Mike, I have read/searched many posts about a variety of intake mods, and still have questions. Like many, I have installed the Superchip and opened up the exhaust. I like the K&N FIPK because as far as I can tell it's the only 50-state CARB certified unit (they told me the 2K certification will be later this year). I would like your advice on several products. What do you feel is worth the time/effort/money.

-BBK/Edelbrock 75mm. Throttle Body
-Granatelli/Pro-flow MAF sensor (It seems several sizes could apply here)
-Cold vs. Hot air intake (WMS-cold vs. others)

Can these products be used without chip reprogramming?

If you feel these products are worthwhile, can you, or do you know someone who can, suggest a good combination of products. I believe many people here wonder this same thing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.



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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification,Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back.

 

Thanks for all the information. I'm just not interested in small improvements for big $ that may just create more problems. I'm impressed with the power increase from the 3 mods I have done. We appreciate the quick, knowlegdeable responses that you provide us here.

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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification,Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back.

 

Hi Max,

Your sentiments echo those of many others here. There beloved late-model F-150's are very expensive vehicles, most of which are still under warranty. While we do see a lot of posts here from guys who are doing a lot more mods and drag racing, etc. their F-150's, the majority of owners usually stop with those 3 mods, the programing, the intake & the exhaust. The gains from those 3 areas are very good for the money spent, and they tend to be cumulative, rather than detract from each other, and they make what we call an excellent "Stage 1" set of modifications.

Have fun,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Info:https://www.f150online.com/rally2000/index.html

 

HI Max,

Yes, K&N is a bit further ahead in their emissions certs as compared to Airaid. If I lived in California I'd probably go with the K&N unit as a result, but otherwise, the Airaid. Either unit gets you virtually identical power gains, so you can't go wrong from that standpoint!

As far as installing larger MAF or TB, unless that engine has been substantially modified, we don't see big gains on the dyno. Now if you have changed rear gears, you might be able to make use of a bit more air, like say for 4.10's perhaps, we're never done any formal back-to-back testing to see if that is in fact the case.

I do also have to point out that there have been some comments posted from others here who feel that going to a larger MAF did get them some noticeable gain. I don't want to take away from any mod that can show some real potential, and we are so focused on bang-for-the-buck that installing larger MAF's & TB's aren't high on our list, but that's us. All I can tell you is that in general, we don't see substantial gains with those larger components until the engine has been modified to the point that it can actually out-strip the flow capacity of those stock components. That's not to say that they absolutely won't add some high-rpm horsepower, just that like any breathing mod, they really work best when the engine is breathing really hard.

There have been a few guys here lately that have installed the Granetelli MAF and said they felt it added something. We have not done specific back-to-back testing on that particular unit, though I think it's manufactured for them by someone else. As far as whether you'll need a custom program for the larger MAF, that is a 50-50 chance. We have some customers using the Granatelli
unit who have not needed any adjustments. It used to be up until just a year or so ago that any aftermarket MAF unit had to be adjusted for in the program, but those manufacturers are doing a better job of calibrating them to the stock injector size, so now it's only about half the time that a larger MAF requires an adjustment. Larger throttle bodies generally do not need adjustment in the program.

Just to give you an idea, the only time we see consistent gains in power from larger MAF's & TB's on basically stock engines is if you are still using the factory airbox *and* the paper air filter element. In that configuration, you can pick up a few horsepower on even a stock engine.

Since you already have done an intake mod, and an exhaust mod, and the Superchip, you might want to take a look at doing a set of underdrive pulleys next, as they do help to get more power to the rear wheels. Next then would be a set of headers, possibly.

I am not aware of a true "ram-air" type of setup, though there are a few things on the market that use the small cold air inlet on the fender, like the Velocity Tube. I prefer using one of the airbox elimination kits, as they show more power gains.

As far as suggesting mods, on these F-150's the top 3 bang-for-the-buck mods are:

1.) Optimize powertrain programming with the Superchip.

2.) Reduce restriction on the intake side, using an airbox elimination kit.

3.) Reduce restriction on the exhaust side, using a good cat-back system that has been properly flow-engineered for your vehicle.

From there it's anyone's guess, but #4 is probably a good set of underdrive pulleys for getting more power to the rear wheels, though in terms of actually increasing engine power output #4 would be a good set of headers.

I hope all this rambling helps a little bit,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Info:https://www.f150online.com/rally2000/index.html