Hello im brand new to the site because i just bought my first ford, a 98 Flareside 4x4 with the offroad package with auto trans and the 4.6, it has 119k miles and has really no improvements besides dual exhausts(not true) and larger tires.I am 16 and i came from a Grand am and then a 96 ram with the 5.9 Magnum so i am used to jumping forward when i tap the pedal, however i have learned the hard way speed can be dangerous(First month i got my car i flipped and totaled it).So i am fine with it being sluggish.But i have always loved power and offroading, so what can i do to my 150 that should help it run better,stronger or longer.I have about 500 to spend and i have to buy plugs&wires, Distributor cap and brakes out of it.This is my only vehical so i cant afford alot of downtime(2 days maybe 3).So please help me get started on my 150.And i have heard it is a very reliable engine because its LS.Whats that?Thanks for looking.

 

is correct... that 4.6 doesnt have a distributer, it has coil packs. #1. SERVICE IT THROUGH AND THROUGH! #2. Gotts mod. #3. dont expect a massive hp gain for that motor unless you get some serious bolt ons, or completely build the motor. The 4.6 is a very reliable motor, buuuut they have 2 minor problems... if you dont get the plugs torqued to 28 ft/lbs you have a good chance of blowing plugs. also, im not sure on the 98's (i had a 97) but they were known to have a faulty head gasket set (dont let that scare you away from it though) mine ran for the year i had it just fine! I beat the crap out of that truck... just make sure you do all fluids, and plugs. the most MPG i saw out of mine was 15, the lowest was 6.8, (may or may not have been the fact that the EGR tube was damaged and broke off the manifold), all and all the average was about 12.

 

LS is limited slip differential - not engine-related.

New Motorcraft plugs and wires are about $90 at rockauto.com. The materials for the Gotts mod are about $20. If it runs smooth, the coil packs are fine.

Next thing to do is compare your speedometer/odometer readings to a GPS. With oversize tires it will probably need correction, and the PCM needs a correct input for proper operation. On a 98 you correct it with a different gear on the VSS (vehicle speed sensor) which is another 20 bucks or so.

Then - after you do the brakes you won't have all that much cash left, but the next thing to do is get a programmer and a set of tunes - CUSTOM tunes work best. That will probably have to wait till you get some more money. NOTE: You will find "performance chips" out there for under $100, those DO NOT WORK and can actually damage your engine.

 

Thanks appreciate the awnsers.I will do a complete tune-up and then see what amount of cash im left with and i will look into getting a programmer.When i do start looking for a programmer how much should i be expecting to pay for a decent programmer.Have you ever heard of the edge evolution?Is it a good tuner or is that more than i will need?Do you suggest one?

 

Actually for that model year and for the non-PI, a tuner isn't going to net much of anything. It'll adjust your shift points, but that's the extent of it. The PI engines had a little more to play with. An intake and LT headers would be money better spent and with that, you still won't need a tune or have enough there to warrant one. It wasn't really until 04 that a tune was very beneficial. Or if you had enough modifications with the older models to warrant one.

 

I have looked into it but like i said i dont have alot of down time available.How long should that take?Ive never had headers short or long; will i have to change my exhaust?

 

You mean your muffler? Not sure.

Long tube headers is a somewhat difficult install for that model. If you haven't done one before, it may require a bit of downtime. With the 4six 4x4 models, problems arise that have to be overcome. However, it can and has been done. Plenty of info in the exhaust forum on this site. The info needed is specific to the 4.6L 4x4 97-03. Because with the 5fours, its a much easier to do. That said, LT kits have improved over the years. The OBX kit would be choice for that model IMO. It's more of a "direct fit" install.

The cheapest (it can be cheap depending upon the work you put into locating parts at a reasonable cost), practical and MOST beneficial route to take with that engine, -

1. Replace NON-PI heads and manifold w/PI. This modify's compression ratios due to the non-PI piston assembly's and nets substantial gains. So much so, your net Torq/HP will surpass the newer PI engine builds.

2. Intake and exhaust manifolds. Intake, -use a 3" intake tube and incorporate the "Gotts Mod". Run a good DRY filter media element.

Properly configured Y (LT's HF's) and cat back system.

3. An E-Fan set up.

4. Lastly, you'll need a custom tune to take advantage of all that.

Going any further would cost substantially more and even more in down-time.
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Although it would cost more, the overall best modification for these trucks is to replace the existing with a good used lightning power plant. You can find deals on these if your patient and know how to go about locating one, as soon as they become available.

 

98flareside4.6 PM'ed this one, -

It's cool , you can ask questions like those here. It's not that important what you may know, -

This site and its members will assist with all that crap. So ask away.

Right, heads - time and money...I understand that. Yes, that could be both.

The Gotts Mod is an Air Intake mod between the air filter housing and inner fender. This incorporates a 3" piece of scheduled 40 PVC tube and a Fernco of the same size. There's a few different ways to do this, that's the most popular I expect. It allows more air flow on demand if needed.

Yea, I just posted a run down on what you can do to make a noticeable difference,- with my post before this one.

Yep, Michigan. Close to Detroit but far enough way, Know what I mean lol

Are you from around here as well ?

 

another youngster, hopefully he'll hang around

 

Ok i know how to do the gotts mod then.Now about the headers i know ST have a very slight advantage over the manifold.So im going to go with Pacesetter LT's.When i get the CAT back do i have to run a muffler(i like the unmuffled sound even if its so loud i get a ticket).I think i will do it over Christmas break.I cant find any post detailing how to install LT's.Will i have to jack the motor up(that's what im worried about)?
I am from Yale(Small Town USA) about 15-20 mins from Port Huron.

 

If you were gonna do headers exhaust and an intake what would you guys recommend for tuning?

 

Forget all that and just dump a 99' F150/Expy 5.4 into it, tune the pcm and have fun. Trust me on this, I had a 97' 4.6 ext cab 2wd and bone stock, with nothing more than 87 octane in the tank and a k&n air filter, it ran a whopping 17.8 in the 1/4. After doing all the usual bolt ons and ported the throttle body and upper intake, still on stock tune and smaller tires, it managed to squeak out a 17.5 in the 1/4.

A friend of mine had a 99 4.6 ext cab 2wd with a Superchips 1715 tuner, intake/exhaust, headers, 4.10 gear with a limited slip and the best he could do was a 17.2.

The non-PI 4.6 (1997-2000) is reliable and will more than likely never leave a puddle on the ground or leave you on the side of the road, but don't expect it to ever snap you back in the seat without nitrous or a supercharger.

 

^ ding ding ding! we have a winner! although im an advocate for keeping the 4.6 id say find a mark VIII and swap motors around, then drop 98 cobra cams in!