Engine Swap
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Topeka, KS
Engine Swap
I am soon going to swap my stock 5.4 for a complete 2002 Lightning setup that I got from my local dealer, it's a 6000 mile takeout with a minor, inexpensive, repairable problem.
I have a question RE the ECU.
One way to deal with the engine management system is to hook up all of the sensors as if it were a stock 5.4 with a supercharger and have it tuned via a chip from there.
However, my Dealer suggested that it MAY be possible to replace the ECU with a Lightning unit, he thinks the wiring harness and sensors are all the same.
Better yet, if the only difference in the two systems is the programming, he said he could flash the ECU with a Lightning code and I would be on my way-----------fat chance.
Anybody have any thoughts, ideas, magic bullets ????
I have a question RE the ECU.
One way to deal with the engine management system is to hook up all of the sensors as if it were a stock 5.4 with a supercharger and have it tuned via a chip from there.
However, my Dealer suggested that it MAY be possible to replace the ECU with a Lightning unit, he thinks the wiring harness and sensors are all the same.
Better yet, if the only difference in the two systems is the programming, he said he could flash the ECU with a Lightning code and I would be on my way-----------fat chance.
Anybody have any thoughts, ideas, magic bullets ????
Last edited by F150freaky; Feb 28, 2003 at 10:13 AM.
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Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi Freaky,
It's easiest to just use the complete Lightning setup, including the PCM, all it's sensors, the Lightning wiring harness, etc. Everything. And no, the Lightning wiring harness is *not* exactly the same, for starters there's the PCM-controlled excess boost blowoff control mechanism (solenoid & valve, PCM controlled, so it's incorporated into both the wiring harness and in the vacuum routing "harness," etc.). They're certainly very close, as they're both F-150's, the wiring harneses just aren't exactly identical.
I'd recommend that you also use the 4R100 HD automatic transmission from the supercharged 5.4 as well. Otherwise, you'll have to have your present tranny rebuilt, and virtually immediately as it *will* blow. And I mean it will need a near race build put on it, or it will never stand up to the torque output of that supercharged 5.4 in *stock* trim, let alone if you modify it a little bit to get it up where many of us Lightning owners go (well north of 500 hp & 600 lbs./ft.).
If your dealer is using WDS, he may very well find that he cannot just flash your present PCM with any of the codes from a Lightning, WDS may very well not allow that, as it's VIN-based, and your VIN won't match that application. I don't know if that can be gotten around using WDS, I don't think so. And again, there are the different hardware parts that are controlled by the PCM in the Lightning that I mentioned above.
It is possible to transplant just the motor and retain the original PCM, and we have tuned some regular F-150's for a Lightning motor transplant, so that can be done. But in each case they have had to have the present 4R70W automatic rebuilt immediately of course, in addition to dyno-tuning the motor for use on the original PCM.
The easiest way to do this is to have the complete Lightning powertrain, including it's 4R100 HD transmission that the Lightning PCM's are programmed for, so it's literally just an R&R situation & you're not having to re-engineer the application, put a near-race build on the present transmission, etc.
It can be done either way, the easiest is to use the Lightiung motor & tranny, and all the Lightning powertrain sensors, wiring harness & PCM.
Good luck!
It's easiest to just use the complete Lightning setup, including the PCM, all it's sensors, the Lightning wiring harness, etc. Everything. And no, the Lightning wiring harness is *not* exactly the same, for starters there's the PCM-controlled excess boost blowoff control mechanism (solenoid & valve, PCM controlled, so it's incorporated into both the wiring harness and in the vacuum routing "harness," etc.). They're certainly very close, as they're both F-150's, the wiring harneses just aren't exactly identical.
I'd recommend that you also use the 4R100 HD automatic transmission from the supercharged 5.4 as well. Otherwise, you'll have to have your present tranny rebuilt, and virtually immediately as it *will* blow. And I mean it will need a near race build put on it, or it will never stand up to the torque output of that supercharged 5.4 in *stock* trim, let alone if you modify it a little bit to get it up where many of us Lightning owners go (well north of 500 hp & 600 lbs./ft.).
If your dealer is using WDS, he may very well find that he cannot just flash your present PCM with any of the codes from a Lightning, WDS may very well not allow that, as it's VIN-based, and your VIN won't match that application. I don't know if that can be gotten around using WDS, I don't think so. And again, there are the different hardware parts that are controlled by the PCM in the Lightning that I mentioned above.
It is possible to transplant just the motor and retain the original PCM, and we have tuned some regular F-150's for a Lightning motor transplant, so that can be done. But in each case they have had to have the present 4R70W automatic rebuilt immediately of course, in addition to dyno-tuning the motor for use on the original PCM.
The easiest way to do this is to have the complete Lightning powertrain, including it's 4R100 HD transmission that the Lightning PCM's are programmed for, so it's literally just an R&R situation & you're not having to re-engineer the application, put a near-race build on the present transmission, etc.
It can be done either way, the easiest is to use the Lightiung motor & tranny, and all the Lightning powertrain sensors, wiring harness & PCM.
Good luck!
Last edited by Superchips_Distributor; Mar 1, 2003 at 03:22 PM.