'99 eddie bauer 5.0 AWD upgrades

[the_hammer83]

Hello all! New to the forum and I have digested a lot of knowledgable information. I'm mechanically inclined(to a degree) and can work on my own vehicles but I want to enhance my engine. I won't be taking it mudding or rock climbing, but will take it off road on trails, it will mainly be driven on the street. All I really want to do is beef the engine up like I said. I read on here about heads, cam shafts, exhaust, electrical, and intake mods. But I'm flatlined. I also would like to hulk up the suspension (no lift). I'm sure I sound pretty green to you all but any help would be great!

 

[Dave 1955]

The 5.0 does ok stock.
If you really want to do something instal the pick up transfer case so that you will have low range. Anything else is just trying to make it a race car and imo that is fruitless.

 

[drdoom]

+1 Dave

 

[shadowless127]

Intake and a more free flowing exhaust are relatively cheap and do yield some performance increases. As far as beefing up the suspension, Rancho RS500's and/or Sensa-Trac Load Adjusting rear shocks will be a step up.

 

[koda2000]

shadowless127 suggestions are good, just keep in mind that everything is a compromise. if you bias that compromise in one direction the other will suffer (beefier suspension = rougher ride). i think the F150 t-case swap into the AWD is a great mod for off roading.

 

[delexploder]

shadowless127 suggestions are good, just keep in mind that everything is a compromise. if you bias that compromise in one direction the other will suffer (beefier suspension = rougher ride). i think the F150 t-case swap into the AWD is a great mod for off roading.

Not only off road but the 4406 swap also is a huge improvement on road as well

 

[explorinitup]

Of all the stuff i have done to my truck other than the supercharger. The 4406 and sct tuner was the best. Sorry about the caps lock

 

[delexploder]

I also did AVM manual hubs with the 4406 and having true 2wd on the street is so much better and you still have off road capability

 

[Steeda04SVT]

So the 4406 is a simple and straight swap and no changes in wiring?

 

[delexploder]

So the 4406 is a simple and straight swap and no changes in wiring?

Just make sure you get a 4406 with the speed sensor as your 97 is already set up that way, I believe 98 up uses the abs sensor on the rear diff

 

[SoNic67]

How is that transmission swap a "huge improvement"?
Besides uses as rock crawling and deep mud driving, it makes no sense to waste work and money in such a swap for a daily driver. Why is 2WD "much better" than AWD? And I am talking about a functional AWD here.
Without the locking hubs, you still have a spinning differential and bearings. And even with locking hubs, the energy is not wasted on transmission train - I can bet that my AWD free rolls as much as a 2WD when no gas is applied.

The biggest waste in city is stopping and accelerating the big hunk of steel that Explorer is - kinetic energy needs gas burning to build up, only to be released as brake pad heat seconds later (next stop light).
On highway, the flat front aerodynamic eats up a ton more gas (at 70mph) than friction in drivetrain.
Then using the A/C will eat up more energy than the pure friction in drive train. Note that the tires will be the same, so that friction/losses still remain the same.

PS: Numbers.
To accelerate a 5500 lbs mass from 0 to 45mph you need to apply 504796 Joules (at 100% efficiency).
At 30% efficiency (Otto gas engine) you need to burn 1.7 million Joules.

 

[delexploder]

Because with no power to the front you dont get such a heavy feel in the steering and acceleration is improved, it is also further improved with locking hubs for true 2wd , in 2wd they feel more like a crown Vic or Ltd wagon, parking lots are alot easyer and im getting between 3 and 4 MPG better on the hwy,

 

[SoNic67]

No, you don't get any less power usage in 2WD as compared to 4WD - did you read above?
0.1-0.2 mpg is not worth the trouble. Turn off the A/C and you get 1mpg savings.

 

[delexploder]

Whatever dude, you just keep on doing what you do

 

[SoNic67]

And you keep destroying perfectly good trucks...

 

[delexploder]

And you keep destroying perfectly good trucks...

Sure thing! I'll just keep enjoying my 99 mounty that has low range and 2wd and gets 23+ MPG hwy with its light car like steering, oh and my 97 v8 sport when i put all the same parts on it,

 

[bill06447]

If you had heavy sluggish steering, then there was something else wrong besides AWD...I don't get that sensation with my 97...

Bill

 

[delexploder]

If you had heavy sluggish steering, then there was something else wrong besides AWD...I don't get that sensation with my 97...

Bill

Yea that must be it, I have three v8s and i sold two last summer that were 2wd so I have a pretty good feel for the difference between the two,

 

[Steeda04SVT]

Just make sure you get a 4406 with the speed sensor as your 97 is already set up that way, I believe 98 up uses the abs sensor on the rear diff

Thank you for the info. I just got my 5.0 yesterday so it's not like having a Foxy body with a 5.0. So what parts have you guys upgraded on your 5.0's? Thanks for any input you guys can give.

 

[koda2000]

i notice a different feel when i drive my AWD. can't really say how it feels different, heavier feel to the steering maybe describes it. of all my Ex's and Mountaineers i think the 2000 5.0 2wd Monty w/out the towing package feels/rides the best.