Auto Racing: Performance Parts, sean hyland motorsports shm, dynomax mufflers

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I own a 2000 F-150 with a 4.6L engine.  I want to add to the performance a bit.  I'm not sure where to start there seem to be so many things to consider.  I was thinking of buying headers and a Dual high flow cat exhaust system.  Adding a K&N air filter system and chip it as well.  But I'm not sure in what order.  Or if there is anything I have to adjust as I go.  I hope you can help me out or point me in the right direction.
Answer -
John-

  Exhaust stuff will certainly help.  For trucks, I'd recommend Borla (if you've got the money...the mufflers are a bit pricey), Gibson, or Dynomax mufflers.  High flow cats will also help and headers are a great addition.  A K&N kit will help boost power a bit, but I would steer clear of a chip.  Unless they're custom burned on a dyno, off-the-shelf stuff doesn't help much for the price.  If you've got an automatic transmission, I'd also highly recommend a different torque converter.  It won't actually add power, but you'll feel a huge difference in the seat of your pants.  I'd go with something in the 2400-2600rpm stall range.  As for companies, I like Precision Industries and Performance Automatic. If you'd like more info on torque converters, what they are, and how they work (most people aren't familiar with them), check out the article on www.howstuffworks.com.  Hope this helps.

Steve

I was hoping to use Ford Racing Parts but there don't seem to be a lot for my engine.  I wonder if you know of a good web site, book or magazine to help me with my project.  Something like adding horsepower for dummies.  It seems like any bolt on adds require you to adjust something else.  I don't know how to do that.  Recomendations?

Answer
John-

  Yeah...it's kind of sad how slow Ford has been to crank out performance parts for modular motors (overhead cam motors like the 4.6L and 5.4L).  Some excellent sources for part are Steeda and especially Sean Hyland Motorsports.  SHM is what I would consider to be the definitive aftermarket company for modular motors.  They even do some performance R&D for Ford when Ford wants to hop up a motor.  As for books...they're few and far between.  Most of the books on basic horsepower building are pretty old school.  I don't know that I'd even use them to build a modern pushrod motor like a 5.0L let alone a modular 4.6L motor (which has very different characteristics than a pushrod 5.0L).  I'd give a shout out to the guys at Sean Hyland Motorsports or Livernois Engines (another company doing R&D for Ford and building some good motors).  Hope this helps.

Steve