Ford Lightning??
09-09-2015, 08:30 AM
#1
Ford Lightning?? Who on this forum owns one? Or has owned one,. I am going to sell my
35th LE SS and pick one up... I already own a stroked, Nitrous C5Z. Wanting to add an FI Vehicle and the Lightning seems to be a logical choice. I have done my homework on these and the consensus is stock bottom end can handle 450rwhp all day... Anything over that and you are playing with fire. The TQ though is what I like.... Trans, rearend are pretty much bullet proof, I can actually haul my Z06 to the track (1/2 mi, 1 mi racing). My long term plans would be to build a bottom end, perhaps a modest cam, a stall, and a KB 2.8 or similar Whipple.... Along with all bolt ons. They "seem" to be a very fun truck! I have been told the 01's were most desirable because of heads, but I have no knowledge of this as I have NEVER owned a Ford. All experience, comments appreciated.
35th LE SS and pick one up... I already own a stroked, Nitrous C5Z. Wanting to add an FI Vehicle and the Lightning seems to be a logical choice. I have done my homework on these and the consensus is stock bottom end can handle 450rwhp all day... Anything over that and you are playing with fire. The TQ though is what I like.... Trans, rearend are pretty much bullet proof, I can actually haul my Z06 to the track (1/2 mi, 1 mi racing). My long term plans would be to build a bottom end, perhaps a modest cam, a stall, and a KB 2.8 or similar Whipple.... Along with all bolt ons. They "seem" to be a very fun truck! I have been told the 01's were most desirable because of heads, but I have no knowledge of this as I have NEVER owned a Ford. All experience, comments appreciated.
09-09-2015, 09:20 AM
#2
Just like any manufacturing company Ford has it's goods and bads. The Ford mod motor will make good power with FI and is decently reliable. I have worked on many N/A Mod motors with 300k+ miles. The thing I hate about them is when they do brake, they are much more complicated and expensive. They have mile long timing chains and the motor is the size of a thousand cubic inch promod motor. I like most, would much rather have a turbo GM. It takes all kinds though. Good luck to you.
09-09-2015, 09:44 AM
#3
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I had a 2002 with a programmer, flowmaster, 3/4 drop and 22" billet wheels and it ran 13.35 @ 105 all day long. It would pull a trailer with no problem and was a very fun DD. It's one of those "I should have kept" vehicles.
I would have loved to whipple it with full exhaust and have gotten it in the deep 12's.
I would have loved to whipple it with full exhaust and have gotten it in the deep 12's.
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09-10-2015, 01:51 PM
#16
They are great trucks, several buddies had them when I had my 03 Cobra. I would probably avoid 99/00, they seemed to have the most in the way of trouble.
01-02 Got improved intercoolers, cosmetic changes, 20 HP bump to 380
03-04 Would be the best trucks to look for, improved cylinder head design, no need to worry about spitting plugs out of the head.
All years were pretty bullet proof if left stock, but what fun is that
There is a good chance 99/00 trucks would have the updated intercooler, believe Ford did an active recall on those. You may even run across some older Lightnings with updated cylinder heads as well.
01-02 Got improved intercoolers, cosmetic changes, 20 HP bump to 380
03-04 Would be the best trucks to look for, improved cylinder head design, no need to worry about spitting plugs out of the head.
All years were pretty bullet proof if left stock, but what fun is that
There is a good chance 99/00 trucks would have the updated intercooler, believe Ford did an active recall on those. You may even run across some older Lightnings with updated cylinder heads as well.
09-10-2015, 10:14 PM
#17
Great info... thank you for taking the time to give me some constructive feedback...
I found an 01.... Silver Little over 100K mi... < 10K per year... Adult owned, NEVER tracked or raced. Bone Stock other than Magnaflow cat back.
So, i'll do the upper/lower pulley, Headers, CAI, tune..... Future plans are a built bottom end and a KB or Whipple... Hoping to pick it up tomorrow, but definitely by Saturday.
Keep the comments coming....
Reformed FORD driver... lol... Guess i'll have the best of both worlds..
I found an 01.... Silver Little over 100K mi... < 10K per year... Adult owned, NEVER tracked or raced. Bone Stock other than Magnaflow cat back.
So, i'll do the upper/lower pulley, Headers, CAI, tune..... Future plans are a built bottom end and a KB or Whipple... Hoping to pick it up tomorrow, but definitely by Saturday.
Keep the comments coming....
Reformed FORD driver... lol... Guess i'll have the best of both worlds..
They are great trucks, several buddies had them when I had my 03 Cobra. I would probably avoid 99/00, they seemed to have the most in the way of trouble.
01-02 Got improved intercoolers, cosmetic changes, 20 HP bump to 380
03-04 Would be the best trucks to look for, improved cylinder head design, no need to worry about spitting plugs out of the head.
All years were pretty bullet proof if left stock, but what fun is that
There is a good chance 99/00 trucks would have the updated intercooler, believe Ford did an active recall on those. You may even run across some older Lightnings with updated cylinder heads as well.
01-02 Got improved intercoolers, cosmetic changes, 20 HP bump to 380
03-04 Would be the best trucks to look for, improved cylinder head design, no need to worry about spitting plugs out of the head.
All years were pretty bullet proof if left stock, but what fun is that
There is a good chance 99/00 trucks would have the updated intercooler, believe Ford did an active recall on those. You may even run across some older Lightnings with updated cylinder heads as well.
