more power for towing
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2000
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more power for towing
Below is my truck, most all original with minor modifications.
Seem to have decent torque to get my 26', 5500 lb trailer moving but I seem to need more power when pulling long grades, (greater than 6% incline for nearly a mile, typical for Oregon cascades). Long Hills will pull the truck down to 30-35 mph in second gear. I know the 351 is a better towing engine, but I like getting 18 mpg on freeway. Which way should I go? Headers? K&N filter charger? New computer Chip?
1995 Eddie Bauer 4WD EXT f150
302, E4OD, 3.55 gears
K&N drop-in, flowmaster 2 stage
all else stock
Seem to have decent torque to get my 26', 5500 lb trailer moving but I seem to need more power when pulling long grades, (greater than 6% incline for nearly a mile, typical for Oregon cascades). Long Hills will pull the truck down to 30-35 mph in second gear. I know the 351 is a better towing engine, but I like getting 18 mpg on freeway. Which way should I go? Headers? K&N filter charger? New computer Chip?
1995 Eddie Bauer 4WD EXT f150
302, E4OD, 3.55 gears
K&N drop-in, flowmaster 2 stage
all else stock
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
more power for towing
I am no expert, but I recently asked Clifford Performance folks this question and they said the first thing to do is headers, then a cam. I drove a 351 V8 for the first time in my life a few weeks ago testing a Ford van. That is a great engine with gobs of power. Love it, but don't want to part with my big 300ci six.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 2
From: Copley, OH
more power for towing
I'd take a look at 1.7 ratio roller rockers if I were you. (Stock rockers are 1.6 ratio) They increase your valve lift about .030 with no significant change in duration at .050 or overlap.
They are computer friendly and will usually pass a tailpipe test even if not CARB certified. They act pretty much the same as adding a mild RV cam without having to get into the engine.
Sources are Crane, Ford Motorsport (who buy their's from Crane) and Harland Sharp.
They are computer friendly and will usually pass a tailpipe test even if not CARB certified. They act pretty much the same as adding a mild RV cam without having to get into the engine.
Sources are Crane, Ford Motorsport (who buy their's from Crane) and Harland Sharp.
Guest
Posts: n/a
more power for towing
You're in the same boat I am with a 460 and 15,000lb of camper. There is too big a split beween 2nd & 3rd. I haven't figured a cheap way out. US Gear & Gearvendor both make HD gear splitters, but they are in the $2200.00 plus range. Another choice would be a close ratio manual trans.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 346
From: SE Iowa
more power for towing
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 13-Nov-00 AT 05:24 PM (EST)[/font][p]You can add all the power in the world to your motor, but it will only help so much. You need to have the rearend gears changed to a lower set(i.e. 3.55:1 to 3.89:1, or maybe lower) It will effect your gas mileage some. Come to think of it, it may help it because the engine wont be bogged down on hills. So I would do a little of both worlds. Id change the rockers to 1.7s and lower the rear gears.
Oh almost forgot. Whatever gear ratio you choose for the rearend needs to be put in the front axle as well. They need to be the same.
Stryder
Oh almost forgot. Whatever gear ratio you choose for the rearend needs to be put in the front axle as well. They need to be the same.
Stryder
New User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
more power for towing
I'm about to put a vortech supercharger on my 460. I previously put on a set of doug thorley try-y headers, flowmaster exhuast, k&n filter, and 4:10 gears. It runs great, but when your towing in the mountains of idaho, you can never have enough. By the way, I tried a hypertech chip, no noticable improvements!
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