I have an 04 F150 Heritage with the 5 speed manual and 4.2L V6. Now i want my engine to make near 400 HP (More would be nice... lol). I have thought about adding a Turbo or supercharger. What are yalls thoughts and where from and what would i need to complete this?
THANKS IN ADVANCE
Ryan

 

Hey Ryan, you would get more out of supercharging an Aligator and putting a saddle on it's back.
Kidding of course .
Best way to break the news that you can't get to those power levels with any amount of streetability is by considering the following.

The 4.2 L = 256 cu/inches.
At 1.5 hp per cubic inch, that equals 261 x 1.5 = 384 hp.
This level is even difficult to achive for truck use without resorting to supercharging at high boost pressures and internal modifications.
The motor would have to be custom built and programmed tuned.
Your transmission would never handle the torque.
You are better off starting with a 5.4 L engine, then do the work required to bring it to the 400 hp level and using a modified automatic trans to hold the power, then there are no guarentees all parts would hold up under your sporting foot, for very long.

With a 5.4L = 329 cu/ in; at 1.5 hp per cu/in, that would = 494 hp.
As you can see the larger engine achives your power levels much eaiser than trying to build a small engine to achive the same and still would have less torque.
Better reconsider not working the 4.2 for such power levels.
Your 4.2 is a push rod, single cam engine.
The v8s are overhead cam and capabable of breathing much better to make power.
You need more info on what all is involved but let's stop here to see what you have to say about all this.

 

I dont care what i have to do. I just need power. But per my insurance i would like to keep the engine in the compartment. Whether heavily modified or not. Because if i keep the same engine i can throw anything on it and it will be covered without increase but if i swap engines im not throwing money into my truck just at some old guy in a chair laughing at me.... Lol. ya know. So any big power adders for the truck or am i S*** out of luck?
Ryan

 

Thank you for the information. Kinda sucks to hear though...

 

Well as I tried to indicate by example, you can't get to the level you want without spending big dollars 'in any event'.
It will cost you more to get that power out of a 4.2 than a 5.4 and the life factor will be greatly reduced besides the transmission issue.
The cost consideration you have for insurance is small compaired to what you will spend trying to achive your goal.
Most insurance companies surcharge for a modified vehichle if they find out about it.
Just buying a new superchaged factory vehichle cost more in insurance.
These companies are not sleeping when it come thse these things. They have had experiences for to many years, with it.
There basic position is if you have a modified, you are expected to use it and get into trouble, so the premium goes up.
The real test comes when it's time to collect on an incident no matter what the agent tells you. He's just an agent.
You need to look at this from a better perspective than just how much power and ignor everything else.
I'm not at all saying you can't raise a 4.2 to that power level but to say the practical aspect is questionable for street use in a heavey truck with a weak transmission.
Your talking thousands of dollars by the time it is all done and running anywhare near right. When you consider this as opposed to insurance; it makes little sense.
Better to get another truck with the right motor and begin again if cost is no object.
All you need then is some cams, head work, exhaust and a blower running about 10 lbs of boost, fuel system upgrades and custom tuning to get the power you are looking for.
Good luck, I can't add any more to it. It's up to you to see it all.

 

Yeah BG has it right. If you think insurance on a V8 will be expensive, just wait until you blow the engine and trans and rearend etc.

 

To get that kind of power out of the 4.2, and put it to the road dependably, your well over $10,000.......
Does that put in in more prospective?

 

Man, that's almost more than I paid for my current truck, if you've got that kinda paper to throw around sell your v6 and get a v8 and you could easily get 400 out of that, why would you want the 6 anyway the only reason to get that in a truck is for mpg and if you're doing that kind of modding that'll drop quicker than a prom dress

 

 

Danng BSL sounds like one of us Chester

 

lol yeah...

hey chester, nice lookin cj-5... i grew up driving one of them with a pinto in it and the PTO... lol so much fun

 

ive heard that stickers will gain you 10 hp each, and dont forget the blinker fluid...

 

Kids......

Mitch

 

the 4.2 will handle more boost about 17.5PSI from a 67trim turbo. thats more than the 5.4 and 4.6.. it may not sound good but it will handle some power. ur best bet at getting anywhere arond 400hp from that motor is a turbo or a procharger.

 

the 4.6 in the trucks will make about 375-380rwhp before the rods let go. and the 5.4 will make around 400 before stuff starts to fly. the power is about the same with the 4.2 it can make that amount of power on stock internals. i believe is does have a forged crank in it..