advice on upgrading my 2003 XLT V8

[Donner]

Nice! On Wed, scheduled to do a KN series 77 cai, and a Magnaflow(?) Supposed to keep the noise out of the cabin - POWER!

 

[Donner]

How's the sound in the cabin?

Here's a picture for ya. Old picture but you get the point.

GODDDD that kenne bell looks soooooooo good man... woops sorry off topic haha

yea if ur gunna mod ur intake, get a simple cone filter and use the existing bolts from ur airbox to get it to stay... ull be taking air in from all angles instead of just one thru a stock airbox... my "intake" altogether about 30 bux

and as far as exhaust, if u wanna keep it simple with a good sound, get a muffler welded in the stock location... i got a flowmaster 40 from pepboys and welded it in with a friend and put a magnaflow tip on the end to make it look not-stock haha... sounds fine and looks good and works (then again u have 8 cylinders so urs will growl like crazy much better than a 6)


Any cabin noise?

 

[Donner]

lol!

found out today that i do not have a stock muffler...

 

[jah81592]

I just bought a 02 XLT V8 a month or two back, and am in the same boat as you... Being a HP junky, I slapped a K&N FIPK kit ($198) within the first week or two. Noticed a very impressive sound difference and a slight HP gain. I also changed the plugs ($2.98x8), did a synthetic fluid change($3.99x6 quarts), low temp thermostat($14) w Redline water wetter($10), and itching for more. My next step will be exhaust, most likely a Magnaflow welded up to the stock system.....$100-$150, Unless I get a deal from my buddy on a custom 3" catback mandrel bent system, but he is being an @ss!!!!
I also have been looking into the granatelli "hot sparks" coil packs, which claim 15% fuel consumption improvement as well as significant HP gains. Cost is about $250
They also sell a MAF that increases air flow and should be good for a few HP...$285
Once I get that stuff going, then it's DEFINATELY a custom tune from BamaChips.
These explorers with the V8 have to be capable of some pretty hefty HP. Key is to get them open and breathing I think, and everything I mentioned above is a good way to do that.

Please note that I have several customers running the coil packs. It doesn't matter whether it is Granatelli, MSD or Accel (which I carry) I haven't seen a 15% reduction in fuel consumption ever. That is a pretty tall claim, these coils work well but in modded vehicles assistingthe complete burn of fuel. I am sure there would be an increase but 15% seems like alot. Be real careful of running a Granatelli MAF(these are cal'd mafs). The maf meter is the most important sensor on a Ford. It determines all fueling, spark, load,etc. At your state of modifications I wouldn't recommend replacing the maf because there won't be any gains in economy or hp. Save your money and purchase tuning. I have done extensive testing on the Explorer platform. I have customers with Mustangs running low 8's (1/8th) with the stock MAF meter. If you are interested I sell SCT's X3 and Livewire with custom tuning. Contact via pm or email. Happy modding-j

BTW- I carry ASP underdrive, JBA and Gibson headers, MAC and Gibson catbacks, MAC cold air kits and tuning for your application. Email for package deals.

 

[SnookMan]

James, yeah I pretty much assumed that the 15% is impossible, and that might be with a combination of many other mods, but that's what they claim off their site.
Curious, what do you charge for a tune?? I have a XCAL 2 I think, gotta check.....so I would need a tune with probably a 89 performance or a torque, what kind of gains can you give me? I have a 02 4.6L with CAI, and will be getting exhaust very shortly.
Also, dod you see any gains from the Trick Flow plenums or the C&L's? Are the worth the $100 or whatever they sell for?

 

[SnookMan]

Donner, you must have wheel spacers on your truck huh, and if so what size? My truck has 255/70/16 and looks NOTHING like your truck. The 17" stock rim is what, 7.5 wide? I checked out that grillcraft site, mannnnnnnnnnn them grills are taxing!!! But I really like that black out look, kind of reminds me of an ABT grill I had on my VW.

 

[Donner]

No spacers... the rims are like 8/8.5 I got 265/70/17 Stock is like 7.5

 

[bigapple]

GODDDD that kenne bell looks soooooooo good man... woops sorry off topic haha

yea if ur gunna mod ur intake, get a simple cone filter and use the existing bolts from ur airbox to get it to stay... ull be taking air in from all angles instead of just one thru a stock airbox... my "intake" altogether about 30 bux

and as far as exhaust, if u wanna keep it simple with a good sound, get a muffler welded in the stock location... i got a flowmaster 40 from pepboys and welded it in with a friend and put a magnaflow tip on the end to make it look not-stock haha... sounds fine and looks good and works (then again u have 8 cylinders so urs will growl like crazy much better than a 6)


Any cabin noise?

haha yea plenty of it around 3-4k rpms... then again its a flowmaster 40 which is pretty much the most wide-open muffler they make... if u get a 50 or 70, there r more baffles in them and they stay quieter at idle and open revs... its definitely still there when u need it though and u can tell when u slam the gas