Ok, so ive owned my f150 since july, I love the look, especially since the leveling kit, and the 33's. Here is what I dont like. Terrible throttle response. I think the cableless throttle should have been left out untill the technology was a little better. I push on the gas, and it is seriously half a second untill it reacts. WAY underpowered. I thought it might get a little better after things loosened up. My wife drives a suburban, with less horsepower (290) and less torque(300). same gears, etc...we raced stop light to stop light....she won, if it was a quarter mile, it would have been by half track i bet. We also tow the boat with both vehicles..again....the suburban wins hands down, and gets better gas mileage...by about 4 mpg. Also...I have this squek, like by rear window is loose and is rubbing against the rubber seal...anybody else have this problem. Im not bitching just to do it..I looking for help..what can I do to make this truck perfrom the way it should........I love the way it looks, but im just disapointed in the performance....

 

Take it to the dealer ship and have them reflash the PCM. I had the same problem and took it in and it has since gone away. Or just buy a programer.

 

u put 33" tires on your truck then you bitch about lack of power, power and torque are all based on factory specs. don't blame thr truck for the changes you made.

Mac.

 

As far as the throttle response, when I brought my truck into the dealer for an oil change, I mentioned it. They reflashed it and it helped out a little. I am waiting for my Xcalibrator, which from what I've read should take care of the remaining lag.

I had the squeak in my rear window. Brought it to the dealer, dropped it off for a couple of hours and picked it up with no squeak. Service manager said they removed the rear window and replaced the seal in the channel.

 

This is my favorite part.

To perform the way it should, keep it stock.

 

Buy an Xcalibrator if its that big of a deal. Take it into the dealer for the window squeak, thats why these trucks have warrantys..

 

I do have a appointment to get the window sqeek fixed. I will mention the lag. I should have mentioned that I love the way this truck looks, by far the best looking truck on the road. I also should have mentioned that the suburban also has 33's on it..again with the same gears. Im not saying anything other than it simply has more power, and out performs it. The sqeek sounds like a easy fix. And for the record. I noticed no performance loss from the stock 31's to the 33's.....

 

Try a K&N filter my throttle response got better as did my mileage by about 1 mpg

 

PCM flash or xCalibrator will fix all your throttle response and performance issues. Even with 33's you shouldnt feel a dramatic difference so dont let the others tell you that the 33's is causing all your performance losses.
I have 35's on my other truck with 3:55 gears and it still hauls ***.

 

Before you say your wife's 5.3 in her suburban (i assume its the 5.3) is more powerful than your truck wake that tuned down 5.4 up....this engine has some very impressive engineering in it and has the potential for large gains...the main problem is the Ford factory engine management program....it plain sucks...tuning is almost everything in these new engines...

tune it (Mike troyer at troyerperformance.com), give it a little more air with an intake, as well as an exhaust and I promise you wont be complaining anymore.....

this 5.4 runs hard as many people know who have gotten their hands dirty modding.....only thing is you might go broke buying new 33" tires all the time

 

Mine is stock and sucks just as bad, if you think for one second there is any kind good reason for the lack of power, throttle response then you are working for Ford and have you head in the sand partner.

My 1990 chevy PU could smoke my brand new F150 with 300hp

 

all i can say is ROFL

thats the funniest thing ihave heard. and yes i do work for ford, for about the last 8 years. and i have driven everything possible.


Mac.

 

33” tires just exacerbate the problem; you have to re-gear, a 4.11 is the smallest you should have with 33’s.

Gear Ratio Guide for Larger Tires

 

Either Ford messed up when they made my truck or GM messed up when they made almost ALL of the Suburbans around here. My truck runs much better and more economically than the Suburbans in this part of the country.

 

Thanks to those who posted advice. I think Ill go ahead and reprogram the computer. For those who have done this, Which one is the way to go, and how does it affect gas mileage. Thnks again.