Supercharger

[cudaz101]

Boost Temps

A remedy for high intake charge temps is Methanol Injection. I personally like the Snow Kit among whats available. This will enable you to run a few more pounds of boost without ill effect. It can really clean things up.

An air-air intercooler of course will help tremendously as well. The Meth injection and A2A IC combined would be key in making big numbers.

Also...And an SCT Tuning package would work wonders as it is one of the most common among tuners and has alot of control.

At bigger power levels you could start pegging your MAF as well.

Lightnings can make big boost & power numbers without gernading because the stock internals are desgned for boost. The Expedition rotating assembly is MILES from a L-Rotating assembly. I do think however that the 5.4 EX eng. if tuned properly, will last at higher boost levels of say 10-13lbs.

 

[pronstar]

Re: Boost Temps

Originally posted by cudaz101


The Expedition rotating assembly is MILES from a L-Rotating assembly. I do think however that the 5.4 EX eng. if tuned properly, will last at higher boost levels of say 10-13lbs.

The only difference from a Lightning engine and a regular 5.4 are the pistons.

Lighnings got lower-compression forged pistons.
Other 5.4s got higher-compression hypereutectic pistons.

This info is widely available, you can google it.

 

[cudaz101]

Re: Re: Boost Temps

Originally posted by pronstar
The only difference from a Lightning engine and a regular 5.4 are the pistons.

Lighnings got lower-compression forged pistons.
Other 5.4s got higher-compression hypereutectic pistons.

This info is widely available, you can google it.

Actually I don't have to google it...I don't know where you got your information but let me clear this up.

The Lightning 5.4 has a FORGED CRANK, claimed to withstand up to 900rwhp...This goes a long ways "MILES" towards withstanding boost.

The Lightning 5.4 does share the same rods as the non-svt assembly though. This speaks volumes towards the non-svt assembly IMO that they "SVT" never fealt the need to upgrade the rods. Which is why I believe that the regular 5.4 should be able to handle a moderate amount of boost with a clean, safe tune. Although keep in mind that these rods are considered to be safe up to 450rwhp among the Lightning crowd.

 

[pronstar]

Re: Re: Re: Boost Temps

Originally posted by cudaz101

The Lightning 5.4 has a FORGED CRANK, claimed to withstand up to 900rwhp...This goes a long ways "MILES" towards withstanding boost.

Buddy, the 5.4 has a forged crank. Know mine is, have seen can easily ID it as forged.
The 4.6 has a cast crank.

Ford's own brochures say that the crank is forged on the 5.4

Factory rebuilds have been found to have cast-iron cranks, even Lightning rebuilds.
And for some reason, some 5.4 SuperCrews have been found to have cast cranks, but no one is quite sure why as only a couple have been reported by folks who have torn them down; the overwhelming majority have been forged.

But Google is also your friend if you just wanna stay in your chair:
From Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update:
It's testimony to the basic structure of the 5.4L Triton that the only internals upgraded to handle the extra 100 hp for the Lightning are forged aluminum pistons. The "regular" Triton's forged steel crankshaft, powder metal connecting rods and deep-skirt block required no modification.

From Wikipedia:
2V: The basic 5.4 L Triton is built in Windsor, Ontario at the Essex Engine plant. As of 2004, it was used in most Ford trucks. It has a cast iron engine block and aluminum SOHC 2-valve cylinder heads. It uses multi-port fuel injection, roller rockers, fracture-split powder metal connecting rods, forged steel crankshaft and an assembled reinforced plastic intake manifold.

3V: It has a cast iron engine block and aluminum cylinder heads. It uses multi-port fuel injection, has roller finger followers, fracture-split forged powder metal connecting rods, forged steel crankshaft and the intake manifold is assembled of reinforced plastic.


As a side note:
A couple of opinions state that Ford went to a cast crank in 1999, despite much evidence to the contrary.

Many motors have been torn-down by members of various forums (NLOC and others, some teardowns that I've participated in) and have shown that the cranks are forged in the later 5.4s as well

You're right in that the standard 5.4 can withstand about 450hp at the crank. The pistons can't take much more than that, not for very long.

 

[cudaz101]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Boost Temps

Originally posted by pronstar
Buddy, the 5.4 has a forged crank. Know mine is, have seen can easily ID it as forged.
The 4.6 has a cast crank.

Ford's own brochures say that the crank is forged on the 5.4

I stand corrected...Being a longtime member of the Lightning boards it is unfortunatley "common knowledge" frequently said to be a differance in the two assembleys.

Regardless it is interesting to know this now. So a set of H-Beam Rods and some custom pistons would be a damn solid assembly for sure if you wanted to make crazy power...

Sorry for the thread hi-jack...

 

[pronstar]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Boost Temps

Originally posted by cudaz101
I stand corrected...Being a longtime member of the Lightning boards it is unfortunatley "common knowledge" frequently said to be a differance in the two assembleys.

Regardless it is interesting to know this now. So a set of H-Beam Rods and some custom pistons would be a damn solid assembly for sure if you wanted to make crazy power...

Sorry for the thread hi-jack...

No worries bro.

Rods wouild be a good idea for sure. Seems the weakest link on the Lightning engines (relatively speaking) is the rods.

I'm no fan of the pistons in my regular 5.4, but they've held up so far...I'm only pushing 10.5 psi, but since it's a centrifugal blower, I don't see high boost at low rpm.

 

[green03]

Have you guys seen the kind of stupid power they are making with the stock bottom end of the new 3v mustangs...... A sure testiment to how well the cast pistons stock rods hold up if you keep the thing out of detonation.
Matt

 

[pronstar]

For sure...I've seen 425-ish RWHP regularly on the 3V 5.4 motor in the F150.