Anyone disappointed with the stock performance of the 5.4 3V motor? I have an 05 F-150 King Ranch 4x4 and have always been very disappointed with the performance. I have a 1999 Expedition with the 5.4 2V (128,000 miles) and it is a far better performer... all kinds of torque, passing power... just an all around better performer. The F-150 is so sluggish - feels like it can't get out of its own way. If I stab the gas, it takes a good 2 seconds to figure out what I have done (thanks drive by wire) and then downshift. When cruising on the freeway, it always feels the need to downshift going up any slight grade or giving some gas to pass. I thought this new motor was supposed to be better than the 2V... so far, I think it sucks. 15,000 miles and a Magnaflow exhaust have done nothing to open this thing up. I went and drove a 2007 Expedition (5.4) to see what its power level was and was disappointed in it too. It had more torque, but still not what I thought it was going to be. Again, driving on the freeway, it was dropping out of OD on slight grades or even just passing. I know a chip would help, but I also think it should have come from the factory better than this.
At this point, I am ready to just get rid of it and get a Trailblazer SS!

 

If you would even remotely consider trading a KR 4x4 for an ugly *** Trailblazer, then do it. A truck is not meant to haul ***, it's meant to work. When will people ever get it? These trucks are the most quiet, refined, capable trucks out there. Even WITH our lowest hp rating...

Nothing beats a Ford, IMO.

 

I wich I would have gone with the trailblazer ss.... or the cherokee srt-8

 

Cold air intake and a tuner and you will look like this

 

If you want a station wagon instead of a truck. The Trailblazer might become valuable many years from now since GM has decided to stop making them due to low sales.

 

I have to unequivocally agree with 02SuperCrew4X on both comments! It’s a flip’n truck for CS! If you wanted performance AND utility, then you should have gotten a Lightning, SRT10 or Silverado SS, not a 4x4 vehicle. You can put all the bolt-ons you want, but in the end it’s STILL A 5000lbs + truck. Plain and simple. It “AINT” going to be fast. Period. Accept it.

Now, dump four grand or more in a power adder (turbo/super charger) and it will definitely wake it up, but if it’s serious performance you're looking for, a truck (especially 4x4) was the wrong decision. It literally cracks me up to the point of tears when half the peeps on this forum post bragging threads about racing their truckl. A majority of those people still live with their mom and dad too. Solid!

I’ll admit there are some seriously BAD-A$$ F150’s on this forum, BUT they all have a blown motor too (blown as in forced induction, NOT broke, LOL). They also have very tasteful appearance mods to boot. I can’t remember their screen names, but they know who they are. Then again, they have more in their truck than I do in my Stang, and I can confidently say they are not 10second trucks. On the flip side, they have ALL the amenities I wish my Stang had (PL, PW, AC, CC…).

My F150 should weight approximately as much as yours and I think it has very ample power. Keep in mind I’m used to a 10 second street car too.

 

Kaching!

 

Well, here's another $.02. My '04 5.4 is slow in traffic. So what? It's also HUGE. My wife has a CLK320, so if I want to drive like I'm 20 again, there it is. I do think, however, my truck would've performed a little better with 3.73's in the back and a 5 speed AT instead of the 3.55's. That being said, I love spinning ~1900 rpms @70MPH. What might be forgotten on these is first, they are trucks. Remember, we used to haul things with them? Secondly, they are heavy which IMO gives them the nice ride down the fwy. that my '97 lacked.

 

get an xcal 2 or an edge...like the people in your other two threads said.
1) https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26045
2) https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=260452

 

I would have thought by now guys would have figured out how the 3V is programmed. If you stab on the gas, there is quite a delay before the engine responds (by design).

The engine has plenty of power, but is programmed to be a truck. Didn't take me long to figure out if you put the pedal down 1/3 of the way for a fraction of a second, and then step on it, the truck will leap off of the line. If you want instant power, you gotta be smarter than the nerd that programmed the engine algorithm for full range torque and fuel economy.

I have an '06 Expedition and it's 5.4L rules the road. That thing really gets up and goes!

 

Good thing I test drove mine and determined if I liked it before i purchased it. For my driving purposes the 4.6 met my requirements thus I am a happy camper. I would be bummed if I bought a truck and didn't like it.

 

I don't race my truck, or see what it can do in the 1/4. I had a mustang and a formula for that. But I know what you mean about the throttle lag. Its nice to be able to hit the gas and go instantly when you NEED it. You already spent a crap load of a awesome King Ranch. What the hell is another $320 for a Edge or similar. That will fix your problems and then some. A lot less lag and a crap load of better drivability. Heck you even get some cool gauges. After the Edge I have not once thought my 5.4 was underpowered.

 

Ok, so a truck is ''ment'' to haul stuff and not go fast. But why is it bad for the truck to be able to go fast? A truck that hauls stuff and goes fast is like the perfect truck. A SRT-10 would be nice Idk what the towing is on it but it sure would be a nice edition to my key rack.

 

I think we can all agree that the fly by wire sucks, even if it is a TRUCK thats not supposed to perform like a SPORTS CAR.

Do youself a great-big-****ing-favor and just buy an Xcal2. It makes the drivablity so much better (like a 2v with a throttle cable) and the extra power of the 3v/vvt are definatly there too.

 

Flash your ECU to solve your throttle lag issue or get an xCal2 from Troyer for performance tunes. BIG difference when you do this...really wakes up your beast.