck to race. its a truck and my little 5.4 dos me verey good if they want fast we will have to go get a lighting and try that. but for pushin snow or haulen anything My 5.4 is fine

 

"chain my hitch"...is that what they call it these days?

 

The GM 6 liter is a fine motor. My buddy drives a 2000 Silverado 4x4 2500LD with that motor. He and I drove over 2800 miles on an Elk expedition to WY this year. Me in my truck with PSD, and he in his truck, his travel trailer just a little heavier than mine. He could not match the diesel of course, but I was very impressed with how well he kept up with me. And there are some big assed hills between here and there.

It's not fair to compare his motor with a Ford 5.4L. But having recently traded away a 5.4L I can say without question that I would never have come even close to keeping up with him. That scheduled trip was a big factor in my jump to an F250 and I'm glad I did because it would have been embarrassing. He also got better mileage than I ever did towing with the 5.4L.

I won't disrespect the 5.4L, it does pretty good for 330CI, but Ford seriously needs a bigger V8 to be competitive. They should reserve the 5.4L for the F150.

Bill

 

well my '99 5.4 (235hp stock) will never win a race. (has lost to a stock suburban with 5.7 vortec and a 5.3l GMC w/ stock gears on 33's... both with having all mods in my sig)

i'm not ashamed, i'll say it; i think it's underpowered. but i don't mind it. as stated, speed and racing wasn't my buying intentions. was a helluva truck for what i paid for it and it had what i wanted. (solid axle, good looks, great shape)

 

I hate you redford

 

You can't get a 3/4 ton gm with a 5.3L v8, they only come with a 6.0, 8.1, or 6.6L duramax. Comparing a 6.0 to a v10 is just like comparing a 5.4 to a 6.0, they are just too different. I am relatively sure that my dads 2000 2500 chevy with the 6.0L gas motor will do just fine towing your load. It obviously wont keep up with my powerstroke, but it will tow the same load.