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Hello everyone, I haven't been on here in a while. I just wanted to say Hello and try to help my buddy out who is looking for a Lightning. I had a Red 2000 Lightning so I told him as much as I could, but I wanted to know the difference in it and the 03's.

All I could think of was the grill and tail lights obviously. The rear end is a 3:73, in dash 6 disch changer. Rims were different than the 2000's and the 01-02's. Is it safe to say the 03 has tougher rods (similar to the 2000) than the 2001-2002 L's?

When I was around here this time last year, 03's were running close to 12.90 stock. Are the new ones any quicker? Lastly, he found an 03 with 40,000 miles I thought kinda high miles, but he said its clean... for $23,000 I think. Is that about the going rate for them? $23,000-$25,000?
Thanks much for the help, Shane

 

The biggest difference is the heads.They added more threads.Dont have a problem spitting out the plugs...Plus a little more HP and Torque

 

90mm MAF, improved lower intake, non leaking IC, the newer trucks were also leaned out from the factory(more hp), where as the 99 - 00's run pig rich.

 

I'm prolly a little rusty on the subject, but here goes....

Different rims
Different headlamps, side markers, taillamps, fog lamps
Different grilles
03 has keypad entry
03 has LED 3rd brake light, 00 has bulb style
03 has more payload capacity, and is higher in the rear stock
03 has Bilstein shocks and poly snubbers
Different window/door lock switches
Different grab handles
Different stereo options
00 has 3.55s, 03 has 3.73s
00 has 80mm MAF, 03 has 90mm
03 has larger hole in inner fender for airbox
03 has 8 thread plug holes, 00 has 4 thread
03 has revised pistons for 99-00 slap issue
00 has stronger rods
03 has improved lower intake design, and improved I/C core
03 has plastic timing chain tensioners with o-ring seal, 00 has metal with machined seal
03 has stamped steel crank trigger wheel, 00 has cast
03 has full rubber brake booster line, 00 has metal line that bolts to engine bracket
03 has aluminum driveshaft, 00 has steel
03 has side marker lights built into side mirrors
00 balancer uses 3 bolt adapter for lower pulley, 03 has it cast into the balancer

That's all I can think of right now, I'm sure there's more.

 

http://www.austinsvt.com/lightning/gen2data.html

 

Thank you all for the replies, you mentioned many things I couldnt think of myself. (and some I never even knew) Thanks again. As for retail value on a used 03 with decent miles still under warranty, what should he expect to pay?
Shane

 

that is a good price i see 02 going for that and 04's going for 26-27..

 

No stock Lightning will EVER go 12.90's. -Mat-

 

off the top of your head? Geesh.

 

I have a couple stupid ones I remember as well

03 has the child seat brackets built into the pass. seat
03 has revised foglights compared to 01-02
03 has thicker/plusher carpeting (as used in lincoln navigator)
03 has brushed aluminum finish doorhandles
03 has perforated leather steering wheel
03 has no storage box behind the seat
03 owners received a "powered by SVT" book

edit: 03 is also supposed to have a slightly revised steering setup, not sure what the exact changes were. It also has the NVH revised 5.4 block, it's thicker and more reinforced, whether it makes a difference at our HP level's i'm not sure of.

 

Hi gents, thinking about buying an 01 L. Do they have the improved threads on the heads? What about the rods? I know the rods are weak links but was wondering if the 01 were better/worse than later years.

thanks mucho

 

Rods are the same, and the heads only have 4 threads.. the 03-04 got better head threads!

 

I found a 2003 with 22000 miles for $22,500 in excellent condition unmolested. That's nearly 2000 below KBB.

 

I couldnt find the post, but I thought I read on here a stock, or at least close to stock 03 Lightning ran a high 12.90. Either I was wrong, or it wasnt as stock as I first thought. It may have had a chip and a filter. (so that isnt stock...) If I come across it i'll let you know. What are the 03's averaging for 1/4 times? 13.3-13.4 or so?

I went with a friend lastnight to look at an 03. It was sharp, only had 9,000 miles. It was sonic blue. I love sonic blue! It was nice to get in the drivers seat of a Lightning again!
Shane

 

The fastest stock 03/04 Lightning I have “read” about was 13.3 or 13.4. It gave no information on temperatures, humidity, how far above sea level etc. However, I don’t recall seeing a time slip so who knows but there have been a few post here and at NLOC about 03/04 running approx. 13.4 – 13.5 stock.

Sal,

What was revised with the piston because of the 99/00 piston slap?