Hello All,

To start off, I recently bought a '93 F-150 XLT, Short Bed, Supercab, with the 4.9l I6, 70k when I bought it, 80k now. What I am curious of is, first off, are there any mods which would be considered essential? I notice that the K&N filter is very popular along with the superchips and some exhaust work. I am not interested in creating a monster (can't afford much worse mileage), but don't want to miss out on any simple mods that make a difference.
Also, how can I check to see if the truck came with the towing package? It has the electronic hookup for the trailer brakes, but I don't know if that was added after-market. Strangely the tow hitch had been pulled of the rear bumper before I bought it, but it is obvious that there was once one there. I guessed that the old man who sold it, used it mainly for towing (a boat probably), and took it off either to downplay this fact or because he simply needed the hitch for his new one. Are there any parts I should check for wear if this is the case?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated and feel free to respond by email if you prefer.

bongofish@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by Foster (edited 02-02-2000).]

 

Hi Foster, glad to see you...I think that 1993 was a good year...I also own a 93, and I really love it...I would like to have a new truck, but I don't want to pay extra for a truck, I may not like...

Basically, there is 3 things you can do to improve performance and mpg's.

1-Superchip--I have the hypertech chip, and while its good, it was an early version, and I don't know about its quality. Downside is you have to run at least 91 octane to opperate correctly.

2-Exhaust--I have been told not to run a 3" system, even cat back...This is incorrect, according to Ford Man. A freer flowing muffler will gain you alot.

3-K@N filterchargers are great! I have the filtercharger, and it gained me about 4mpg, and the injector kit gains you at least, 19% on hp,mpg, and performance.

The 300 was probably Fords greatest engine...Built from the 60's to 1996. There arn't very many 6's that were as good as the 300, especially in towing performance...It had 150hp and 260 lbs/torque Trailerpackage:Trailering package--Superengine cooling,auxiliary tranny oil cooler, bright mount swingaway mirrors, trailerwiring harness, heavy-duty signal flasher, handling package, heavy duty battery.

handling package--front/rear stabilaizer bars, heavy duty front/rear shocks, heavy duty front springs.

you didn't mention what tranny you have?.

 

Its a four speed auto (overdrive) and (I believe) a limited-slip rear diff. I don't know and can't guess beyond that.

Thanks for the info on the towing package. Doesn't appear that I have it but looks like he made a few mods in that direction. Heavier shocks, slightly larger tires. Do you know where excessive wear from towing would show up? That is my main concern about having bought this one used.

What would you say the mods you made did to your power (what % gain) and your mpg and will these mods change my emissions? I heard they may be implementing stricter pollution controls here in Austin. Also, does the extra power give you traction problems? If I goose mine in the rain, it spins the tires, stays straight though (why I think it's a limited-slip). Any easy mods that can improve handling or traction? What are the largest tires you can fit without messing things up? I've read that you can almost fit 33's but that seems crazy.

I've heard that the I6 is a workhorse and I love all that low end torque. I haven't towed anything yet, but even with a fully loaded bed, it moves fine. Empty, I can out accelerate most cars in city driving and never get it past 2500 rpm. I love cruising past 70 mph with such low (2000 rpm) engine speeds, no wonder this engine lasts.

My dad put 250k on a 1973 (forget the exact model name) with a 302. He loved that engine. He bought an 85 with the 302 and it was a pretty fast truck. I blew away my friend's 85 Maxima in it on the highway. Unfortunately it got wrecked before he had a chance to see how many miles he could put on it.

Thanks for the response and I have to say this seems like a good bunch of folks. Any other info or opinion is always welcome.

 

Welcome aboard Foster, i am pretty new myself. This site is really great for any question about your truck. Thought i might add this; don't be afraid to do mods i have found that a lot of power mods actually have a positive effect on mileage too.
JB

------------------
Built Ford Tough
Check out my truck at <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/fattron/jb.html
" TARGET=_blank>www.geocities.com/fattron/jb.html
</A>

 

Hey JordanB,

I want to make some mods but am not much of a mechanic. I haven't done much in the last 10 years besides oil and flat tire changes. I'm not afraid to try but I don't want to get in over my head. That's why I've asked the questions I did, I want to find out what the simplest and most effective mods are.

What year and model do you have and what have you done to it? The link you provided was dead.

 

I figure I am shooting around 240hp+ - a few, and the factory is 195. So I figure about 45 hp? It maybe more, but since it has about 88k, the hp is down...

I wouldn't think that any of the mods would effect emissions, you would have to contact a manufactorer for that info. I was getting about 15mpg, from the factory, and I am now avging, about 20.

Traction, weight is a good help for this one, and good tires, properly inflated....you can identify whether you have the factory ls by looking on the door pillar, code H9 is 3:55LS, any letters with numbers identify limited slip.

No, 31's is the largest w/o any lift, and even then you might get slight rubbing...

Our trucks were/are Ford's best!!! The 300 according to my dad, used to work for FoMoCo, was Fords best/most popular engine...Of all the trucks I have owned, they all had the 302, and it was a great engine, people think the 4.6L is great, and it probably is, but it isn't quicker...My dad had a 65 300/4-speed, and several other trucks withit, and it was a workhorse...I can tell you, that with proper maintence, you should have any probs....Expect at least 200k,

Factory equipped is great...But, aftermarket mods, make it better! I have yet to add a mod, that hurts it!

I would assume you have the E40d, my uncle has a 300 with the E40d, in a 4x4 Regcab, which is tough...The 300 in its time was pulling right along side small v-8's, because of its towing compacity!

 

Thanks Pastmaster.

