Performance Parts

[Awsum97]

Looking to do a few things to my 97 5.0 AWD Ex. Im more interested in making it more of a performance road truck (nothing crazy like lowering or stuff like that) rather than an off-roader Just looking to spruce it up a little.

1) Performance parts for the Engine. Stuff that you guys like thats not super expensive but can get some increased performance and or better fuel mileage (have read the later is possible w a better air intake system)

2) Performance parts for underneath the truck as in shocks. I have a set Edelbrock PERFORMER IAS's but i need to replace them because the bushings have gone on them. They seem ok but im not sure if you guys know of better brands or a better shock within the Edelbrock family

3) Sway bar options

Any thoughts are much appreciated

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I hate to tell you this but perforance stuff is not going to be cheap.

An intake will gain you ZERO. It's the factory exhaust manifolds that choke the Explorer/Mounatineer 5.0 to death. The only cure is a set of Torque Monster headers which run right at $750. No Mustang headers won't fit.

The next thing after the headers is an X-cal 3 tuner. It will set you back about $400

This is pretty much it for low cost engine performance upgrades.

 

[Awsum97]

Dan Great I was hoping that you would reply to this thread as it looks like the picture of your roadster you would be a great source of knowledge!

Few questions. My car is old (97 w 147k miles) but in pretty good condition. but it seems every 2/3 months im putting $500 into the thing: EGR sensor, A/c clutch, new joints on either side of front driveshaft etc.

Reason I am telling you is because in your reply you mention a chip. I have never put a chip into a car or really know anyone that has. Am I risking any undue wear to my truck if I were to add this on? My guess would be that is acts like steroids - that is you havent done anything structurally to the engine (ie different camshaft or boring out) just making it speed up its processes with a chip. I know i asked re "cheap upgrades" so you response was appropriate - Im just wondering your thoughts on this.

When i googled X-cal 3 I got routed to americanmuscle.com. I called them up and they said they dont make one for a 97 ford explorer. They make one for a 97 F-150. So im looking around for something comparable. I talked to the guys there and they are asking their chief tuning specialist what brand would work w my truck. seem like nice guys. Not sure if you had another thought on a tuner off the top of your head.

Interesting that you talk about mustangs. My brother hs always mentioned to me that you could do a ton of things to my 5.0 because it ran in the mustang so long and there were a million performance things made for it.

As for the risers - Im pretty sure mine are the stainless steel ones that I think where an upgrade? So are these still the power-stealing headers you talk of? and therefore need to be changed out?

Thank you

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The X-Cal 3 is not a chip. It's a hend held tuner that reprograms the computer. You can load up to three custom tunes in the tuner itself. You will need a laptop as well as you will have to do dataloging so the place that writes the tune knows what they need to program.

Here is who does the majority of the tunes www.hensonperformance.com
James is who you need to talk to. That other place doesn't know what they are talking about.

If you look at the exhaust manifolds you will see how pinched they are at the heads. The poor engine can't expell what it takes in.

The only thing the same about a an Explorer 5.0 and Mustang 5.0 is the block.

I wish that was my car in my avatar

 

[Awsum97]

Ha well its nice to dream of stuff before long they usually come true!

I called those guys at Henson and they are out until next Monday. So ill hit them then. Many thanks

Any thoughts on shocks?

 

[safn1949]

Bilstein's seem to be the way to go.A lot of guys here have said they make a major difference.

 

[Awsum97]

Hmm these look pretty nice. safn1949 thanks for the reply. people seemed to have liked the bilsteins for off-road or on-road? im looking to make my truck more for on-road. i notice these are out of germany. they;d have to be a lot better than american-made one for me to buy them. anyone have additional thoughts?

 

[Spdrcer34]

I have Bilsteins all the way around on my `92 (with a complete `97 5.0L swap) I have had Monroe's (origin unknown), Edelbrocks (made in the USA), and these Bilsteins, which are made in Germany.

They are HANDS DOWN, the best performing Shock I have ever had. I got mine from TireRack. The ONLY complaint I have, is they didn't include a sticker!....LOL Although the sticker that is on the shock DOES have the Nurbergring Track on it.....I would like one of those stickers!

Get the Bilsteins.

Ryan

 

[Awsum97]

thanks ryan i jsut started a new thread on BS vs EB appreciated response