I just bought a '97 light duty f-250, 5.4L with 3.73 axle. I love the truck, but...It seems like it's lacking power. It has 45k on it. Normal driving,(1/4 throttle,) it feels strong! If you floor it, it does not feel any stronger! The only way it will burn rubber is to "power brake" it. The more posts I read on this board, the more convinced I am that I bought a SLUG! It appears most of you have trouble NOT spinning the tires. It hurts to say that my old Chevy 350 with 196k on it would spank this thing terribly. Please give me some ideas to correct this problem. I've modified the air box, installed a less restrictive exhaust, and have a Superchip on the way. All mods so far have helped, but still feels about the same as my friends '97 f-150 with the 4.6L. This can't be right. Please help! Dave C.

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'97 F-250 LD 3dr 4x4 5.4 (toy hauler). '86 Buick Grand National 3.8 SFI Intercooled Turbo V-6 (wifes summer toy). '87 Buick Turbo-T 3.8 SFI Intercooled Turbo V-6 (my summer driver/weekend racer. Nearly stock, 12.4 @ 111mph)

 

I will suggest doing a basic tune-up. Plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Replace the fuel and air filters. What do you mean by burning rubber? My truck will spin them both for about 5-10 feet and leave rubber, but it's certainly not white-smoking them either. I won't powerbrake my truck. My Cobra can take that kinda abuse.

Nice choice in cars there.. I hate GM products (the C5 IS cool) but anything turbocharged is a blast. I really want to drop a twin turbo kit into my Cobra, but then I'd have to get a tranny that could handle 500+ HP/TQ(Viper T56=$$$), custom driveshaft, lose my X-pipe, etc etc..

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

My Home Page

 

its a truck man not a car. You might try this..........disconnted the battery for about 15 minutes to clear the memory. It will relearn new driving habbits. Drive it at full throttle starts (3) and see if that recalibrates the computer.

BTW if you have a GN I would think *anything* would seem slow.

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97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, WMS Velocity tube, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust with Echo tube.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill!



[This message has been edited by mlaugh (edited 10-13-2000).]

 

Might I make a suggestion. Superchip it, then put a FIPK (K&N or Airaid) either one will work. (I've got the Airaid) then put a Ravin muffler on it. A Ravin Z-55 will work. unless you want loud (scare the kids noise) then go for the Ravin Z-33!

Happy Halloween!

 

Thanks Guys. I don't think tune-up is the problem. There isn't much there! No wires or distributor. It runs super smooth and I'm getting 15.5 mpg with no highway travel, with an occasional 17 mpg run! I've cleaned the throttle body, (it wasn't dirty). I'm in the process of making a system like the Airaid. (I just got the 3" polished 304 stainless pipe/elbow welded up). I am going to replace the fuel filter. I'm hoping it is starving for gas above 1/4 throttle. As for power braking it... I've only done it once. I laid down about 8ft. I don't expect it to run like my buick V6 (that will break traction at 40mph in 2nd gear!) I do expect it to outrun a similar truck with the smaller (4.6) motor and worse gearing (3.55). I've got it towing better. Towing my 6300# camper, I was loosing 8mph at the top of a certain hill (floored all the way). Now I only loose 3mph. (which is exactly what the tired, old heavier chevy did with 3.42 gearing).I still love this truck! I know I'm going to see big gains shortly (chip). I have no intentions of changing brands in the near future. Having a site like this means alot to me. Thanks again. Dave C.

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'97 F-250 LD 3dr 4x4 5.4 (toy hauler). '86 Buick Grand National 3.8 SFI Intercooled Turbo V-6 (wifes summer toy). '87 Buick Turbo-T 3.8 SFI Intercooled Turbo V-6 (my summer driver/weekend racer. Nearly stock, 12.4 @ 111mph)

 

DAVID C hey post what differnce the chip makes i have a 97 f250, 3.73 that wont spin the tires either. milage is 12.4 to 12.8 in th city 13 to 14 on the highway.

 

DavidC, Was your old chevy a 3/4 ton 4x4, if not you're comparing apples and oranges. A 1/2 ton truck usually weighs around 4200-4500lbs. your f250 probablly weighs 5500-6000lbs. My '97 4.6 f150 would barely chirp the tires before the airaid and exaust, now if I stand on it from a stop they sqeal like a pig. So don't give up hope do the mods and let us know how happy you are with them damn it!

