I am looking to spend about $500 to $700 on performance parts for my 1996 f150 with a 5.8l and would just like some suggestions. what i'm looking for is h.p and torque gains, but a little more torque than h.p.. I am probably gonna buy summit racing shorty headers, over sized camshaft (I want it to lope), and get the heads port and polished. i just want the best bang for my buck and i don't know anything about mods for these trucks.

 

Don't waste your money on headers unless you wanna go longtube.

 

If you want more torque go with long tubes on the headers , a lopey cam will give you more HP and TQ but it will be at a higher rpm....

 

ok, so any other recommendations? i should have a little money left over

 

Gears before anything. Not technically more power or torque, but more seat of the pants power and torque. Oh and plan on $3-400/ differential (depending on 2 or 4wd)

 

Adding 1.7 roller rockers and longtube headers will produce solid TQ gains on the cheap, if you do opt for a cam consider something like the comp 35-320-8 or Crane 444211 but be aware these cams may require upgraded valve springs as well because the stock springs can only handle a little over 0.500" lift. Head porting is wasted dollars IMO, unless you are doing it all yourself it will cost $500-$1000 to get something worthwhile and for that money you can have brand new heads that are far better. Instead look for a pair if GT40s from a '96-97.5 Explorer/Mountaineer, thay have larger valves and flow about 20% better than the stock E7s.

 

alright thanks guys. i was looking at gearing, thinking about 4.10:1 cause that is what the lightnings have. Good idea? And what are some cheap differential options? I have been looking for some gt40 heads, but i only thought they were on the lightnings, so that should help alot with finding some. I'm thinking right now gt40 heads, long tube headers, and a cam. Plus maybe an intake manifold if i can find something cheap enough but worth putting on.

 

I may be wrong, but I think your '96 should have a roller cam (?). The factory cam is not that terrible, and roller cams can be fairly pricey vs. the old flat tappet. I would start with a complete & quality tune-up w/ignition bump, a drop-in K&N filter, long tubes, a good dual exhaust and 1.7 rockers (if you have the money left over). 3.73 or 4.10 gears would also be a great "bang for the buck" upgrade. You can buy a set of FRPP gears for around $150 and plan on around another $200-$300 for install (unless you can set gears yourself). If the truck has some miles on it, I would also invest in new bearings. May be cheaper to find a complete used 3.73 rearend out of a salvage yard.

 

msd igniton box and increased plug gap, bump your timing, you can get a 6a box used for less then $100. the power gain is not substantial but you notice it doesnt have to try nearly as hard pulling weight or going up a hill

 

also you can look in to the ecm from a lightning i believe if you can match your tranny to what they had in the lightning then the lightning ecu has a more aggressive timing curve mustang ecu's may be the same if someone could confirm

 

any cheap air intake options? the k&n cold air intake is like $300 lol.

 

anyone here will tell you to leave the factory air box alone, the only better mod would be to get a snorkel from a junk yard from an i6 or 460 equipt truck that draws the air directly from behind the grill, a drop in k&n replacement filter that fits directly to your stock box is best

 

Don't waste you $$ on those mislabeled cold air kits, the stock intake really isn't that bad with an (oilless)aftermarket drop-in filter and an intake snorkle from an I6 or 460 truck.