best way to get horsepower and torque in a 97 f250 with a 351w
 

hey everybody im new to the forum and the whole car world. (im only 15 but i have my hardship license) and im looking for some of the best/cheapest ways to add horsepower torque and if possible gas mileage. i already put a flowmaster 40 series muffler on it. should i look into programmers, cold air intakes, ram air intakes, long headers, or something else. and remember im a 15 year old working on the family farm making less than minimum wage in arkansas so can try to keep the upgrades under 500 dollars. i can go up some but ill have to work overtime. also im running stock tire size and everything is stock except for the radio and my exhaust. thank you in advance!!!!!!

Replace the complete exhaust system including the manifolds(with headers) and then save your money for 1.7 roller rockers. Also do a search for the "6liter tunup" which is essentially replacing all the stock ignition components with high voltage versions and advancing the timing. Everything else is a complete waste of money on these trucks so don't bother unless you like to collect fancy stickers.

How much money am I looking at and what kind of gains are there

Won't 1.7 Rockers cause coil bind on stock springs though?

351, no they wont, the valve lift with 1.7's bring the lift in just under coil bind, from what i've read.

Hey, that sounds great as long as the SD EFI puts up with it!

:-jammin

Well this is what I did to a 95 F150's 351W: Ported the exhaust sides of the E7 heads, removing the Thermactor bumps and port matching to the header gaskets. Replaced the manifolds with Summit Shorty's. Added 1.7 Cobra roller rockers. Plugged the EGR passage behind the EGR valve (left everything in place though). Removed the rear cat, gutted the front cat, ran a single 3" pipe off that to a single inlet/dual outlet muffler. Set the initial timing to 12* BTC. The comp ratio in this motor is about 9.5 to 1 as it's got the earlier dished pistons in it (.040 oversize). Fuel mileage in town SUCKS at about 7-8 MPG (truck has an E4OD backed by 3.08 rear and 31" tires) Highway mileage is 15-16 at 80 mph. In summary, don't expect the fuel mileage to increase after doing any of these mods. I had a stock 95 E150 van with the same powertrain backed with 3.55's a few years ago, the mileage was a bit better in town, a bit less on the highway. Seeing that as you're 15, you'd do better just leaving it as is and spending the money saved on gas.

Wrong. adding 1.7's to the F4TE cam won't get you anywhere near coil bind, the lift goes to .445/.473 from the stock lift of .422/.445. Coil bind with the stock springs is somewhere north of .520

Good to know! I have a 351w factory roller that i will defintely looking to add the roller rockers too in the near future. Are the Roller specs that much different from non-roller?

:-jammin

There were a pile of different cams used in these motors so it depends what vintage the motor is. The only "late model" 351 to get a bigger cam was the mid '80's 351HO, even the 1st Gen Lightning got a smaller bumpstick and all the other 351 truck motors.. pre '94 EFI and earlier 2bbl carb versions got much smaller cams again.

BAD, are we gonna nit pick the wording of, just under and anywhere near ????
Either way, 1.7's wont bring the springs to coil bind. Did i rephrase it better for your liking ?

Yes. "Just under", was a poor choice of words. Words mean things. :-wink

ok mister perfect

so what kind of money am i looking at and whats a roller rocker?

Depending on brand, 200-350