FI 5.0 mods - Ford Forums

corndog · 08-08-2004, 14:06

'86 F-150, 5.0 FI Auto. Trans. I am looking for some advise on picking up some midrange for this truck. All stock, CA model, any suggestions for cam profiles, injection mods, specific head castings, exhaust system, you know, the general hot rod things, specifically for this application. It has over 100k, doesn't use a drop of oil, and I am going to start putting together a new engine for it. Preferably a stock bottom end, just looking for a real good combination for breathing, as I have no Ford experience. Any and all help will be appreciated.
Corndog
Oceano, CA

351w · 08-17-2004, 22:13

well obviously a free flowing exhaust and some type of high performance intake will help with the power.
be more specific about what you are looking to gain from mods.
tell me what you want to get out of this engine and i can tell you where to start.
do you want to be able to drive this everyday ?
do you want to use it to pull anything ?
are you looking to gain 40 hp or are you looking to gain 100 hp ?
how much money are you willing to spend on the engine ?

corndog · 08-18-2004, 19:33

Ok, I got you. More mid-range, no real pulling or towing, just a couple of dirt bikes, and the occasional street bike in the back. Daily driver. I don't expect big block grunt, but I would like to avoid the trial and error that goes along with a new engine. Not a Nascar engine, maybe a few more revs than stock, something that will run with a stock AOD with a shift kit, enough vacuum at idle for the brakes, just a good combination. Thanks for any input, and I didn't even mention Chevy's. Money? Within reason for something that boogies. Will the stock injection handle it? Ignition? Which heads? Thanks again. Corndog

351w · 09-13-2004, 23:20

wow, sorry about leaving you hangin here for a month but i have been pretty busy and havent had the time to check in lately.
well lets start with a couple little things.
you say you are interested in more mid range so that is pretty easy to accomplish with a little missing bottom end.
you dont want to go crazy and have to put huge injectors into the thing or the daily driver function of this will not be feasible.
i would start out with just a few small mods to help the engine breath and rev a little quicker.
things like a good free flowing exhaust with a set of headers if you are looking to squeeze out every pony you can.
a good cold air intake is supposed to be worth 10 - 15 hp.
an underdrive crank pulley is worth lets say 8 or so hp.
these are simple add ons that are proven to work.

now for the more serious approach. if you are going to get inside the motor !
stock heads have a very restrictive exhaust.
any aftermarket head with bigger runners and/or valves will do wonders for your hp numbers.
i have had good results with windsor jr heads from world products, they flow 2 1/2 times more than a stock head.

an aftermarket cam with a lift in the 480 range and a duration no more than 268 will work with stock accessories and not kill your vacuum.
a cam any bigger will suck gas and be a dog off the line.

as for the injectors i am not positive if they are big enough to handle if you did all the mentioned mods but the cam manufacturers would be able to provide a recommendation.