(This thread is ongoing and I will post pics/updates as I progress. It might make a good tutorial for a complete transformation once I'm finished, but we'll see how far it gets!)

This truck was just my daily driver, but then as we all do I got bored with it, so I decided to make a SVT Lightning clone. One might ask, "Why don't you just go out and buy a real Lightning, since the build will probably cost about the same?" Well, there's a simple answer for that and in my case it's because I love building up cars and bikes. I always have a project in the garage, but this time it's my former daily driver. When the mod bug bites, it usually bites hard and besides that, modding is fun.

Parts List (Needed):
5.4 s/c w/cpu/tranny/rearend from a '02 Lightning $2000 (Good luck finding one for this price!)
'99+ grill surround $30
'99+ bumper $100
'99+ bumper brackets $80
Lightning front bumper fascia & side skirts $550
Lightning full badge set $110
Lightning headlights $80

Parts List (Optional):
2" Goodmark cowl hood $150
billet upper/lower grill $100
smooth rollpan $100
smooth bedrails $0 (did myself)
clear corners $30
6000K HID's $80
sport side mirrors w/blinkers $70
l/r doors (yes, full doors since mine are rough and non-powered) $150

Still need a drop-kit, rims, taillights, interior, etc...but bills gotta get paid first. Will add these parts above after they are purchased.

What I'm working with:
1997 Ford F-150 Flairside (totally plain, non-powered, 4.2L V6, manual)
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What I'm going for:

 

Phase I: (Exterior)

6-24-10
Okay, so after purchasing as many parts as I can afford at the moment it was time to get started. First off, I wanted to test fit the Lightning bodykit I purchased from ICTGroundFX here in KC, as well as the rollpan.
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Under the front of the truck I had to use use a 3/4 socket to remove two nuts that were holding on the front bumper. This is relatively simple and now the bumper is off. I used the same socket to take off two nuts on the rear bumper to remove it as well. Keep in mind to disconnect any electrical components first, so you don't pull them off with the bumpers.
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The rear rollpan fits perfectly and lines up smoothly with the lines of the truck. However, I think I'll go the extra step and sand down the grooved sidestep plastic upper piece on the rear so it blends in better, but we'll get back to that.
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Now the front bumper is off, it's time to add the new '99+ bumper brackets to the existing bracket piece so the '99+ bumper will fit on. The brackets are a 4/6 pc set that I ordered online from lmctruck (thanks to thejake1989 for the link). The site also have a very nice catalog that shows build sheets which comes in very, very handy.
Here's the link to download the entire catalog in .pdf if you're interested. http://www.lmctruck.com/pdfcatalogs/fe.htm

Parts 15 and 16 are on the truck, 18 are reuseable. Parts 13 and 14 will come with 17 most times and those plus 19 and 20 are what you need to mount the front bumper.

Okay, now that the new brackets are installed it's time to install the bumper. Since the Lightning fascia I purchased slides over the bumper, it's a perfect fit and very snug. Notice the gap between the grill surround and the bumper? This is where the '99+ grill surround comes in since it'll eliminate that small but eye-watering gap.
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Now let's play with the side skirts. (Insert Steps Taken)

Okay, everything seems to fit on just fine, so after removing all the bodykit components it's time to prep each piece. It's much easier to do it off the truck and will save you time in the long run to go ahead and start prepping now. I plan to paint the truck after all the installations are complete, so it's a no-brainer.

First step is the sand down any imperfections. I am going to go ahead and sand off the black paint from grill surround as well as prep the side mirrors I'm installing while I'm at it. I'm also going to be sanding down the rear bumper grooved step pieces so it blends in with the rollpan. (to be continued)

 

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x2, and at least post pics of the parts! lol Please tell me you got the OEM front bumper cover and not the aftermarket with the vents on the side. Also I THINK you're going have to change the actual bumper to the 99-03 kind, so that the bumper cover can mount/sit properly.

 

I would post up some pics, but I'm at work. Yes I know about the swapping bumpers/brackets, etc but thanks for the heads up. I got a Lightning front fascia, so no vents!