Well this Is my first post here. I have been reading and I see that everybody here seems to give good honest advice. So for those of you that do answer these things I want to give you pat on the back. People need people.
Well I bought my first ford. It is a 97 expy 4x4 5.4 60k pretty stock and plain(no overhead console, bench seats). It was a gov vehicle that I came across that was really clean just needed some smaller things.
I have always been a chevy man until now and knowing this chevy has always had lil tricks that you can do yourself. So I want to know what the ford tricks are.
Ex. Mass air flow sensor on a chevy can easily be ported with a lil elbow work.

First Q: air filters. I see all these look alike kits on ebay, are they as good as the k&n and will I notice a difference in the cheaper versions even if it has a k&n filter on the end

second Q: I only get about 13mpg on the interstate driving between 75-85. I know my speedo is a lil off but what add ons get better gasmileage.

third Q: All these $200-300 chips, are they really necessary. Some people always find a way to put a resistor here and resistor there and make the fuel ratio level out some.

fourth Q: Is there any company that makes a 2-3” lift. Rancho makes one for the chevy for about 450 and it is pretty much a torsion bar lift kit with heaver duty upper or lower a-arm and taller shocks so you can have the same reflex in the suspension. I really cann’t afford the 1000 and up stuff. Plans are in the future for a pair of 35 or 36 all-terrain tires and I know I can only fit some 34’s under there now if I turn the factory torsion bars but I would rather not and a body lift is out of the question as well. Sorry but I just don’t like them.

fifth Q: And false O2 sensors. Are any of those out there and where. Has anybody removed the cats and noticed a hp difference. Is there any lil tricks to these or cheap rewiring tricks to by pass the light coming on and the fuel mapping getting screwed up if I removed them without buying false O2 sensors.

sixth Q: any other good modifications are appreciated.

Parts and maintance already in my plans include are a new set of spark plugs(high end ones), billet grill, euros, window tint. I hope to end up with a bad a?? expy down the road.

 

>Well this Is my first post here. I have been reading and I
>see that everybody here seems to give good honest advice.
>So for those of you that do answer these things I want to
>give you pat on the back. People need people.

We try.


>First Q: air filters. I see all these look alike kits on
>ebay, are they as good as the k&n and will I notice a
>difference in the cheaper versions even if it has a k&n
>filter on the end

Personally, I'd stay away from the cheapo garbage you see out there. Always remember, you get what you pay for, period. I've got a K&N filter in the stock box and didn't notice any additional performance or gas mileage. Recently, the trend seems to be toward a "cold air" intake system whereby you draw air from the fender wells rather than the engine compartment. Hence, you would always get somewhat denser air because of the lower temp.

>second Q: I only get about 13mpg on the interstate driving
>between 75-85. I know my speedo is a lil off but what add
>ons get better gasmileage.

Not too much you can do here. Make sure your injectors are clean, proper air pressure in tires, tune-up, clean air filter, etc. I only get around 14 on the highway and I've got a 3.31 rear end.


>third Q: All these $200-300 chips, are they really
>necessary. Some people always find a way to put a resistor
>here and resistor there and make the fuel ratio level out
>some.

The chips give around +25HP and +40 ft lbs of torque. Most agree that you can "feel" the improvement but at the added expense of premium fuel. I don't have a chip because I've got my old '68 F250 if I want big block screaming performance. I do think I'll get one of the superchip programmers though. It reprograms the computer as well as acts as an engine diagnostic and code reader.

>fourth Q: Is there any company that makes a 2-3” lift.
>Rancho makes one for the chevy for about 450 and it is
>pretty much a torsion bar lift kit with heaver duty upper or
>lower a-arm and taller shocks so you can have the same
>reflex in the suspension. I really cann’t afford the 1000
>and up stuff. Plans are in the future for a pair of 35 or
>36 all-terrain tires and I know I can only fit some 34’s
>under there now if I turn the factory torsion bars but I
>would rather not and a body lift is out of the question as
>well. Sorry but I just don’t like them.


??? Anybody else ??? Do a web search, you'll find tons of online 4x4 parts and accessory shops.


>fifth Q: And false O2 sensors. Are any of those out there
>and where. Has anybody removed the cats and noticed a hp
>difference. Is there any lil tricks to these or cheap
>rewiring tricks to by pass the light coming on and the fuel
>mapping getting screwed up if I removed them without buying
>false O2 sensors.


Where there's a will there's a way. I'm sure you can find these so-called "false sensors" but what about vehicle emission and inspections? Why don't you just run true duals from the second set of O2 sensors back?


>sixth Q: any other good modifications are appreciated.

Supercharger

 

well the look alike k&N kits on ebay generally come with k&n filters and look like the charger kit or so called cold air kit. so has anybody tried these.

and the lift- well i haven't seen anything out there that is like i described. just 2-3" of lift with spacers or something but not a body lift and not turning the stock torsion bars.

and the false O2 sensors- i don't have emissions in my state and planned on trying to cut off the cats, and put a quieter muffler like a gibson.