5.slow upgrades
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5.slow upgrades
HELP! I have a 95 150 4x4 with AODE trans. with the 5.0. I want more power for towing. I dont know where 2 start with upgrades and have thought about swapping in a 351w. My end goal is alot of low 2 mid-range torque and enough hp 2 maintain speed without it having 2 drop out of over drive 2 climb a small incline. What should I do?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
First off how much do you tow?
In any event start with gearing and go right to 4.10's if you have stock tires, more if they are larger. The way the tranny behaves has a lot to do with how it's controlled and you may not be able to do much about that, some of them are programmed to drop OD at the sligthest throttle or load change. Ford doesn't even recommend towing in OD with some of them, but I have towed lighter loads(loaded snowmobile trailer) in OD many times with my AOD and it's no worse for wear, so it can be done. FWIW the 4R70w(AODE) is more robust than the AOD ever was.
Other things you can do is drop the complete exhaust and install longtube headers and a small(2.5" max) single exhaust, use high flow components and you'll see a solid increase in TQ and power across the board. Also good on your motor are 1.7 roller rockers, the stock cam is already pretty good for your purposes so adding some more lift will help more more air.
In any event start with gearing and go right to 4.10's if you have stock tires, more if they are larger. The way the tranny behaves has a lot to do with how it's controlled and you may not be able to do much about that, some of them are programmed to drop OD at the sligthest throttle or load change. Ford doesn't even recommend towing in OD with some of them, but I have towed lighter loads(loaded snowmobile trailer) in OD many times with my AOD and it's no worse for wear, so it can be done. FWIW the 4R70w(AODE) is more robust than the AOD ever was.
Other things you can do is drop the complete exhaust and install longtube headers and a small(2.5" max) single exhaust, use high flow components and you'll see a solid increase in TQ and power across the board. Also good on your motor are 1.7 roller rockers, the stock cam is already pretty good for your purposes so adding some more lift will help more more air.
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I tend 2 tow a decent amount. i do not know #'s. I am going 2 put 33's on it. it has 3/4 ton suspension in the rear n' 4 inches of lift in the front. I want to avoid changing gearing it currently has 3.73. What about putting 351w heads on it? Is there a strong after market 4 electronics. How hard will it b 2 fab up the y pipe 2 match the long tubes? would a shift kit improve the tranny? If u have any other suggestions let me no. sorry if im asking 2 many questions i am new 2 modding a motor. Thanks 4 ur help.
Posting Guru
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From: Mass.
351 heads are the same iirc, youd be better off swapping a full 351 engine if you were willing to. the gears are highly recommended if your changing tire size though, but ive seen people do alot worse than 3.73s with bigger tires. y pipe is pretty easy if you know what your doing. dont know what kind of shift kits are out there for the aode but if their the same as the aod they will help some, ive just never used a shift kit in a truck so i cant say how well it would do in your application.
FTE Legend
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Gearing is key, without the propper ratios for the motor and tire size you won't get acceptable performance. There is no making a 5.0 into a TQ monster so you need to get your rpms up where it makes power, for 33" rubber that would be 4.56 gears.
The 5.8 used the same heads so there's nothing to gain there, if you put aftermarket heads on the powerband moves even further up the tach than it already is so gearing is even more important. Sounds like a complete 5.8 swap would suite you better but it will be involved, is your truck mass air? If it is then that's one less thing to change with the bigger motor, the stock computer will adapt.
A shift kit will help the tranny survive under the increased load you will be putting on it with the bigger tires, and they aren't hard to install.
The 5.8 used the same heads so there's nothing to gain there, if you put aftermarket heads on the powerband moves even further up the tach than it already is so gearing is even more important. Sounds like a complete 5.8 swap would suite you better but it will be involved, is your truck mass air? If it is then that's one less thing to change with the bigger motor, the stock computer will adapt.
A shift kit will help the tranny survive under the increased load you will be putting on it with the bigger tires, and they aren't hard to install.
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How would i no if it is mass air or not? If I were 2 drop in a 351 would i need different motor mounts and would it fit the AODE? What would i do for upgrades 2 it 2 improve torque? again thanks 4 your help and answering my numerous questions
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
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I got ya right here buddy,
1980-96 Ford Truck/bronco 429 & 460 Swaps Motor Mounts Headers Oil Pans,alt/ac/ps Brackets Clutchs & Flywheels For Sale
The 302 was a s***ty truck motor at best. The only Ford motor I know of that was worst in a truck is the 4.6. A 351 swap would be the quickest, easiest, and cheapest fix without buying another truck. But there is no replacement for displacement. If you’re going to swap motors (and tranies too-don't think of using a light duty trany behind a 5.8 or larger) go with a big block!!!
