Hey guys, I just got my second F150. Its a 2004 F150 SCSB FX4 5.4 3v. I left the last one stock because I didn't want to mess with it because it had a warranty. On this one I'm looking to ***** to the wall lol.

Anyways I was just wondering what your guys thought is on the programmers. Right now all I have is an exhaust system, I will be doing a cold air intake and some other stuff as time passes and money allows lol. I know right now that I will not be waiting a year for troyer or anyone for that matter. Does a custom tune really make much more difference then a canned tune (in my case considering I only have an exhaust)? What programmer would you recommend (keep in mind the longest I will wait for tunes is a month).

EDIT: I also want the programmer to allow me to remove the cats without any adverse effects (CEL/Run Rich or Lean), if possible.

 

Congratulations on your second F150.

Help us out here (please fill in the blanks) and answer a few questions.

It's a 19____ or 20_____ with a __.__L __V engine.

So you are questioning Jack's explanation/statements about custom tunes (vs. canned)? I'm surprised as most people with programmers are emphatic about the difference.

What after market 'warmer than stock' intake system are you thinking buying and why?

What exhaust system did you install?

 

Haha wow I can't believe I forgot that stuff. Its 2004 F150 SCSB FX4 5.4 3v.

I was probably going to do the GOTTS mod or whatever or if I have the cash at the time a K&N Cold Air

Exhaust is cat-back single 3" in and dual 2.5" out muffler (which is about to go in the trash can, way to quiet and I made a Y-Pipe to put in its place last night).

Also I forgot to add, I dont know if this is possible but if there is a way to have a programmer basically disable O2 sensors or make it so I can cut off the Cats I want the programmer to do that also.

 

Cats are legally required, but some programmers can and will do this.

K&N is nice looking. Period. No other gains unless you're at WOT. Do not install the after market 'warmer than stock' intake system until you have custom tunes.

Read the stickies, pick the features you want, determine which programmer meets those needs, and then search the forum for reviews/tips for your particular programmer.

FWIW based on the 100s of threads in this forum alone and on your immediate gratification requirement, you are limited to SCT with custom tunes by VMP or 5Star. Lead times for others are longer than you can wait.

 

Yea I know cats are legally required but where I live it doesn't matter I have three vehicles and this is the only one with cats and I have never had a problem. I run my big truck through town, the cops around me a really laid back, it has a 460 built with open headers and I haven't had a problem lol.

And with the custom tunes I dont need them immediately but I have read on here about people waiting upwards of a year on troyer... there is no way in hell I am going to wait that long for tunes unless they are free. I mean in a year I could probably do enough research and studying to learn how to make the tunes myself... may not be as good as theirs but it would be much cooler to say you were using your own homemade tunes lol.

 

The system has to run off of O2 sensors, but a tuner can turn off the rear, after-cat sensors. I would put a high flow cat instead of deleting them all together. I have the SCT tuning software, but it's not all that easy to get an understanding of what you need to change to your own vehicle. But if you want to do the research there are a few good forums devoted to tuning.

 

Well I understand that o2 sensors are potentiometer that has 5v ref coming in, then the potentiometer changes based on the quality of the the exhaust gas, thus causing a higher or lower voltage to be sent to the PCM. The front o2 sensor measures the quality of the exhaust gas as it comes out of the engine and relays it to the PCM. Then the exhaust gas then passes through the cat which reduces the hydro carbons and the post o2 sensor (after the cat) measures the quality of the exhaust gas and relays it on to the PCM. The PCM then compares the results to a preset acceptable range. I'm guessing with the programmer you could do one of three things. One, change the acceptable range. Two, program the post o2 sensor to give a false reading to the PCM that will always be in acceptable range. Three, remove the programming from the PCM that says to check for a post o2 sensor.