Jakee's 4.0 SOHC Build up discussion and motivation thread | Page 57 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Jakee's 4.0 SOHC Build up discussion and motivation thread

After Camber adjusters, Body bushings, rear sway bar, and brakes are complete, I'll be posting baseline dyno numbers. First things first. Must be safe!


EDIT (11-6-2007)

Let me save you some time by posting the summary to this thread. The thread is filled with a bunch of off topic ramblings. Read on if you want but be warned.

Summary to this thread....

I'm going to attempt to close this thread because the N/A goal is coming to an end. I really lost interest in the N/A goal a few months back, and It just doesn't make sense (from a $/HP perspective) to buy anymore bolt-ons when the force feed options are available for us 4.0 SOHC guys. I would rather save the money to buy a turbo than to keep spending big bucks for little gains. And so, this is what I did, and these are my opinions on how the mod worked out.

The first thing was the intake. I can remember going around in circles trying to figure out which one to buy. The Volant? no, the K&N....wait a minute, the MAC is cheaper? Anyways, I finally decided on the MAC intake because of the cost. All and all, an intake is an intake. You're not going to see a big huge difference between any of them, but I still feel the best out there is the Volant. I believe in a "Closed" intake. In other words; I don't like the idea of sucking hot engine air thru an open filter under the hood. That's just me and the difference between a "Closed" intake and an "Open" is very small. I did, however, see a gain from customizing the MAC intake by closing in the air filter with a trash can....Yes, you heard me right, a freaking trash can that I cut to fit in the engine bay. It worked good and people usually don't notice what it is. They just think it looks cool. Anyways, I also replaced the MAC filter with a Volant filter; cut a 3-1/2" hole thru the fender and placed a Volant filter thru it. No water can get to it, well....not from this area....I then added spectra hoses from the front of the vehicle where the fog lights were for a "Ram air" attempt. I had a couple of aluminum parts machined for a clean install. That was it for the intake.

Next, I believe I ordered the 73MM C&L from hensonperfromance. This housing uses the same electronics but is just a bit bigger than the stock plastic MAF housing. The gain was small, but was worth it. I believe I've found dyno's of a 7 RWHP gain? Not sure, but there is a gain there.

The TB was the next thing. I purchased a 4.6 TB from KBX performance because I heard a guy named James had discovered it to work with the 4.0 SOHC. I later fooled around and half shafted it. Basically, what that does is removes half the rod that the butterfly is attached too. Do a search on "half shafting a TB" or something like that to get more details. I believe this mod really doesn't give big HP; more throttle response than anything but it's worth it.

When I had the TB off, I noticed this big tube right in the way of the airflow. The tube is the EGR valve and the reason it's sticking in there is to evenly vent exhaust gases back in the intake. Do not remove the EGR valve; it actually helps you. What I did was remove the part that's in the way of the air-flow. I have no idea if this helped me, but It felt like it did. The only ill effect I can think of is maybe one side of the engine is getting more EGR flow; however, I haven't seen traces of this on the spark plugs so I believe it's good.

Now for the exhaust....yeah, it's hard to get a 4.0 SOHC to sound good. In fact, I think mine still sounds pretty bad. I started off with the Gibson Cat back and if your looking for a "Slightly louder than stock" exhaust, then this is the one for you. The gain was good and I liked the sound but I wasn't satisfied. I felt there might be just a little more power I could unleash so I tried a higher flow muffler; a magna-flow. I started off by having a custom Y-pipe made. It has 2-1/4" primaries that y's into a 3" single exhaust. The pipes run back a little ways and goes into a 3" magnaflow cat, then into a 2-1/2" magnaflow muffler, and dumps right before the rear axle. The flow is there but the sound.....I hate it.

I also added JBA stainless headers. I have to say that headers are very expensive for the 4.0 SOHC but there is gain, trust me. If your looking for EVERYTHING you can from the engine, add headers to it later on down the road.

Next is under-drive pulleys....This is one of the better mods in my opinion. The under-drive crank pulley works by slowing down the serpentine belt, which in return, slows down all the accessories running off the belt. The result is more power to your back tires. The only problem I had was it slows the alternator down too much. The fix is an overdrive alt pulley and I added one to speed the alt back up. Problem solved. I'm also running a underdrive water pump pulley with no problems what so ever.

