I've got a 1995 f150 4.9 EFI. It has over 190,000 miles on it and i have been doing some minor tune up stuff on it. i would like to get a little more power out of it. i already have K&N intake and new magnaflow exhaust. i was hoping to get new headers soon. but i was curious about the intake and fuel system. would it be logical to convert it to a full carbureted system? I used to have a 66 bronco with a carb 351 in it and i loved how easy it was to work on and tune. any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

thanks,
A1C DiMaggio

 

I also had a '95 4.9L 4x4 truck with 2 times the miles on it. There are some things you can do to coax more power out of her, but it's not "surprizing" gains.

I had several mods done on mine and I'll list them below. The combination of them all worked quite well.

1. Comp cams 268H cam.
2. Walker downpipe.
3. New cat. (circa '95 cats are craaaaaap. Install a new universal one, they flow much better than the stocker ever did.)
4. Summit 3" single cat-back exhaust with welded muffler.
5. 351w throttle body and porting done to intake to match TB to it.

Oh yea, thanks for your service. I'm a USAF rescue veteran.

 

thanks for the info, i will try some of those out. although i am in germany so it might be tough to get the porting done.

 

Also, 19lbs injectors and adjustable fuel pressure regulator from a 5.0. It will require a custom 3-pointed mounting bracket, easily made- you'll see when you compare the new one to the old.

+1 on the cat. Look at how the exhaust crushes down near the stock cat. The stock stainless Y-pipe is good (gut the pre-cat & use it as a 2.5" collector).

"cheap" cam option is to substitute BBC 1.7 ratio rockers. $USD2 each and they bolt right on.

'95 computer can't handle really radical mods. If you keep it at the list discussed so far, you should be OK.

 

It is going to depend on whether or not you want to get a little more power out of it, or a lot more power out of it.

If it's a little more power, what was mentioned above will liven your motor up and give you a bit of extra go.

If it's a lot more power, you'll have to either put in a new fuel computer like a megasquirt system, or convert to carbureted. The carbureted would be the simplest and less expensive of the two endeavors if power is your goal.

 

Here's what I did to get nearly 400-horse out of my 300 I6;










I pulled the 300, dropped in a 350 HO.




Wallah, nearly 400 horse out og my 300 I6!

 

350HO? In a Ford? Come on, man...351W

 

No way. SBC all the way. That's where the real power is at.

 

Bill! You incorrigible trouble maker! LOL

 

Yes Sir, that would be me.

 

I met a crazy Chevy fanatic camping late last year. All his friends were cool, and actually prefered Ford (drove Fords, too).. but he was always ranting and raving about, his words... "CHEBBY 350!! CHEBBY 350!!!!" He didn't even have a truck there.

He was a little off in the head.

 

You have 190000 miles on it, and you want to build it now??

OK. I would say. Start with a rebuild at this point LOL

Before you go dumping money into your engine, you might consider checking the compression, even if it is good. The only reason it stays running good is because the fuel injection, is contantly adjusting the fuel, and ignition. Fuel injection is definatly better the carburation, as far a drivability goes. But you also need to understand it, to diagnose any problems when they arise.

I had the same truck 4.9 with a 5 speed. It ran way over 300000 miles, but in order to get alot of power, your gonna need to wind that engine up. With those miles. You aint gonna wind it up to many times. before the gerbils go on strike...

 

That is why you only got 400 hp. My advice is loosen the wing nut, and slide a windsor under it, then you can make more HP. 400 is child play

Watch the vid in my sig... 351 windsor, and a small block chevy. Hear his engine, then hear mine...LOL

 

I had it brought to a mechanic and had the whole truck "looked over" i guess you could say. he checked pretty much everything that could be checked. i am in germany so i didnt want any unexpected problems from it. im not particularly looking to go faster, and def not planning on stretching the limits of the motor. just a little more power for when i need it: towing, hauling, a little offroading every now and then. the reason i asked about carburation is cause i had a 66 bronco and put a 351 windsor in it and i loved it.

p.s. like the gerbils line

 

Dude, my 350 is mostly bone stock. I can drop a couple G's and blow the doors off your pathetic little rigs.