I am looking to increase the power handling ability of my engine. I have a 2006 Ford F150 FX4 (5.4 3v). Anyways, I have a Whipple supercharger and want to eventually up the boost to get as much power as possible. But before this I want to get everything I need to handle the power. I am thinking that I am going to need forged crank, rods, and pistons, with a built tranny. I am just starting to research and look for some of this stuff but I figured I would ask you guys who know about this stuff some questions first.

1. What all would I need to handle lets say 16# or more of boost? Will I need to have forged crank, rods, and pistons? Is there anything else I would need? Also, Whipple only makes a top pulley capable of 13#, can I just add a lower pulley for more boost?

2. What are the best brands for each of these and how much do they cost on average?

3. Any links that you guys can give me for anything would be great; I am just starting my research and would like a good place to start.

Any info you can give me will be much appreciated. I am new to this and am trying to learn as much as I can before I buy anything. I was told that my stock engine could not handle over 450rwhp without the chance of a connecting rod breaking, but if I get forged crank, rods, and pistons that my truck should be good for 1000hp (not that I would ever come close to that number). Also, if you can give me any info on more ways to add power such as what to port and what not, that would be great. And if you can think of anything else that I would need, such as what fuel pump and lines or anything else, let me know. When a site has a piston listed at $800, is that just for one, or is it for the whole set? This project is gunna take me awhile so I am just looking to get a good start on it now. Thanks for any help

 

I am looking to increase the power handling ability of my engine. I have a 2006 Ford F150 FX4 (5.4 3v). Anyways, I have a Whipple supercharger and want to eventually up the boost to get as much power as possible. But before this I want to get everything I need to handle the power. I am thinking that I am going to need forged crank, rods, and pistons, with a built tranny. I am just starting to research and look for some of this stuff but I figured I would ask you guys who know about this stuff some questions first.

1. What all would I need to handle lets say 16# or more of boost? Will I need to have forged crank, rods, and pistons? Is there anything else I would need? Also, Whipple only makes a top pulley capable of 13#, can I just add a lower pulley for more boost?

2. What are the best brands for each of these and how much do they cost on average?

3. Any links that you guys can give me for anything would be great; I am just starting my research and would like a good place to start.

Any info you can give me will be much appreciated. I am new to this and am trying to learn as much as I can before I buy anything. I was told that my stock engine could not handle over 450rwhp without the chance of a connecting rod breaking, but if I get forged crank, rods, and pistons that my truck should be good for 1000hp (not that I would ever come close to that number). Also, if you can give me any info on more ways to add power such as what to port and what not, that would be great. And if you can think of anything else that I would need, such as what fuel pump and lines or anything else, let me know. When a site has a piston listed at $800, is that just for one, or is it for the whole set? This project is gunna take me awhile so I am just looking to get a good start on it now. Thanks for any help

 

since your search option is broken / doesn't work / hasn't been used I'll attempt to explain this without you feeling insulted.

#1 you probably have a forged crank already

#2 - forged rods for a lighting/harley truck/GT-500 will work for your application, the pistons need to be a 5.4 specific piece and you need to know what your final compression ratio is going to be so you order the correct piston for your build

#3 - you will want to do some head work and probably add cams and long tube headers along with the required injectors, pump, MAF and tune as applicable

#4 - what cooling mods have you done? the more boost you make the hotter your charge temps will be and the key is to make as much power as possible using as little boost as possible

#5 - I don't remember which kit (roush or whipple or saleen) that allowed a person in your shoes to run a larger supercharger drive crank pulley that was designed for a lightning/harley truck

#6 - as far as best brands to use, that's like asking what gas station to fill up at (you're going to get several answers), if it were me I'd either use Diamond pistons (around $500 a set) or try to find a set of take outs from a GT-500

#7 - what transmission / drive linds do currently have? and what mods do you have planned?

 

I beleive we already have a forged crank from the factory. Good rods and pistons. Depending on the condition of the cylinder walls, you might have to bore/hone. Personally if the bores were still round and hatches present I would rock that and get standard size pistons.

New oil pump for the shortblock
good head gaskets
ARP bolts all through out.
At minimum 60# injectors.
At minimum a dual fuel pump kit with ford GT pumps.
New fuel lines, you might even have to go to a return type fuel system.
Fuel Rails
Larger Maf housing
You will need to put together a Ford lLghtning/Roush pulley system, along with the front input snout of the Whipple to switch to a complete Lightning conversion. This way you can use lower pulley with a separate belt system. There are 4-5# lower pulleys available to the single belt system the Whipple/Saleen/Vortech/Procharger/Magnacharger kits to use, but the separate belt system of the Roush/Lightning is a much better setup.
Upgraded large heat exchanger
FRPP CNC heads are pretty good right out of the box.
Comp Cam stage 3 blower cams
Good set of custom headers with large primaries, Look into Kooks.
Very good stall
I'de look into seeing if you can slap the E4OD or 4R100 tranny in instead of beefing up the 75W you have. That is something I keep meaning to look into.

I'm just scratching the surface here... you can plan on dropping 25k+ pretty easily, depending on how much work you do yourself.