Another good mod is a electric fan. I went with the flex-a-lite 180 and haven't had a problem yet. Very good quality pc.

The best mod, in my opinion, is a tuner. I went with a SCT XCAL II that I picked up from hensonperformance. I think this changed my truck the most and I'm very pleased.

I believe this about sums it up. Every pc of info I just typed here is on the net, and most is right here in this forum, but I wanted to compile some of it for reference purposes....

I made a goal at the begining of this thread, but I'm really not interested anymore. It doesn't make a hill of beans to have high dyno numbers, but it is nice. The only dyno I had sucked; I made 189 to the rear wheels. I'm thinking I'm a bit higher than that but I'm not worried about it.


Next project......TURBO!! and I'll probably do a baseline for this. If so, I'll add the baseline dyno here so there will be N/A results.
 



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Looks good !

How did you fab it up so it just bolts up to where the headers come down and used to connect to the catted pipes? Also, where did you buy the 02 sensor bunges?

Also, if you could, could you list what all bends and how much piping you ordered? I have the same motor as you, and that same exact magnaflow Y pipe laying around so I could try to do this. I would just need to weld in bunges and brackets to bolt it up.

Also, if I have the rear 02's turned off with a tune, do I even need to weld in bunges? If not, what do I do with the plugs the 02's used to connect to that go to the computer?
 



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Yep - I've ran it. I was afraid I might lose low-end torque buy going this big but I lost nothing that I can feel with the but. There is still a bottle kneck but I know EXACTLY where it is; it's the collectors. This is exactly what I want. Now the size here needs to be right or you screw the entire thing up (That's what I've been told)

This was all made by my Dad and Jah18592 will offer these to you guys if you want something like this.

I would like to get the gains for you guys cuss I don't believe in selling something that won't do what it's worth. However, I'm pretty busy so don't hold your breath.

Alf - The 2 front sensors needs to be in the same general location as the stock pipe. The rear doesn't have to go back in if you don't want to waste time welding in another bung. It's turned off so it's just sitting there right now.

Bungs you can get from all over; summit is one supplier, and James probably can get you some pretty quick like.
 






sounds good. Where did you get the flanges to bolt it all up?
Also, can you list the bends you bought to make it with?
 






Guys - Don't take this the wong way....But, from this point forward, I will not give all the details of what I did. I will give you a summary, and post pics. If want to do something simular, you'll have to take the bull by the horns and do the research for yourself. The information is out there; you just have to use your heads and find it.
 






Yep - I've ran it. I was afraid I might lose low-end torque buy going this big but I lost nothing that I can feel with the but. There is still a bottle kneck but I know EXACTLY where it is; it's the collectors. This is exactly what I want. Now the size here needs to be right or you screw the entire thing up (That's what I've been told)

This was all made by my Dad and Jah18592 will offer these to you guys if you want something like this.

I would like to get the gains for you guys cuss I don't believe in selling something that won't do what it's worth. However, I'm pretty busy so don't hold your breath.

Alf - The 2 front sensors needs to be in the same general location as the stock pipe. The rear doesn't have to go back in if you don't want to waste time welding in another bung. It's turned off so it's just sitting there right now.

Bungs you can get from all over; summit is one supplier, and James probably can get you some pretty quick like.
If someone on these forums would like the bungs contact me. I can get them!
 






If someone on these forums would like the bungs contact me. I can get them!

2 please-with plugs and your recommendation on where to place them.
 






James - I want a set of headers..
JBA's. I was going to have my Dad build some but I don't think it's worth the time anymore. (I'll have him install the Jba's hehehehehehe)
 






I got the bungs or o2 sensor nuts off performance-curve.com along with the Magnaflow Y pipe used.

I got the bend kit and 2.5" exhaust flange from http://store.racing-solutions.org
 






James - I want a set of headers..
JBA's. I was going to have my Dad build some but I don't think it's worth the time anymore. (I'll have him install the Jba's hehehehehehe)

Just let me know when you are ready to order. I can supply you with the 02 bungs as well.
 






