Another blown expy coming soon!

[toms89]

I have had a lightning upper supercharger assembly since 2005?? I believe. I have put off installing it as I have been busy with my own electrical contracting business I started back around the same time and most of my spare time was spent playing with my mustang.

Recently business was slow so I decided to start playing with the expy. I then joined this forum and of course this inspired me to do even more. Then reading Blown Expys and kentv6 's post gave me the motivation I needed to go thru with my supercharger install. I would have bolted it on sooner.... but I was determined to rebuild the block to handle the power reliably as I tow with it and take it on family vacations to the outer banks... about 8 hours from MD.

So I can blame everyone here for my temporary loss of sanity... and the following is the "list" of items I have already purchased.... just waiting for delivery.

Complete new "take off" lightning upper supercharger assembly with 10 pound crank pulley. (+2#) All the additional supporting hardware necessary for install.

Built long block with manley rods and low compression forged pistons, forged crank, TFS heads with comp cams stage 1 cam, internally balanced and rated to handle 900+ hp.

Fluidyne heat exchanger.
BBK 1 5/8" ceramic coated shorty headers.
SCT flash programmer.
Killer Chiller system

Hopefully with all the above hardware it should make a conservative 450hp reliably. Things not purchased yet but considered necessary is a torque converter and having the tranny built. The tranny is a 4R100 so it is pretty beefy but the torque of the blower motor will be testing its limits. Very concerned about this and the torque converter is an unknown as far as power capacity. The tranny may wait as I can always do this later. Oh and as funds allow would like to have custom exhaust built.

When and if I recover from all that.... I would like to install a Whipple and see how quick an expy can go. Next years project maybe...

 

[sgtowing]

good luck. i wish i could that to mine.

 

[kentv6]

It's fun I hope to Dyno mine soon just breaking in engine for now. If you need idea's let me know. I'am also running 3 electric fans.

 

[toms89]

It's fun I hope to Dyno mine soon just breaking in engine for now. If you need idea's let me know. I'am also running 3 electric fans.

@kentv6

I welcome any ideas or suggestions! Can't have too much info.

Questions:

Were you able to drop the complete longblock assembly through the hood? Looks like a tight fit and half the motor sits under the cowl. I assume if I remove the radiator and all the front accessories it will then will have to move it back after it is lowered. Not even sure the engine lift can lift it high enough to clear the expy.

I plan to keep my mechanical fan.... it can move a lot of air plus no additional draw on the alt. Heat soak was an issue with my mustang when in heavy traffic and it has a much more efficient blower. I am hoping the killer chiller will help with this during the summer months sitting in traffic with the expy.

Good luck with your dyno tune! Any idea of how much boost yet?

 

[kentv6]

Leave intake off and the lighning pulley and bracket it will fit r/r rad. I installed with shorty headers on you will have to tilt engine under steering shaft.

 

[kentv6]

My boost should be alround 14 to 16psi. I also have a boosted mustang MPX m90 blower 19psi on street.

 

[walnuts4x4]

i want a lightning setup.... I am jealous

 

[99 Expy]

Sweet! Hopefully I will be able to join soon, I'm thinking of a rebuild next summer, and the FI would be nice going through the mountains

 

[panda24619]

lightning or v10? hmmm... both sound good.

 

[toms89]

I dont know how you could squeeze the V10 under the hood. Any V10's in the f150's or just the super dutys?

 

[99 Expy]

I dont know how you could squeeze the V10 under the hood. Any V10's in the f150's or just the super dutys?

Good thing you brought this up, I can't remember who originally had the link, but I haven't kept up on it. So here it is. . . but no videos yet

http://www.f150online.com/forums/v8-engines/443018-99-expedition-v10-swap.html

 

[ScottyDsntKnow]

Not sure why you would want to swap in a V10 when the 5.4 lightning setup is drop in. Keeping the 5.4 and building it up is a no brainer.

 

[toms89]

Spoke with the engine builder today and was told it should ship out next week. So hopefully I will have it the following week. Im getting kinda excited about the build. Meanwhile I have received my bbk 1 5/8" shortys and my killer chiller. The headers look really good and the ceramic coating came out nice. I did clean up some of the rough edges where they merged at the collector. Found a pinhole while I was cleaning em up......debating on trying to weld it shut or send them back.

Now I am just concerned that I have 2 large projects about to begin at work... and depending on the timing of them, It may delay my expy install.

 

[boiler71]

Glad to see you jump in and do the install! Congrats!!

I'll be anxiously awaiting updates.

Good luck!!

 

[walnuts4x4]

i'll say it again.... i am jealous...

 

[toms89]

.................................still waiting on my motor.................waiting.......

Should go out this week..... I will believe it when I get the shipping invoice..

Meanwhile I have gathered quite a collection of parts... maybe I will post some pictures..

While waiting I have been porting the blower, lower intake, and cleaned up the mid plate. Will do the upper intake/throttle body soon. Not sure where I will mount my Fluidyne heat exchanger...... lot bigger than I expected. Really could use the lightning front facia for the larger intake for the heat exchanger. But don't want to look like a lightning wanna be.

 

[toms89]

I have been also considering venting the engine compartment via the hood. Hopefully this would go a long way towards help eliminate heat soak. I have checked out louvered vents but the ones I have seen are fugly. Another option was a cowl induction hood with the rear vents. I want a sutle look but functional ventilation.

Any suggestions or recommendations??

 

[JDMitchell]

Make sure you take lots of pics.

I am jealous.

 

[SOLISIMO]

I have been also considering venting the engine compartment via the hood. Hopefully this would go a long way towards help eliminate heat soak. I have checked out louvered vents but the ones I have seen are fugly. Another option was a cowl induction hood with the rear vents. I want a sutle look but functional ventilation.

Any suggestions or recommendations??

Did you consider porting and polishing the eaton. I remember when I had my cobra this was good for 40+ HP

 

[toms89]

Did you consider porting and polishing the eaton. I remember when I had my cobra this was good for 40+ HP

Check my previous post above..... I have ported it. The blower was relatively easy... the lower intake is a pain in the a$$. Too many different angles to work with. Since I am going with tfs heads I wanted everything before it to flow as best as possible so the tfs would be more beneficial. Box stock tfs heads are supposed to flow better than fully ported PI heads!! But damn are they expensive. I only plan to port match the tfs heads to the intake. Untouched otherwise.

I am hoping all this improves not only power but efficiency when I can manage to keep my foot out of the throttle..

I had great success with my mustang home porting it. Heads, intake, plenum...etc.