I recently got my F150, its a 99 XLT 4x2 with the 4.6l engine, flare sides 139" wheel base. The problem I have is that by reading here it seems like most people with the 4.6 can burn rubber or at least squeel the tires from a stop, I can't. I do have the sport package with the 17" tires. When I step on it from a start the truck accelerates good, but I can't get any of the ego boosting noise from the back wheels. Any ideas on why I can't, or what I can do for a reasonable amount of money? *set dreaming on* paxton *set dreaming off*

cd

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Silver 99 F150 XLT Sport with Flare Sides...
Mods: K&N Air Filter, Tinted Side Windows, Reese Class 3, Pioneer Deck, Zapco Amp, JL Audio ('nuff said.)
Coming soon: Herculiner Bed Liner, Solid Tonneau Cover

 

I have the 5.4L and I have the oppisite problem.
I can't get the power on the ground.
Wheels spin too much.

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99 XLT 5.4L reg cab
4x2 120" Wheelbase
4 wheel disc brakes/ABS
5 star larait style wheels
Toreador Red/Silver
3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL
Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)
Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp for components.
Jensen 50x2 RMS for subs.
2 6.5" Bazooka tubes
Lowering shackles?
54regcab@duesouth.net in Columbia SC

 

Corey,

Congrats on your new truck. Three things you can do to wake up that 4.6, the slumbering giant. First, buy a Superchip. Secondly, modify the airbox or purchase an Airaid or K&N Filter Injection Performance Kit (FIPK). Thirdly, but certainly not lastly, swap out the stock exhaust with a cat-back system from Gibson, Flowmaster, or the like, or if you're kind of strapped for funds, do a muffler swap with a hi-flow like a Flowmaster (any series, depends on your loudness preference 40=loud, 70=mellow).

Others here will tell you, and I'll back them up, that the Superchip gives the best performance increase bang for the buck. The other two can be done before or after a Superchip. I did them before, but once that Superchip went on my 4.6....WOW!
I've heard it said you can gain about 50 horses doing all three mods, all for under 900 dollars (roughly 300 per mod, +/-). That may be so, but I don't have access to a dyno to verify that. But my seat-of-the-pants dyno says there's quite a bit more hp and torque under the accelerator now than when stock.

You can go on from here and add a hotter ignition, power pulleys, etc. but it depends on what you're after. If you just want a little more "punch", a Superchip will give it, and most likely that tire spin you're after. My stock 4.6 would spin one tire with an open rear end, the Superchip spins both.

Good luck, and have fun!

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Cam

'98 F-150 SC XLT, 4.6L, Bright Red, Red Spray-in Liner, Extang Soft Tonneau, Ford Bug Deflector, Airaid FIPK, Vortex "Cherry Bomb" Muffler, Chrome Exhaust Tip, Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks (and they *do* perform) Superchipped at last! (and WOW!)

Future Mods:
a)Limited slip
b)Running Boards




[This message has been edited by Crazy C (edited 09-22-1999).]

 

Check your axle ratio, too tall a gear can suck up some torque on take off, too low a gear can leave you spinning too much.
At any rate, generally it is better not to spin if you are interested in getting a good launch off the line.
I doubt it is an issue of power, but more an issue of where in the rpm's most of the torque is available.
Try a power brake sometime and watch your tach for when your tires break loose.This is just a rough idea of where the torque curve comes on real strong.
You could always try a different gear for the axle. It is a little expensive though.

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1995 F150 4x2 4.9L 5spd Twin I-Beam Front Suspension Gabriel Sport Ride 3 stage Nitrogen Shocks 3.08 rear axle, Autolite Platinum Plugs, Exact Wires. Goodyear Workhorse Extragrip Tires,

 

54regcab,
I don't spin the tires unless I go WOT on take off (or the pavement is wet or sandy, then I spin like crazy). I am glad I ordred the limited slip.
To get the 4.6 to spin will require A few performance mods or a cheep set of hard tires 8).

