Ok guys, I am a gear head so you can talk tech. I just bought a 2005 Crew cab lariat with 40k on it. It is bone stock. nothing but the tires have been changed.

Where should I start with the mods that are good and what should I avoid? Link are always good.

I have in mind already:
CAI and exhaust
PIE adapter for the factory 6 disc
Good floor mats
Spray in bed liner
and fixing the loose piece on my center console (passenger side cover for the lever mechanism)

I'm a Jeep guy,so I am not going to do much to the truck, but want to get it nice for pulling the Wrangler around and DD it.

Thanks.

Bryan

 

first thing you gotta do is get pics up haha. were visual helpers here

Btw welcome

 

pics always good. Welcome to the site. I dont have a 5.4 so im not much of a help ill wait for the5.4 guys

 

your first modification should be an edge or gryphon programmer with custom tunes for your CAI and exhaust. that will let your ***** hang free again. and then start with the other things. the 05 5.4 ran very lean, doing a cai will lean you out unless you do custom tunes. Gryphon is known for their custom tunes.


i just read your going to be towing, more the reason to program it.

 

If you get a cai you are going to want a programmer with a custom tune on it. If not you are probably going to throw codes.

 

lol nice same time post^^

 

If you're going to run an aftermarket intake and you have a 5.4 3v engine you're going to need custom tunes because the 5.4 3v engines run very lean from the factory.

 

For the floor mats I would suggest that you get WeatherTech floor liners. They fit very well in our trucks, the quality is second to none, and very easy clean up.

The guys above have already said about the lean issues with a CAI, I would also suggest a Gryphon from PHP. Here is a link: http://gopowerhungry.com/_Ford_F-Ser...e_Vehicle.html . I personally don't have a Gryphon, I am running a Edge Evo which is a brother to the Gryphon, the major difference is that the Evo can not be just custom tuned where as the Gryphon can be. I plan on upgrading my Evo to a Gryphon at some point, and after seeing what Bill (the owner/founder/program writer for PHP) did for custom tunes for my fathers 7.3L F350, all I can say it WOW!!

 

as said before, a gryphon with custom tunes is a must for the 04-05 years or youll run way to lean. I was gonna say a leveling kit but since your gonna use it to tow you jeep i dont know how you feel about it sagging. leveling kit and airbags would be sweet though, unless your one of the "lowered" guys. if your trailer has brakes then a prodigy brake controller for sure.

 

Tune, CAI, exhaust.

 

Welcome! A tuner is a must and then you can do the Gotts mod to the intake(see the Articles and How Tos) or a CAI if you insist. Always do an exhaust for sound!

 

Well... I see a trend. I have a full Edge kit with CAI, throttle body and programmer in my Wrangler. Top notch stuff.

So with the 5.4 if I do a CAI without a tuner, what is the typical outcome? Higher MPG but lower performance as its running leaner than even from the factory?

I will have to decide what I am going to do with the intake. I think possibly the gotts mod, a drop in filter, tuner and exhaust.

As for floor mats, I am going to have to look for some weathertech ones... They do look stellar.

Whats everyone running for a muffler replacement? I am looking for a good sound but not something that's gonna get old listening to drone inside the cab.

Leveling/airbags... I am nto sure what I plan on doing... but yeah im not a "lower"guy...


I think for now I am going to plan to leave it alone until I get some other minor things done and start to research more... my mind is 100% Jeep currently so I'll have to squeeze some F150 in.

And for the finale, what I'm working with....

 

I would recommend Firestone Ride Rite rear air bags if you plan to tow often, they will help keep the right stance of the truck if you've got a lot of tongue weight. I don't have em yet, but plan on it.

http://www.fsip.com/riderite/products/rrinfo.shtml

 

I have a IMCO, now called Cherry Bomb "pro series", on my truck. I am running 3" from the stock Y-pipe to the muffler which is 3" SI/SO then 3" out in the stock location with a 4"X12" SS tip. It provides good sound, it will let people know when you are on the gas, yet I have NEVER had any drone. It doesn't matter if I am running empty or towing (both in and out of OD) I have yet to find a RPM that will cause drone.
I have a 2.5" leveling kit with Firestone Ride-Rites and it is great!! The reason that I went with this setup is so that I could have the truck level or with just a slight rake no matter if I am running empty, towing or hauling. I have pictures in my album if you are interested in looking.

 

with a 2004 or 2005 5.4, a CAI without a custom tune will often throw a lean code and put you into failsafe. Other times it is not lean enough to throw a code but you could still be running lean. I would never risk it myself. A custom tune provides far more than a CAI anyway.