What robs more power from the 5.0L, AWD or Exhaust Manifolds

[Spdrcer34]

I drove my wifes Mountaineer today.....1998 Mounty, AWD.....ALL STOCK other than the Fairbanks Shift Kit.....

I was suprised at how slow it is compared to my 2WD, TMH equipped Explorer. Even my old V6/Manual set-up would beat the Mounty.

What do you guys think robs more from the engine? The AWD system or the Stock Manifolds?

My wife said I was not allowed to modify her Mounty....but that thing NEEDS TMH's!


Ryan

 

[Trolling]

in my opinion, the AWD.

for me the change was not noticeable after installing the TMH and tune for it from james, but the 4406 swap was.

The TMH did make the truck feel long winded which helped in the top end speed but not much go when passing and city speeds. The 4406 gave back a bit of the low end power that i felt was lost after the headers install.

here's the mod sequence i did so far:

1. install k&n filtercharger kit
2. install 1" phenolic spacer
3. install 89 tune from james henson
4. install TMH
5. install 89 tune with headers in the equation
6. install 4406 TC

 

[safn1949]

I have to tell you my 2000 is stock except the muffler,but I'm guessing on that because of the sound.And this thing runs like crazy,I have to use cruise or I'm gonna get a ticket.

The wires are original and the plugs are hammered with probably 100,000 miles on them,this truck just flat runs but they are all different.I thing AWD removal would make a bigger difference.

 

[Millertime1987]

It sounds like you know what you are doing. But my 99 5.0 has much more get up then it sounds like you are getting. Have you check the sparkplugs and the distributor? The AWD does kill some power but not enough like you are saying.

 

[Spdrcer34]

There is no distributor.

The OBD-II 5.0L is DIS.

It definitly has power. Just NOWHERE NEAR as much as my `92 (5.0L, 2WD, TMH's & MAC intake) My old V-6 had a bit less power, but I know it was a bit faster than her Mounty.

Ryan

 

[Turdle]

I really think it is the exhaust. I recall a very low rolling resistance while coasting when I had AWD. Look at the #3 exhaust port on the stock manifolds.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, I think if you could open up the exhaust while keeping a full tail pipe with a normal ending/tip, it wouldn't sound too loud but run better. I love the AWD, but I don't think it's that big of a deal. It does slow it down, but not as much as you note the difference of your other trucks.

FYI, I had this Mountaineer weighed last week, to take some bad gas to a hazardous waste facility. I was at 4800lbs with me and about 60 pounds of stuff in it. These things are very heavy compared to typical cars.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Hmmmm....

I have been limiting my options for new heads, as I already have TMHs on my GT-40P's. I have only been looking at new Heads with OEM Exhaust port dimensions & locations.

If I put MY TMH's on my wife's Mounty...I can get Bob to make me ANOTHER set of TMH's, with different flanges to match MY new heads....


Hmmm...I wonder if the wife will go for it?


Ryan

 

[Trolling]

Hmmm...I wonder if the wife will go for it?


Ryan

don't tell her

with your experience working on explorers, it shouldn't take you too long to install it on her truck.

 

[techieman33]

the exhaust by far. I've experimented with the awd quite a bit and there really isn't much power lost there at all. I've pulled just the drive shaft and my times were damn near identical, so the power split isn't really hurting anything. I also run in the summer without the front diff, cv axles and driveshaft. Again there is a little more power but not a lot. The headers are where it's at, and open it up as much as you can behind them. It's going to be hard and expensive to get the cat pipes any bigger but could be worth it if you wanted to get everything out of it. After installing my homemade exhaust cutouts this fall I can tell my 2.5" tail pipe is to small, there is a little more power than with them closed. I confirmed it with my iphone dyno app but don't have the numbers since my stupid phone dumped the contacts and a bunch of in app info this afternoon.:fire:

 

[Spdrcer34]

On My Explorer, I have 2.5" from the collector (I also opted for the slightly larger collector on my TMH's), to the cats, and my Muffler is an Edelbrock dual 2.5" in, Single 3" out....It sounds great, I just need a new H/C/I combo to get more power out of it...

Ryan

 

[CDW6212R]

You are on the right path, but if you take steps make them big ones. There are lots of areas to gain with.

The exhaust is a huge factor, as these are 302's with about half of the exhaust flow potential as a stock 302 Mustang Cobra. Think of the countless Mustangs that started with a dual 2.25" exhaust, and how many go up to a dual 2.5" system, or 3" throughout, duals. I would say 3" is the limit to be useful and 2.5" is the least I'd go for a 302.

The H/C/I is huge too, the GT40 heads and intake are not very special, nor is the truck cam. Take the next step beyond OEM valve placement heads(AFR/Dart/Brodix/Edelbrock are all stock valve location designs, not worth the money). If you go beyond stock heads, go to Twisted Wedge or High Port heads, which require different piston valve reliefs. But take care, the high ports aren't for an Explorer, the ports are 3/4" higher which would mean custom headers from scratch.

That leaves the TFS Twisted Wedge heads, which are great and no more expensive then the AFR stock etc, crap. Find a way to change to pistons made for them, and get the heads used if you have to. Have a custom cam made, use a big intake like a TFS "R" EFI model. Of course that all means custom tuning no matter what path you take.