Hello everyone, Sorry this is long but, I have a 2004 ford f250 crew cab with a 5.4 gas engine 8’ bed with the FX package 65000. Going to be doing a lot of work on it and figured I ask some questions and get some advice. First, the truck has been running a little rough lately just changed the fuel filter and that’s not it so I'm going to give a full tune up, what is everyone using? What’s good for these trucks? What should I change? Also going to need new tires right now I’m running 10 ply good year I’m looking for the biggest 8 ply I could put on without a lift, I hate the way the truck drives its like driving with square wheels and last is the FX rancho shocks looking for a great replacement to give me a smoother ride. I know the shocks are most of the problems but I do a lot of highway miles and need to get a smother ride. Hate to spend the money and then hate it more. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Well for a full tune up I would use the OEM Motorcraft stuff they seem to be good quality parts from the dealer most people on here recommend that

 

Bilstein HD Shocks if you can find them, or a good HD model like Gabriel, Monroe. rancho 5000 some have said are good. (I am in the same boat, I put ProComp on my 2000 and was happy with them.)
Motorcraft plugs, platinum, these are supposed to be 100 Km plugs.
You might need a Coil over Plug unit or two, you might need an oxygen sensor, for these you need a code reader or have the dealer run on the computer and check once you have fixed everything you can....
Change fluids necessary. Engine, tranny, power steering, diffs, transfer case, coolant.
BFG A/T I htink your stock size is 265/75*16 or are yours 17 inch rims.
These are E rated tires but for a smoother ride, let air down to about 45 PSI for a 5.4. PSI is load dependant, but try in 5 psi increments and you will find a sweet spot.

 

Don't go changing COPs right away, get new BOOTS for all 8 holes... and use dialectric grease around the tip of the boot, the other end where it mates to the COP, and put some around the seal area where it seals to the head (this keeps water from going down the hole). You might just have some dirt and moisture in one of the holes.

 

I just went through the same rig-a-maroll at 79,000 miles.

I've done the following over the past couple months, and boy-o-boy it's like a brand new truck!!!

Monroe Reflex Shocks - Love them
285/75/16 "D" BFG KOs - LOVE THEM
Motorcraft spark plugs & 55 gallon drum of dielectic grease
Fuel Filter
Fuel Pressure Regulator (I had a problem here, not necessarily a tune up item)

Stone

 

Thanks for all the help, is everyone running D rated tires or E. I’m not seeing a lot of E rated tires. When I bought the truck it came with D, I upgraded to E but with shocks and tires it has a bad ride, looking to fix it this time around.

 

I'll second the OEM parts and Bilsteins. I had the old 2 valve 5.4 in my '97 F-150 and it ran best with Motorcraft parts.

Everything I've read has nothing but praise for the Bilstein shocks. When it's time to replace mine I'm not considering anything else.

As for tires, depending on if you tow or not, some of the 'D' rated tires are very close to the 'E' rated tires with respect to load capabilities. I think that the BFG AT KO's 285/75-16 'D' rating is around 3300lbs, which is close to my Pirelli Scorpions 265/75-16 'E' rating of just over 3400lbs. Be sure to check the tires weight rating as well as the letter code. You might be able to get away with a 'D' rated tire in a larger size.

 

The great debate between D and E tires has been batted back and forth on this forum for many a moon.

Here's some readin' for ya:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ng-d-or-e.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ated-tire.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...85-75r16e.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...tires-are.html

That should help you make your decision. I went with the "D" size tires, and I swear they made the 4 mile rocky, rutted, bumpy drive back and forth from my tree stand 1,000 times better. However, I don't haul much, and I certainly don't overload my truck, so I can get by with a "D"......like all things, it depends on what you plan to do with your truck.

Stone