I've been looking at getting a reg. cab. STX with the 4.6 I can't get the 5.4 in an STX so that just blows my buget. I'm not impressed with the power of the 4.6 so what is out there to help improve on the power. I see alot for the 5.4 but not much for the 4.6 Anyone know of other pwoer adders that will give me some good gains. A blower perhaps....any suggestions? Thanx ya'll!!

Mike

 

Get an Edge Tuner

 

Maybe just buy a used '05 with the bigger engine.. you'll always wish you had the 5.4L.

 

I really wish Ford would offer the 5.4 for the STX models. I just really like the way the STX looks thats why I what to stick with that model. Well I guess I'm stuck with the 4.6 , what kinda numbers can I expect to get with the normal add ons like intake, exhaust, tuner, and T/B if one is available?

 

Hahaha ...

 

If you care that much about performance:
A. Get a car (cars are much easier to make fast than a truck)
B. Get a 5.4 (many more performance goodies available, including a whipple sc )

A 4.6 stock is 231 hp and 293 ft lbs of torque. Between an intake and exhaust you may see 10 hp and about the same on torque, and about the same from a tuner. That 4.6 will never be real powerful without a power adder. Having said that a comparably equipped 5.4 XL is about 1000 less than a 4.6 STX. Use that 1000 and make it an STX if you want, just need front bumper and upper bumper cover, and a rear bumper, should be able to get those parts used for around a $1000. I'm pretty sure those are the only exterior differences (other than wheels which usually get dropped for aftermarket anyway). Just another option to consider.

 

My wife and I bought a 05 STX scab with the 4.6l and it was absolutly horrible at best, no power no guts. The 98 reg cab we traded in with the 4.6l was by far better due to the fact that the older body style weight a lot less. Unfortunately we had a severe auto accident in her truck which totaled it out at 2000 miles and I ended up getting her a XLT scab with the 5.4l and she is much happier. She really liked the look of the STX because her old 98 was a STX, but her new XLT was more of a truck, with the only exception was it did not have the painted bumpers that she liked. I would not buy one of these trucks with a 4.6l unless it was a regular cab short box and even then it would be iffy. my .02

 

you get about 50lbs of torque at the wheels with a good tuner on a 4.6, but i think youll wish you had the 5.4 all along, as far as power, there are just more options and bigger gains.

 

Or you can make your 4.6 quick and run around 5.4 and **** them off

 

So Tony what's your #'s like 0 to 60 1/4 mile?

 

Best bang I got for the buck on my STX regular cab was tuner. I've used Superchips and Diablo. Both are fine choices. And can be had fairly cheaply.

I did get more power from the Catback system.
I noticed improved power and gas mileage with the K&N drop in filter.
Putting in a full intake gave me a tiny bit more power than the K&N, but actually cost me a tiny bit of gas mileage.

Putting a Fold-a-Cover tonneau gave me more gas mileage.

I've done something over 45 mods to my truck, but those were the only ones that improved mileage or power.

Get the STX, plan on getting a tuner. Have a muffler shop put in a MagnaFlow muffler should cost around a hundred bucks.
The regular cab 4.6 with tuner and exhaust make more HP per pound than a stock FX4 Crew with 5.4.

It's not a power house but my little truck can light the tires and hit 100 with ease. I have no problem climbing the Grapevine or Cajon Pass at 75-80.

 

Get an XLT with the 5.4. When i bought my truck, they had the tow and go package which gave me the 5.4/trans cooler/hitch for free... Spend the extra money on making your xlt look like an stx...

 

Say gobra, you do know that the STX is WAY cheaper than the XLT?

If you can find an XLT with any motor for even close to the usual add price on an STX it would be a great buy.
An STX usually runs 5-7k cheaper. That may not be list, but that is actual sale price.
And 500 bucks worth of engine mods (and that is a high estimate) will give you plenty of power.
plus, on the other hand the plugs, injectors, tranny on the 4.6 are proven tech. And I don't even want to mention the phasors...

If money is no object, always get the best model with the biggest engine.

If your money has other places you want it, then the STX carries, handles, rides, runs and looks like the ones that cost a little more, or even a lot more.
Chris

 

I do care about power, if I could have both my sports car and my truck I would. Since I can't I want a truck that can be pretty fast. If I kind find a really low mileage '04 Lightning when I get back from Iraq by about the end of '07 then I'll do that. The lightning would give me the best of both worlds. I'm afraid of buying a used Lightning and then the next year SVT comes out with the new lightning, that would **** me off cause I wouldn't have the money for a new one then...lol!! The more I think about it I might just get a Nissan Titan kingcab. More power then the 5.4 and priced between the STX and an XLT when I configured then the way I wanted them.

 

I got the XLT because not only did it offer the 5.4 L, but it also comes with power locks,windows, and mirrors. I don't know about you guys but having to lean over to unock the passenger door is not my style.