Dear Thunder,

Yes, this will generally hold true for any vehicle that cannot pull redline rpm's, or close to it, in top gear. Meaning, a change to a higher numerical gear ratio will generally also increase top speed, due to the engine then being able to get closer to the rpm at which peak horsepower occurs.

Sometimes we'll see that going to a 4.10 or higher numerical gear set will cause us to have to do a custom program in the Superchip, as sometimes the engine can gain rpm's quickly enough in 1st gear to actually "bounce" off of the rev limiter before it can complete the full-throttle 1-2 upshift. Not always, and not even most of the time, but it can and does happen sometimes. Should that happen, we can easily update the Superchip with a custom program to take care of that, the Superchip can always be updated for your vehicle, for modifications you do in the future, so that helps protect your investment in the Superchip.

As you can see from NoMo's response, he didn't have any problems, and a lot of people don't get this when going to 4.10's, but some do, so I just wanted you to be aware of the possibility, and that it's easily taken care of with a custom program update.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

 

Dear Jarrettruelz88,

The vast majority of the actual restriction is in the factory air filter element, and in the airbox itself, and mods in those areas show the best gains. Now in your situaion, you already have the K&N air filter, and a different K&N filter comes with either of the airbox elimination kits such as the Airaid or the K&N FIPK kit. So sometimes people will prefer to go with the Velocity Tube so they can keep using their existing K&N air filter element.

It all gets down to your budget, in my opinion. If it were me, I would use one of the airbox elimination kits, as they show very nice solid and consistent power gains, well worth the expense. If I had to wait a bit longer to be able to buy one of those kits, that is what I would do as opposed to installing the Velocity Tube, but that's me, and you may well feel differently.

Then again, once you get your custom-programmed Superchip, you may feel that you have enough power then, I don't know, only time will tell.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 03-22-2000).]

 

Mike @ Superchips,
Thank you for your input on my future mods to my truck. I dont want to sound arrogant and say that money is no object when it comes to my truck,but it is really not an issue. I simply want to get the highest quality parts for the money. I have heard that air-box eliminators are not all they are cracked up to be due to the fact that they draw hot air from the engine compartment. Is this a valid point? What about air filter life? Driving in the rain/snow?
And as a response to your last statement:I WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH POWER. haha
Thank you

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99 F 150 4x4.ORP,S/B 4.6 4.10 gears, Gibson 3" cat back. K&N filter. Soon to be Superchiped

 

Linedog,
I guess I am a little disappointed with the sound of the Gibson.When I purchased the exhaust I was told it would be similar sounding to the Rancho exhaust I had on my 94 F150 W/ a 351 auto. Not even close.It is very close to stock sounding.(has a slight rumble at best)
The biggest kick in the b*lls happened when a friend asked when I was going to put a cat-back on my truck (D-OH).
I guess it is a matter of opinion but I would not purchase another Gibson for that very reason.
I am considering purchasing a Flowmaster.

As for the change to 4.10s the total cost was about $1400.00 This price includes Precision Gears, master install kits for both the front and rear,6 quarts of Amsoil Synthetic gear lube,1 bottle of friction modifier from Ford,installation @ a local machine shop, and a custom programed Superchip to recalibrate the speedo.
The gear swap was by far the best mod I have ever made to any of my vehicles.I was nervous about tearing into a new truck(10,000 miles) but now that it is done I wont think twice about doing it again.
Hope this helps

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99 F 150 4x4.ORP,S/B 4.6 4.10 gears, Gibson 3" cat back. K&N filter. Soon to be Superchiped

 

Dear Dissonance,

You can get the gears almost anywhere in the aftermarket. Check in both Jeg's and Summit Racing catalogs. Jeg's has a web site at www.jegs.com, and I think Summit Racing's web site is at www.summitracing.com, if memory serves. I don't remember if it's two "t"'s or one in that spelling, sorry!

I would also suggest you talk to other guys hewre who have already done it, to get their recommendations, as some aftermarket gear sets can induce "howl", or "whine" at speed. And decent gear set, installed properly, will work fine, but I would talk to others who have done it first, to get some more direct feedback.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

 

Dear jarrett,

Yes, we hear this come up time and tiume again, but the actual facts are that these airbox elimination kits do in fact show those gains on the dyno. 12 hp on the 4.6, and 14 hp on the 5.4, as compared to about 5 hp for the K&N air filter element itself. And, they do not really take in hot air from over the engine, if you look at where the air filter element is actually located, it's taking in the coolest air it can. Though it is not using the factory opening in the fender, it is not taking in air that is as hot as teh air directly aroudn the engine. Is the air it breathes warmer than the factory outlet in the fender? Sure, it's a little bit warmer, but not by much.

It's funny that these claims usually come from those who have not installed these kits. You also have to remember that it's the IAT sensor that tells the engine the temperature of the incoming air, and they are *never* located in a position to get a truly accurate reading, they are always located so they get a considerably hotter reading that the actual temperature of the air entering the motor in most driving situations, in an attempt to be conservative.

The factory airbox is so restrictive that eliminating it using one of those kits does in fact free up significant horsepower, and the fact that it no longer takes in air from the rather small opening in the fender means almost nothing, it's the elimination of the restriction that gains power, and it very clearly shows on the dyno.

I have always also said that the ultimate setup would be to have a ram air of some sort, along with relocating the IAT sensor into that colder air stream so that the computer gets accurate data, and the motor gets colder air. There are some kits available for a few GM vehicles to do relocate the IAT sensor.

So *if* you could have a true ram air setup, coupled with relocating the IAT sensor, then *that* would, in my humble opinion, be the best setup most likely in terms of actual power gained.

Since that is not available in a ready-made "kit", if it were my vehicle, it would be wearing an airbox elimination kit, no question about it.

Good luck!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

 

Mike @ Superchips,
My friend just purchased a true ram air hood from goodhood for his 98 Flareside.It comes in two pieces, the hood, and a new open air box that mates to the opening in the hood. The hood is kinda along the lines of the 71-73 Mustang"NASA" hoods, but not really( if that statement makes any sense).
p.s. cant wait for my chip.How about asking the programers to work o.t. haha

 

Dear Jarrett,

Just so you'll know, I am not an employee of Superchips, or any other company. It's easy to make that assumption, because I do say "we" a lot when talking about Superchips, due to the very close nature of our relationship, so please forgive me if I gave you that impression. Our company serves as the National Distributor of their products, we are a completely different company, "Performance Products".

I have known about a ram air hood for the F-150's for some time, a few guys here already have them, but I haven't actually seen the new airbox arrangement or whatever they're using under the hood to actually make it functional, I'm very glad to hear that this is available. Now if we could get someone to make a nice IAT relocation kit for these trucks, that would be the last step in optimizing a ram air setup. Until a kit comes along, people will just have to do it themselves, or get somebody who knows what they're doing to relocate it. That is, to be able to take *full* advantage of a ram air setup.

Superchips is already working overtime, trust me.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 03-24-2000).]