A couple nights ago i was driving home crusing about 40mph when a Siverado or Z-71 im not sure which, pulled next to me, we both gunned it at the same time and he definitely was faster. The reason why i special ordered 5.4 Regular cab was so i wouldnt have this problem.
I already had a 3" catback with a flowmaster at the time. This made me realize i need more modifications. I installed an air intake and ordered a superchip. But i think my biggest problem may be because my truck has a 6"suspension lift and 285/75-16 tires. My stock tires were only 235-16. My stock gear ratio is 3:55 limited slip. What size gears do i need to bring me back to stock? And maybe beat some Chevy butts. I also have to drive 35 miles to school so i need to take that into consideration too. But at the same time I love more power. Im not sure if i need 3:73 4.10 or 4:56. What do you guys think? Those Chevys have 285-305hp hopefully with my exhaust, air intake and superchip it will get me up that high. But i think the gear change may be my best bet.

2000 5.4 XLT regular cab
3"catback w/ flowmaster
Jet Air Intake
Superchip(on its way)
6"suspension lift, with biltsein shocks and eibach coils.
Weld Racing rims
Billet Grille
Tint
Alarm

 

Those new Chevy trucks are very powerful. I rode in a new 4.8 and my 4.6 won't even come close to having the acceleration of the Chevy. And is you are against a 5.3 you might as well forget it. It will take a whole lot of mods to equal the Chevy.

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97 4.6 F150, 1/8 = 10.885 @ 64.10 mph, 88 5.0 Mustang 1/8 = 7.191 @ 94.76 mph

 

Hey, my mecanic days are well behind me so I shouldn't even bother replying on these boards but.... Back in the day before all these electronic mods, Gears meant a lot!

From what I have read in the trade mags the new GM's have some mega horsepower so gears prob won't do it all but it may stop embaressment.

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96 F150 XL,special
Air/PS/PB/AM-FM-Cass/
Light Package/300 I6/
5 SP Man/...
Nothing fancy just my little baby

 

Yes the 6 inch lift and 32.8 in tires hurt your gearing. I would go for the 4.10 gear. The 4.56 will eat alot of gas and the 3.73s are not worth the money for the smallish difference between 3.73 and 3.55s.
How bad did he leave you? If bad he may have been super charged or something. He probally had more aggressive gears too. I think there gear ratios are 3:42 3:73, 4:10. The z71 come standard with 3.73 and 4:10 as an option. If he truly was stock he should not have left you unless he had 4:10 gears. In all magazine comparisons with the 5.4 3.55 gears against a 5.3 3.73 gear they run neck and neck. Some magazines have the ford head by a couple of tenths through the 1/4 mile while others have the chevy ahead by a couple of tenths.

 

first, tint your windows darker so that they cant see you if they do get in front of you. second, u could have been racing a 454. trade your truck in for a lightning and it will never happen again.

[This message has been edited by Waldo0506 (edited 07-23-2000).]

 

The 5.4 is a very strong motor, but you just about killed it's low end performance with the tire upgrade. If you change gears to a 4:10 or a 4:56 you will see a big improvement in acceleration. And you won't see anymore chevy tail lights.

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stock 98 XL, Reg. cab,4.6, Auto, HD cooling package, 255/70R16 on styled steel wheels,3.55LS, Black with chrome grille and bumpers! MODS: custom stereo by me, building speaker box was a !@#$%. K&N air filter w/ airbox mod, a complete keyless entry system.

 

Yeah that souds more like it becuase i know that the 5.4 puts out 15 more torque than the chevy 5.3. However the chevy has like 25 more hp. I agree that with all the mods i have it should put me a little over 300hp and then the 4:10s will be a definite next step. Do you think the gears made a difference even though we didnt floor it until we were both going about 40mph?