I have a 1987 F150 with a 5.0 EFI in it. I am looking for some cheap modifications I could do to this engine to give it some more pep. I know it's kinda hard, considering it's a speed-density EFI system. Could I install a K&N and true dual exhaust without having to have a computer tune?

Can I get a chip for it that will give me more aggressive fuel and timing curves?

I don't want to kill my fuel mileage too much, if that's at all possible. My father owns a '99 Silverado with a 5.3 Vortec in it and I want to be able to thow in some fairly cheap mods into mine to make my F150 run as well as his Chebby does.

It's basically just a commuter and for hauling around the ATV and other stuff and I'm looking for a little more oomph. Thanks!

 

Get into the chip forum and ask around. Troyer performance will give you some good ideas and they are good to deal with.

 

Don'y get to set on making more power with your truck.
Dad's is a 350 and you have a 302 non roller motor with a short cam that signs off at about 4000 rpm.

 

I had a '92 F-150 with a speed density 302 and added true dual exhaust with headers, Jacobs ignition and a drop in K&N and picked up about 1.5 MPG improvement and a little better acceleration by the old seat-of-the-pants meter.

 

Bluegrass, dads is a 327 not a 350.

Stephen, did the engine run lean at all? Was any computer tuning needed to achieve a gain in power?

 

I'd put a cam in it.

 

Sorry about that. I didn't look at the engine size close enough.
That engine still is bigger and runs pretty good.
Your 87 is no different that the 85 I had since new and it had a lot of torque off idle for a ways then dropped dead pretty quick.
Cam change in a speed density can't go to far without causing idle problems.
The engine runs off the MAP sensor by sampling the intake vacuum. If a different cam lowers vacuum very far, the engine runs rich, idle and drivability is hurt.
Cam change can be done but the lobe displacement has to stay not much less than 114* with no overlap and keep the vacuum up.

 

I would start with 1.7 roller rockers. Next K&N followed by an MSD box. Next would be the exhaust.

You may want to check into this..

Here

If you go that direction you can skip the rollers and go right for the cam. I did that conversion on my 86 mustang years ago and everything went fine.

You could also look into the gt40p heads and intake. They do require a new set of headers though.

 

Bluegrass, your right, from about a 10-20 mph roll, if I floor it and it downshifts to 1st and pulls pretty good. As soon as it hits 2nd gear it falls flat on its face.

Chris1234, thanks for the link. They didn't mention anything about using a mass airflow computer. How would a speed density computer work with a mass airflow meter?

 

Speed_Demon, I never had the check engine light come on after the mods. I had the exhaust replaced just after the O2 sensor. I replaced them in-line cats with 2 universal style cats. It always passed emissions with flying colors, but that was before the EPA mandated checking NoX.

 

yup i just cut the muffler off after the second cat and let it run strait, then extended the intake tube and cut the baffle thing off the front to make it ram air and put a k&n in i found in the garage

 

Yeah, I don't really want anything too special. It's just my old truck (gotta love em). I may look into true dual exhaust and a K&N. I have been looking into a K&N, but couldn't figure out if ANY modifications would do me any good since it's a speed-density EFI system. I figure that since it's got 160,000 on it, the speed-density can't compensate for high mileage engines and is probably running a tad richer than it should be. So, the K&N and exhaust may cure that a little. Not positive that this is happening, I'm just guessing. lol

 

Speed Density is not bad at all for running a stock engine. Don't sell them short.
The computers cannot just be changed because most of the trucks have batch fire injection, the fire order is different on the earlier trucks and some other differences until they changed toward the more conventional later setup.
A conversion kit is available from Ford motor sports to change over to Mass Air.
There is not a lot of benifit to doing this conversion unless a cam change is being planned for higher revving performance along with other mods.
For comparison, I run a Kenne Bell blower at nearly 8 lbs boost on a 5L Speed Density SEFI stock motor and get perfect starting, idle and fuel milage in the low 20 range on trips with no other changes to the motor.
This gets into another whole involved subject so I don't want to take away from the original subject matter, in this thread, with it

 

Check again on step 8. Also you don't need to use a cobra computer. This procedure should work for any 5.0L mustang maf and computer from 87-93. It would be best if you got one from an auto if you truck is an auto, same for manual.

As I said before, I have done this conversion on my car and it worked.

 

Oh sorry. I was thinking about trying to find a HO mass air engine, but figured that's more work that I want to do to my truck. I am thinking about putting a K&N (probably drop in, but may think about building my own custom CAI or something) and true dual exhaust will probably come later.

Thanks alot for all of the replies guys!