I have a 2000, 4.2 V6, 5 speed; I installed the K&N intake kit and it's probably helping some as far as more power but I'm not sure. I was looking into the chips but read where they can burn and really screw things up, scared me. Next looked into a Gibson single exhaust system for about $300. A couple exhaust 'experts' locally claimed that would not be a noticeable power enhancer. Any experience in this or ideas?

 

You can keep spending money on stuff that won't make any noticable difference (except noise) or you can take the same $300-$350 and buy a tuner such as the Predator or Superchips 1714. Lots of info here on them, including a couple current threads. These new trucks are completely controlled by computers. Changing stuff like exhaust without having any way to read or program the computer isn't going to make much difference. It's a lot easier, cheaper and more effective to be able to tune what you have instead of replacing parts without adjusting the computer to compensate for the changes.

 

For my purposes (occasional towing) wouldn't a chip be better? I was informed that Jett is the only one that makes a chip for my model, but I heard some bad stories about the company: bad support & burning of computers. Thanks!

 

DON’T buy an exhaust for anything else but sound. They add NO horsepower or torque and actually hurt torque in the lower RPM’S.

When I had my 2001 V6 I bought a Gibson exhaust and really hated it. First, in my opinion, it made my truck (V6) sound like an outboard motor. Second I did not notice any performance gain at all. When I bought it I did buy it for sound and was very disappointed after spending about $300.

 

The biggest bang for your money will be a chip. However, if you still have a warranty it very well could void your warranty. A dealer will be able to tell if you have a chip even if you remove it and they have any reason to look at the PCM.

I don’t care what any vendor may tell you a chip can void your warranty on your PCM as well as motor and transmission, EVEN if it did not cause the damage to begin with.

It is extremely rare that a name brand chip will ever fry your PCM. If you buy one from Superchips you will have no problems. The chips to stay away from are the fly by nights on ebay. Buy from a reputable dealer like Mike Troyer and you will have no problems…

 

Noticable power would have to be 10 or more hp in full size trucks to be felt or noticed. That's not to say that a good designed exhaust will not gain hp, I have the Magnaflow si/so and like it. Did I gain hp, yes just not in the teens so to speak, more like 5 maybe, though I was replacing a Magnaflow drop in muffler about 3hp. Electric fans free up 10+ hp and I felt that, Superchips 9100 programmer probably 20+hp and you will definatily feel that. Get the 9100 from Troyer and you will be glad you did, if you need more slap on electric fans. I have done alot of bolt ons and you can greatily increase the power of the 4.2l V6. I will rank them according to how I felt each performed: 9100 Programer, electric fans, under drive pulleys, exhaust and intakes I believe or about the same (5-8 hp ea.) and work better together, port polish and half shaft the throttle body (two dyno's say 4-6hp but only past 3800 rpm) high performance wires and irduim plugs 1-2 hp maybe nothing, unless you are replacing worn parts. Just because everything is computor controlled doesnt mean that the motor won't respond to improvements. I know my truck did.

 

Thanks to all for the info, helps me make my decision! Exhaust was a possibility but being an 'old fart' may not like the sound. I'll go for the chip.

 

Jimmy, I am a semi old fart myself (44) and I love the way the magnaflow si/so exhaust sounds, deep not raspy. Only really hear it at wot or when I first start the truck. I have been surfing the Ford sites for several years and have never heard a single person claim they lost hp or torque with the magnaflow exhaust and this came from many people that towed alot. I know that I didn't loose any that could be felt. But for the same money you could have the 9100 Superchips programmer and get over double the hp if not triple. I got mine from Mike about 8 months ago and it really wakes these V6s up.