2002GreyHD150
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- March 30, 2003
- Messages
- 329
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- DFW, Texas
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 Mountaineer 4.6L AWD
I posted over 2 years ago I had been on a mission for efficiency (MPG) and bolt on HP. We've long sold the '04 Monty but I've had several Pm's about my search for MPG and HP... sO I thought I would toss out a quick synopsis of what I found worked.
Its a combination of Trickflow (Summit Racing), eBay, and Explorer forum findings...
* Underdrive pulley/dampener kit # 18010 from Trickflow be very careful follow the instructions.
* Electric Fan conversion. I used the Mark VIII.T-bird unit and the Flex-o-lite controller.. the Controller is mandatory. I set ours up with an override in a black spot using a dummy OE switch for heavy Dallas Summer traffic.
* Synthetic EVERYTHING. Oil, trans, transfercase, rear diff, coolant additive, and even grease on the wheel bearings.
* Brakes. Slotted/dimpled rotors from RotorPros + Centric Posi-Quiet ceramic pads. Think about it. Easier getting up to speed and less waste getting slowed down... Our Monty had the front rotors warped by 7,500 miles from new.
* Tires. Kumho, Hancook, and Fusion are all favorites of mine. Proper tire pressure, checked at each gas fill, along with the oil level. I am OCD about basic maintenance...
* Get rid of the damn platinum spark plugs. I will never understand people who choose to ignore routine/basic up keep. NGK V-power classic Copper plugs, changed every 30,000
* PRo-Comp (purchased on eBay) coil packs or the MSD red coil packs. The Accell/BBk's are junk. If you wait and are patient, the Pro-Comps show up regularly for $200 a set.
* Custom Autozone/Spectre air intake from modified stock/OE air box. 90* elbow off the Throttle body, then a 140* bend into the stock air box with a Spectre reusuable panel filter. Bottom of the OE box opened up and slightly readjusted.
* Trickflow #18B001 Mustang/
explorer/T-bird hi-flow throttle body elbow. takes some mods and some brass fittings to work on the '04-up Drive-by-wire, and some PVC plumbing changes, search my screen name I documented it.
* JBA Headers. Wifey wouldn't let me change muffler or the rest of exhaust. But I know from my 2001 Monty there is lots of MPG and HP in the restrictive OE exhaust.
* Electrical system "Big 3" power and ground upgrade. I changed out all the power and ground wires to 4ga wire with good, well soldered copper connection. No gold plated Audio Jewelry. Also Optima Red Top Battery with good terminals. Remember its "E-L_E_C_T_R_O_N_I_C Fuel injection" every volt is important.
* Deep Transmission Pan and Girdle style rear diff cover. added cooling/volume and allowed for gauge senders to watch trans temp and diff gear temp. simple on/off/on switch, one digital gauge in the console.
I have a bunch of pics but have to resize them.
Final results: 17-19 around town and 22-24mpg on the highway. It can be done.
~Rob
Its a combination of Trickflow (Summit Racing), eBay, and Explorer forum findings...
* Underdrive pulley/dampener kit # 18010 from Trickflow be very careful follow the instructions.
* Electric Fan conversion. I used the Mark VIII.T-bird unit and the Flex-o-lite controller.. the Controller is mandatory. I set ours up with an override in a black spot using a dummy OE switch for heavy Dallas Summer traffic.
* Synthetic EVERYTHING. Oil, trans, transfercase, rear diff, coolant additive, and even grease on the wheel bearings.
* Brakes. Slotted/dimpled rotors from RotorPros + Centric Posi-Quiet ceramic pads. Think about it. Easier getting up to speed and less waste getting slowed down... Our Monty had the front rotors warped by 7,500 miles from new.
* Tires. Kumho, Hancook, and Fusion are all favorites of mine. Proper tire pressure, checked at each gas fill, along with the oil level. I am OCD about basic maintenance...
* Get rid of the damn platinum spark plugs. I will never understand people who choose to ignore routine/basic up keep. NGK V-power classic Copper plugs, changed every 30,000
* PRo-Comp (purchased on eBay) coil packs or the MSD red coil packs. The Accell/BBk's are junk. If you wait and are patient, the Pro-Comps show up regularly for $200 a set.
* Custom Autozone/Spectre air intake from modified stock/OE air box. 90* elbow off the Throttle body, then a 140* bend into the stock air box with a Spectre reusuable panel filter. Bottom of the OE box opened up and slightly readjusted.
* Trickflow #18B001 Mustang/
explorer/T-bird hi-flow throttle body elbow. takes some mods and some brass fittings to work on the '04-up Drive-by-wire, and some PVC plumbing changes, search my screen name I documented it.
* JBA Headers. Wifey wouldn't let me change muffler or the rest of exhaust. But I know from my 2001 Monty there is lots of MPG and HP in the restrictive OE exhaust.
* Electrical system "Big 3" power and ground upgrade. I changed out all the power and ground wires to 4ga wire with good, well soldered copper connection. No gold plated Audio Jewelry. Also Optima Red Top Battery with good terminals. Remember its "E-L_E_C_T_R_O_N_I_C Fuel injection" every volt is important.
* Deep Transmission Pan and Girdle style rear diff cover. added cooling/volume and allowed for gauge senders to watch trans temp and diff gear temp. simple on/off/on switch, one digital gauge in the console.
I have a bunch of pics but have to resize them.
Final results: 17-19 around town and 22-24mpg on the highway. It can be done.
~Rob
