Modifications for 5.0 AWD for more hp

[rowekmr]

Yeah I haven't looked but I was under the impression that all V-8 AWD's had the trans cooler and oil cooler?

 

[rowekmr]

I Have The Mac Cold Air Intake On My 96 5.0 And I Love It. I Noticed Quite A Difference As Soon As I Put It On. I Would Defininitely Recomend That And A Chip Of Some Sort. I Just Programmed My Computer With Superchips And So Far I Love It. Lol

I looked for a cold air kit and only saw them for the V-6's when I bought them. Where can they be found and for approx how much. Who makes the Superchip?

 

[rowekmr]

The travel trailer I pull is 5600 LBS and the bumper would be on the ground without a load disruption hitch and with the short wheel base look into sway control.

It is more about weight distribution than total weight of trailer. I usually pump the rears up to 120 psi when towing and deflate them some when not. Even before inflating them the rear sag isn't that much. If I would have known that I probably wouldn't got them. I read about what you said in other posts before I bought the truck and thought the rear suspension would be too soft. My first boat and trailer was closer to 8000# and the tongue weight was so little that if there was alot of weight in the rear of the boat and the boat was a few inches back on the trailer the trailer would balance itself on the 3 axles. And I was under the impression that you can't use weight distribution with surge brakes as it won't allow the tongue section to move in or out to activate the master cylinder for the trailer brakes.

 

[conig]

subscribing. for a boat that large I would definately do the shift kit and trans pan. the shift kit will reduce slippage and decrease heat. the trannys in these trucks are known to fail.

headers were my next planned mod, maybe a shift kit and catback would be better. I plan to have the shift kit installed.

man towing my 2000pound load I hate it. slows me down way to much imo. but I am used to diesels in the past which makes me spoiled.

 

['97 V8]

Yeah I haven't looked but I was under the impression that all V-8 AWD's had the trans cooler and oil cooler?

same here. I have a tranny cooler, ps cooler, and im pretty sure your oil goes through your radioator to keep cool. I have oil lines(i believe) going through my radioator.

 

[wildbill]

Well your right oil from the tranny does go through the radiator but the engine oil does not. Now my 99 mountaineer has the 5.0 L and 2wd I couldn’t find the engine oil going through the radiator.

 

[MoabB2]

Robert-

Would you reccommend a dual exhaust setup, or single? Any preference on the size of the tubing?

 

[tnmk]

Something no-one else has mentioned is Synthetic fluids, especially in the tranny for that kind of towing. That will help with lower operating temps too. But synthetics all the way around if you want it to last and be able to extend drain intervals as well. I recommend Amsoil, but then I'm biased. But seriously you can learn a lot about synthetics in general from www.amsoil.com

 

[rcpasq]

Robert-

Would you reccommend a dual exhaust setup, or single? Any preference on the size of the tubing?

MoabB2,

Use a Duel in Single out Muffler. The Exhaust on 410Fortune's BII in Colorado is very nice. I've got to give him high marks. I've enclosed a few of his photos. Make sure you have back-pressure and you'll run all over those hills.

Bob Pasquale
Tech Performance & Engineering
Torque Monster Headers

 

[410Fortune]

sweet

the Explorer 5.0L does not have oil lines going through the radiator but it does have the oil filter mounted on the lower radiator hose, so cooled coolant leaves th eradiator and flows past th eoil filter lines and effectively cools the engine oil, they are also outfitted with a trans cooler inside the rad as well as an aux trans cooler.
A power steering cooler is also factory.

 

[wpurple]

I would add an extra tranny cooler even though it has a factory one.
Running "LT" tires will inhance the handling as they are stiffer. "P" tires are soft and not meant for towing, too much give side to side.

 

[410Fortune]

trans temp gage will tell you if you need additional trans cooling

 

[MountaineerGreen]

A few suggestions from a person who tows quite a bit:

Install a trans temp gauge to monitor your tranny temps- I keep a watchful eye on my gauge when towing. I haven't had to add a second cooler, my temps remain low enough.

I definitely recommend the TMH for towing. The power they free up is amazing! There isn't much you can do to gain power without the headers as a foundation. The factory manifolds restrict the motor so much, most mods have marginal effectiveness without them.

