I have an 05 ext cab 4x4 stx with the 4.6.I installed aftermarket power locks and remote start.also an alpine cd and alpine mono amp with one kicker L5 sub.
I had a flowmuster muffler installed in place of stock.I was going to sell the truck
when it hit a year or so old and get a new 150 with more options and such
but I got a house instead.I am now going to have to keep this truck.
I want to make it more liveable.I need ideas for power upgrades.I do have an xcal 1 but it has some issues.it pings under any type of load big time and with any grade of gas.I am going to get a better programer of some type.But air intakes better catback for more low end grunt and things like this is where I need some help.What to get?what works best on a 4.6?Also i want to lift up the front end a little it sits like a hot rod now.I read that some folks had issues with the autosprings rubbing on some thing but i dont remember what.

I am just looking for somee ideas to get me started.i have a wish list but they are things I think are hopeless like power windows and mirrors.I will have to do this a little at a time like$500 or so at a time so where to start?

 

Get rid of that Xcal 1 and grab an Edge Revolution or a Xcal2. The get a nice exhaust and a few other things and it should be just fine

 

I think the issue is corrected with the New Offset Autospring now.

I have a Magnaflow flow catback and a Volant Cold Air with a Volant Scoop, running a Jet Chip. I have tons of Mid and High end fun, but still lacking in Low end Torque, I think need to change my Choice of CPU Upgrade or Put the Stock air intake back on.

I have read a little about a Bama tuner or something like that, I think they custom the tune to your Accessories.

 

Will a cold air kit heelp at all?Witch one is a good bet?I got my xcal1 from bama chips doug has been good to me over the years.I think an xcal2 is in my future soon.Also I did not mean I had $500 total just $500 or so at a time.
New house has a lot of NEEDS.I looked for chargers for the 4.6 but most are for the 5.4 motors.It sounds like a new chip,cat back and maby a cold aiir kit are first.

Also any info on adding the foglight valance and fogs to an stx would be great.

 

I have a 4.6 and have done 55 different mods, so I have at least some idea of what does and does not give you return for the money.

So, on the intakes, adding a cold air intake to the 4.6 is more about looks or sound. The stock intake works very well for mileage and pretty well for power.
Putting a K&N drop in gave me the most bang for the buck. I have an AEM on it now. Frankly, one of these days I will put the stock with K&N back on. Performance was within a couple horsepower and the stock/drop in got better mileage.


Tonneau helped the gas mileage as much as anything. I use an aluminum Fold-a-Cover. Any of the light weight tonneaus seem to pay for themselves.

On ping from tuners, I have got that with DP tuners several times. Also on a Superchips on premium tune. I found that I had to bring it back to stock between any tune changes, or my truck would ping. I use the 91 octane setting on the DP and as long as I get decent gas it works fine. The 93 octane settings ping like crazy.

Try returning to stock settings between any changes and if you can with that tuner, set the timing for 91 not 93.

Putting power windows in my truck cost 48 bucks, but I got lucky. You should be able to do it for less than 100 off eBay. If you use the slower windows consider express modules. Makes slower not matter. I wrote up how to do express for 1.50 a direction a window. Or well under 10.00 bucks for express up/down two windows.

Power mirrors should be do-able for about 110.00 to 120.00, if you watch for them on eBay. That is for the two mirrors, and a switch. Wiring it up is pretty easy. I like the power mirrors more than I expected to.

You already did the keyless/power lock thing so you know how to get inside the doors, etc.

I assume you already swapped the stock speakers out. That made a lot of difference on my sound.

Chris

 

Wow lots of good info....I guess a K&N drop in will be step one.
The door locks were a bear.I dont know if all F150 have the stupid plug in the door jambs but it made life hard.What ever happened to the good old rubber boot?If you have a how to on the windows and mirrors please send me a link or email it to me.I got an autospring 2" on the way.I also have some CDT 5 1/4 componants on the way.I have an alpine 70x4 to install with them.
I am also thinking about a large power sun roof,I have never had one and this truck has plenty of roof.I also have been looking for a cat back I like but I want dual tails both exiting behind the pass rear tire.Most are strait out the back or a tail on each side.

 

In this forum search for Power windows. Dozens of folks have done it, and they took pictures. I just tossed mine in quickly almost 18 months ago. Use them every time I drive it. That and the remote keyless are must haves to me.
The mirror job, search for Power Mirrors or Molex. I used Molex connectors since the ford connectors required two 54 buck harnesses. The molex connectors were free. They cost a few cents at Radio Shack but since I used to own a computer business I have more computer junk lying around than I can inventory. Small molex connectors are what computers use for things like the power going to Floppy drives. They fit perfectly, well a little tight, on the male pins on the mirror. A little primary wire, a fuse holder and any power mirror switch and you are up and running.


You have the pain in the tail block. Most new model F150 trucks do not have that darn white block.

How did you get through it? Or did you add a second boot? Both have been done.

I was lucky, my STX had no block. Easy as pie. I have added power mirrors, power windows, power locks, tweeters, and a factory keypad handle inside my front doors. Must have 15 wires going through the boot.
Chris

 

Any opinion on these head lights?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

 

So, you lost low end power after the upgrades??? I'm a little concerned because I'm about to do the same upgrades (for the most part.) I'm installing SI/SO Magnaflow catback, Volant CAI and Edge this weekend.

 

I drive an 05 supercab with a 5.4 with 3.55 4x4, with a hard bed cover, for a work truck. Did a 450 mile round trip last week on primarily 2 lane road and got 17.5 mpg.

My personal vehcle is a 2005 supercrew with 5.4, 3.55, 4x2, flowmaster si/do, airraid jr, K&N panel filter, Lund roll back bed cover, and EDGE Evolution set on Tow tune. Last 400 mile trip on primarily interstate highway, I got 17.5 mpg. Another major difference of that trip was a climb in altitude of 4500 feet from sea level and back again.

With all that said my supercrew sounds good and has much better throttle response during everyday driving. The airraid jr. really cleans up the engine compartment, sounds good, but not to loud.

Overall, in my experience, I would say that if fuel mileage is your primary concern, leave it stock.

If you want better throttle response and good sound, go with an aftermarket exhaust of your choice, and a tuner. Doesn't matter which. I like mine not only for the tuning ability, but it has a cool bling factor with guages on my dash. I feel that is the best bang for the buck. The intake system of the new trucks is pretty good. Except for looks and WOT, it's hard to beat.

But you also have to throw in the fun factor. I have never owned a vehicle that I did not modify to some degree. Why? Because it's fun.

So have fun.

P.S. Congrats on the house.

 

I am making some changes, I bought a Hypertech programmer, I am going to try that instead of my Jet Chip. If that doesnt help my Low end, I am putting the Stock Air sytem back on, then maybe a drop in K&N. I am going to keep fiddling with it until Its right.

Maybe the edge will work better with that setup, youll have to come back to this post and let me know how its working for you. When I do my change I will post it here also.

 

For what its worth I have an xcal2, pullies, K&N drop in, silencer tuber removed and an imco si/do muffler.


Xcal2: Awsome power, greatest money I have spent on a mod.

K&N: barely noticed a change

Silencer tube: same as above

Imco muffler: I actually lost torque because I did not do a cat back, and imco is pretty much just a louder slowmaster.

Pullies: Got some torque back

4.10's about to install, I let you know how that goes when the time comes.

All this together made the truck more enjoyable, All the little things added up I believe. I just wish I would have sacrificed sound for performance and gone magnaflow cat back. Either way I am really happy with the truck and a lot of people who hop in cant believe that its the the 4.6 the way it launches.