My 03' EXPO 4.6 2WD HAS NO GUTS AND IM FED UP!!!

[kdubb28]

This thing has no power at all. For starters this thing has the 4.6L 2V engine and the 8.8 rear end 3.73 LS. When on cruise control it drops down to 2nd gear sometimes just to climb up the smallest incline. When driving with the wife and kids and the a/c going it just has no get up. I have not modded any part of my truck yet. Its all stock. Do I need to get rid of this thing and find one with a 5.4 or do a 5.4 swap? What is the most cost effective thing to do? What do you guys recommend because I'm fed up?!

 

[toms89]

You can take a trip to texas and purchase this...

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f42/supercharged-99-navigator-sale-20844/

I'm sure installing larger diameter tires didn't help.

Gear ratio swap may be your best bet since you installed taller tires and it is only 2wd. (less costly)

IMO if you feel it has no guts as it sits I doubt you will be happy with the typical performance upgrades. (CAI, programmer, exhaust) Though a programmer may help with the tranny shift schedule since you installed taller tires. You can do the gotts mod for little cost.

 

[kdubb28]

I forgot to mention I don't have the rims anymore. I went back to stock tires. My plan was to purchase a CAI and do a muffler change to maybe magnaflow or flowmaster. If those aren't going to help than I don't want to waste the money.

 

[toms89]

I forgot to mention I don't have the rims anymore. I went back to stock tires. My plan was to purchase a CAI and do a muffler change to maybe magnaflow or flowmaster. If those aren't going to help than I don't want to waste the money.

Well... you will get many opinions here. I'm sure others will chime in. I personally never did these mods on my expedition, with the exception of the programmer. I just did many mods as a package when I did my motor conversion.



And this is primarily based of modded my 5.0 mustang over many years and consistently drag racing so I able to measure any performance increase. Yeah I know its not an expedition but still. Claiming any of these mods by themselves made 10 or more hp would have been a stretch. Advertised hp claims are generally peak numbers under the best of conditions. Its the average hp under the curve that makes a difference. Most assume it is across the rpm range which simply is not the case. Unless its a supercharger of some sort.

Still any increase is a plus. Just don't expect any dramatic increases with out some serious modifications.

End rant...lol

 

[stamp11127]

Depends on how much wear is on the engine. What is your mileage? These don't exactly have the power to weight ratio that crotch rockets have. My 4.6 just turned 215500 and some would consider it slow as snails. I still get to work and get 17.4 mpg with the air on. For the weight and mileage I'm not complaining.

If I ever get the urge to go fast again, I'll get a Kawasaki H2-750 widow maker and crap my pants.

 

[xtinc7ion]

Gears will help. Especially with the smaller motor. You don't need to go to 4.56 like I did but a 4.10 will make it feel like a new truck. Then an edge programmer and come back and let us know!

 

[kdubb28]

It has 184k on it now. It does ok as far as mileage goes. I get about 13.5 aroung town and about 19 to 20 on the interstate until it starts climbing small inclines than it drops. Its just missing the power that I want. I'm not towing anything at all. If I do its just a small lawnmower trailer if that. I just want it to have some get up and go.

 

[xtinc7ion]

Get some gears. It'll wake it right up

 

[toms89]

Get some gears. It'll wake it right up

x2

As far as seat of the pant's improvement its one of the top in bang for the buck.

Hwy mileage may suffer some depending on driving style and speed.

 

[kdubb28]

If I go with the 4.10s how will that effect my interstate mileage? I like getting at least 19 to 20 mpgs. I cruise between 70 and 75. Nothing more really. Will a programmer and CAI help with the new gears?

 

[xtinc7ion]

It may affect mpg slightly on interstate roads. But the CAI and programmer will help with that too. You will have a nice happy medium between where you are now and what you want.

 

[capitlj]

I would build a 4.6 before swapping in a 5.4. Unless the swap is literally plug and play, you can get some great power out of a 4.6 for not a lot of money. A blower would make a big difference obviously. You could go the aftermarket heads, cams, and build a 5.0 stroker. Even with a mild build I'll bet 350whp is easily attainable without a huge investment.
DSS Stroker kit
D.S.S. Rotating kit

 

[jjbusa]

so where do we get these gears and how much to install?

 

[xtinc7ion]

I went with Richmond gears. My 4.56 set was about 200$ and then I got a master instal kit. Cost around 240 total cause I got a bit of a deal. Then install was free cause I did it myself. But to have someone else do it (recommended) it'll cost you between 400-500. Unless you know someone willing to help for cheaper.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

 

[jjbusa]

I went with Richmond gears. My 4.56 set was about 200$ and then I got a master instal kit. Cost around 240 total cause I got a bit of a deal. Then install was free cause I did it myself. But to have someone else do it (recommended) it'll cost you between 400-500. Unless you know someone willing to help for cheaper.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

do you have link?

 

[toms89]

I would build a 4.6 before swapping in a 5.4. Unless the swap is literally plug and play, you can get some great power out of a 4.6 for not a lot of money. A blower would make a big difference obviously. You could go the aftermarket heads, cams, and build a 5.0 stroker. Even with a mild build I'll bet 350whp is easily attainable without a huge investment.
DSS Stroker kit
D.S.S. Rotating kit

Depends on what you consider a lot of money.

350 rwhp is a serious build for only 281 cubes with out some sort of power adder.

Cams, heads, intake and your looking at least a few thousand plus the cost of all necessary supporting mods. These typically move the powerband up which would require gears and custom tune at minimum. Then you have the fuel system mods.

 

[xtinc7ion]

Here ya go.

And HERE is the one with the master install kit

 

[toms89]

To get an idea on how a gear swap will effect your ride.....

Divide what ever gear ratio you are considering by your 3.73's and it will give you a multiplier.

Ex. 4.10 / 3.73 = 1.09919571. Rounded off thats 1.1 or 10% increase.

So torque available at the wheels will be increased by 10% but if follows RPM's will be up by 10% as well or stated another way speed will be 10% lower.

If you know your cruise rpm on the hwy just multiply by 1.1 to calculate new cruise rpms.

 

[xtinc7ion]

Nice easy way to calculate it.

 

[Hamfisted]

With that many miles on it I think I'd be looking for a newer model with the 3V motor. There is a reason Ford dropped the 4.6L option on the Expods. They made many improvements in the follow-on years for the Expy too, let alone the motor. It's just not worth dumping money down that hole.



-Mike