I'm looking to enter the modification world for my screw.

I would like to maximize my HP, increase fuel economy and not spend a fortune.

exhaust options?
chip or programmer options?
intake options?

Currently looking at ~$800 for Superchip Max tuner, Maxflow exhaust & K&N drop-in air filter. What HP/torque/mileage improvements can I expect from this combination? Is there a better combo?

thanks

 

I'd go for the full intake kit instead of K&N drop in. Might as well get the Troyer Performance Stage 1 kit. That is a great place to start. Another mod that helps fuel economy and gives a little more power is electric fans.

 

What APT said.
Mike set up my SCrew about 2 years ago. Superchip, Air Force 1 intake, dual exhaust (Magnaflow).
I average over 18 mpg on the highway, and am very happy with the trucks power level. Pulls my trailer with the Cobra on it with ease, and can even run in the 15's at the track. Not bad for a big old 4 door F-150. The performance level by far offsets the price of premium fuel.
Marc

 

Thanks guys!

any recommendations on electic fan?

 

I disagree on the intake.. Let's see here, you get 90% of the gains with a $35 drop in K&N replacement and an airbox mod for what - 200 bucks LESS!

We ain't talking a 400 HP gain, more like a 5-10 and that's only a fraction of a percent better if you go with a FIPK... Total waste in my opinion, but that's just it.. My opinion...

I'm not a rocket scientist, but I think that speaks for itself just in the price difference alone for such a small additional gain...

As for the other mods, You picked the three that are the biggest and easiest to add on and at $800, I think you could do better..

I bought my Magnaflow for around $325 and the chip was another $200 or so (can't remember exactly, I got it on a group buy).. Anyways, for conversations sake, there's $600 and a drop-in replacement is only $50 max...

Improvements? Well, I have seen upwards of 17.5-18 MPG when I stay below 75. Low end toque is about the same or maybe a little better. Mid to upper range is much better and it really gets up and goes over about 3k RPM..

I highly recommend it...

Or....


Put that miney towards a supercharger!

 

Well, I have seen no dyno plots showing improvements for a K&N drop in air filter. If someone got 5 hp and lb-ft at the wheels from a K&N drop in, I'd call BS. I think 2 vs. 8 is more reasonable and that falls more in line with the price difference. Really, for all of the Stage 1 mods, you are only getting 20-25 hp and 35-50 lb-ft for $1000. $40-50 per horsepower, is that really worth it? Not for everyone so your theory could be streched to all these mods.

 

??? you get 90% of the gains with a $35 drop in K&N replacement and an airbox mod for what - 200 bucks LESS! ???

You'd be lucky to get 30%

 

Dream on... Unless you go slappin a supercharger on there, a drop in filter and a modded air box WILL allow MORE than enough air..

don't get all testy because you blew your money on something where you didn't need to..

So, lemme get this straight, a drop in filter is about the same size and shape as the FIPK filter but the the filter won't allow as much air..

Oh wait, I know, you're gonna tell that the tubing is so much better by being an eigth of an inch bigger in diameter.... I guess that the throttle body intake port magically gets bigger as well...


Y'all do what you want with your money...

I have better plans for $200 than an "alleged" 4 HP over a drop in unit with a modded air box.....

 

Show me some dyno numbers on the differences of the two and only then will you convince me... I WILL show some dyno numbers and not from a stock supercrew either, but from a truck that requires big air and big exhaust capabilities.. Notice that the drop in actually did BETTER than the cold air intake (FIPK) and even better yet with four 2" holes in the air box (aka AirBox Mod)

Here's some real numbers from a real powerful truck... Dyno Tests with various intakes and other mods..

Until then... Well I ain't buyin into.. Guess I don't fall for things too easily because "it's supposed to.. "

Been there, done that...

I have had two FIPK's in the past and they were pretty much a waste of money for what you got over just using a drop in, that's why I buy the drop-in now... Drop ins still have the K&N filtering, larger area but they don't come with the louder, overrated and overpriced piece of intake tubing that is so snake-oiled now...

