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Most efficient way to gain HP with the 4.0L V6?


Warmblood58

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Hello all, so far I am enjoying my '93 4x4 XLT with the 4L SOHC V6. It never fails to start quickly, fires almost immediately, but the power produced is somewhat underwhelming. Truck is tuned perfectly (135,000 miles) and runnning on Amsoil - pretty dry engine too - no leaks, runs nice and cool here in Northern California with 90 degree temps. I would love to pick up 30hp or better -most efficient way to do so? Thanks!
 


truckerdawg

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Efficient? That is a tough question. Camshafts reground and heads reworked-will get you there. Turbo will more than get you there. Nothing else will. Supercharger will get the job done. 30+HP
 

rangerenthiusiast

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Efficient? That is a tough question. Camshafts reground and heads reworked-will get you there. Turbo will more than get you there. Nothing else will. Supercharger will get the job done. 30+HP
I’ve always wondered how much work it would be to put a turbo on this engine and where to find the parts... :icon_confused:
 

adsm08

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I’ve always wondered how much work it would be to put a turbo on this engine and where to find the parts... :icon_confused:
Remote mount turbo kit is probably the easiest. Problem is without forged internals your engine won't last long under more than 4 or 5 PSI, and that is barely worth doing the turbo work.
 

Denisefwd93

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Glue on hood scoop, hole in the muffler = sounds like it has power, looks cool = saved you a bundle
 

rangerenthiusiast

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Remote mount turbo kit is probably the easiest. Problem is without forged internals your engine won't last long under more than 4 or 5 PSI, and that is barely worth doing the turbo work.
Annnnnnnnnd so ends that potential project. :icon_rofl:
 

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Super Six Motorsports if you want to spend a butt-ton of cash.
More efficient use of money is a bored TB from Zabteck, tuner from Unleashed Tuning, and a cat-back exhaust.
 

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I would argue the most efficient use of money would be to buy a 5.0 from a wrecked explorer, do the swap and sell the 4.0.
 

gaz

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Hello,

Though this thread is a couple days old and the OP may have given, here is are some answers (a small twist may be afoot):

1. Remove the cracnkcase driven fan. While I openly admit this does not I crease the engine power or performance, it does reduce the load felt by the engine significantly. For these Ford 60° V6's, it is the easiest, cheapest way to gain some miles per gallon and some if the power and torque the boys and girls @ Ford engineered out. Pics available .). To cool the use of an electric fan or pair if fans will more than be suitable. They can be controlled automatically with a Thermo sensor or manually with a simple switch...and finger .)

2. Oil cooler. If you can reduce under the hood temperatures and increase your oil capacity, you will run cooler and make better power.

3. Used the best premium fuel around. When you burn more completely, you are saving money by getting farther on less.

Inspect your lifters and push rods. These 4.0 OHV's are prone to premature failure and wear do to poor oil circulation up top.

4. A good set of headers will help the engine realise more of it's potential. You can expect an honest solid 9-12.5% improvement.

5. To help those headers, rebuild your exhaust one size tubing larger. Ex, if you have a 2" system, build a 2¼" system .)

6. If you have done all if the above, then a nice cherry on the top is a little PCM massage (performance chip or programming).

7. The engine can also be rebuilt; clean all the casting, corners and burrs, polish the crank, balance the complete bottom end, port/polish the heads and intakes, wiff-up the throttle body.

+Balancing the bottom end will provide a non-deminishing 10% improvement in power and torque.
+P/P the heads with multi angle (as many as are appropriate) and flow match to the ported heads will yield approximately 20% improvement fir the heads and 7-12% for the intakes.
+Throttle body WIFF will yield a solid 2-3 hp across the rpm, that never goes away.

8. Replace your driveshaft with an aluminum driveshaft. Your engine will not increase in power but once again how and take engineered out is realised.

9. With all other suggestions employed, not having a custom reground cam would be a SIN!!! I suggest consulting an authority based on your needs but I always go for maximum torque which always yields maximum mpg .)

In summary, the cheapest, quickest power restoration is the removal of the crankcase driven fan. Headers are next but really need the full exhaust treatment to realise the gains. Better cooling us always going to help and of course the choice of quality components change at prescribed intervals is expected.
 
Last edited:

bobbywalter

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premium fuel resists pre igniting in higher compression engines.


a normal beat down engine that was designed to run on 87 burns the fuel the same as 100.


most efficient way to add power is add a turbo charger...
 

gaz

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Thanks Bobby ?

Thanks Bobby, I do not know how I forgot:

While you are having you engine rebuilt, mill the heads; every point of compression you raise the engine will yield 3-4 hp for free so the use of premium fuel will be well worth it and expected.
 

fastpakr

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Uh... Bobby's not having a SOHC engine rebuilt. And I agree with him - premium fuel is worthless in this application as far as fuel efficiency.
 

bobbywalter

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Thanks Bobby, I do not know how I forgot:

While you are having you engine rebuilt, mill the heads; every point of compression you raise the engine will yield 3-4 hp for free so the use of premium fuel will be well worth it and expected.
your post is awesome...and if a guy did all the things you list the volumetric efficiency would likely get into the 90 percent plus and possibly need higher octane or conservative timing... just depends on what final static and dynamic cr ends up being.


but i am too lazy to put that kind of work into one of these unless its a class requirement...so a lazy bastard like me will go to the hair dryers and then add premium fuel...:D
 

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