Easy way to gain HP on 1996 F150 5.0L
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26,898
Likes: 3
From: southern md
yeah 1 problem with the i6 is they sound good in the LOW LOW rpms but once they clime it starts to sound ricey and i dont like that but talk to 6cylbill hes done a few different setup on the 6er and has sound clips
but for your v8 id say a set of longtube headers and either gut the cat and put a bigger tailpipe one it or you could buy the longtubes 2 hi-flo cats or another cheap one and gut them bothe then run true duals with some bigger pipe...as for mufflers...you have a v8 you dont need one
but for your v8 id say a set of longtube headers and either gut the cat and put a bigger tailpipe one it or you could buy the longtubes 2 hi-flo cats or another cheap one and gut them bothe then run true duals with some bigger pipe...as for mufflers...you have a v8 you dont need one
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26,898
Likes: 3
From: southern md
if ya got the mid bed gas tank or aux. tank the true duals are a pain and not as effective as the should be-or so I have heard-my 78 e150 van was a pain in the well you know where-I was young and just had to have the duals-never again!never really saw any power or gas mileage increase either-but it sure did sound LOUD!!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
pace setter headers are terrible i won't let them be put onto any of the motors i build every set i have used has leaked either at the collector or at the flange where it bolts to the head, dynomax makes the easiest to fit headers and hooker makes the most hp but are the biggest pain in the *** to fit imho anyway
4wd Low
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
If it is one of those "cold air" kits that has a conical filter that sits under the hood in the open, take it back. All these setups do is suck in hot air from under the hood. The best way to modify the air intake on these trucks is to get the air intake tube off of a truck with a 300 or a 460 (they mount right up to your airbox) and get a reusable drop in filter. Since your truck is a '96 it has mass air, so if you get an oiled filter, be careful not to overoil the filter as it will dirty the mass air sensor. Honestly, the air intake is not much of a problem in these trucks, exhaust is the biggest problem.
Make sure the ignition system is tuned up good with new high quality spark plugs, wires, a cap, and rotor. I use Bosch plugs (a lot of people will tell you these are crap, but they have always been good to me) and Motorcraft wires, cap, and rotor. When tuning up the ignition make sure your base timing is set to 10 degrees btc, and you might be able to bump it to 12 or so, just make sure you don't get any detonation. This will give you better off-idle response.
Exhaust is where to go next. Mufflers, improve sound, but won't add any noticable power. Get a set of headers (if you get shorties, upgrade the y-pipe as well, the stock one is garbage), a high-flow cat (delete it if you don't have emmissions testing), a good performance muffler, and new pipe. Go with 2.5" pipe from the headers to where it merges in the y-pipe, and then run a 3" single the rest of the way out.
Next, if you are willing to get into some more complex stuff, get a cam. Get a good truck cam that has a power band starting no later than 1,500 RPM, preferably get one that starts at idle. Lumpy cams sound cool, but suck for trucks. Since you have mass air, you don't have to worry about any of the truck cams working with your computer.
After this, you get into the expensive stuff like heads, intake manifolds, etc.
Good luck with your truck and have fun!
Make sure the ignition system is tuned up good with new high quality spark plugs, wires, a cap, and rotor. I use Bosch plugs (a lot of people will tell you these are crap, but they have always been good to me) and Motorcraft wires, cap, and rotor. When tuning up the ignition make sure your base timing is set to 10 degrees btc, and you might be able to bump it to 12 or so, just make sure you don't get any detonation. This will give you better off-idle response.
Exhaust is where to go next. Mufflers, improve sound, but won't add any noticable power. Get a set of headers (if you get shorties, upgrade the y-pipe as well, the stock one is garbage), a high-flow cat (delete it if you don't have emmissions testing), a good performance muffler, and new pipe. Go with 2.5" pipe from the headers to where it merges in the y-pipe, and then run a 3" single the rest of the way out.
Next, if you are willing to get into some more complex stuff, get a cam. Get a good truck cam that has a power band starting no later than 1,500 RPM, preferably get one that starts at idle. Lumpy cams sound cool, but suck for trucks. Since you have mass air, you don't have to worry about any of the truck cams working with your computer.
After this, you get into the expensive stuff like heads, intake manifolds, etc.
Good luck with your truck and have fun!
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 325
Likes: 98
From: Salkum
Hope your not looking for a reply from 1994 F250; his last post was 14 years ago.
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cchimuk
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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*keys*
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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