More low end grunt and mid range power

[Bob Hetrick]

I have a 1998 F 150 4.6L v-8 355 gears and ane4od trans. I would like to tow my boat with it,but it seems a little under power. Is there a way to bring up the power without selling my house.I live in western pa. and tow to Lake erie on interstste 79 no real steep hills but I dont want to have to drive with the pedal on the floor either. Can some of you Ford Guys help me out.Tight lines Redeye.

[Dutchman]

First don't tow in OD. If your ready for tires downsize the diameter of the tires. This will give you a little more torque but will cut your top end speed. 4.6 is a tiny tugger in my book. You should look for somthing with a 5.3 or up if you want some real control. Just my thoughts.....

[Stinky Fingers]

Change the axle gears to a 3.73 gear ratio. A set of gears, speedometer recalibration, and an install will probably set you back about $500.00 depending on where you take it.

If its a 4x4 make sure you change the front axle gears too, otherwise it will make some interesting sounds come wintertime....

[Jim Carroll]

Bob post your question on www.pickuptruck.com Those motorheads will have an answer for you. There is a Ford Powerstoke on ebay for 3K. Drop that monster in and you can tow western PA TO Lake Erie. :)

[CraigM]

Bob, I have had good luck with a K&N air filter kit on my 99 5.4 4x4 (a larger version of the same engine) they run about $200.00$ You never need to buy another air filter ,use thier kit to clean it up to 25 times . My Ford dealer actually recommeded it to improve gas milage( your factory filter is $18 even at wallmart) Several of my friends have installed them all report better gas milage and more power. The next step would be a different chip (about 300) and duals or trade for a 5.4 there isn't much a 5.4 won't tow .

[Redeye]

>Bob, I have had good luck
>with a K&N air filter
>kit on my 99 5.4
>4x4 (a larger version of
>the same engine) they run
>about $200.00$ You never need
>to buy another air filter
>,use thier kit to clean
>it up to 25 times
>. My Ford dealer actually
>recommeded it to improve gas
>milage( your factory filter is
>$18 even at wallmart) Several
>of my friends have installed
>them all report better gas
>milage and more power. The
>next step would be a
>different chip (about 300) and
>duals or trade for a
>5.4 there isn't much a
>5.4 won't tow .


craigm thanks for the advice.Summit racing has that fitler kit for 39dollars.auot zone has it for 51dollars.

[CraigM]

The $39 is for the factory filter replacement only the complete kit with a new air horn etc is $200 it is called a "K&N filtercharger " check out www.knfilters.com . The filter alone will not give you the performance boost you are looking for the kit will make a noticible difference in both performance and milage. I bought mine from MacNeil aotumotive Products Inc 1-800-769-0300 if you by the kit don't get sucked into buying the filter service kit as an extra it comes with the filter charger packaged by K&N part number 57-2514-1 97 and up v 8 f150 $ 199.95 + $8.00 shipping