Newb performance mod ?
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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Newb performance mod ?
I just bought a '94 F-150 with a 5.8L and was wondering what type of bolt-on mods (excluding FI) are available? I don't want to get into cams, heads, etc..., at least not yet. I am just looking for moderate hp/tq improvements. Best bang for the buck kind of things.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ohio
FIRST, do a good tuneup, ign. wires, plugs, cap and rotor.
do a compression check and check the clutch and trans if stick or if auto drain convertor and pan and new filter in.
check all suspension pieces and brakes and tires.
then you have a good base to work on.
we know nothing about what shape your truck is in, or setup or condition etc.
fill in the blanks.
do a compression check and check the clutch and trans if stick or if auto drain convertor and pan and new filter in.
check all suspension pieces and brakes and tires.
then you have a good base to work on.
we know nothing about what shape your truck is in, or setup or condition etc.
fill in the blanks.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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(4X4, auto) It has 109,850 miles and is in very good condition.
Owner had transmission serviced about every 20,000 miles.
He had a stainless exhaust, adjustable shocks and a K&N cone filter installed.
I was already considering having the suspension checked to see if anything needs to be tightend up or replaced.
Brakes and tires are in good condition.
I am in Cali, so long tubes are a no go. Would short tubes be worth the expense?
It has and will still be used mainly to tow a small travel trailer and for fishing trips. If I missed anything let me know. I have an '06 Mustang and am familiar with how to squeeze extra performance out of it, but I am brand new to Ford trucks.
Owner had transmission serviced about every 20,000 miles.
He had a stainless exhaust, adjustable shocks and a K&N cone filter installed.
I was already considering having the suspension checked to see if anything needs to be tightend up or replaced.
Brakes and tires are in good condition.
I am in Cali, so long tubes are a no go. Would short tubes be worth the expense?
It has and will still be used mainly to tow a small travel trailer and for fishing trips. If I missed anything let me know. I have an '06 Mustang and am familiar with how to squeeze extra performance out of it, but I am brand new to Ford trucks.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
I have had good luck with headman , you don't want to buy cheep headers , the coated ones are the best ....Lew
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley, NY
stainless exh and adj shocks are good (indicates the PO (previous owner) was at least trying to talk care of the truck) ..
ditch the K&N air filter, not as good as stock in preventing crap from getting into your engine .. though I guess you'll need to replace the now missing stock parts .. search FTE for many, many posts regarding this ..
ditch the K&N air filter, not as good as stock in preventing crap from getting into your engine .. though I guess you'll need to replace the now missing stock parts .. search FTE for many, many posts regarding this ..
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
I agree, go with Headman, they are about the best on the market. Sucks that you can't use long tubes because they'd give you the most power for the dollar. Also consider a good cat-back exhaust, and a full MSD ignition system (distributor, 6A or 6AL box, TFI coil, connector harness). I'd recommend using the Ford Racing 9mm plug wires and E3 plugs with this setup. Also keep the K&N intake. Performance intakes like this are better than stock air boxes because they allow more air to flow into the motor. They've been making these things for years, if they were truely that bad, don't you think they'd have discontinued them by now? Plus they have a "million mile" waranty. What factory air filter can say that?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Shorties will only help if you also change the stock cats, Bassini and Magnaflow make direct replacement Y pipes with and without cats for these trucks, don't know if they are CARB certified though.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley, NY
hot air is less dense than cold..
you need more hot air to get the same amount of Oxygen that you would get in denser, colder air ..
by drawing in air from under the hood that is at a much higher temp (up to 200*F or so), you can loose +/-20% of the oxygen that cold air (at 70*F) would give you .. not sure what the K&N claims, but unless it's over 20% increase above stock, it's not gaining you anything when it's hot under the hood ..
add this to the fact that they are less efficient at filtering (that's how they can pass more air, the let the 'small' stuff through) .. if you want lots of air you could just loose the filter all together .. but I don't recommend that either ..
I'll stick with (and keep recommending) the stock setup over any K&N type cone filters ..
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
There are no tuners for the trucks because they are OBD I. You might be able to find a chip if you look hard enough, but I haven't seen one in a long time. Don't buy one of those cheap Ebay chips either, your just asking for trouble there.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
Git rid of the KN cone filter. It just sucks in warm underhood air. Go back to the factory air box. Don't waste your money on a chip either. Just advance the timing a little.
I had the KN intake on my truck for a little while and it ran worse and got worse fuel economy.
A good free flowing exhaust is a good place to start, but stay away from Hedman headers. I have seen many with defects especially pin holes in the welds. They are definitely not the best on the market.
I like the Ford Racing headers and JBA headers.
The MSD or Accel coil for TFI would help, but the boxes etc are not really going to be better than the stock system.
I had the KN intake on my truck for a little while and it ran worse and got worse fuel economy.
A good free flowing exhaust is a good place to start, but stay away from Hedman headers. I have seen many with defects especially pin holes in the welds. They are definitely not the best on the market.
I like the Ford Racing headers and JBA headers.
The MSD or Accel coil for TFI would help, but the boxes etc are not really going to be better than the stock system.
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