Hey guys, since y'all buy into stuff so much... Here's a link to a great buy on a supercharger!

Supercharger link on E-Bay

 

Relax, Reelwork. I had a K&N drop in with the air box mob on my last truck and still have ths stock intake on my current truck. I have not "blown my money on something where I didn't need to." I have a K&N drop in in most of my vehicles, but not for power reasons. I never noticed any performance differnce when I pulled the stock filter to the K&N, or did the airbox bod on my last F-150. It just got dirty quicker. Feeling even 10hp wouldbe difficult, so that doesn't mean I didn't get some.

Supercharged dyno results mean little to my regular 5.4L. Different intake design. In theory, a smooth intake tube could provide better airflow than the OEM one with the accordian ribs. I don't know if it does, but it could with the tradeoff being more intake sound. Sound by itself is overrated, but I don't think that is all you get with an FIPK.

 

Try Mike Troyer on this site . He's the Superchips distributor in the computer chips forum. I added electric fans and have a mileage increase of about 1.5 mpg and better performance. Might as well get a gator back belt while your at it.

 

Well, I had a nice reply all typed up but the board flaked on me as I submitted so I will sum up and try to get it all back in there..

Let me start by saying, I am very relaxed... I guess when I get to thinking fast, I get to typing fast as well...

APT, So you have had drop-ins in the past and run the stocker on your currentl setup???? Where are you going with your reply? You sound like me in that you pretty just get the K&N for filtration and $ savings only, not for the so-called performance gains..

Anyways, I believe the dyno results with a supercharged 5.4 perfectly reinforces my point.

Air is air and getting it to the engine is what it's all about, right?

I would think a supercharged, blowered or turbo'd engine would be best test for gains with filtration. After all, aren't they the most air needy engines?

An E-fan is a great add-on, but stay on course and get your tuner/chip and exhaust first.... Then slap on e-fans and you will really notice a difference!

Canyon is right on there with the Gatorback, it goes without saying as being a must do!

Later and take care...

 

I've been there before with the deleted message.

Yep, that's why I buy the washable oil & gauze vs. paper. Over the owneship period, it is cheaper. Supposedly better filtration and airflow with no side effects (unless one over oils). For vehicles the pay off takes 50k miles or so, but I clean the K&N filters in my quads every few riding weekends.

I bought a new truck last year was planning to buy an FIPK when the factory filter got dirty. I wanted to see for myself (waste money?) what the talk was about because most users claim to feel gains that I have never felt before. I'm at 20k miles now and really need to get something. My cheapness is holding me back, but I believe at a minimum people's perception of improvement. I'd love to improve my own perception of performance, even if the numbers sugest otherwise.

Yes, they are the most needy, which is why I don't know how much N/A engines would benefit. I don't necessarily think the proportion of airflow correlates. Maybe they do, but I'd be interested in some scientific testing.

Air flow is important. The flow rate, path and turbulence is key to how complete the combustion is inside the cylinder. I believe there are ways to optimize airflow to assist in combustion by tuning the intake tube, with a trade off being some additional noise that most consumers will not accept. Maybe my belief is incorrect. I have seen a number of dynos charts for aftermarket intake kits on many vehicles. Some show improvements, others don't. I haven't seen any dyno charts (except the ones you linked) for drop in replacements other than by the drop in manufactuer.

 

The engines do matter when in comes to improving power and mpg.

I gained 1 mpg by adding a K&N drop in on my 1998 w/ 4.6 engine. I gained 0.13 mpg when I used a K&N drop in on my 2001 w/ 5.4. I have the fuel logs for the 5.4.

This may not equate to much in terms of actual HP gains. But it means something. Different engines will respond in different ways to mods.

I changed to a MAC Performance intake and Flowmaster 40 on the 5.4 and gained 0.422 mpg improvement.

You can view my fuel log here= http://home.comcast.net/~deep6blue/truck/fuel/fuel.htm

 

So you are saying that for every gallon burned in your 2001, you can now go approximately 120 yards farther?

That's AMAZING!