Will a programmer really help out on my truck? A standard ford 5.0 regular gas of course. They are pricey but im wondering if worth it. I want something to help out with power a bit… I knew I was sacrificing with lifting it, but it leaves a little to be desired.
14’ Skiff-“Redfish Reaper”
You need gears. Big lift, big tires, gears are the best option.
A programmer will help, but if you have oversized tires, gears will be the biggest improvement. Mostly the programmer will change your shift points, keeping you in the max torque range longer. But gears will increase the amount torque at the axles.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Programmers don’t help gas trucks all that much when compared to the return vs. cost.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
quote:
Originally posted by saltydog235Programmers don’t help gas trucks all that much when compared to the return vs. cost.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
They make a huge difference with diesel engines but a negligible (if any) improvement with gassers. I put a chip on my F150 and couldn’t tell a difference. On my 2500, though, the difference was night-and-day. For the same $$$, your money may be better spent getting your truck dualed-out…
“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”
In general, naturally aspirated motors won’t get large gains from computer tweaks. In order to get more power, you have to get more fuel into the cylinder. Without a turbo, the stock air flow situation limits the available air. Since fuel to air ratio is pretty much a given value for a given motor, if you can’t get more air in there, you can’t put more fuel in there. Ergo, unless you put some kind of forced induction on it, you won’t get much more power.
On a lot of turbo charged motors, the engine management maps are quite conservative. There is turbo pressure that is deliberately spilled. This is often done for driveability reasons (avoiding large torque lumps in the curve) and to stay conservative with internal stresses on the motor.
On my Subaru WRX, a new map takes the car from 230hp/235ftlbs to 265hp/300ftlbs and move peak torque to lower RPMS just by using some of the turbo pressure that the stock maps dumped. Without a turbo, I don’t see how the ‘chips’ can do much good. Maybe a little, but, nothing like the increases you can get on some turbo motors.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
quote:
Originally posted by saltydog235Programmers don’t help gas trucks all that much when compared to the return vs. cost.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
This is the truth. Those programmers may gain 5-10 hp max. Diesels…200+ with supporting mods.
I am pretty big into tuning efi, I have a laptop set up with hptuners and I am constantly fiddling with it. Fly by wire motors gain the most perceived power by eliminating torque management. Cars now do not open the throttle 100% when you smash on it like a cable does. Tuning fixes that.
If you have a factory force inducted engine some decent gains can be had. I took my Cobalt SS from 210whp to 272 with a pulley, injectors, intake and exhaust.
Geronimo hit the nail on the head. Gears are what you need. You are gonna find out quickly that you got to pay to play. It’s a very expensive hobby.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
14’ Stumpnocker
15 Rude
I figured on re gearing. Just don’t think it’s worth it on my truck. F150 xlt 5.0 on brand new 33/12.50 Firestone’s. Maybe a CAI?? Thanks though, programmers are bad in a diesel, but I figured they wouldn’t do too much because of price
14’ Skiff-“Redfish Reaper”
A CAI will make it sound faster. You will think it’s faster but it’s not. Just like guys that cut off their cats expecting more power. Unless it’s plugged up there is no gain except for noise.
If you did a full exhaust with long tube headers, cai, and a good tune would probably net 20whp. Then you could do a cam and get another 15 or do. You will then need a high stall converter because you lost all bottom end with the cam. It’s a vicious expensive cycle.
I had older guys tell me all this when I was your age. I didn’t listen then and to an extent, still don’t. 1 thing to remember is there is no replacement for displacement. Build or buy a 392 Windsor and ditch that 302. Best bang for the buck and will turn a set of 35’s without effort.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
14’ Stumpnocker
15 Rude
quote:
Originally posted by MattRA CAI will make it sound faster. You will think it’s faster but it’s not. Just like guys that cut off their cats expecting more power. Unless it’s plugged up there is no gain except for noise.
If you did a full exhaust with long tube headers, cai, and a good tune would probably net 20whp. Then you could do a cam and get another 15 or do. You will then need a high stall converter because you lost all bottom end with the cam. It’s a vicious expensive cycle.
I had older guys tell me all this when I was your age. </font id=“red”>I didn’t listen then and to an extent, still don’t. 1 thing to remember is there is no replacement for displacement. Build or buy a 392 Windsor and ditch that 302. Best bang for the buck and will turn a set of 35’s without effort.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
14’ Stumpnocker
15 Rude
The money we could have saved!
Funny how you could spend an afternoon installing headers, intake, and a cam and gain the same HP today with a good tune.
MattR, you do any tuning on Ford speed density systems?
quote:
Originally posted by Fred67quote:
Originally posted by MattRA CAI will make it sound faster. You will think it’s faster but it’s not. Just like guys that cut off their cats expecting more power. Unless it’s plugged up there is no gain except for noise.
If you did a full exhaust with long tube headers, cai, and a good tune would probably net 20whp. Then you could do a cam and get another 15 or do. You will then need a high stall converter because you lost all bottom end with the cam. It’s a vicious expensive cycle.
I had older guys tell me all this when I was your age. </font id=“red”>I didn’t listen then and to an extent, still don’t. 1 thing to remember is there is no replacement for displacement. Build or buy a 392 Windsor and ditch that 302. Best bang for the buck and will turn a set of 35’s without effort.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
14’ Stumpnocker
15 Rude
The money we could have saved!
Funny how you could spend an afternoon installing headers, intake, and a cam and gain the same HP today with a good tune.
MattR, you do any tuning on Ford speed density systems?
I have never messed with a Ford besides the 7.3 and 6.0 diesels. Chevy uses a speed density/maf combo and compares the two tables.
I would imagine you just use a wideband to correct the volumetric efficiency table and tweak the timing tables watching for knock.
02-13 BA, BF, FG models (A6 trans for FG not supported)
06-07 E-Series 4.6
04-09 F-Series 4.6, 5.4
05-10 Mustang 4.6, 5.4
05-10 Mustang 4.0
I assume you are talking about your lighting? Above is the list
If you know what you are doing, you can pick up a considerable amount of either HP or fuel mileage on gas motors, but I would suggest if you went this route, go to a performance shop and have them tune your motor… You will get much better results compared to using a off the shelf programmer, but you will find that it will be pricey too… You are looking at around $350-ish to have it tuned…
A bad day fishing is much better than a good day at work.
With f150 and 33s, you would just be wasting money regearing. You dont need to re-gear until get above 36" tires. That truck will do anything you need it to just fine. Save your money for when it breaks and you have a repair.
strip…strip…FISH ON!