With folks like you willing to help with your knowledge and experience, I'm learning more about my truck all the time. I think the first thing I'll work on is the air filter... probably go with a filter charger and then work up the nerve to go ahead and get the superchip. Little worried about remembering to put premium in it. I'll probably save the exhaust for last. I'm not sure how I want it to sound... I don't want to shake any windows.

I hope to get the hp up to @180, I'm guessing the torque will be @330. Just enough to suprise anyone who gets too uppity at a stop light.

Damn, I love this truck.

[This message has been edited by Foster (edited 02-03-2000).]

 

you shouldn't have any probs at all...

There is a couple of vendor's on here, that are distributors for the superchip, they can give you detailed information on the superchip.
www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html
www.f150online.com/cgi-bin/f150board/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Ask+A+Vendor& number=51&DaysPrune=30&LastLogin=

The filtercharger, is probably the easiest gain, and I like it because I won't ever have to replace it again, unless its a factory default. I got mine at Autozone for $37. you may even be able to purchase one cheaper online.

Exhaust-This probably will give you the best(noticable) difference. The main thing is the muffler. I chose not to have a muffler, (not loud at all), because #1-its cheaper, #2, sounds a bit louder than a truck with muffler, #3-don't have to worry about replacing the muffler.

You will learn alot about your truck by doing these mods, and have fun doing it!

Good luck!

 

Welcome Foster,

I'm also somewhat new here. It sounds like we have very similar trucks. I would say you have an excellent truck that will give you many years of service. This is my second ford with the 4.9L. I do think this is ford's best and most rugged engine.

My 93 has 168,000 miles and still doesn't need any oil between changes. Last week I thought my engine was going to need replaced. It turned out a bad fuel pump. (It gave the symptoms of bad compression.) I replaced the pump and all is fine.

With only having 80,000 miles you should have a long way to go. As for towing damage, I would think any damage would already be obvious.

Good luck, you have a great truck!

 

Foster,
I just wanted to tell you my experience. I bought my truck 5 1/2 years ago with 100,000 miles. It now has 185,000 and I have only had to change the alternator and starter, and I added 3/4 ton springs. The engine is quite nearly bulletproof. I have put a beating on mine(this includes riding it through water so deep it was flowing over the hood, maybe it got rid of any carbon deposits), because that is what trucks are for to me. I drive it through the woods to get wood, and tow anything and everything with it. I have a 3500 lbs boat that it has very little problem towing, and have towed up to about 7000 lbs. I have a custom exhaust with a cherry bomb glass pack form Pep Boys (because it was $15) and it actually gave some more power. I also have a K&N. I plan on doing the K%N filtercharger soon, and taking away my mechanical fan, and that should give around 20 HP and torque. Right now I get about 15 mpg on 87 octane.
I would stay with stock tires for more power. I had 31's and there was no rubbing.
Check all the fluids and change when the time comes, and it should last as long as you want it to. The salt on the roads limits how long Fords in CT.

Does anyone know of a chip that does not require more expensive gas? It is already about $1.50 a gallon here for cheap stuff.
Good Luck

------------------
Rob
89 F150 4X4
300 I-6, 5 spd
For Off Road Driving

 

Foster,
I had a 94 ex.cab with a 302. The first thing I did was exhaust work. All I did was put a Y pipe at the cat and duel it out with 2.5 inch pipe and no muffler. Sounded good. Not to loud but loud enough. Now I have a 93 Lightning with 2.5 from the headers back no cats and 2 flow tech mufflers and an h-pipe. You can hear it for miles. Don't be scared to get in and do your owne work, it is real easy, just get a manual and go to work.
Roger

 

Okay Pastmaster, let's clarify something: you and your homey Fishmaster read some half-assed opinion stating it was unwise to make dual exhaust or a dual cat-back from 3 inch pipe. THEN you two dyslexics come up with some bassackwards notion that 3 inch exhaust pipes shouldn't be used PERIOD. Okay for the 976th time, A SINGLE 3 INCH EXHAUST PIPE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME FLOW DYNAMICS AS TWO (2) 3 INCH PIPES. ARE YOU WITH ME SO FAR? DO I NEED TO REVIEW? THIS IS WHY GIBSON, FOR EXAMPLE, OFFERS THEIR SINGLE OUTLET CAT-BACK IN 3 INCH PIPE AND ALL OF THEIR DUALS WITH 2 1/2 INCH PIPE. ANY QUESTIONS YET? OKAY, FOR THE LAST TIME, A SINGLE 3 INCH PIPE IS NOT THE SAME AS TWO (2) 3 INCH PIPES. GIBSON MAKES A SINGLE OUTLET THREE INCH CAT-BACK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE 4.9L/300 C.I.D. FORD ENGINES. IT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE LOW END TORQUE AND HORSEPOWER OVER A STOCK EXHAUST SETUP.

 

FORDman
I've read most of your posts this morning and it seems to me that you're not a very nice guy. May I suggest you lighten up a little. There is no reason to be rude.

 

We can't all be as sweet as you, babe. Hugs and kisses.

 

Hey Smart Guy(Ford Man) Go back and check the post from me..., or can you read?

could be, I found out today from a mechanic, that it doesn't matter what exhaust setup you have after the cat, it would produce the same thing...In otherwords, manifolds push the same amount of exhaust throught the convertor, headers push even more air through the cat...Thats why I have enough backpressure with my straightpipes after the convertor....if you have a convertor, you will have enough back pressure, thus a 3" is fine, and a dual 3" would be okay too!Obviously you have some kind of mental disorder, that causes you to misread and irritate people with facts (bronco) that are half correct. So I guess your comments are pretty much useless!

Oh and your comment about Ford-trucks.com, being arm-chair enthusiasts...What does that make us?



[This message has been edited by Pastmaster (edited 02-05-2000).]