5.0 towing upgrades...
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Gladstone, MI
5.0 towing upgrades...
I need some help, guys. I have a '94 5.0 E4OD 3.31. I tow a 4600 lb. camper, plus us and gear. Used to pull with 300 six. Too bad I sold her, she pulled better mid range. What can I do to get this 302 to pull better than the 300???? I was thinking headers, maybe intake, and maybe a cam. All of its power is up too high whereas the 300 was nice and low where it should be. Would it be better to just find a 5.8 and swap? Anyways, thanks for the advice.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
For starters 3.31 gears are all wrong for towing any weight.. no matter what motor you have. There is no transforming a 5.0 into a low rpm TQ motor so the solution is to put 4.10 gears in the axles and a full exhaust with headers on the motor. You can also add 1.7 rockers to get much the same benefit as changing the cam. A 5.8 is a much better truck motor than the 5.0 but having had both I'd still want 3.73-4.10 gears in the axles.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 7
From: Des Moines, Iowa
For starters 3.31 gears are all wrong for towing any weight.. no matter what motor you have. There is no transforming a 5.0 into a low rpm TQ motor so the solution is to put 4.10 gears in the axles and a full exhaust with headers on the motor. You can also add 1.7 rockers to get much the same benefit as changing the cam. A 5.8 is a much better truck motor than the 5.0 but having had both I'd still want 3.73-4.10 gears in the axles.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 249
Likes: 2
From: Moody, AL
I have towed over 9,000 lbs with my 5.0 and E40D. I am not sure of my rear ends gearing, but she does pretty well. I too have noticed the lag below 2,500 rpm. This does not help with long hill pulls. I have done some upgrading on my engine and found tweaking the timing to be the best way to decrease that lag. I am also looking into superchargers to help with the low end. Going to an electric fan setup has also helped so far. I next plan to install an electric waterpump and multi-spark ignition system.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
I agree. The 5.0 needs better gears. I can't believe Ford even bothered with 3.08 gears in a truck with a 5.0. I would say at least 3.73 with stock tires.
I have 3.55 in mine and does alright. I have 31 10.50 tires and wish I had 4.10 gears.
I will also agree with an upgraded exhaust with a straight through muffler. Don't waste any money on chips, throttle body spacers, or cold air intakes.
You can also get the I6/460 lower intake tube. Its a better setup than the one on the 5.0/5.8 trucks.
I have 3.55 in mine and does alright. I have 31 10.50 tires and wish I had 4.10 gears.
I will also agree with an upgraded exhaust with a straight through muffler. Don't waste any money on chips, throttle body spacers, or cold air intakes.
You can also get the I6/460 lower intake tube. Its a better setup than the one on the 5.0/5.8 trucks.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I have towed over 9,000 lbs with my 5.0 and E40D. I am not sure of my rear ends gearing, but she does pretty well. I too have noticed the lag below 2,500 rpm. This does not help with long hill pulls. I have done some upgrading on my engine and found tweaking the timing to be the best way to decrease that lag. I am also looking into superchargers to help with the low end. Going to an electric fan setup has also helped so far. I next plan to install an electric waterpump and multi-spark ignition system.
Superchargers won't help at all with your low end since it takes engine rpm above 1500 to create decent boost. I would cam it and go with headers and high flow exhaust. Your gearing is the key, if you are having problems with hills then I would definitely think about upgrading the rear end.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 249
Likes: 2
From: Moody, AL
Superchargers won't help at all with your low end since it takes engine rpm above 1500 to create decent boost. I would cam it and go with headers and high flow exhaust. Your gearing is the key, if you are having problems with hills then I would definitely think about upgrading the rear end.
Trending Topics
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 2
From: Fort Worth
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TonyJestis
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
13
May 18, 2010 06:57 AM
