Hey guys!!! Understanding Torque versus Horsepower is very important.

Why is that? Horsepower is the measure of your engine's peak power output at a relatively high engine speed (RPMs or revolutions per minute). It dictates how fast your vehicle can go. Torque, however, measures your engine's efficiency at a lower RPM. Torque figures show how much actual work (accelerating, hauling, towing) your engine can do in normal operating conditions.

So what? Ford research shows that most motorists rarely reach the engine speed needed for peak output (about 5,000 RPMs). In fact, drivers usually operate their engines at less than 2,500 RPMs 95% of the time. Because of this, it's torque statistics--not horsepower--that are the best measure of your vehicle's power and efficiency.

Better to be informed before doing modifications or wasting money and messing your engine.

 

Ok then how the heck do i get more Torque dangit!! Don't get me wrong if I wanted a lighting I would have bought one. I just need more pickup. I will stop complaning about it and see what happens once I get this beast tunned... I guess what I am looking for is to have some power without having to punch the gas pedal everytime...

 

you must have a new truck... my 00 has a limit of 8,800lbs.... someone may correct me but my 5.4 sweats a bunch when i'm pulling my 5,100lb camper. that or you have a diesel.

 

hey i'm with ya... i almost got smoked by a Jeep Liberty the other morning... i barely pulled ahead at the last second. I think he gave up. All my family own's are ford's but i constantly see soccer-mom's outrun my 5.4... you can forget about a Hemi or 6.0L 1500.
I can still take a tundra

 

I can peal on while flooring my truck right off the line. I stilll have my Mountaineer with the V-8 5.0. I smoke that thing. My truck only has air intake. Putting duals on it for Christmas. But I still thnk this truck is quick.

 

I had a local friend install my gears. He is a dealer/ master installer here.. I live in Western Ky. But, since he works 50-60 hrs/week, he has to do the gear work on the side. Took him 2 days to finish up my truck... I paid a tad over $600 for the gears and install... I also only have a 2wd too. My gears are Ford Racing gears
If I was you... I'd prolly jump to a 4.56 gear set.

 

It all goes back to what I, and several other members post everytime this question is posed. You're NOT going to gain 10-20 HP from a simple intake and catback, its NOT going to happen. You'll be lucky to get 5. And when you add that Xcal, or whatever, don't expect a nascar there either. You may add AROUND 12-15 HP with the fuel/air adjustments and improved shifts.

You could spend 3 or 4 grand on little **** ant bolts ons and never get what you're looking for. I know, I tried it for years on multiple cars with little success. Then, Ibought my first blower. And thats the last page in the book buddy. There is only one substitute for a blower, and thats raw cubic inches (which ford has elected not to supply us with) You can strap on a blower on top of the exhaust with a customized tune, and have near 350 HP and blow anything (just about anything) off the road

(and on a side not, I get slammed for telling people magnafart isn't worth the metal its stamped from, and the percieved performance gains that are supposedly so much better than flowmaster that don't exist are another sore topic that yet again, earns verbal abuse of the 10th degree. Having a flowmaster sounds better anyway)

Now, on with the verbal assualts

 

2004 5.4L RC FX4 with 3.73 gears and 17" tires that I wish were 16". The 3V 5.4L that Ford introduced in 2004 has significantly increased hp and useable torque. I've also modified mine a bit, but I was getting around Ok before I did that.

I'm rated for a max. 5th wheel capacity of 9,300 lbs and, as I mentioned, I occasionally tow as high as 8,700.

I set the cruise at between 62 and 65 and get around just fine. I slow down on really long steep grades, but not as much as semis, and not even as much as some diesel pickups towing small mansions behind them.

 

I can't argue with that. As you know, however, the blower solution comes with trade offs. A properly executed exhaust/intake mod can give you a moderate hp increase plus better gas mileage that is in a similar dollar per pony range with a blower. Plus, more people are qualified to undertake the more moderate enhancments than are able to deal with a blower.

It's when you start considering things like headers, jets, mafs, electric fans... that the blower starts making sense for some people.

Then there's the down side. Lower gas mileage, potentially shorter engine life, blower related mechanical failures where parts and technical support are scarce to non-existent. I just can't see a blower as a good idea for a truck you want to travel extensively with.

As for brand name issues, a lot of advertising goes on around here. The only realm that I am brand specific in is programmers. As far as exhausts and intakes go, there are a lot of good manfuacturers out there doing similar things.

Enjoy.

 

Gears !!

 

As the way you mentioned, I think you must be informed or do some research that there is what we call a high and low speed transmission, and high and low speed differentials. But with this consideration it will affect your towing or load capacity. And the design of the truck is different on the fast moving vehicle because of the center of gravity of the truck or size of it. So to make it short if you want more power you need to punch the gas pedal, or better be a driver of Truck Nascar Driver. On there there is a different engine, and body design for which it is not used on roads and freeways.

 

As far as speed goes I had a 01 lightning with only a drop in K&N. You want to talk about a kick in the shorts. If your crouzin around 30 mph and drop the hammer you'll come out of the seat. But I sold it and bought a 02 Screw and what gets me is the gas milage. I could run the sh$t out of my lightning whitch was 2wd with 3:73 gears and get 16mpg. In my 02 Screw 4wd with 3:55 gears , keeping it under 65 with easy take offs. I get 13.5 mpg What the Hell. I have bought a cold air inake and MAF.not installed yet. Looking at the 2.5 into 3 Y pipe and 3" exaust. But with nothing installed it looks like having a SC makes you more efichint? So you ALL know I can't spell. I miss my L. so much it hurts , but I love my new kids to death and car seats and 380+hp don't mix
Has any one put a Lightning eaton SC on a stock 5.4. I'm not shure of the compresion ratio dif. of a stock 5.4 and a lightning 5.4. But if you keep it around 10 psi of boost you should be in good shape. Go with the 90mm MAF and bigger injectors and fuel pump.

 

Noticed in the early part of this thread that someones truck had trouble pulling 3000# trailer. Better check your parking break. That is rediculous. My '04 & '06 pull a 8000# enclosed trailer in OD w/cruise set @ 72 w/no problem @ all.(stock) These trucks by no means run like my'03 Harley 150. They are not dogs either, @ least mine are not. As far as Hemi's & Titans, I feel sorry for them anyway. But the'03 is ready & waiting if they are.

 

Well, I spanked a Cheby last weekend, and all I have right now are the Magnaflow and AF-1.
Does that count? Doesn't mater anyway, the look on his face was more than enough.