96 f150 5.8

[DFracing]

SOO my girlfriend bought this truck becuase she is really into these body style trucks and we like to go to the desert alot. the intent was to use this as a tow truck because it was 4x4 5.8 E4od, long bed and dual gas tanks. we could tow our bikes or my ranger or whatever to the dez with it. Well i attached my 18 feet flatbed to it unloaded and it wouldnt pull it in OD i wasnt too concerned about it. i loaded my ranger up on the flat bed, so total about half of its max tow rating, and it couldnt do it. couldnt maintain anything over 50 on the freeway. Now i know its an old truck and blah blah, but my 4.0 ranger can pull almost as well as the f150. WTF? are these motors really that much of a dog?

 

[DFracing]

also it has a 3.73 gear ratio

 

[trail B2]

She's right those are good looking trucks.I've seen a couple with plugged cats.

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah they really are dogs...but better then a 300 or 302


if its healthy compression wise, some headers and hi flo cats with a custom tune go a long way. i have seen the timing way off on them causing em to dog...but once dialed in they will ping and knock on less then 92 octane


a 6.2/6.5 turbo will be par and get better economy.


a hci combowill really wake it up. most guys just run and tune a procharger though that tow....several guys i know that had broncos did that to tow snowmobiles and boats. that was back in the early 90's though.

 

[DFracing]

Yea I mean when it's idling you sometimes wonder if its even running because its so smooth. It's got a k&n drop in filter and a bullet 3 inch exhaust. It does ping under load. *sigh* I guess it's just on old truck /:

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't think something is right...

Granted it was just on a car trailer but with my 5.4 I don't know where it would top out but it would be well above 50mph.

Granted the 5.4 is rated a tad more power... I had 32" MT's and 3.31 gears though.

 

[Tominator]

My 96...351W F150 with 33's is a complete dog even with catback, K&N and headers, shift kit.....just geared way too high! I leave the OD off and get better MPG that way.

Going to much lower gear as cash allows or converting to 3/4 ton suspension.....either way with over size tires it's a dog!

 

[DFracing]

My 96...351W F150 with 33's is a complete dog even with catback, K&N and headers, shift kit.....just geared way too high! I leave the OD off and get better MPG that way.

Going to much lower gear as cash allows or converting to 3/4 ton suspension.....either way with over size tires it's a dog!

it has stock sized tires and now lift... also has over load springs on the back w/ airbags so no need for the suspension.

I don't think something is right...

Granted it was just on a car trailer but with my 5.4 I don't know where it would top out but it would be well above 50mph.

Granted the 5.4 is rated a tad more power... I had 32" MT's and 3.31 gears though.

im talking an older 5.8, i towed the same truck with a 2008 5.4 and it would have done 70 if i had asked it to. i was really surprised, just not impressed with the power of the almighty 5.8

 

[BigJohn76]

Sounds like it may just be a dog. My 95 150 with the 351 would pull my ranger on a car trailer just fine with the OD off. Lately she been having problems and the motor is getting weak but she can still run when i need her to.

I love those trucks too. Just give her some love and she probably won't let you down.

 

[Tominator]

My 95 150 with the 351 would pull my ranger on a car trailer just fine with the OD off.

Same here. Pulled a Mustang about 50 miles a while back. OD off and no problem. It's only got 129,000 on it and in great shape. No rust just a ding here and there.

Some day I want to put a Cummins in it.......

 

[country0001]

I never saw the big deal about the 5.8 either. I had plenty of power with my 5.0. Plus better gas mileage.

I've got a 4.9 in wings waiting its turn. I'm just waiting on a 5 speed to mate with it.

 

[bigdaddy4793]

I have owned and used many 5.8s in one ton cube vans and trucks. Theses all had 4.10 gears and a lot of wind Resistance. No problems at all to go 70+. I think you have a problem. I had an 89 5.8 4spd. 3/4ton I pulled my race trailer with a 3400lb car and tires and such. Keep looking, something is not right. FYI i have a f350 with a transplanted 5.0 that is not right either. I'm still looking for the problem.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Change the Timing chain and gears to aftermarket,change the cam 260-270 (higher on exhaust than intake).Alum. Intake and carb of choice (650 Eddy works good)
Throw on some E7 302 heads and headers for shits and giggles.Change the rear to as close to 3.73 as you can.

Hold up......Scratch that....yours is injected.
Damn Im gettin old...

 

[adsm08]

Throw on some E7 302 heads

Ignoring, of course, the fact that 5.8 head bolts do not fit through 302 heads.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Well I wonder how I put mine on.....O yeah.....I drilled them out ....DUH!