what is the best cat back system to keep or improve the factory torque for a 2000 4.6? I am not interested in top end performance, but in the pulling, towing performance. Have already superchipped and have an airaid installed, switched to Mobile 1 at 500 miles. Rear gears are 3.08, so I want to maintain all the torque I can.

 

gcnappa...

First...the gears you are running are not helping you out at all...in fact they are killing you!

These 3.08 need to be thrown in the garbage and replaced with either 3.55 or 3.73 if you want to get any kind of pulling power out of that truck.

Second....the BEST aftermarket "cat back" system that will gain you the most HP and Torque is the GIBSON (Swept Side)exhaust. This system is the only one out there that is especially designed for torque and HP gains.

GIBSON is the best for these gains but will not give you a lot of aftermarket sound!

 

I'll second that motion. Not only do you have the power gains, but you get them with minimal extra noise. The only thing I've towed with mine so far is an empty gravity wagon, but I do know you will have the extra power.

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2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N, WMS Velocity Tube, and Gibson Sweptside...

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU, Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front), and Blaupunkt PCst573s(Rear)

(For now)

 

Ialso agree first get rid of those 3.08 and go with 3.55s and the gibson is the best for torque the only thing i don't like about the gibson is it is no louder than the stock system

 

Thank you all for the advice, I have future plans to replace the 3.08 with 4.10s or 4.55s for the pulling power I am looking for, but for now I like the mpg I am getting with the 3.08s. Can the side swept exhaust be done easily by yourself (bolt up) or would I need to have it done at a muffler shop?

 

I put my Gibson on in about three hours but that was on a gravel drive and it was snowing. I was also trying to save the old exhaust so I could put it back on if I need to. If you cut it all off you could do it in less than an hour. Thats what the instructions tell you to do.

 

I don't think the 4.10s will hurt your mileage too much on short trips and at 55-65 mph.
I have 3.55 gears and a 4.6L. I get 23.5 mpg at 65-70 mph. At close to 70-80 mph. I still get around 21.5 mpg.
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1997 F150 XLT
Debut sport truck
Ext. cab short bed
4.6l 3.55ls Auto

[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 10-23-2000).]

 

2001, Actually Jardine catbacks and Doug Thorley headers have proven to have higher torque gains for the F150 than Gibson.

 

ALLFORD,

How in the world are getting those kind of MPG numbers? I live in the flatlands of Texas and don't have a heavy foot at all. My setup is a '97 S/C Lariat with a 4.6L and 3.55 gears. The best I can get is 17.5 mpg on the highway. Around town I get about 13.5. These figures are after K&N air filter and Bosch+4 mods.

 

The truck was getting 21+ mpg stock. City it drops to around 16-19 mpg. On the interstate it hits 21+ each time. I haven't tested the 23.5 yet. That was my first trip with the superchip.

[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 10-23-2000).]

 

2000F150fun,

Are you comparing the Jardin AND headers to just the Gibson, or to the Gibson with headers also?

 

roger lariat,
Adding some weight in the back of a truck improves traction, therfore improves the gas mileage and handling/braking characteristics.
(This could be cargo,toolboxes,rocks,sand or anything.)
------------------
1999 F250LD Lariat s/c
Deep Wedgewood/Harvest Gold
Class III Tow pkg.
255/70/16 tires
5.4 v8
3.73LS rearend
Auto trans.
17,500 mi.
VORTEX Single-in/out Muffler
K&N Filter



[This message has been edited by MJVAUGHAN (edited 10-20-2000).]

 

Well many of the f-150's odometers are wrong so when people calculate the mpg, its not correct. My odometer is 20 percent under what it says...i know other people that have had odometer that read over what is actually driven...so it kinda makes me question high mpg. I get 18.5 on freeway and 14.5 in city...thats with a flowmaster, k&n, and superchip.

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Things to come: coil spacers, 4.10 gears, Grill
ilmagill@aol.com For Pictures :
www.geocities.com/ilmagill

 

No. I am comparing the Jarding Catbacks to Gibson Catbacks and Jardine (Doug Thorley) headers to Gibson headers. Jardine has higher torque gains for both their catbacks and for their headers. Some of the oldtimers here at F150online will most likely agree.

 

I used 89 or 92 octane.
You can see a lot of posts on milage with the superchip in the computer chip section.

[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 10-23-2000).]