I just can't bear to part with my 2000 Expy 4wd 5.4l. 265/75r16 LRC Michelin's.115,000 mi. I love this truck and it fits my families needs to a tee. Only one shortcoming POWER.

I have a magnaflow catback. I tried a K&N FIPK2 & superchips 1715 but they never really helped much.

I drove my friends 04 supercrew, Magnaflow, Edge, proflow intake and was astonished by the power. Significantly more. That was turning 35" tires as well.

We tow a Cargo Mate 8.5x16 deck over cargo front trailer. Because of the deck over it sits quite high and I suspect creates significant wind resistance. The deck over required extra cross members so I am guessing 3000# empty curb weight. Add another 2500# for ATVs and gear. 4 people in the cabin 800#. The trailer towed beautifully, handled well. No load leveling bars or airbags. Very happy.

I still felt wind resistance was a major factor. We wanted a larger trailer anyway. We recently sold the trailer and are planning to go to a V-nose or wedge nose 8.5x20 standard configuration. Specs state 2900# empty curb weight.

I guess the real question is. Am I asking too much of the truck? Acceleration is a problem, merging with traffic. Steep hills also an issue. Often gearing down to 2nd and pulling them at 40mph.

All the while my super crew buddy with a 7x18 cargo front enclosed (standard height) loaded to the hilt goes zooming by me at 50-60mph.

Thoughts?

 

Get a gear change. If I remember most of the Expy's have 3.08 gears? Switch to 4.10's or higher.. You won't get more power per say, but it will pull much better. You also might try getting a custom tow tune. And if you really really want more power, supercharge it.

I'd say the lower gears would probably help more than anything IMO.

 

It has 3.55 gears. I was thinking Paxton supercharger. I have a buddy who has a new one in a box who wants to get rid of it cheap.

At 115,000 on the clock though I didn't know if the motor could handle forced induction.

We thought about going with a newer supercrew with the 3v 5.4l. The Expedition was paid for long ago and we really like it. Not as much room in the back seat of the Supercrew either.

 

Get a compression test done on the engine, it will help tell what kind of shape it's in. If everything is still tight, I'd say go for the foced induction. Probably going to net you the most noticeable difference of anything you could do.

 

Good idea on the compression test. Blackstone labs oil analysis has been coming back good showing less wear than their baseline engine. At the 90k service the computer said all cylinders were balanced in the work they were doing but I guess the computer does not tell you the compression #s.

I bought the truck with 50k on it. Probably 7k is towing. The rest of the 115k is a 21mi one way country back road commute to work with very few stop signs. So, pretty easy miles. Except when towing I keep my foot out of it too so I drive it pretty easy.

Heavy duty tranny rebuild at 75k, HD alternator & water pump. Otherwise very reliable just replacing normal wear items.