1980-96 Ford Truck/bronco 429 & 460 Swaps Motor Mounts Headers Oil Pans,alt/ac/ps Brackets Clutchs & Flywheels For Sale
The 302 was a s***ty truck motor at best. The only Ford motor I know of that was worst in a truck is the 4.6. A 351 swap would be the quickest, easiest, and cheapest fix without buying another truck. But there is no replacement for displacement. If you’re going to swap motors (and tranies too-don't think of using a light duty trany behind a 5.8 or larger) go with a big block!!!
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Posting Guru
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From: Mass.
to swap a 351 the mounts are the same, the only differences are the flywheel/flexplate and the exhaust y pipe. the accesories on the front are different but if you get a complete used engine you wouldnt have to worry. mass air will have a sensor right after the airbox going towards the intake. sd just has two tubes from the airbox to intake while mass air has 1 that turns into two before it gets into the intake
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Posting Guru
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From: Mass.
youd have to find a 5.8-aode flexplate to swap a 351, if you cant find one you should be able to order one via ford or i know lmc truck carries them. as far as upgrades it depends on how much you want to spend but headers and exhaust yield the biggest gains. need to find out if your truck is mass air to figure what years would be a plug and play.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
The 5.8 will bolt right up the the AODE with a 28oz AOD flexplate, the small V8's all use the same bellhousing bolt pattern. The accessory brackets and engine mounts are the same as well, but the complete intake and distributor are different so best to start with a complete 5.8 EFI. Any year 5.8 EFI would work, the '94+ motors have a roller cam but otherwise are the same as the older motors, both will make 100ft lbs TQ more than 5.0 could ever hope to and do it at a lower rpm. Whichever one you get put a cam in it, port the heads or bolt on some GT40's, and add longtubes.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
I got ya right here buddy,
1980-96 Ford Truck/bronco 429 & 460 Swaps Motor Mounts Headers Oil Pans,alt/ac/ps Brackets Clutchs & Flywheels For Sale
The 302 was a s***ty truck motor at best. The only Ford motor I know of that was worst in a truck is the 4.6. A 351 swap would be the quickest, easiest, and cheapest fix without buying another truck. But there is no replacement for displacement. If you’re going to swap motors (and tranies too-don't think of using a light duty trany behind a 5.8 or larger) go with a big block!!!
1980-96 Ford Truck/bronco 429 & 460 Swaps Motor Mounts Headers Oil Pans,alt/ac/ps Brackets Clutchs & Flywheels For Sale
The 302 was a s***ty truck motor at best. The only Ford motor I know of that was worst in a truck is the 4.6. A 351 swap would be the quickest, easiest, and cheapest fix without buying another truck. But there is no replacement for displacement. If you’re going to swap motors (and tranies too-don't think of using a light duty trany behind a 5.8 or larger) go with a big block!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
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From: Almost Heaven
Let's face it, none of what any of these kind folks are saying is cheap. You could swap out the gear ratio, yes, but you're still left with a struggling motor, stock transmission and worse fuel mileage. Well what about a motor swap? Oh boy, there's a project! Do you even know how to do all of this? Okay, what about the transmission? Can it take the heavy loads you're putting on it daily?
I say buy an F-250 and make sure it has a transmission cooler (this isn't cheap either but it seems like the more logical way to go). If you're made out of money I would say swap out of the 5.0L for a big block, build your transmission and add a limited slip.
Or, just buy a Chevrolet S-10. Everyone knows you can tow 45,000 lbs with a stock 4-cyl S-10 and haul 5,000 in the bed with no problems for at LEAST 400,000 miles! It's even better if you get the V6 but who needs THAT kind of raw unrated power!?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
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On second thought, Bill is right. Find a 80s or early 90s F250 with a 351 or 460 and get back to work (check EBay and Craigslist, I bet you can find one cheaper than it would cost for a gear change).
The 302 maybe OK in a 2wd cruiser if you didn't want to hear the hum of a six. But in a half ton tow rig a 300 or 351 was the way to go.
Or if you think those S-10s are bad *** you should try out an old LUV pick up. They could pull a train off the tracks, haul a 100 tons, last a million miles, all while getting 53 MPG city, and running low 8s at the strip.
The 302 maybe OK in a 2wd cruiser if you didn't want to hear the hum of a six. But in a half ton tow rig a 300 or 351 was the way to go.
Or if you think those S-10s are bad *** you should try out an old LUV pick up. They could pull a train off the tracks, haul a 100 tons, last a million miles, all while getting 53 MPG city, and running low 8s at the strip.