What else do I need
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Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 68
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From: New England
What else do I need
Ok, ordered a bunch of stuff to be put in over a weekend, and I'm wondering where to go next... I have a 97 f150 4.6L 4x4
K&N FIPK
F2 Chip from FordChip.com
Should I be considering gearing changes? I don't have the $$ to supercharge it, but thought this was a good start to a little more power...
K&N FIPK
F2 Chip from FordChip.com
Should I be considering gearing changes? I don't have the $$ to supercharge it, but thought this was a good start to a little more power...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 1
From: Newark,CA
The only inexpensive substitute (relatively) for lower gears is higher cubic inches.
Depending on your tire size, I'd move to at least a 4.10 gear. If you are running more than a 32" tire you might consider 4.56.
Depending on your tire size, I'd move to at least a 4.10 gear. If you are running more than a 32" tire you might consider 4.56.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
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From: MADISON, WI
It is almost impossible to know what else to buy or install. You need a master plan -- how much horsepower do you want to add? Also important, what's your budget? These are questions you need to ask yourself.
What else can be done? Plenty, if you have the time and $$. I suppose the most common upgrades are: intake, chip, exhaust, ignition, electric fans, underdrive pulleys, fuel delivery system (fuel pump, infectors, MAS), headers, NOS, forced induction,brakes, suspension.
You just have to decide how serious this is going to be.
What else can be done? Plenty, if you have the time and $$. I suppose the most common upgrades are: intake, chip, exhaust, ignition, electric fans, underdrive pulleys, fuel delivery system (fuel pump, infectors, MAS), headers, NOS, forced induction,brakes, suspension.
You just have to decide how serious this is going to be.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi jkingman,
You don't mention any exhaust changes, and that should come long before any gear ratio change, for example.
What would help you the most at this point would be work with an F-150 performance specialist like us, give us a call here at Performance to go over this in detail, to address *all* aspects of this vehicle's performance, it's status right now in terms of modifications & maintenance, as well as just where you want your performance to be. We have specialized in this F-150 platform for many years, and can take your vehicle just as far as you want to go for literally *any* kind of performance, 4X4, towing, drag strip, street encounters, you name it.
We should also discuss exactly where that vehicle stands in terms of routine maintenance, especially the ignition system for example, which is weak to begin with and needs upgrading for you to get the best power gains from all your other modifications. Getting that ignition system squared away will get you significant additional power gains and take care of the ignition system's maintenance issue in one shot, very cost-effective.
Briefly, the order of best bang for the buck in adding pwoer to these late-model F-150's is to have the powertrain programming optimized, get the restriction out of the air intake tract (your K&N FIPK kit is OK, you'll get 12 hp from that, AF1 yields 15 hp), and then address the restriction in the exhaust. From there it's time to get that ignition system upgraded, and very soon after that, you will need to upgrade the fuel pump. Once you hit the 300+ hp mark, then it's also time to upgrade the stock 19# fuel injectors.
There are many additional things you can do, from converting over to electric fans (which gives you another 14-15 hp & 1-2 mpg), underdrive pulleys, headers, electric water pump, MAF, throttle body, and the list literally goes on and on.
Your best bet is to work with an F-150 performance specialist like us that can advise you on *all* aspects of that vehicle's performance properly, what to do when, what order, what your individual vehicle needs most for how you're going to be using it and it's present state of modification & maintenance, etc. That's exactly what we do here at Performance, so if you'd like to give us a call we can help you with all of that, so you can map out a solid smart plan of which upgrades in what order for your needs, & make your decisions from a fully informed position.
With respect to doing a gear ratio change, we generally recommend doing your power-adding modifications *first*, and then if you cannot get the performance you want with additional power, *then* do the gear change. This is assuming that you haven't put even taller tires on that truck than it came with from the factory, of course. If you have 33" or taller tires, you will need a gear ratio change for best straight-line acceleration, and since it's a 4X4, you'll have to do that front & rear, which is an expensive modification, even more so if you do not have limited slip from the factory. That same money would buy you a good amount of raw power in the motor, which is why we advise adding power first and doing gear changes last, *unless* you have extra-tall tires.
Our contact info is listed just below in our signature line if you'd like to give us a call to go over the details of your F-150 & how to get your performance up in the most cost-effective manner.
Best of luck whatever you decide!
You don't mention any exhaust changes, and that should come long before any gear ratio change, for example.
What would help you the most at this point would be work with an F-150 performance specialist like us, give us a call here at Performance to go over this in detail, to address *all* aspects of this vehicle's performance, it's status right now in terms of modifications & maintenance, as well as just where you want your performance to be. We have specialized in this F-150 platform for many years, and can take your vehicle just as far as you want to go for literally *any* kind of performance, 4X4, towing, drag strip, street encounters, you name it.
We should also discuss exactly where that vehicle stands in terms of routine maintenance, especially the ignition system for example, which is weak to begin with and needs upgrading for you to get the best power gains from all your other modifications. Getting that ignition system squared away will get you significant additional power gains and take care of the ignition system's maintenance issue in one shot, very cost-effective.
Briefly, the order of best bang for the buck in adding pwoer to these late-model F-150's is to have the powertrain programming optimized, get the restriction out of the air intake tract (your K&N FIPK kit is OK, you'll get 12 hp from that, AF1 yields 15 hp), and then address the restriction in the exhaust. From there it's time to get that ignition system upgraded, and very soon after that, you will need to upgrade the fuel pump. Once you hit the 300+ hp mark, then it's also time to upgrade the stock 19# fuel injectors.
There are many additional things you can do, from converting over to electric fans (which gives you another 14-15 hp & 1-2 mpg), underdrive pulleys, headers, electric water pump, MAF, throttle body, and the list literally goes on and on.
Your best bet is to work with an F-150 performance specialist like us that can advise you on *all* aspects of that vehicle's performance properly, what to do when, what order, what your individual vehicle needs most for how you're going to be using it and it's present state of modification & maintenance, etc. That's exactly what we do here at Performance, so if you'd like to give us a call we can help you with all of that, so you can map out a solid smart plan of which upgrades in what order for your needs, & make your decisions from a fully informed position.
With respect to doing a gear ratio change, we generally recommend doing your power-adding modifications *first*, and then if you cannot get the performance you want with additional power, *then* do the gear change. This is assuming that you haven't put even taller tires on that truck than it came with from the factory, of course. If you have 33" or taller tires, you will need a gear ratio change for best straight-line acceleration, and since it's a 4X4, you'll have to do that front & rear, which is an expensive modification, even more so if you do not have limited slip from the factory. That same money would buy you a good amount of raw power in the motor, which is why we advise adding power first and doing gear changes last, *unless* you have extra-tall tires.
Our contact info is listed just below in our signature line if you'd like to give us a call to go over the details of your F-150 & how to get your performance up in the most cost-effective manner.
Best of luck whatever you decide!