I have just purchased a 98 F-150 Lariat 4X4 OFF-ROAD. The truck has 73,000 miles. I did some investigating before buying and found it was a program truck very clean and had never been off-road or used to pull anything. Got the truck for $18,000 which, from what I've read, seems to be a favorable price especially since the dealer threw in a $1000 extended warranty 2/24. Anyway, the truck has the 4.6L and is completely stock. My brother-in-law has a 97 just like it and says that I should have opted for the 5.4L because the 4.6L is sluggish. My truck seems to have good power passing it just seems sluggish out of the hole. The overdrive also seems to make the truck feel less powerful...is this normal? The shifts are as smooth as a Cadilac but it just seems sluggish...for lack of a better word.
QUESTION: without spending an arm and a leg or voiding warranty, what can I do to increase performance, esp. low end?
Also, what kind of tires should I opt. for, smooth ride and low noise...currently has Goodyear Wranglers RT/S P265/70/17...I do a lot of highway driving, but occasionly venture off-road so I need an all-terrain.

Thanks for any help.

 

Hi Jeff

You should get some good feed back on your question.

Although my 99SC 4.6 4X4 is probably alittle heavier than yours, went thru what your describing.

With out getting into i shudda done this or that.....what i did do to make more power/better AT shifting etc....best three bangs for the buck as you may or maynot know??

Cat. back exhaust
Computer chip
Air filter mod.

Research those mods. here on this site.....Im still running the factory Wranglers 16". Ok for me, dont do serious off roading.

Good luck. OT

 

Yep, the big three. Exhaust, Superchip, and an intake. They work very well together. As for tires, there are probably an endless number of good ones.
My personal favorite is the Michelin LTX/MS. I have had them on several vehicles. Very good handling, quiet, and great traction in rain and snow.
Just don't go overboard on pipe size for your exhaust, and you'll be fine. On mine , I had it dualed from the cats back with 2 1/4" pipe and glasspacks.,,,,98

 

my 97 has the 4.6...it's a 2wd reg. cab short bed. it's very sluggish to say the least in o.d. i have 3.55 gears....it's just going to be that way in o.d.........i turn mine off and it's very strong....i have the superchip, gibson super truck exhaust, and a k&n drop in filter...these do help and aren't extremely expensive.....good luck, sounds like a nice truck

 

I would not worry about the chip unless you run premium all the time. Get a shift kit with the auto there, remove the intake silencers and open up the exhaust.

The 5.4 is nothing to brag home about either in the power department.

 

check the k&n conversion on the technical articles. its super easy to do and it adds pretty good throttle response. plus you'll save a few hundred bucks. good luck