More power from 5.4

[my1stdiesel]

I have a 2000 F150 lariat 4x4 5.4l extended cab with 170,000 problem free miles. This truck runs great and has been the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned. My question is when it comes time to replace the engine is there any emission legal power upgrades that I can do to squeeze just a little more dependable horsepower/torque? Thanks.

[lasmacgod]

Gears -- the best bang for the buck. In my opinion, Ford does not put enough gear in gas trucks. My last truck was a 2002 F150 extended cab with the 4.6 V8. I went from 3.08 gears to 3.73 gears, and it made a huge difference; I wish I had even gone so far as 4.10 gears in it. In that truck, my fuel economy actually increased, both city and highway, because the engine was not working near as hard.

I just went from 3.73 to 4.30 gears in my 2000 F250 V10. Again, huge difference. Before, it couldn't pull its own shadow. Now it feels like a completely different truck. In this truck, my mileage remained unchanged.

When selecting gears, the common advice is to move at least 2 steps to really notice a difference when sticking with your factory tire size. The basic steps in a F150 were 3.08, 3.31, and 3.55 from the factory. Aftermarket includes those plus 3.73 and 4.10 So, if you currently have 3.55 gears, you would want to go with 4.10 gears.

My suggestion is to simply forget that, and just go with 4.10 gears, no matter what gears you have now.


I know you asked for engine mods, but assuming regular oil changes, you are going to be waiting a long time to install a new engine.

[Strokin6Liters]

Supercharge it

[JJR]

Look into php tunning for it. They have alot of options for gas engines too.

[justinlogue5_0]

Originally Posted by lasmacgod

Gears -- the best bang for the buck. In my opinion, Ford does not put enough gear in gas trucks. My last truck was a 2002 F150 extended cab with the 4.6 V8. I went from 3.08 gears to 3.73 gears, and it made a huge difference; I wish I had even gone so far as 4.10 gears in it. In that truck, my fuel economy actually increased, both city and highway, because the engine was not working near as hard.

I just went from 3.73 to 4.30 gears in my 2000 F250 V10. Again, huge difference. Before, it couldn't pull its own shadow. Now it feels like a completely different truck. In this truck, my mileage remained unchanged.

When selecting gears, the common advice is to move at least 2 steps to really notice a difference when sticking with your factory tire size. The basic steps in a F150 were 3.08, 3.31, and 3.55 from the factory. Aftermarket includes those plus 3.73 and 4.10 So, if you currently have 3.55 gears, you would want to go with 4.10 gears.

My suggestion is to simply forget that, and just go with 4.10 gears, no matter what gears you have now.


I know you asked for engine mods, but assuming regular oil changes, you are going to be waiting a long time to install a new engine.

100%

[my1stdiesel]

Originally Posted by lasmacgod

Gears -- the best bang for the buck. In my opinion, Ford does not put enough gear in gas trucks. My last truck was a 2002 F150 extended cab with the 4.6 V8. I went from 3.08 gears to 3.73 gears, and it made a huge difference; I wish I had even gone so far as 4.10 gears in it. In that truck, my fuel economy actually increased, both city and highway, because the engine was not working near as hard.

I just went from 3.73 to 4.30 gears in my 2000 F250 V10. Again, huge difference. Before, it couldn't pull its own shadow. Now it feels like a completely different truck. In this truck, my mileage remained unchanged.

When selecting gears, the common advice is to move at least 2 steps to really notice a difference when sticking with your factory tire size. The basic steps in a F150 were 3.08, 3.31, and 3.55 from the factory. Aftermarket includes those plus 3.73 and 4.10 So, if you currently have 3.55 gears, you would want to go with 4.10 gears.

My suggestion is to simply forget that, and just go with 4.10 gears, no matter what gears you have now.


I know you asked for engine mods, but assuming regular oil changes, you are going to be waiting a long time to install a new engine.

Great idea, I think I will go with 4.10 gears. Thanks

[my1stdiesel]

Originally Posted by JJR

Look into php tunning for it. They have alot of options for gas engines too.

Cool thanks.

[my1stdiesel]

Originally Posted by Strokin6Liters

Supercharge it

I wish! It did cross my mind though.

[Dave]

On the gears note being a 2000 with a 5.4 you have either 3.55s or 3.73s.

Tune it or supercharge it

[lasmacgod]

Originally Posted by Dave

On the gears note being a 2000 with a 5.4 you have either 3.55s or 3.73s.

Good call on the gears, I was working off memory before. I left out 3.90 gears in my last reply as well. So, if you have 3.73 gears, moving to 4.10 gears will get you an approximate 10% increase in torque to the wheels. If you have 3.55 gears and move to 4.10, it will be a little over 15% increase in torque to the wheels.

Unless I'm mistaken on the 2000 model F150's, you will need to correct the speedometer, and a tuner is a great way to do so while optimizing engine performance and transmission shift points. Moving transmission shift points around with no other mods can make a truck feel a lot stronger.