Lightning motor
- Thread starter TheGuyWho
- Start date
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nvycrmn
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it will hold up, for a little while. you are going to have to replace it eventually. i planned on doing the swap as well but i think it is very expensive. might have to get some numbers from Tom and Kent. BowDown i believe did the swap in a Gen2. The motor is pretty much a drop in so it makes it relatively easy, at least in comparison to doing other engine swaps.
It is expensive... unless you know the right people. Im having a motor built for my Lightning, so the current lightning motor will just be pulled and dropped in my Expedition. Shouldn't be too many major hang-ups I would imagine.
tallsville
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nice. its always good to know people
tonydiv
technical advisor
What do you do about electronics? You can't use the stock ecu (can you ?)
nvycrmn
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i dont believe so. i think he will have to swap it out with a lightning ECU, but i might be able to put him in touch with someone that might be able to get one at a reasonable price! i did not know you already had a lightning. regardless of how you look at it, it is expensive, but you have already spent the money so it doesnt seem so bad (having the motor built for the lightning is probably not cheap, especially since it is an entire motor)
Yes you can. You just get her reprogramed or re-tuned. The motors are identical, so the only thing youre doing really is adding some fuel, timing, boost, and done! You got yourself a screamin Expedition!
The plan is to drop the motor in, and then go straight to the tuner's shop!
Actually, you'd be surprised… Typically engines cost lots of money. But like I said, it depends who you know. This guy is getting hot reviews on all the SVT websites right now:
http://www.mhpengines.com/
People charge so much money for engines its absolutely ridiculous, and the only reason they do is because nobody knows how to build one themselves. Hahaha, sorta like air condition systems. Do it yourself its $100 or less. Take it to a shop and its $600+. Its nice to see someone starting their own business and making great engines at awesome prices!
nvycrmn
Full Access Members
wow, that place is AMAZING! if i only knew enough about engines to begin the build myself, i would def buy from them. that is why i have been looking for a bolt-on SC for my expy. i found a used eaton from a guy with an 01 expy that i might pick up from him. he said it comes with everything for the install including intercooler. he sells lightning stuff for a dealer. he had a problem with the tune so he took the allen kit off and had the ecu re-flashed to correct the problem. now he is dropping a built motor in so he is selling his old SC kit. had 50k on it. or i can get a used lightning SC with 60k on it...
I almost think its easier to find a complete Lightning motor to drop in. And they do pop up from time to time.
Whats going to cost me a lot of money is buying all the "upgrade" parts for my L: Intercooler, heat exchanger, New supercharger, pulleys, etc…
tallsville
Full Access Members
now i know where to go when my engine dies. site bookmarked.
panda24619
Full Access Members
agreed. looks like i dont have to travel far to the lightning swap after all.
I purchased my long block from Manny of MHP. I tried to price out the individual components myself plus machine work and it would be difficult to beat his prices. I purchased a stage 2 longblock with trick flow heads and plan on adding some serious boost to it eventually.
ExpeditionDrew
Full Access Members
[/QUOTE]
http://www.mhpengines.com/
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if i still have my expy come Feb then this is definitively the place my tax return is going.......
http://www.mhpengines.com/
[/QUOTE]
if i still have my expy come Feb then this is definitively the place my tax return is going.......
nvycrmn
Full Access Members
i think i agree with you Drew! the longblock is cheaper than just the SC that i wanted to buy! and it comes with everything you need. now, TQ coverter...i have been reading up a little and for truck pulls and whatnot, i would want something higher right? in order to meet with the engine's peak TQ RPM? say, 2600 stall? or am i backwards, and i would really want 2200 or 2400? remember, this is for annual truck pull, mud run, daily driver. and must handle lightning swap.
Honestly, I havent researched or learned anything about the torque converters yet. I just havent gotten there. I guarantee you Manny will set you straight though.
If you purchase a complete used lightning longblock just remember the weak link on "stock" lightnings are the cracked powder metal rods. Modified lightnings start tossing the rods around the 500 rwhp level. If you toss a rod your short block is pretty much trash. (rods, crank, block) If you purchase a long block from mhp or any other builder for that matter they do not come with supercharger assembly.
You could use a higher stall torque converter as the stock expy converter is very tight and comes in right off idle. 2200 to 2400 should be plenty as the lightning motor has a very flat torque curve!! Circle D is supposed to have some of the best lightning specific torque converters. Definately mention that you plan on doing truck pulls as this will put serious stress on your converter.
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