My advice... Slap in some 60# injectors and a dual fuel pump kit, stage 1 or 2 comp cam, and tune your truck to 440-450rwhp and leave it be.

Go buy a corvette, viper, camaro, mustang, anything besides dumping all this money in an 06 F-150. You will be much happier you did.

If you want to find a 3v long block out of a wrecked truck, put some rods/pistons in it, and just do a swap of long blocks with minimum down time. You can dump GOBS of money into this truck, and it will still be slow.

 

^^^^ yep....

buy a Lightning.... or Supercharged HD.. cheaper... easier.... quicker

 

Good advice. I think I will just get the 10psi kit, efan, and some cams and call it good. Then get another car down the road and work on that. Which car out of the ones you mentioned has the most aftermarket options to work with? Which would be the best to get? Thanks

 

If you can swing a Vette or Viper do so... They are just leaps and bounds better the the Camaro and Mustangs.

Mustang's have and will always have a HUGE aftermarket scene. Abundance of cheap parts.

Camaro's and Vettes have a pretty good aftermarket scene as well. Parts are more expensive then mustangs to a certain point. There is a "Vette tax" on some parts as well.

Vipers are for those rare breed of individuals. Some people love them, some hate them. Modifying them is VERY expensive, but when they are done they are pretty much king of the road. If you shop around you can find 800-1000rwhp vipers from all body style ranging from 45k-60k. Every now and then you will see the bad boys pop up for $80-100k that do 1200-1300rwhp on pump gas, 1500+ on race gas. Seems like a lot, but you can easily invest 50k+ in a mustang after the purchase of the car when you really start looking at it's upper limits of performance.

Now with that said, you can pick up Gen 2 RT-10 vipers for mid-high 20's, drop 10k into on a paxton and fuel system and push 750-800rwhp.

 

Great advice, thanks for the help, i'll be looking into it.

I'm not sure which direction to go. on one hand having the most power that a vetter or viper would give would be fun. but on the other hand i think it would be fun to play around with all the aftermarket options that a mustang offers. i dont think i would go wtih a camaro. i kind of want a project, and not something that is complete from the start.

 

what about an S2000?

 

If you want a gutless turd....

Mod parts are expensive...

It's hard to beat dollar for dollar American "muscle"

 

 

First off, more boost does not necessarily equal more power. The Whipple is a more efficient compressor than a traditional roots style blower, but it does have limits. What you really want is denser charge from using an intercooler. Hard to do with a Whipple blower. The Whipple already runs at several times faster than crankshaft speed, you can only go so high before you get too much heating for the increase in compressing. Heated air takes more space and therefore seems to be more boost, but your available oxygen is not any greater. See how that works?

I do not know the limits of the stock 5.4 rotating assy, but good rods are almost a requirement for any high boost, forged pistons also. Cast cranks can live with good balance, surprisingly. Also head gaskets start to get leaky under high boost, you may need (metal) O-ringing of the cylinders to help the seal of increased combustion pressure.

Trans is just a function of your power, build more power and the trans need increases to go with it. Then rest of your driveline, it will always find the weak link.

My assumption is $800/set of forged pistons. Even custom made pistons do not run $800/each. I would start by learning what Ford did to make the factory supercharged engines, how are they different?

 

Alright, mustang it is. Would it be better to get an old 60s style mustang or the new body style. I'm think the new body style would be cheaper as far as not having to worry about body damage and it would be easier to find parts. Also, I feel the new one would be more fun to drive on highways and such when going through mountains. If I go with the new body style, which would be the gest to get? GT? Shelby? Roush? Would rather buy something that can be worked on but can still create a bunch of power. Maybe wait a few years and purchase a used 5.0?

 

Just depends on what you want. If you want something you can drive across country in with modern conveniences then I would do an 05+ mustang.

If you want to go wickedly fast in a straight line for cheap get a 79-93 mustang.

If you want a classic get a classic.

I know you are on the mustang route, but really look into a vette. C6's can be had for mid to low 20's now, with bolt ons can be an easy 11 second car, and make 30mpg.

This is something I suggest you do lots of research on. One could say I'm a big mustang fan boy(own 3 currently) but the vette and viper just blow them away IMO. I absolutly love my viper, and plan on picking up a vette next year. Probally will eventually sell 2 of my mustangs, and just leave my 92 as my "dedicated" drag car.

Either way with all of them, it comes to a point where you are going to have to spend $$$$$$ and it will all be about equal. Mustang is the cheapest at first, but once you start going built engine/tranny power levels they all pretty much even out.

 

Yeah I will deffinetly take some time and look into it. With the viper and vette, what bolt on parts can be added that they dont already have? are you saying that they already come with a stong enough tranny that doesnt need to be built? But yeah, I will be doing a bunch of research before I purchase anything, will probably browse through the mustang and vette forums to see whats going on.

One other thing, since I only plan on going with the 10 psi kit on my setup with a set of cams I dont think I would need a dual gt fuel pump setup. So what I am wondering is what would be the best route as far as getting a larger pump or just getting a boost a pump? and do you feel 60# injectors would still be nesesary or not?