Best bolt on mods?

[MAKG]

Well, no, it's not possible for an electric fan to draw fewer amps than a mechanical fan, because a mechanical fan draws ZERO amps. It's not electrical.

You're making the extremely common confusion between forces and energy. Same deal with the underdrive pulleys. Think of it this way. Suppose you have to lift a heavy weight off the ground. You can decrease the forces you need to do it by using a block and tackle. But it takes longer -- in proportion -- and requires the same total energy to lift the weight the same height off the ground.

Power is the rate of mechanical energy production. It is NOT the rate of acceleration. It is NOT the force (well, torque) you impart to the axles. To a large extent, it determines top speed (and I simply must emphasize this -- at the power peak), since that is closely related to the energy production rate. It says NOTHING by itself about how fast you get there....

You can't design a system for which you can't describe its uses. What RPM will you be running this engine at?

 

[motoxchamp]

Most of the time it will be cruising at about 75mph since about 90% of my miledge will be on the highway. But I wasnt to be able to really hammer the throttle when I don't have the trailer. That is why I will most likely get the bama programmer. Thanks for your advice. I believe what you are saying is true my only problem is I don't understand why so many people would claim false info when they don't benefit from it. I've been reading on this forum and others how people improve their gas miledge with pulleys and CAI's and e fans. How is it that so many people could be wrong? Why would they lie about a product that if I purchase they gain nothing from.

 

[MAKG]

The users aren't lying (at least for the most part). They are just wrong. It comes from sloppy uncontrolled subjective measurements, much like the "placebo effect" -- many people think they are cured of sometimes very serious illnesses when given sugar pills and told they will have a certain effect (it's a routine effect documented in medical clinical trials).

Others may not want to admit -- even to themselves -- that they have fallen for a scam.

It's also an age-old trick to try to turn people's brains off with big words and misleading statements. K&N deserves particular scorn for this, but they are hardly alone. It means you should take all performance claims by someone trying to sell you something very, very cautiously.

There are worse claims on the Net. Like the "Turbonator," "electric supercharger" (AKA bilge pump), and especially the $20 "chips" (actually resistors) sold on E-bay.

If you want passing capabilities, you can directly affect acceleration without touching the engine by lowering the gear ratio or tire size. You can do both for your budget, even with top of the line tires and a 4WD (which requires two sets of gears).

If you want to be really cheap, downshift. The 4.0L isn't a particularly high revving engine, but it will do 4000 RPM, and will pass nicely there. The powerband starts above 2000 RPM, so use that manual transmission to keep you there all the time (it's amazing how natural it is to drive this engine slower). This is completely free with a stick, and I'd urge you to try it before making any modifications whatsoever. It is nearly equivalent to a gear change, except for a takeoff from a dead stop (since you can't downshift in 1st). And when you want to pass on the highway, shift into 4th. Or 3rd. It will do fine at 65 MPH in 3rd, even for long distances (BTDT, quite necessary in high mountains uphill).

Never tow heavy loads in 5th, even at highway speed. The transmission is strongest in 4th. It's even more important for automatic transmissions (you want to keep the torque converter locked up or it will make a lot of heat).

If your truck needs any repairs, do those first as well.

 

[motoxchamp]

ok thanks. So the only mod that is certain is a bama chip. Now will a cold air intake or exhaust improve my power if I use them in culmination with a programmer? I know you say that they make no difference but does that apply to stock or any application?

 

[MAKG]

Tuned intake and exhaust components can make a difference at the high end, but the intake in question is not tuned. The exhaust may be, but for high RPM.

Your engine breathes just fine at any stock RPM. Have you actually run out of air on this thing?

The programmer is mainly useful for removing the rev limiter and using a more aggressive timing curve in the presence of other mods. But if you aren't even screwing with the camshaft, your results will be quite limited. You can make it advance a bit more, but it will require premium fuel.

I still say you're going about this backwards. You seem to WANT to spend money. That's the goal here more than anything else. What do you want your truck to DO for you? If you want acceleration, don't screw with a system you haven't analyzed and don't understand. Leave the engine alone. There are A LOT of mistakes you can make. Some of them will blow up your engine. Screw with your shifting first.

And for God's sake make sure the truck is in good working order.

I don't think it is even a slightly good idea to modify a system you don't understand, especially based on a lot of manufacturer's hype and wild myths.

You SEEM to be looking for acceleration, though you have yet to say so. You do not want power modifications for that.

 

[Bird]

I don't think it is even a slightly good idea to modify a system you don't understand, especially based on a lot of manufacturer's hype and wild myths.

