I have a totally stock '98 F150 Supercab with a 4.6 and auto tranny. I'm now ready to modify my truck but I don't know which mods to do first. I've only been on this site a couple time but I keep reading about the 'big 3' or 'basic 3 mods' to begin with. Can someone tell me what these 3 mods are? I know one is an aftermarket chip but what are the other 2?

Any other recommendations you can give me to get me started in the right direction will be appreciated.

Thanks

Eddie

 

Hi 98 Red,

First, welocme to this forum, it is a great place for info.
The "Big 3" people are referring too are:

1) Adtermarket exhaust (More free-flowing than stock
2) Air intake to replace factory air box. (F.I.P.K.) - this pumps more air into the engine, and in theory give it more power. (hence the free flowing exhaust)
3) Performance chip

I don't belive it makes any difference which order these mods are installed in.

Hope this helps

Habibi

Check out this sites online store and click on Filter Injection Performance Kit, there are several brands to choose from.
I can't speak for the others, but I am very happy with the Air Force1 I bought from the store

 

Habibi,

Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any recommendations on exhaust and which chip to use? I'm not looking to make my truck a hot rod (I have a '91 Mustang LX coupe for that) but I am looking to improve performance and mileage. With that in mind I would like a free flowing exhaust without all the noise and a performance chip without sacrificing drivability.

Thanks

Eddie

 

Hi Eddie,

Hands down, the Superchip does the best job of any performance chip ever made, it's the only performance chip that tunes each vehicle individually, tunes the engine for maximum horsepower and torque all the time at any throttle position and any rpm, and is still 50-state emissions certified, no other chip offers all of that. Of course, that's to be expected from the company that invented this industry.

We also offer complete package deals on things like the Superchip, Air Force One intake and the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, for example, speaking of the Top 3 best bang for the buck modifications; each of those parts is the best of its kind and will deliver the largest power gains and best torque results. We can work package deals or do things one at a time, whichever you prefer. We also handle anythign from superchargers to ignition, headers to wheels, and the list goes on and on.......................

Please feel free to give us a call & we'll be happy to go over anything performance-related for or about your truck, as we are F-150 performance specialists and can handle virtually any aspect of improving the performance of your truck. We're happy to spend time with you going over everything thoroughly in advance, so you take your time & make your decisions from a fully informed position.

Good luck with your truck, & we hope you'll hang out here with us in your spare time!

 

Mike, thanks for the input. Does the Superchip have any affect on the transmission shift points and shift firmess or does it just enhance engine performance? Sorry for all the qustions but like I stated in the topic line I'm a newbie.

Eddie

 

I'll let Mike answer the above question because he is the pro around here, but I'd definately get intake and exhaust if I were you. It seems to me, that Flowmaster is the most popular exhaust, but that is also opinionated, because I have flowmaster and it sounds great. A really nice thing about Flowmaster is that you can choose the "throatiness" and sound that you want. They have different applications depending on how loud or how quiet you would like to go.... example: 40 Series, 50 series Delta.. ect... I think that out of all the exhaust systems I have heard, Flowaster, Dynamax, and MagnaFlow sound the Best. I could be wrong but i BELIEVE they all deliver relatively the same power gain. Gibson is also a very popular exhaust system. Air Force intakes, I have to admit, look the best due to the chrome piping, but I am not sure on how much HP gain they add. The box claims most intakes add about 15- to as much as 26 HP gains.. However, with a hot engine and the intake inside, the HP gains are usually much less,, about 4-10 HP MAX!!!! And I have a link that proves that right here::

http://www.f150world.com/tenArticle.asp?sid=2&aid=38

http://www.f150world.com/tenArticle.asp?sid=2&aid=27

( Those links are all very good and if you look on that thread there is a Test with Each individual one. If i could re-choose the intake I want it would DEFINETALLY BE volant becuase the AIR BOX KEEPS THE HP GAINS CONSISTENT!!!)

According to that link, K&N delivers the highest HP, although Airfoce was not tested. K&N has a GREAT HISS sound and up on the higher rpm range delivers a nice GROWL that you'd have to here for yourself. I am sold on Superchips because i belive MIKE that they are "hands down" the best chip on the market. Check out that link and then listen to whatever Mike posts after this!! Good Luck modding your Truck!!!

- PhAtNaV (Jon)

 

OK ... so a Cat-Back would be nice, but if I have limited scratch to play with, can I realize much improvement with just installing a performance muffler in my stock exhaust system???

 

Eddie

I also have a 98 with 4.6, but a manual. I know that the
Superchip does certainly enhance the auto shift points. With respect to exhaust one needs to be careful that he is adding power and not just noise.

The best thing you can do is to call Mike direct. The man will set you straight on what works and what doesn't. My calls to Mike saved me time and money and got me some extra horses.

One word of caution: once you start adding horsepower, you may have a hotrod before you know it. I know. I'm at +90 hp over stock, and my F-150 is riding fine.

 

Yean

I would offer you the same advice. A call to Mike T. would be the best way to determine what will work for your situation. Of you have limited resources, you definately don't want to spend on something that doesn't help.

I was skeptical at first, but Mike has one satisfied customer here. He has answered my questions without fail.

 

Hi Eddie,

No problem, if you don't ask, you'll never know.

Yes indeed, the Superchip does change the automatic transmission calibration. The shifts are firmed up, but it's done very careufully, and only in direct relation to how much throttle opening you give it. Also, we pull out all those aggravating delays & retards on both upshift and downshift, and that will yield a very nice improvement in overall driveability and the response rate of the powertrain to driver input is noticeably improved as well.

Give us a call and we can go over all of that with you in proper detail.