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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 06:53 PM
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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?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 08:58 PM
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From: houston
The company that I work for has a `90s E-350 w/5.8 and it runs pretty good.Try advancing the timing a little more,and change the fuel filter if you haven`t done it in awhile.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 10:12 PM
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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.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 10:40 PM
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From: houston
I run my 393 @ 14,but I have aluminum heads and use 93 octane.Does it have the timing spout plug in by the distributor?, and did you take it out to set the timing?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 11:12 PM
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Yes, it has a spout plug and I disconnected it to set the timing. On my van its over on the fender near the remote TFI module.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2009 | 11:25 PM
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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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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 12:03 AM
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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
 
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
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
You are right about the gear ratios on the transmissions. I do notice the difference across the whole band, including 3rd and 4th which are pretty similar.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 08:47 AM
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I bet the trucks had different gearing too, many of the chev's got 3.73 while 3.55 is more common in the Fords
 
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 01:50 PM
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awww man i bet that throttle body spacer is good for 150 hawspawr!!!!!!!

thats gotta be why the truck seems quicker
 
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by LCPullman
Also any ideas about getting more power without tearing into the engine?
You should check the fuel pressure while you're at it, should be about 35psi with vacuum on the FPR and about 40 with vacuum removed. If it's low or actually drops when the throttle is blipped then you have a pump going out and this will make it sluggish.

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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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Conanski
I bet the trucks had different gearing too, many of the chev's got 3.73 while 3.55 is more common in the Fords
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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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Conanski
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.
Are there brands out there that offer bolt together kits that go from the manifold? Or would I have to have a custom one made?
 
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 05:30 PM
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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.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2009 | 11:22 PM
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Okay, I checked fuel pressure, and it seems right on, 35psi at idle and it increases as the throttle goes up.
 
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