Just let me know when you are ready to order. I can supply you with the 02 bungs as well.


may order tonight...or tomorrow. (Hopefully)
 






Okay - At one time I ordered the Gibson headers. I used truckperformance.com to do this but they wouldn't honor the Ebay price I had submitted so I cancled and said I'll wait. I told James I would get thru him but I've sort of chilled out cuss of the house and all. Also, don't want to piss my other half off. Then I thought about having my dad may the headers cuss he seemed really interested in doing this. I finially decided that it wouldn't be worth anthing to make these, and I want to save my DAD a huge headache. So, back to the orginal plan - pick headers up from James. I'll go with the JBA's like him cuss I plan on doing something VERY simular to what James has now. TURBO!! but, I do want to move the turbo up just a bit. Like right where the CAT is supposed to be.....anyways, that's still up in the air, and I'm subject to change my mind a billion times before doing something.


Now, I showed a 189 HP dyno; then found a problem, and I feel I'm higher than that. Maybe 5-10 HP higher because of the "HOT" motor on the first dyno, and the clogged filter that I didn't know about. So, hopefully I'm sitting at around 195-199 right now. The truck feels much stronger than when I dyno'd. Anther note - WHen I dyno'd last, I was running around a 7.5 0-60. When I logged again, I was around a 7.2 and some runs lower. That says I've got more power, or I can drive better now. Who know's.....

So headers next and somewhere down the road I'll get a alum. drive shaft and some lighter wheels. Also, rocket has my old water pump and is waiting on me.....He should have a pretty cool design worked out when all said and done.

All I have to do is make 210 then I'm going to the next step. I won't go any further until then.
 






Okay - At one time I ordered the Gibson headers. I used truckperformance.com to do this but they wouldn't honor the Ebay price I had submitted so I cancled and said I'll wait. I told James I would get thru him but I've sort of chilled out cuss of the house and all. Also, don't want to piss my other half off. Then I thought about having my dad may the headers cuss he seemed really interested in doing this. I finially decided that it wouldn't be worth anthing to make these, and I want to save my DAD a huge headache. So, back to the orginal plan - pick headers up from James. I'll go with the JBA's like him cuss I plan on doing something VERY simular to what James has now. TURBO!! but, I do want to move the turbo up just a bit. Like right where the CAT is supposed to be.....anyways, that's still up in the air, and I'm subject to change my mind a billion times before doing something.


Now, I showed a 189 HP dyno; then found a problem, and I feel I'm higher than that. Maybe 5-10 HP higher because of the "HOT" motor on the first dyno, and the clogged filter that I didn't know about. So, hopefully I'm sitting at around 195-199 right now. The truck feels much stronger than when I dyno'd. Anther note - WHen I dyno'd last, I was running around a 7.5 0-60. When I logged again, I was around a 7.2 and some runs lower. That says I've got more power, or I can drive better now. Who know's.....

So headers next and somewhere down the road I'll get a alum. drive shaft and some lighter wheels. Also, rocket has my old water pump and is waiting on me.....He should have a pretty cool design worked out when all said and done.

All I have to do is make 210 then I'm going to the next step. I won't go any further until then.

Good deal to see you back on track. I will beat anyone's pricing on the headers!BTW don't forget I am a driveshaftshop dealer!;) I'll get you the hook up on the driveshaft. Just give me a shout.
 






Good deal to see you back on track. I will beat anyone's pricing on the headers!BTW don't forget I am a driveshaftshop dealer!;) I'll get you the hook up on the driveshaft. Just give me a shout.

Oh heck, I didn't know that. Okay, I don't have to search around to find an aluminium shaft. Darn, you make it easy on us dummies out here. hehee
 






Take to me ....

Features/benefits of an aluminum shaft.

Thanks ....
 






I'd guess an aluminum shaft is lighter.
 






Take to me ....

Features/benefits of an aluminum shaft.

Thanks ....


Aldive - I've heard the balance of properly made aluminium shaft exceeds the OEM balance. I assume that's why there's that big "Dampner" on the rear end that I removed from my x. (To take up some of the vibrations)

The aluminium shaft is lighter which will transfer more power to your rears and the shaft will have almost zero vibrations. Should make for a smoother ride when accelerating, and more power to the ground where you want it. The mustang guys seem to love this mod.

Same with lighter wheels. More power to the ground.
 












I'm not sure about that. I would think yes, but I'm not sure how much? If you don't have one by then, I'll let you know.
 






What kind of dollars are we looking at for th aluminum shaft?
 



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What kind of dollars are we looking at for th aluminum shaft?


Don't quote me on this but I'm thinking 300 - 400 dollar range.
 






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