top 5 engine PERFORMANCE upgrades?

[showerfan]

ruling out SC or turbos.

i've read through a lot of threads to find out your thoughts on engine performance upgrades, and while this forum is so amazing, and i'm not dissing anyone at all, a lot of the lists included things like bedliners...

so what would you do first for the ENGINE? i know enough to improve airflow -- CAI, headers -- but what would you do further, what COULD you do further, to improve the power of this naturally aspirated engine?

 

[Txfight00]

In a few years I'm sending my truck to livernois.

 

[showerfan]

waiting for the warranty to expire naturally?

 

[BAJASVT]

It's not really any different than any other engine.

Excluding forced induction, the top three are easily intake, exhaust (cat back), and tuner. Fourth would probably he headers. From there things get more expensive... cams, head work, bore/stroke, etc.

Regearing to 4.56 gears may be another consideration. They don't really "add" power, but they increase acceleration in the speed ranges that we drive 90% of the time.

 

[showerfan]

thank you, exactly what i was wondering. i have seen insane prices (all relative, of course) for stuff like cam jobs on the livernoise thread, so i was wondering what else.

so 1. intake, 2. headers, 3. exhaust, 4. tune... then things like gearing and new springs will improve drivability, if i understand correctly.

fwiw, i was told by a F-SVT insider that the springs were the only thing he'd change -- makes you wonder why they didn't do that at the factory...

 

[prowakeskater]

I was just looking into cams tonight and was also surprised of the minuscule gains for almost 3k! ridiculous. Cams in my little 2.0L evo resulted in a 15% gain... but thats forced induction of course. Im sure cams plus supercharger would make some serious power

 

[2004boss]

Lol its always gonna be slow. But g'damn do cams make it sound good.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Timgco]

I've heard FRF stickers add an easy 20hp.

 

[Livernois Motorsports]

Txflight00 we look forward to working on your truck. Do you have anything done to it yet?

 

[Biggest]

Installing headers without port matching is a waste of money and more often than not will rob you of HP. The exhaust ports on OEM engines are very restrictive. Do it right and you will get the benefits.