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'97 F150 4.6L XL WHITE,FLEETSIDE R/C L/B, LEER SHELL W/FISHING POLE RACK, BED MAT,LIMMITED SLIP,245/75/16 DESERT DOGS ON POLISHED ALUM, WHEELS.
AIRAID, 3" CAT BACK OUT THE SIDE w/MAGNAFLOW MUFFER

 

David C: The setup that you have is one of the heaviest; HD suspension, 4X4, 3dr, etc. I don't know if it's a slug, but my setup is one of the lightest, next to the same truck in shortbed. My truck spins the tires a little on every turn at 1/4" throttle. If floored from a dead stop (straight away), it spins the tire about one time, then takes off. I prefer traction and I am impressed with it in a pickup. It screams the last half of 1st and 2nd gear. The Superchip makes it lay a second gear scratch if shifted manually, and it leaves the torque convertor unlocked during the last half of second, adding 100 ft/lbs of torque. 3rd & 4th gear do not have the same pull because of the wide gearing on 1st & 2nd in this trans.

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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back,
3" exit Y-pipe, Hellwig rear anti-sway bar,
Rancho RS9000s.

 

I thought the same thing about Nick.

It seems that the 3.73 set-up gets an 1800-1900 RPM stall converter; and the GMC's first gear may be shorter than the Ford's. I'll bet that your Chevy has a 2500 RPM stall converter -- which will launch it much better.

I'd like your report on how your Chevy vs 250 does from a 25 MPH roll.

While not a neck-snapper in first gear, Nick seems to pull the trailer very comfortably (GCW=11,500#).



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Y2K™ Jim

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

DAVID C,

max is right. weight makes a dramatic change in how quick the vehicle can leave from a stop. even though your truck has a boat load of torque, that thick frame, heavy axles, and extra transfer case do adversly effect get up and go. and because of all that extra stuff, your tires won't break loose (at least the extra weight will make it harder to do so).

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1999 F150 4x4 5.4L XLT X-Cab, Tow Pkg, ORP,heavy duty alternator, factory tranny and engine oil cooler. 8.8 front/9.75 LS rear, 3.55 gears, K&N Gen II, 40 Flomaster (w/4" chrome tip), Superchip, 32x11.50 Swampers. My truck: http://www.tamor.org/membersandrides/joelclarke.html
future mods: JBA headers (Jet-hot coated), Flex-a-lite, JL Audio subs, Sony CD-Player, Magnacharger, cowl induction, straight axle conversion (8 inch lift w/crossover steering), 4.56 gears, 38.5x16 Boggers, Dana 60 front, Dana 70 rear (Detroit locker)

 

My old chevy (89) was a 3/4 ton, 4x4, extended cab, long bed, with a glass cap! I guarantee it weighed at least 400 lbs more. The frame was much heavier gauge than my shortbed f-250. I do think the stall of the torque converted is the key difference. The chevy would spin the tires from a dead stop towing my 6000+# camper (750# tongue wieght) with 3.42 gears! I floored my ford (towing) leaving a light, looked at my wife, and told her so. Her response was "You're kidding me!" She was not impressed. It's okay when you get it moving. I just installed a Superchip yesterday. It feels stronger with no load. I towed an enclosed car trailer with my 3600# Buick in it. Total weight I was towing was about 5500#. It didn't feel any different than stock,but, I was not familiar with the load or route (120 miles). It did seem like my mileage was worse though. I'll check later today. I've got 3/8 of a tank left with 140 miles on the odometer. I was getting about 9 1/2 mpg towing my heavier camper. (the chevy got 11) Dave C.

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'97 F-250 LD 3dr 4x4 5.4 (toy hauler). '86 Buick Grand National 3.8 SFI Intercooled Turbo V-6 (wifes summer toy). '87 Buick Turbo-T 3.8 SFI Intercooled Turbo V-6 (my summer driver/weekend racer. Nearly stock, 12.4 @ 111mph)

 

david c, i totally agree. one thing no one on this website will argue with you about is that the ford triton motor gets crap gas milage. they are quick to talk about low end torque, but i,like you,have not seen the benefits of it espesially compared to my 1990 5.7 or my 97 5.7 tahoe. gas milege, among other things, is a measure of efficiency so what does 12 mpg tell ya.