Advice on 4.2L V6 2003 F150 Sport
 

Hey guys,
So finally after 10 years Im finally in a position to give my truck the attention it deserved. I have already started by changing the rims to 20 inch for looks, as well as purchasing a programmer for unlocking the unknown power in the small yet powerful V6. I am not wondering what should be next. I want to achieve max amount of performance possible without doing drastic steps IE (complete overhaul of pistons, valves, ect). I have some ideas people have thrown my way but am looking for additional opinions. Some of the ideas are:

Cold Air Intake
Throttle Body Spacer
Larger Throttle
E Fan setup
Flip kit for belt/pully
Lowered Suspension for leveling effect (not slammed, just remove gap between fender and tire)
Lighter Driveshaft?
Changing rear gears from 3.55 to 4.10
Possible upgrade of transmission (5 speed)
Upgraded clutch
Drilled & Slotted Rotors
Upgrade shocks


Any advice on any of these would be appreciated.

Do a Gotts mod to the STOCK intake, don't even THINK about a TB spacer, go ahead with underdrive pulleys and e-fans, put a decent exhaust on it, leave the driveshaft and transmission alone, change the gears to 4.10, leave the OEM clutch alone, and get some CUSTOM TUNES for that programmer you just bought.

Have you put any of your ideas into action? I'm curious because I would like a little more out of my 4.2.

Sorry guys was away for awhile. New tuner made night and day difference. Did the Gotts mod to intake but didnt see much change at all.

I would agree with the Gotts and the lack of the TB spacer. I'd tell you the Gotts Mod help, but you've already done that. The other things that I can think of are a cat-back exhaust, and the electric fan.

Your do-to list sounds awfully like mine, so I'm looking forward to seeing this!

Electric fan and gears are going to help more than the other mods listed. CAI would be on the list also.

A CAI won't do anything for you over the Gotts mod except bring in WARM air.

Does anyone have any proof that the Gotts mod even works? I have done similar mods to the Gotts mod on vehicles and never saw any difference.

Look at the size of ur throttle body ID. An opening bigger than that on the intake side pf the air cleaner wpn't hurt anything but vacumming leaves up there. My 11 ta 12. I can stick my fist into the fender thru the factory opening.

Can anyone post links to suggested 4 10 ratio gears, a good underpully swap kit and a reliable e-fan? Those are big improvements for low cost is what I am hearing.

But the fact is that U are with a low performer motor. U will be much ahead to step up to the plate and get a stronger performer and then mod it to UR hearts dreams. The 4.2 is a great lil tool truck but for performance in a slug of a truck?

turbo is a seriously great mod for a 4.2 and there are quite a few running out there with 300+HP....anything else other than gutting the motor, you only see maybe 30 hp increase with tuner, full exhaust(shorty headers are a waste, long tubes are difficult but worth it), and cam (and porting/polishing heads if you get to that)....all classically great mods.

Pulleys do very liitle but they are a mod that helps at higher RPMs. E-Fan is a great mod if you upgrade to enough CFM. Throttle body spacer does nothing for 4.2s. If you just have to have a CAI(they definately make a motor sound better), get one with a divider so you are drawing cold air away from the motor.

Programer and intake mod
 

What was the programer you purchased I've been searching and can't find much worth buying and what il exactly is that intake mod

TODAY the best programmer to get is a SCT X4 with CUSTOM tunes. Being that you posted in this dead thread instead of starting your own thread, I assume you have a 2003 F-150 with a 4.2?

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...3-f-150-a.html

Yea sorry got a little excited once I found a forum that actually was talking about the 4.2 everything I was finding previous to this forum where v8 and yes I have a 01 f150 v6 4.2 trying to find some mods to do with out tripping a check engine light and just to learn what all I can do and thanks for the info on the pro framer be open to any more suggestions