Hey guys, going to do my best to prevent a pissing match, I promise! I'll post the boring details of this question at the end, for anyone who wants to read them.

I won't be doing 1/4 mile runs in the truck I buy but say I want a truck capable of mid/low 14's, in crew cab 4x4 trim. Would a tuned 5.0 be able to accomplish that or should I go ahead and spring for the EB and get it tuned? I very rarely tow, just use the bed for various things mostly. I like the 5.0's sound of course, and (don't kill me EB guys!) still have the feeling that a naturally aspirated engine has less that could potentially go wrong/less parts to eventually have to replace from wear and tear. The EB's torque is fantastic though.

Boring Details: I'm graduating in a couple weeks and already have a very well paying job lined up, I started my retirement fund about 2 years ago (at 22 yrs old), and I'll have no extra bills that I don't already pay on a part-time hourly-paid job. So, with my current vehicle on its death bed, it's time to reward myself for my hard work. I've driven both the 5.0 and EB, each probably 5-7 times, but obviously never a tuned version of either which is the problem I'm having. I want to put something like a 285/60R20 all-terrain tire on the stock wheels, and would be willing to do intake and a quieter exhaust to meet my goals.

I'm going to tune whatever vehicle I get for one reason and one reason alone- I love the way tuned vehicles drive (more power, throttle response, firmer shifts). My boss in high school bought a used late 90's 5.4L F150 as a 'work truck' and had me take it to the dealership the next day to see what performance mods had been done to it, because it felt drastically more powerful than expected (it would break the tires loose from a fairly slow roll). I drove it up there and felt the same way he did, the dealership said all that was done to it was a tune and exhaust. I've driven other tuned vehicles since then and just wish they came from the factory like that, although I know some like the smooth soft shifts etc.

 

Those trucks are already doing that stock, for the most part - without the warranty hassles.

Bragging rights in play here? Get an EB and move on. Yer concerns w.r.t. complexity are noted, but largely irrelevant. Yer NOT racing, remember? (yeah, right).

BTW - what part of disclosing yer personal financial situation is actually germane to this topic?

I repeat - go EB. Stock. with 3.73's.

MGD

 

-double post-

 

Thanks for the reply! I discussed finances because when I discussed some different ATV models on message boards when I was buying one last year, I got more "how can you afford" and "save your money and buy an old one until you're older" than anything. Wanted to avoid that this time around because, as an accountant, I know what I can and can't afford etc.

Again, no interest in racing. The legal penalties alone will prevent all but the rarest of 'races' that last a couple seconds tops in an unpopulated area, with a friend, for a laugh and to talk about afterwards. I really just like the aspects mentioned that a tuner brings. Maybe I could go with an EB and just have the shifts firmed up with a tuner, and protect the engine warranty- or would a Ford dealership likely try to still void the engine (and not just transmission) warranty?

Thanks for the reply!

 

The warranty is likely void if there is a footprint of any tune on the PCM. I'm biased, go for the 5.0. I love the sound of the V8 even in stock form, plus with a Boss tune, it will scoot(scoots prett well, stock).

To check out potential of the 5.0, look at 5 Star Tuning's site. For the more radical, check this out:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...hnny+Lightning

BTW, nice to see another accountant coming along that is interested in trucks.

 

add this to the 5.0....http://5startuning.com/onlinestore/e...ne-50l-v8.html

 

The 5.0 is nice and sounds good, but is old school. Would you fly around the world in a propeller aircraft? Hmmm. Go with technology, it is your friend. Look around the web and have a gander at the Eco's bottom end, it is built like a NASCAR engine, 4 bolt mains and cross bolted, like a diesel. All aluminum and twin turbos. If you don't look at this engine and pop wood, I don't know what to tell ya'.............

 

 

I didn't realize the EB was built so strong. I guess the concern there lies in the generalization that turbo engines can run hot when pushed, and of course, on down the line that's an expensive replacement part.

Re: another accountant interested in trucks, I was originally after an SUV but there's just not one on the market with the performance and off-road ruggedness I want. I prefer the ease of parking a shorter midsize SUV to a truck but worth the trade-off, especially when a reverse camera is added.

 

The engine and the turbos are liquid and oil cooled, heat is not an issue. Go to Fords website and watch the videos of what this engine went through, I believe your concerns will be dampened.

 

It's really interesting, the different perceptions that people have or get. That explains why they offer choices.

 

Pretty sure the 5.0 bottom end is built way stronger than the ecoboost.. its already a proven fact that the new 5.0 can handle the abuse! the ecoboost not so much. but the either motor will get you in the 14's for sure!!

 

Huh?

http://www.ford.com/new/f-150-torture-test/

 

Oh, I don't really have any reservations with it. I just mean 'people' in general, as in the people who have the keep-it-simple mentality and prefer the larger displacement V8.

 

Yea, those "perceptions" can really mask the facts..lol