Yep. Part #'s for the heads for the 5.4 and the HD's are the same. The L is not. The heads on the L are listed in the parts book as "Lightning Only". Piston's for the L come in a set of 8 (only) and come pre-assembled with pistons, rods and rings as a balanced set. I assume they are #'ed for cylinder placement.

HD piston #'s and rod #'s are same as 5.4.

fepony, I'm no expert but something is wrong with the above statement. N/A 5.4 and HD heads, pistons and rods cannot be the same part numbers because the compression ratios are different. Am I missing something here?

 

That statement would be helpfull in explaining why consumers were believing that they are getting L engine. However, I don't think it is same as official statement from Ford.

ZoranC

 

Sorry but I guess I don't really see what all the fuss is about. If you bought this truck specifically for performance I think you made a mistake.

If that was my intention I would have bought a Lightning or Cobra SVT hands down. I don't think the HD was ever intended to compete with a Lightning or live up to that expectation. The 02 version added more performance as a nice balance to the HD features.

Why would you want something with the extra body weight of the s'crew if your priority was performance?

Anyway, there's my 2 cents.

I love my HD and it serves the purpose I bought it for. I have not had any of the problems others seem to be having so maybe I'm lucky, I don't know.

 

Not flame baiting or anything here but I must say something...

The HD engine does everything that its advertised to do and does so safely in its stock form and so far mostly even when properly and safely modified. While I would like to know whether my HD has the L engine in it or not, the truck does everything Ford said it would. Its an awesome truck.

So maybe it turns out that what we thought was an L engine with L possibilities, is just a regular old Ford 5.4 - with a factory tuned SC that allows the HD to provide some awesome sports car performance.

But is anyone saying that they would not have bought the HD except that they thought it had the L engine? That way of thinking is insulting to the truck and to the owners because it defines the 02HDs value only in terms of the engine identity and ignores everything else about the truck.

I'm very interested in outcome of the investigation that many of you are pursuing - I appreciate it greatly - and what it may mean in terms of how I might customize my HD but there seems to be an undercurrent of whining here that we didn't get the L when we bought the HD, that is just annoying to me.

 

mmeyek,
You definitely put it in words better than I.

Also, not to flame anyone, but there are a couple of posters on here that appear less than happy with their truck so it appears that any excuse to 'fan the flames' and dis the truck seems to be the agenda in a couple of these threads.

I read threads of HDs running high 12s with the right mods so what is the problem?? Like I said before, I don't get it. Sell your HD and buy a Lightning for God's sake..or go buy a GM or Chrysler if you are so unhappy. Live with one of those for a while and you may just realize how good the Ford was.

I've owned GMs, Fords, and Dodges and Ford definitely is number one in my book.

 

Bravo mmeyek and BillP!
I wanted to say the same message but couldn't find the words for it before hand.

P.S. my Ignore list suddenly increased

 

Just 'cause the Ford part #s are different from L doesn't really mean anything. I've ordered parts from Ford that had a different part number than F150 that were the exact same part! (eg, stock H-D tails are same as F150 but have different part number and cost more!). Many parts that are the same have different part numbers associated with different models. I think this is one way Ford differentiates and makes some $$$ in the process! I think if you're really concerned about it, then like Zoran says, Ford factory should be the definitive answer.

 

This is completely funny....I agree, why would anybody buy an HD for performance? I don't consider it a performance truck. It may have a supercharger, but as far as suspension and all that good stuff, it can't be no where near the Lightning. Nobody on here cannot blame Ford for anything. Not falsification of what it has in it. That is why they have a VIN number. You can find out all this stuff just by that. Plus the sticker should say what it has in it, and probably compared to the Lightning sticker, I'm willing to bet it is totally different.

HD in my opinion is a beefed up SuperCrew...plain and simple. It was not made to compete or race or anything else. It was just a simple idea of putting a Supercharged engine in a Luxury vehicle, not to outrun anything on the street (even though it probably will). Nothing but a toy for us gents and ladies with a supercharged 5.4, nothing more.

