My 97 F150 page

[shane96ranger]

I don't know if it is at the rear wheels of flywheel... but that is alot IMO for a fairly simiple engine that was originally rated somewhere just north of 200hp.

A CAI and a custom tune is good for 50hp at the rear wheels on a new 5.0 Mustang, and they have variable cam timing.

Is there any way to tell if it has a tune? The next day I did it again and got a 268hp reading. I did it on my Escape and it said somewhere in the 120hp range, which seems about right to me.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Is there any way to tell if it has a tune? The next day I did it again and got a 268hp reading. I did it on my Escape and it said somewhere in the 120hp range, which seems about right to me.

Have the dealer update the program in the PCM and if there is a noticable decrease in power you HAD a tune.

Otherwise I don't know how without getting rid of it.

 

[shane96ranger]

Ehhhh.... I'll pass. Lol.

If I actually pay for a dyno session, I can guarantee you it won't be my F150 sitting on the dyno.



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[shane96ranger]

I am getting her ready for winter now. I changed the oil in both the F150 and the Escape today. I used my favorite oil and filters. Also probably doing the radiator and hoses (and antifreeze change) on Saturday.

The goods:

 

[shane96ranger]

I replaced my terminals this morning and it's starting to get chilly here. I had a runny nose from the cool weather. Tomorrow the plan is to put the radiator and new hoses in Hoss. I was reading up to see if there are any tricks, etc. to doing the job. Apparently the lower trans fluid line is a PITA. Tomorrow has a high of 60 degrees in the forecast, so it will be a tit nippley. Wish me luck....

 

[shane96ranger]

Got the radiator in today. The how-to I read was very misleading. The guy was taking the main fitting out of his radiator.... not necessary.

Here is why I replaced it. It's leaking from the crimped seal.

The replacement parts are a Ready-Rad radiator and Good Year hoses. I also used the Valvoline Max Life antifreeze.

This is how you take it apart. Not the way I had read yesterday - this took about 5 minutes. One guy also said he removed his inner fender to get it off. Maybe the oil cooler (which I don't have) makes it harder? But I did it from up top, as most of the job was done from up top. I only had to get on the ground to drain the old radiator, and then I positioned my lower hose clamp to get at it from the drivers fender well.

This is how they install. The radiator came with fittings and new o-rings. The plan is to someday add an additional trans cooler (has an external factory unit already) and delete the radiator cooler.

This damn thing took 3 gallons of coolant to fill. I wish the radiator on the Stang was this big.

I busted my trans fitting wrench trying to do what the how-to told me. Autozone warrantied it for me.

EDIT: Here's the picture I was looking at in a how-to. Not sure why the hell they did it the stupid way.

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[shane96ranger]

I would like to put a plug in here for Ford. What an unbelievably awesome cooling system this truck has. This is the first cooling system I've worked on that didn't take a day or two of "burping" the system before it was right. I filled this up once, and that was it. With my Mustang or my 4.0 RBV's it has always been a process getting all of the air out of the system.

I'm guessing it has something to do with how the overflow and radiator cap are an all in one. The fill hose also comes out of the overflow and goes down to the lower hose (it's a 3 legged hose). I'm sure that allows it to burp itself as air comes out if the lower hose. I also dig that the water pump has no hose connections like some of the old Chryslers (big block IIRC).

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[shane96ranger]

I sure love Hoss. Awesome truck!

This one was taken today.... just a minute ago

This is back in June

 

[shane96ranger]

I decided to check my odometer with the mile markers on the freeway on my way home tonight. It appears to be just over 1/10th off when my speedometer says 57 mph. That is usually where I cruise at on the freeway because its about optimum vacuum.

So this just might be why my truck always seems to underachieve in fuel mileage. Does anyone know how big of a deal it would be to correct this?

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[85_Ranger4x4]

'97's still drive the speedo with a gear, so you have to go through the motions and figure up what you need for a gear.

It looks like you probably have 265/70-16 tires which was OEM on the Off-Roads and Lariets, a dealer could probably look it up for you.

 

[shane96ranger]

'97's still drive the speedo with a gear, so you have to go through the motions and figure up what you need for a gear.

It looks like you probably have 265/70-16 tires which was OEM on the Off-Roads and Lariets, a dealer could probably look it up for you.

I will look at those rims/tires tomorrow. For some reason I was thinking they were 17's. Could very well be wrong though. I wonder how similar the setup is to my Mustang? One bolt holds the speed sensor in the trans.

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[85_Ranger4x4]

I will look at those rims/tires tomorrow. For some reason I was thinking they were 17's. Could very well be wrong though. I wonder how similar the setup is to my Mustang? One bolt holds the speed sensor in the trans.

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I fat fingered it, they are 17's. I have the same rims on my truck.

Now that I think about it, you probably need to see a dealer after you change the gear. The ABS got confused with my brother's '97 when he regeared it because the rear axle and t-case were not running the same speed so almost every time he touched the brakes it came on.

 

[shane96ranger]

I fat fingered it, they are 17's. I have the same rims on my truck.

Now that I think about it, you probably need to see a dealer after you change the gear. The ABS got confused with my brother's '97 when he regeared it because the rear axle and t-case were not running the same speed so almost every time he touched the brakes it came on.

I am fortunate (maybe?) enough to have a non-ABS truck. Do you know if it uses the differential for a VSS for cruise control?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am fortunate (maybe?) enough to have a non-ABS truck. Do you know if it uses the differential for a VSS for cruise control?

That I don't know, do you have a sensor in the rear diff? If your truck doesn't have ABS it wouldn't have any other purpose I can think of other than the cruise.

I am kind of suprised it wasn't standard by then.

 

[shane96ranger]

That I don't know, do you have a sensor in the rear diff? If your truck doesn't have ABS it wouldn't have any other purpose I can think of other than the cruise.

I am kind of suprised it wasn't standard by then.

Well, I looked it up on Rock Auto and it gave me this. So, it looks like it goes in the trans.

Damn it. Forgot the pic. I'll put it on later.