And it's also a bad idea to make generalizations about engine systems that you've got no experience with. I know that you do have an old 4.0 OHV and it isn't a high rev'er in stock form, but the SOHC 4.0 that the thread starter is talking about upgrading redlines over 6k and the power curve continues well past that of the old 4.0 OHV (higher compression, better flowing exhaust ports, overhead cams). There also have been several 'substantiated' examples of power and mileage gains with the UD pullies and the BamaChip tuners with no detrimental effects - just because you haven't tested them and seen the gains yourself doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

As far as electric fans go, for towing, I can only offer my own experiences with several 4.0's (OHV and SOHC) - never had a cooling problem with one and during summer driving, the elec. fan is a pleasure over the drain in power the clutch fan put's on the motor - with no overheating problems.

My 05 Silverado Crew Cab easily tows my bass boat all over Tx. and La. in summer heat without even a bobble in the temp gauge with it's ELECTRIC FANS.

TB's, CAI's, MAF's and other items are pretty much a waste of money on the newer vehicles. Exhaust systems are good mostly for noise unless you're dealing with an older 4.0 OHV that needs all the help it can get in the exhaust port flow.

Bird

 

[Bob Ayers]

My 05 Silverado Crew Cab easily tows my bass boat all over Tx. and La. in summer heat without even a bobble in the temp gauge with it's ELECTRIC FANS.


Bird

That's because it's got a mechanical fan on it also. Try taking the mechanical fan off, and run with just the e-fans.

 

[motoxchamp]

i woudnt run an e fan by itself.

 

[Bird]

That's because it's got a mechanical fan on it also. Try taking the mechanical fan off, and run with just the e-fans.

Want to bet some money on that?


You , also, need to do some homework before spouting what you don't know about.

Bird

ps. The Lightning in my sig runs just a single electric fan in the heat here in Tx., La. and even the high, dry mountains of NM. with much more horsepower and load - never a problem with overtemps............

 

[Bob Ayers]

Want to bet some money on that?


You , also, need to do some homework before spouting what you don't know about.

Bird

ps. The Lightning in my sig runs just a single electric fan in the heat here in Tx., La. and even the high, dry mountains of NM. with much more horsepower and load - never a problem with overtemps............

The Chevy came from the factory with a mechanical fan, just like the lightning did.

 

[Bird]

The Chevy came from the factory with a mechanical fan, just like the lightning did.

Like I said - go do your homework - the 2005's came from the factory with dual elec. fans. I've even swapped a set of them into my friends 04' to replace his mechanical fan setup and he's had no problems either.

Yes, the Lightning came with a mechanical fan, but it was replaced over a year ago with an elec unit and it's been great ever since.

That's twice now, Bob......................


Bird

 

[Bob Ayers]

Like I said - go do your homework - the 2005's came from the factory with dual elec. fans.

That's twice now, Bob......................


Bird

Since your so bright Bird, tell us why they sell fan clutches for 2005 Silveradoes!!

The fact you have a GM product shows your intelligence!!!

 

[Bird]

Since your so bright Bird, tell us why they sell fan clutches for 2005 Silveradoes!!

The fact you have a GM product shows your intelligence!!!

It's a shame that you have to resort to inuendo and such to try and make up for your lack of 'knowledge' ..................rather childish of you to try and diminish someone else when you have other varieties of vehicles yourself.

The fan clutches are sold for the regular cab and the 4.8L V8 models - even a few 5.3 models had them.

Maybe you can explain the factory wiring harness for the elec fans - even in the 2004 model that we swapped in a set of 05 fans into.

Bird

 

[motoxchamp]

ladies ladies please... Bird, how do those new lighning fans work? I want something that will be very quiet and usually dtuff from the factory keeps that in mind. Is the function of the lightning fan better than any other fan out there? How loud is it? Is it quieter than the stock mechanical ford 4.0 fan?

 

[Bird]

ladies ladies please... Bird, how do those new lighning fans work? I want something that will be very quiet and usually dtuff from the factory keeps that in mind. Is the function of the lightning fan better than any other fan out there? How loud is it? Is it quieter than the stock mechanical ford 4.0 fan?

It's the same fan used on the Lincolns - 2 speed. Cools very well when properly mounted in the shroud - I actually cannot recall it ever switching to high speed. A lot of the Lightning guys use them with no ill effects.
As far as noise goes, it's not noisy at all (used in the Lincoln), but then, with the whine of the supercharger and the Bassani exhaust, it's hard to hear much else. I've switched on the hi speed while in the staging lanes before and you can hear it, but not very loud.

I've heard that it's very similar to the 2 speed fan that the Tauruses used. To get proper cooling effect, it has to be mounted in the shroud so that it's pulling through the entire radiator - not flat up against the radiator.

I had a 16" elec fan in my 04 Edge 4.0 SOHC with the M90 supercharger on it and had no problems with the La. summer heat last year - even towing my bass boat a couple of times.


Bird