When using the TMH follow Bobs suggestions for exhaust and intake- too much flow on the intake or exhaust is not a good thing for low end torque

Do the F150 leaf swap to add to your load capacity. It can be done cheaply and makes a big difference.

Definitely go with LT tires. Mine are load range D and don't squat tremendously.

If you get the TMH's, get a custom tune for towing. I really need to do this. As of now , I use the superchips towing performance tune. It works OK, but a custom tune will work better.

I pull a 4600 lb dry weight Travel Trailer (loaded up I figure its about 5500)through hills and all kinds of terrain with plenty of power. I use a weight distribution hitch to help with the sway and electric brake controller.

 

[rowekmr]

I tow a 22' Travel trailer with a 99 mountaineer in the mountains of California Intake Yes, Cat Back Yes, Chip Yes, Shift Kit Yes, Trans Pan Yes, Monroe shocks but no air yes, Diff Cover Yes, Trans Cooler MUST HAVE but everyone has missed engine OIL COOLER it helps lots, cooler thermostat Yes and Would love to have headers but cost is little high. Now I pass the diesels and all the big blocks like they are standing still even Tioga Pass 9000 Plus feet pulls it can be done and done well. You should look into load distribution hitch if your boat weighs that much the truck is only rated to tow 6600 LBS. The travel trailer I pull is 5600 LBS and the bumper would be on the ground without a load disruption hitch and with the short wheel base look into sway control.

Hello
Boat trailers with surge brakes can't use load distribution hitches. I have air shocks in the rear but without adding extra air (I forgot one time) the sag wasn't that much. As I have said elsewhere if I would have known that I would have saved the money and kept the stock shocks in it. How does the Trans pan and Dif cover help? I have heard that the cooler thermostat can send the computer off a little.

Joe

 

[Rick9000]

Get an AirMax intake, nobody seems to know about them and thinks MAC is the only intake for the 5.0L. I love mine and it sounds awsome because of the spiral flow design.

http://www.streetandperformanceelectronics.com/am.htm

Thanks for the heads up...been looking for a good air intake for my 5.0 Explorer

 

[rowekmr]

Hello
I am the proud new owner of a 98 Explorer 5.0 AWD that I use to occassionally tow a 6500# 26' boat. I added Monroe airshocks in the rear and Sensa trac shocks up front. I changed the airfilter when I got the trans fluid flushed. I know about the K&N airfilter but is there a cold air intake like the 4.0's, do they actually help? I was planning on the Walker Dynomax cat back exhaust. What are some other simple mods that will increase hp and efficiency. I dont' want to go overboard (blowers) because I have a Ford extended warranty on it. I don't see Ford headers listed on the web are Torquemonster the only other provider of headers? They seem on the expensive side (maybe low production numbers).

Thanks in Advance,
Joe
rowekmr@aol.com

I weighed it last week and it was 8,000#'s!

 

[boominXplorer]

sweet

the Explorer 5.0L does not have oil lines going through the radiator but it does have the oil filter mounted on the lower radiator hose, so cooled coolant leaves th eradiator and flows past th eoil filter lines and effectively cools the engine oil, they are also outfitted with a trans cooler inside the rad as well as an aux trans cooler.
A power steering cooler is also factory.

I think they stopped using it in 99. My 00 doesn't have one. I will be trying to add one soon.

 

[410Fortune]

your 99 does not have th eoil filter mount thats attached to the lower radiator hose?
Where is the filter mounted?

I have only worked on 96-98 5.0L trucks and they all have this, they have too the steering rack is right where the filter would thread into the 5.0L block so Ford had to re-locate it somehow

 

[whdahel]

There is no need for the bauhman shift kit, you can do the J-mod you self as well and it is cheaper, Tccoa.com has step by step instructions! check it out.

 

[Four0Sport]

yeah im pretty sure you dont have an engine oil cooler. yes the filter mounts below the water pump but besides the PS cooler and the tranny cooler 5.0 ex's do not have a factory engine oil cooler. that was a GM innovation that remains a pain in the neck.