Hello everone!
I am new here and have a few problems with my truck. It is a 2002 4x4 double cab f150 with a a camper shell, k&n intake and power robbing 33x13.50 tires (Dick Cepeks). It has about 130,000 miles. I really like the looks of this truck and am impressed with the fit and finish. It is my first ford, I have had a s-10, toyota pickup and an 05 dodge with a Cummins.
The motor in this truck is extremely anemic compared to anything. When pulling an enclosed trailer that weighs about 4,200 lbs, the tranny is always looking for a gear and will hit 3,500+ RPMs and it wont pull any harder than it did in the lower gear. (It just makes more noise) While pulling this trailer, I get about 7 or 8 mpg, and while driving without, I've never topped 13.
My other issue is with the brakes. Pedal pressure seems fine but they just do not stop well, even without the trailer. Pads are okay and that is as far as I have looked into it.
I plan on getting smaller tires when I can afford them and will change the plugs this week. Is there anything else I can do to make this truck work better without having to get a second job to afford?
Thanks for your responses,
Joe Tomsich

 

Welcome to FTE Joe!

The oversize tires are robbing you of the power and gas mileage, although the mileage is not too far from the norm. The added weight of the oversize tires is likely to be the cause of your braking issues as well.

You could change the gears in the front and rear differentials to something on the order of 4.10 or 4.56 gears. This would correct the gearing of the truck, bringing it back to life on the power and mileage issues. A brake upgrade would be in order as well.

The less expensive answer is to go back to the stock tire size. Good luck and enjoy your new truck!

 

John is right.. Gears.. on my old 00 all I did was go from the 2wd size to 4wd size and that was enough to make it gutless. 4.56 would be way to go.. or 4.30 with 30's.

 

Replacing gears seems to be the opposite thing he needs to be doing, from his first post!

The OP seems to be wanting the CHEAPEST way to get his truck to perform like he wants. Gears will correct the lack of power, but his MPGs will still be below what they should, and the truck will still not brake the way he wants.

He needs to go back to the correct tire size, and that should resolve his issues!

 

Thanks for the responses guys! I think tires will be first on the agenda. I bought the truck with these tires on and they are unbeatable off road but unfortunately,my time in the dirt is pretty limited. Maybe I will hit Big O and see what they got.
I wondered how much of a difference these tires were making.
Any suggestions on plug wires?

 

Yep: NONE

The 5.4 uses Coil on Plugs(COPs), and there are no conventional plug wires.

 

I see, thanks for the info. Do these ever need replaced?

 

yep when they go bad

 

Gotcha, so is it like having eight coils?

 

that's exactly what it is