Cheap and easy mods to increase HP and performance

[cbxer55]

Nor do I care that you don't care. Don't give a flyin F!

 

[adsm08]

Every time the subject of CAIs comes up, it just turns into a mess. I am not going to change your mind anymore than you are going to change mine. I will just pop in, tell my side, then leave. Not going to get into a pissing contest over it. I know from car shows I attend that CAIs are out there in force. And for me, the I's have it.

Ta-ta.

Oh I agree that cold air is better (hard to argue against the physics of that one). I agree the factory intake setup is restrictive, it was done to balance noise and emissions against performance and fuel economy.

But what do a Vegan, and Cross-fitter and a Lightning owner have in common?

They can't shut up about it.

 

[Dirtman]

I wish I had a lightning. I'd put lots of stickers on it.

 

[Bgunner]

I wish I had a lightning. I'd put lots of stickers on it.

here ya go... have 3 they were cheap....

 

[Dirtman]

Wooooooo!!!!! Yay!

 

[cbxer55]

Oh I agree that cold air is better (hard to argue against the physics of that one). I agree the factory intake setup is restrictive, it was done to balance noise and emissions against performance and fuel economy.

But what do a Vegan, and Cross-fitter and a Lightning owner have in common?

They can't shut up about it.

I don't bring up the Lightning near as much as I used to. I know there is a lot of jealousy here about it. However, point is the Lightning is a true performance vehicle. Blown V-8. A lot of the guys drag race them and could probably tell you how much they picked up on the dyno when they tossed the stock airbox and replaced it with a CAI. In fact, most dyno tuners recommend ditching the stock airbox and replacing it with a CAI. Because they just don't allow enough air for a blown motor.

 

[Ranger850]

Did somebody say my name?

 

[JohnnyO]

Cat-back exhaust is the best bang for the buck. Headers help a little but not a lot when measured against what they cost. K&N in the stock airbox.

 

[Dirtman]

I don't bring up the Lightning near as much as I used to. I know there is a lot of jealousy here about it. However, point is the Lightning is a true performance vehicle. Blown V-8. A lot of the guys drag race them and could probably tell you how much they picked up on the dyno when they tossed the stock airbox and replaced it with a CAI. In fact, most dyno tuners recommend ditching the stock airbox and replacing it with a CAI. Because they just don't allow enough air for a blown motor.

I thought you didn't give a flyin F?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

How To Build A Ford 4.0L For Power - The Ranger Station

Written By ‘Doug904’ In 2008 Updated By Jim Oaks In 2019 The limits of the OHV are more so caused by the poor flow limits of the stock heads and the camshafts. To give you a bit of perspective … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/pdf_documents/How-to-build-and-modify-Ford-V6-engines.PDF

 

[cbxer55]

I thought you didn't give a flyin F?

I thought you had me on IGNORE?

You should ya know. Just like on other sites where I talk about my Ranger and bikes, on this site I bring up the Lightning if it can be used in a comparative way. If you don't like it, too bad! Put my ass on IGNORE and you won't have to see it anymore.

 

[sd359]

Your best bet is to read the building 4.0 for power. You can add headers for a fairly reasonable price and do the air intake a little different. I have headers and K&N filter on a stock built 4.0 with about 6000 miles now, I could tell the difference when I added the headers not alot but noticeable. But if you're just looking for a better sound with a little hp gain, hard to beat headers and good exhaust. I run a single pipe in with duals out flowmaster and sounds good especially between 3500 and 5000.

 

[thcscubajohn]

Let me just say, the only "cold air intakes" worth a damn are snorkels.

You should install a screamin demon 45,000V coil pack with Taylor cable spiro wound 8.2mm plug wires and new platinum plugs, make sure you gap them properly. Those wires are 40ohm/ft. Stock is something like 350 ohms/ft and 35,000V.

**Next get rid of the warm air smog crap that takes air from around your exhaust manifold and unplug the vacuum line to the valve so it stays closed**. Put in a spectre performance air filter. Cheaper than KN and just as good.
** beware of intake icing **

After that I would ditch the cats and put in some ebay long tube headers. Wrap and spray them first. If you have EGR, nows the time to ditch that too. You can do a straight pipe, stock or aftmkt muffler but I wouldn't go above 2.25-2.5" ID. Less pressure less torque.

You can do all that for less than $500 and have noticeable gains.

If you want to go further, as previously mentioned an electronic rad fan is a great option. I would also install an engine oil cooler at this time and relocate the filter somewhere that makes oil changes a breeze.

Next I would get 95tm or 98tm cylinder heads. Just stock remans or for extra $$$ I'd get new aftermarket castings. If you do this you'll need to run minimum 91 octane and I would do a performance chip at this time to help manage afrs.

All this would probably net you 50hp

If you swapped cams with the heads for just a comp cam you're probably going to be 20hp over that.

 

[sgtsandman]

I would caution the promoting things that break laws like deleting catalytic converters. The warm air delete may be a detrimental thing depending on where the OP is located. There are sections of the country where intake icing is a thing and the system is necessary to prevent that issue. Beyond that, I don't have a problem with any of thcscubajon's recommendations.

 

[thcscubajohn]

I would caution the promoting things that break laws like deleting catalytic converters. The warm air delete may be a detrimental thing depending on where the OP is located. There are sections of the country where intake icing is a thing and the system is necessary to prevent that issue. Beyond that, I don't have a problem with any of thcscubajon's recommendations.

In my experience, if the desire for motorsport is engrained deep enough into the soul, pesky emissions laws will never prevail.

I live in Los Angeles, have an engine that definitely wouldn't pass emissions, but thanks to a $130/yr loophole I am not required to smog check.