decisions decisions

[nvycrmn]

i cannot find an application for my truck, and i am getting pissed off! whipple has said no f150 and no expedition. so now i asked them about the lightning and how it would differ from my application. i have no friggin idea. at the rate i am going, i am probably just going to have to do the damn engine swap. for you boys who have already done it, you wanna PM me with a rough idea of what i am goin to be spending on this little venture of mine!

 

[nvycrmn]

after doing some more reading, there are some guys out there that used the Allen (eaton m-90) kit that makes the engine bay look almost completely stock...cannot see the blower! problem is, only 75hp for almost $4500, with no other engine mods (bigger injectors, headers, etc). not sure i am ready to spend that kind of cash on less than 100rwhp gains. thoughts?

 

[tallsville]

75hp definately not worth 4500

 

[walnuts4x4]

nope 75 does not = 4500.... there has to be other options

 

[Thermo]

nvycrmn, I have to admit that the Lightning motor is a different beast than the 5.4L in your truck. But that is mainly due to different internal components (forged crank, different intake, lower compression pistons, all found in the lightning motor). But, the block itself is the same. So, if you can find a wrecked lightning, you should be able to pull the entire blower system off of that truck and it will bolt directly on to your truck. Since some of the Lightnings used a whipple supercharger, I find it rather interesting that Whipple says that they don't make one for the Fords (unless it is a contract thing since Ford used their blowers and Ford wants you to buy the Lightning).

I say do some more looking.

 

[nvycrmn]

well the only thing that i can seem to dig up for roots style is the allen system that uses an eaton sc. i got my email back from whipple and they said that they are just an upgrade to the lightning motor. i am beginning to think that guy is an idiot. if it bolts to the lightning, then it should bolt to my engine. let me worry about the internals! i am still looking around. found a guy on another forum that had the allen on his 01 expy but he is selling it now cuz he is building the entire motor. only had it 50k miles. could probably pick up relatively cheap. i have no friggin idea. starting to get irritated! haha

 

[99exbyut]

i know im kinda in late but what about doing a 7.3 powerstroke swap. i know its a big motor but if you could make it fit. and if you do a SAS swap you could track down some 1-Ton ford axles.

 

[nvycrmn]

i would LOVE to do a diesel swap but that would take a whole lot of time, money, and fabrication. that may be a project later down the road. if i cannot find a bolt-on application for my rig, i will probably buy something else as my DD and just start tearing into this thing and "build the beast".

 

[kentv6]

Start with lightining swap ford racing performance parts has a whipple supercharger that bolts on the lightining intake. It will cost you around 2 or 3k
for just the lightning supercharger swap with no engine work. I would also build the engine and trans.

 

[99 Expy]

Good luck with your decision nvy. I am getting closer to being able to unleash on my expy.... motor, tranny, and when they go, the axles...

 

[toms89]

Your best bet is if you can locate a used lightning drivetrain and swap it into your expy. The lightning motor is very docile and drivable if you are light on the throttle yet if you put your foot into it, it will make its presence known. There are a few making over 500 rwhp with the eaton blower that comes on the lightning. The eaton blowers are known for making monster torque numbers as well and this will be great for pulling and breaking parts.lol. If you swap to one of the many aftermarket blowers the sky is the limit. There are many routes you can take once you have a built lightning motor. Check out http://www.lightningrodder.com/ if you are considering a lightning swap.

 

[toms89]

i cannot find an application for my truck, and i am getting pissed off! whipple has said no f150 and no expedition. so now i asked them about the lightning and how it would differ from my application. i have no friggin idea. at the rate i am going, i am probably just going to have to do the damn engine swap. for you boys who have already done it, you wanna PM me with a rough idea of what i am goin to be spending on this little venture of mine!

The lightning has different intake, injectors, fuel pump(s), intercooler/ heat exchanger, pulley bridge, crank pulley and etc. It would be much more difficult to make a "bolt on" positive displacement blower for a stock non lightning 5.4. I believe they did make centrifugal blower kits at one time for the 5.4 but they have since discontinued them.

 

[99exbyut]

yeah the powerstroke would be expensive but the end result would be very sweet. i know i have thought of it if my 5.4 ever went out. take alot of time and fab but if you did it right it could look like it came with it.

 

[99 Expy]

yeah the powerstroke would be expensive but the end result would be very sweet. i know i have thought of it if my 5.4 ever went out. take alot of time and fab but if you did it right it could look like it came with it.

The powerstroke would be kickass, but from what I have seen from other threads, the wiring in them is so difficult to get to work, most say to take whatever you are working on, and put the body on the frame the motor is in, but anything is definitely possible with lots of time and money I am just going to wait till I can afford my powerstroke and have two seperate vehicles to mod...

 

[nvycrmn]

yeah, it is startin to look like its gonna be a lightning swap....we will wait and see what spring brings. not gonna start the build till i get out of the navy...

 

[Expeditionary]

here's my opinion, 350 Chevy small block (built ford tough with chevy stuff) or if you wanna stay ford a 351 out of a bronco. thats if you want to go little, if you wanted to go bigger 383 stroker, 408 stroker, 427 stroker. Anything big like that, that you can get out of a donor vehicle I.E. bronco, and drop the C6 or whatever tranny it has bolted to it in there. keep it naturally aspirated, while its out of the truck do new pistons, forged crank, heads, exhaust manifolds, injection system, or holley 4 barrel if its carbed.
Really if you looking to make it into a sled puller your going to be up there with built twin turboed D-Maxes pushing near 1000hp and 1700+ LB-FT
Sooo my opinion is to go with the old saying "there's no replacement for displacement"
Also do you have a 4.6??? because you talked about doing a 54 swap, anyway those arent too bad I dont think my buddy did one (had one done) on his 97 Expy after he ran the 4.6 a lil too hot... or out of oil and it threw a rod right out the side of the block
Cost him about 4K to do it, and im pretty sure he used a crate engine 5.4 but I could be wrong
Good LUCK!
Either way its going to be a bad B*tch no matter what you do with it!