how can i improve horsepower and torque with little or no cost?

[4.0Rerolpxe]

how can i improve horsepower and torque with little or no cost? I've seen the pvc intakes, I am getting a cone filter next week, it is a stock explorer, except for a vortex blade in the intake. It has a 3.73 gear ratio, I take little ricers and other light trucks off the line all the time. I'm not sure about my exhaust though, most explorers i see even the V8s have this little dinky exhaust pipe coming out the back, but mine has a beefier pipe, and comes out and down on the passenger side.

 

[trj360]

you'd probably get more answers in this forum (for your gen)
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=96

or this one

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=52

 

[kabukie]

how can i improve horsepower and torque with little or no cost? I've seen the pvc intakes, I am getting a cone filter next week, it is a stock explorer, except for a vortex blade in the intake. It has a 3.73 gear ratio, I take little ricers and other light trucks off the line all the time. I'm not sure about my exhaust though, most explorers i see even the V8s have this little dinky exhaust pipe coming out the back, but mine has a beefier pipe, and comes out and down on the passenger side.

first off remove the vortex. dyno tests have shown no improvement. remove unneeded weight (spare, roof rack ... also aids in improved gas mileage).
intake and exhaust are the most restrictive parts on a stock engine. upgrade those and youll gain a small amount.
a probably much needed tune up would give you back a lot of lost power from over the years.

also the search is your best friend.

 

[4.0Rerolpxe]

just did a tune up.

i did sparks, wires, filters, etc. i posted in this forum on accident. i plan on putting in a magnaflow muffler, and a cone filter, a mass air flow sensor from the 5.0 mustang, along with the pvc intake, another question is there another throttle body i can get, say off of a 5.0 and it fit?

 

[4.0Rerolpxe]

correct me if i'm wrong

but if you put to big of an exhaust you lose low end torque, but another good question is what kind of improvement would i see on putting a whole exhaust system in Vs just a magnaflow muffler Vs straight pipes, i really don't care about sound, because you cant be overlooked if people hear your truck a mile away.