The other day I got a 97 f150 4x4. It has a 4.6 with stock exhaust with different tips. It has like a 3 inch body and a 2 inch block rear on 35 buck shot mudders that are on their last leg. The transmission won't work. It seems to try harder when it's colder. . I really want to doll it up. I want more power (bigger engine) and really want new axles (solid) better throttle responce and more heavy duty transmission. Also I hate the turn button 4x4. Transfer case with a stick would be nice. It will take some time and money but im prepared. Is there any realistic chance I could pull this off? What would I need to do to get started? Any help would be appreciated. Oh and what tire would be good. I have room for about a 37. Lookin for something that wears good and will fit 15's offset. It has a nice wide stance. I LOVE THE WIDE STANCE!!

 

what gears are in that truck???

 

Monstertransmission.com

 

Will it even fit 15's?
Depends how deep your pockets are really. If they are moderate, PI 5.4L swap is the easiest cheapest route for more power. Supercharger for more power of coarse. There are reputable transmission builders around here also. SAS swaps have been done, few people around here with them. Klitch seems to have what your looking for, sas, supercharged 5.4 Lightning swap if I remember, gears and a tranny built by Darren birch, among other things. All those things your looking for, if done right could run you near 20k though....

I say start with low mileage 5.4 swap, built tranny, true dual exhausts, LT headers with high flow cats, new tires (stick with the 35's with the lift you have, 37's would look crammed) 4:56 gears, E fans and a tune... Even that will run somewhere around 8-9k ish. Again, depends how far you want to go.

 

Thank you all for the quick response. I do not know what the gears are. I will check later today. How big of a jump in hp would the 5.4 lightening be from my 4.6? If I am doing the sas swap then I wil do a add a leaf in the front and replace the 2 inch block with a 4. Would leafs be cheaper than springs? And does any one know about the stick 4x4. I will post a pic of what it looks like later today. .

 

Sell that truck and buy a Superduty, but if you have the CA$H I say go for it.

 

a lightning motor comes stock with between 360-380 hp and about 430 ft lbs

 

03 lightning I wanted to buy was 380hp/450tq according the window sticker from ford.

 

Your motor has 220hp/265tq
A PI (99+) 5.4L would be 260hp/350tq
They just stated the lightning.. 380/450

Enough of a difference to almost feel like you have a 4.6 driving each rear tire.

 

That sounds pretty great. I got a place out here I think has a lightening in the auto grave yard. What do I need to pull off it besides the motor. What transmission do I need to pull and from wich truck. Will it bolt up right?

 

first you need to figure out what gears are in your truck...

 

The only sticker in the door says 6-48C idk if that's it but I do have the big vin off the rear end if that helps

 

I just measure the tires they are spose to be 35 but measure 32. That's depressing. I thought the looked little. Im really hoping the are Just being run low.

 

3.55

 

A 3" BL should fit 35's easy. You said the tires were junk, start the hunt for a new set of 35's. I'm not sure where the priorities are for the truck or if you purchased it for a daily driver or not. However you want to go about building it is up to you. In its current condition, a new set of tires and at least 4:10's if not 4:56's are in order. But put your money where you want first, in your case tires are normally the last thing on the list when its complete.

If those tires say they are 35's then they are 35's. Completely bald and under inflated can be reason they are measuring 32"