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99 F150 Lariat SC, 5.4, 3.55 LS, Superchipped, K&N filter, Full Window tint, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Gold, Itialian Burl Dash Kit, Factory Steps/Towing Package, Rear Slider, Hard Tonneau by The Edge

 

I'm going to pull the silencer from the airbox, and I have a K&N air filter already. The only thing about the superchip that worries me is that I drive roughly 50 miles each way to work and I fill my tank from empty at least every 3rd day, having to put premium fuel in the truck is going to up my gas bill from about $500 a month to most likely $650-700 a month. I plan on getting a catback very soon, most likely flowmaster 40 series & hopefully 3" pipes...

cd

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Silver 99 F150 XLT Sport with Flare Sides...
Mods: K&N Air Filter, Tinted Side Windows, Reese Class 3, Pioneer Deck, Zapco Amp, JL Audio ('nuff said.)
Coming soon: Herculiner Bed Liner, Solid Tonneau Cover

 

You drive 100 miles each day and your gas bill is $500/month??? You should be getting at LEAST 15MPG with a 4.6. If you drove 100 miles EVERY DAY of the month, that's 3000 miles per month, or 200 gallons. How much is gas where you live? Would need to be $2.50/gal to equal $500!!!

Don't mean to sound critical, but your math sounds like it's WAY OFF.

Btw, I have 5.4L on 2WD and cannot screech my tires.

 

You probably have the limited slip diffrential and that will limit tire spin. I have the standard diffrential and a 3.08 and mine will sping very bad from zero. You really have an ideal set up. You could kill them bracket racing at the track.

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97 4.6 F150, 1/4 = 17.48 @ 82.2 mph, 88 5.0 Mustang 1/8 = 7.409 @ 93.72 mph

 

my launches are the same no spin unless its wet or sandy, i did the airbox mods and takeoff is great

 

my launches are the same no spin unless its wet or sandy, i did the airbox mods and takeoff is great

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97 f150 XL, white, with plain jane look, (going for the street sleeper look)
full airbox mods, K&N
sway bar and 2/4 drop next

 

corey..........You must be young or rich. Why would you spend that much money on such a nice truck an be worried about burning rubber? You may have a LS axel and good tires or your truck is a little "tight" be cause it still new. I tried once to light 'em up and was suprised to get about three feet of marks. My truck runs great. I could care less about laying rubber

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97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, trailer tow pkg, ABM with K&N, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill, mlaugh-Meridian, Idaho.

 

I don't even know if I have the LS diff. I bought the truck off the lot because it satisfied my needs with the v8, flaresides and color.

mlaugh, I'm 23 and I wouldn't call myself rich. I have a good paying job and I'm single. My expenses are rent, phone, truck, ins & gas for the most part...

I live in the country for the most part and trucks are pretty popular out where I live and I just want to be able to show off a little when we go out for cruises.

FordLover, I fill the tank for $50 every 3 days. I live in Canada so yes, the price of gas is expensive. With quick math I figure about $1.60us per gallon is what I pay for fuel. I've put 4100km on the truck since Sept. 1.

Corey

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Silver 99 F150 XLT Sport with Flare Sides...
Mods: K&N Air Filter, Tinted Side Windows, Reese Class 3, Pioneer Deck, Zapco Amp, JL Audio ('nuff said.)
Coming soon: Herculiner Bed Liner, Solid Tonneau Cover

 

Corey: Go check your axle code and post it back here, we'll tell you what you have. Look inside the door. I've got the LS 3.55 (code H9) My truck wont spin unless the road has sand on it or it's just rained, then watch out!! Also, is your truck a reg cab or super cab???

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

corey I think that if you re-do the math, you will see that ~64 cents a litre x ~ 4 litres a gallon costs about 2.50!!

 

I am getting ready to order a 2000 XLT 4x2 SC w/3.55 LS. Trying to decide between the 4.6L and the 5.4L V8. I have not had a chance
to test drive yet. Those of you with the 4.6L are you satisfied with the power at
take off and passing at freeway speeds? I
will not be towing anything in the near future. Thanks for any input.