This is too funny. I'm so glad I bought what I got. hee hee

 

Let me make this clear so there are no confusions. We are discussing two separate issues here:

1) Most important one is what internals we have. We want to know answer for sake of technical accuracy, so we can know what we are dealing with when discussing technical aspects of this truck. I and many others (out of whom many do not have a single issue with this truck) think we are entitled to know what our money bought us and thats all.

2) Completely separate form this is issue of what marketing represented to potential buyers and did they make uninformed decision based on that and are they upset that they did not know everything fully before commiting themselves to investment.

What we are trying to find out here is answer on #1. Lets not go down the road of #2. First, its a subject for completely different thread and second, it is strictly personal thing based on individual. Your decision process was yours, and my was mine. Lets leave it at that (at least in this thread).

In the meantime please do not try to imply that I or others are interested in finding out answer on #1 as a way of dissing the truck. That is quite a stretch of imagination and it insults principles I live by. My interest is of purely technical nature and is a matter of principle. I am entitled to know what my money bought me and is that what I was told or is it something else. If you don't care that is your choice. I and others do care. Just, please, don't read too far into something that is not there and try to imply something without knowing person first. At least not in my case.

Thanks!

ZoranC

 

A ford technician and a ford assembly line employee involved with manufacturing the HD.

neither are personal friends, but are ford employees.

Ken

 

Until I get more information to the contrary, I am going to assume the internals are the same as the L and mod the chit out of the motor. If I ventilate the block, I'll pull one of the rods and compare it to a stock L one... lol.

Make no mistake, I want the issue resolved, but I am 99.99% sure that this is a waste of time caused by different part numbers and poor documentation on Ford's part... I sure hope that's the case anyway...

Ken

 

There seems to be a perception among a few of our members that the main value of the HD is based on it being a 4-door L. I know that the owner of my Harley dealership thinks so; he took the badges off and replaced them all with Lightning badges.

I just sat in an L with a buddy tonight on the way home (he's strongly considering). I would eventually like to add one to my collection, they're awesome in terms of speed and tuneability. But they're a totally different truck.

There are so many different aspects of the HD to appreciate. The wheels themselves are chrome art. Flame designs penned by Willie G. Davidson himself! A stock exhaust system that looks, and sounds, great. Special badging and materials worthy of the two companies involved in the production. And Ford and HD just kept adding items to make this truck attractive from 2000 to 2002 and then tried to cap it off with the 100th anniversary edition.


Back on topic with the engine questions -
More detailed notes on the engine from Truck Trend (March/April 2002):


And for those of you wanting something from a Ford rep:


This is flat-out a special vehicle that we're privileged to have the means to obtain!

 

Unfortunately, unofficial then. Therefore, I still would like to get an official answer from Ford itself that we can hold Ford onto if we ever, heavens forbid, ventilate an engine and then are told we were all wrong.

ZoranC

 

Nope, not me. I am only saying that when I went to buy a Lightning at the SVT dealer and they were waiting on the 2003 and had none in stock, they showed me the HD and told me it was a lightning engine and was just detuned. I loved the truck and the looks of it. I also am a HD owner and rider. But I can tell you that being told it was an L engine DID help make my mind up. Another thing that has got me going down this road is the fact that Ford has always kept SVT seperate and apart from Ford in it's on little way. If you don't believe me, just go to local joe-blow Ford and tell them you'd like to order a L or a Cobra, you can't. If the HD is a product of the SVT at Ford, then why can you buy them at any old Ford dealer? Hey, I'm not dissing the truck, you, Ford, or any animals. I am just saying that when dealers result to lies and misinformation to sell ANY vehicle it is wrong. And I for one don't appreciate being lied to or lead down a path. Will I sell my truck?...prolly not, but that is still no reason to not be upset.

 

I got my information back and I am not going to post his exact words at his request, so le me put it this way: I am convinced it is the same motor and that any differences in part numbers are due to localities, castings, suppliers, etc., not because they are in fact different parts.

We all know ford is CHEAP. Face it. The cheapest route would be to detune the L engine and slap it in. No real R&D needed. Imagine the R&D required to retrofit a standard 5.4 egine with the blower and then do all the necessary testing to be sure they wouldn't have warranty issues?

Good luck getting a statement... I'd love to see it, but I know the deal now and even he couldn't get me a statement and he works inside that behemoth of a company.

Ken