5.8 seem sluggish
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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5.8 seem sluggish
I have a 92 E-150 with the 5.8 engine has about 180,000 miles, and it has always seemed rather sluggish (I've had it for a couple of years). Now what I'm comparing it to is a 93 chevy 1500 with the 5.7 (130,000 miles). The final drive ratio is pretty much the same on the two vehicles and the pickup is probably 1000lbs heavier than the van. As far as I know both are stock, except for a throttle body spacer on the pickup. Both have auto trans also. And the factory rated hp&torque specs are pretty similar.
But the van just doesn't begin the move like the pickup. Now a total tune-up was done last year on the van, new plugs, cables, distributor cap/rotor, injectors, TPS. I checked the timing and its at 10 BTDC, which was the spec in my manual.
I'm looking for ideas as to why I don't get more power from this 5.8. If this is just the way the 5.8 Ford engine compares to the 5.7 Chevy, or is there something wrong with my engine, etc. Also any ideas about getting more power without tearing into the engine?
But the van just doesn't begin the move like the pickup. Now a total tune-up was done last year on the van, new plugs, cables, distributor cap/rotor, injectors, TPS. I checked the timing and its at 10 BTDC, which was the spec in my manual.
I'm looking for ideas as to why I don't get more power from this 5.8. If this is just the way the 5.8 Ford engine compares to the 5.7 Chevy, or is there something wrong with my engine, etc. Also any ideas about getting more power without tearing into the engine?
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Junior User
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I tried the timing at 15 BTDC, but that resulted in knocking at higher rpm WOT. I suppose I could probably put the timing somewhere in between though.
Advancing the timing did increase power, still not like the 5.7 though.
Advancing the timing did increase power, still not like the 5.7 though.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: houston
It`s an older vehicle so it could be many things.You could be down on compression due to worn cylinder bores rings(compression test),and the factory cam is small to begin with and they wear down after time.I put some SEA FOAM in my car today and it seemed to help a little.
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What transmissions:
GM 700R/4L60E has:
3.06 first,
1.63 second.
Ford E4OD/4100R
2.71 first,
1.54 second.
3.06 vs. 2.71 will make quite a difference.
If you have different trans, they are all listed here:
http://www.gearvendors.com/f2wd4s.html
GM 700R/4L60E has:
3.06 first,
1.63 second.
Ford E4OD/4100R
2.71 first,
1.54 second.
3.06 vs. 2.71 will make quite a difference.
If you have different trans, they are all listed here:
http://www.gearvendors.com/f2wd4s.html
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 56
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What transmissions:
GM 700R/4L60E has:
3.06 first,
1.63 second.
Ford E4OD/4100R
2.71 first,
1.54 second.
3.06 vs. 2.71 will make quite a difference.
If you have different trans, they are all listed here:
http://www.gearvendors.com/f2wd4s.html
GM 700R/4L60E has:
3.06 first,
1.63 second.
Ford E4OD/4100R
2.71 first,
1.54 second.
3.06 vs. 2.71 will make quite a difference.
If you have different trans, they are all listed here:
http://www.gearvendors.com/f2wd4s.html
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Outside that the exhaust on these trucks is an absolute cork, it wouldn't hurt to drop the whole works from the manifolds back and relace it with something else, but if you have emissions tests to pass you'll need a cat. In that case cut it off behind the first cat and hollow out what remains, then add an aftermarket universal cat and bolt up a muffler and tailpipe of your choice.
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Junior User
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Yes, the chevy has a 3.73 and the Ford has a 3.55, but the chevy has bigger tires 245/75/16 v.s. 235/75/15. Based on my calculations, in 3rd gear at 60mph they both would be running about 2470 rpm.
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Junior User
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Outside that the exhaust on these trucks is an absolute cork, it wouldn't hurt to drop the whole works from the manifolds back and relace it with something else, but if you have emissions tests to pass you'll need a cat. In that case cut it off behind the first cat and hollow out what remains, then add an aftermarket universal cat and bolt up a muffler and tailpipe of your choice.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yes you can get a replacement Y pipe from Bassini.. with or without a cat, and all the usual suspects like Magnaflow and Flowmaster and such make cat back systems. MAC used to make a really nice system for these trucks complete with longtube headers but I doubt they do anymore, I put it on my '89 F150 back around 1998.. it produced a pretty good power increase.