What are some good ways to gain torque without losing horsepower on a 1993 f150 5.0, automatic, manual shift 4x4? I recently bought this truck for $500 and I plan on using it as a work truck, which means hauling. I'd like to gain torque( it'll be getting 4.56 gears right away ), but I don't want to build the engine, or spend huge amounts of $. So far my budget is $1,500 ( about $1,900 with re gearing ). The budget is small because I am also trying to save up for college next summer. The less money I can spend, the better. At most id be hauling around 7,000 pounds ( trailer + bed loaded ). Would it even be possible to gain a decent amount of torque on that budget?

 

Nobody?

 

Do a Google search for the "sixlitre tuneup".

 

Perfect, thanks! I'd love to have this old girl pullin my explorer but just don't think it can as is

 

No matter what you do, 7000# is pushing the limits of the truck. 1/2 ton trucks just weren't built to handle that 20 years ago.

 

I know.. The frame from mid cab to the rear end will be boxed in for extra strength. I'm sure my tidy tank full will be more than what the truck is supposed to have in the box

 

I dont think much of the 5.0 v8 as a truck engine. The I6 was much better. The 302 is a pretty weak block period. I once had a friend who had a bronco with the 5.0 an 86 with the borg warner truck 4 speed. He was pulling a tent trailer up a pretty steep road and out of the blue the from main bearing caps busted clean off the block. Never seen anything like that.

 

Ouch that would suck! I like the 5.0's. Never really been a fan of inline anything. My old 95 F150 was used to haul a 2700 pound truck bed camper and a 24 foot lake boat before I got it. My uncle never had an issue with the engine or trans but he said it definitely needed more torque and better brakes. I never plan on pulling over 12,000 pounds like he did

 

Those 4.56 gears will make you think you have a 460 unless you put huge tires on it.

 

Short of a 351W swap, you're pretty much SOL. More torque comes from a bigger crank stroke and horsepower comes from better top end flow--that 5.0 lacks in both.

As for the 300 being a "much better" truck engine, it's probably just fine if you can keep it around 2000 RPMs or less. Beyond that, personal experience tells me it makes lots of noise when you need to hit the pedal...and not much else. That sounds pretty awful if I had to tow up a steep grade.

Heck, trade up to a dually. You can box the frame in, but it's still a half-ton frame and running gear that you just added weight to that takes away from your towing cap. Pointless.