I have a 97 F150 with a 4.6 and a 5 speed. I haul a trailer that weighs about 3500lbs and it doesnt seem to have power needed, so I need to know the cheapest way to add 40 to 50 hp. I thought about a turbo but I really don't want to spend 3000.00 but I have heard about a rear mount turbo that isn't that expensive but I can't find anything about it. Any suggestions??? Thanks

 

Cheapest on demand power

Nitrous Oxide

You need to be conservative if you want your motor to last. Don't get a 250+ horse power pill. If 40hp is all you need try a 25 or 50hp set up. It should all be under $500. The smaller the set up the less NO2 you will use too.

 

3500 lb trailer isn't that much.
You need at least 3.55 or lower gearing.
I pull 6000 with a Screw/4.6/4r70w and 3.55 gears that does very well at a gross wts. of over 11,000.
Be carefull about using a blower to pull with due to the heat produced.
A specific tune should be used with that kind of setup.
Gas motors don't handle it as well as a diesel.

 

Good way to get about 30 to 35hp would be to upgrade your heads to pi heads and cams. I would add headers and intake if you dont have already. those upgrades should put you in the 40hp range that you are looking for.


SVTWIZARD (Ray)

((((YGROWUP)))
If it has Tit's or tires it will cause problems!

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=6589

 

NO2 isnt very useful in this situation, it doesnt last THAT long (so it would only be good for going up hills or gaining speed on the way down a hill) so you would have to refill fairly often (and its not exactly as if you can stop at a gas station and get it).

I think the PI head swap is your best option. Its also probably the cheapest. Also a chip/tuner (I suggest the XCal 2 from Mike Troyer) would be a good addition to that.

 

Headers-pulleys-efans. That should get you somewhere close.

 

lol my 4.6L stock had enough power to pull a 54 pontiac that was excess of 2 tons on a trailor that weigh'd 1100lbs... so i dont see how u would have any problems pullin just under 2 tons???

 

1st. Remove the Fan and Shroud and install a 2800 cfm elec fan. theres 10-13hp @ $140 for fan and controller.

2nd. if your rear end is geared at 355 or 373 , move to 410's. That will really help pulling loads and change your RPM's only 3-400 max. Thats $575.00

3rd would be underdrive pulleys for 12hp @ $250 cost if you needed more.

4th Buy an F-250

Good Luck

 

Find a 99+ 5.4 engine and pop that in. That will give you 40 hp and 60 ft-lbs of torque.

JMC

 

Vegasman, $250 for underdrive pulleys? I only paid $68 when I had them on my truck (BBK's)

 

ebay

 

Dealer

 

Intake,Rocker arms,exhaust, headers, x cal 2,e-fans, underdrive pulleys.That should give you plenty of Tq.

 

the problem is that with bolt ons, you might make 40 more hp, but at what rpm? probably above 4000 rpm which is not were you need it for pulling.

Since you have a 5 speed i would suggest dropping it a gear to keep the rpm's up and possibly a Xcal 2, other than that i think you will be chasing your tail. you can drop $2k real quick and you might be were you want , then again maybe not.