I have been talking with another fellow lightning owner about the reliability problems these trucks seem to have.He is leaning towards a '03 cobra.I love my L (so does he),but i want to move foward as far as mods go,nothing insaine,but maybe a 6# pulley,exhaust,fan,shift kit,etc.,but when everyone here seems to be chunking rods,blowing out plugs,it makes me scared to do anything to mine.It just seems that every other truck on here seems to have a blown motor,ford ****ing everyone around on the warranty,it makes me wary to go any further.

Would getting a '03 be the answer?I hear at least the spark plug problem had been adressed.Should i go for a '03 cobra as well?


I guess what lets me down is how i have been wanting one of these trucks sense '99,test drivig one in '99,and wanting one so bad,then going to WFC 2000 ,2001,2002,and drooling over them,and then finially being able to afford one myself,then finding out they will not hold together.Is the rumour true i heard about?The one where from a certian time frame last year,rods are failing in those trucks at a more rapid pace than other years?(i think from Feb to May)And guess what?mine was built in march!

Ford knows they have a problem,but will not do anything about it,exept try to void warranties.I still want to keep it a ford product though,what is an alternitave?A chevy?NOT! What do you guys think?

 

You won't have "less problems" if you plan on modding the 03 Cobra as well.

Strapping a 6lb pulley on the stock block, you need to make sure you have a good tune otherwise you're pushing the limits on what the stock block can do.

Outside of mods, the trucks do not have large reliability problems, I am not sure where you are getting that from.

My engine is stock (sans open air filter), I run long tubes and have modified the heck out of my brakes and suspension. I've been autocrossing it for two years, and road racing it last season and short of breaks, tires, and fluids, I have not had any serious problems pop up. (intercooler recall aside).

I have not launched any plugs, thrown and rods, blew my tranny (yet), or lost any fuel pumps, and I run my truck hard because I like to.

Be nice to it, keep up on the maintenance, oil changes and PREVENTATIVE monitoring of the truck. Look at it montly, listen to it when you drive, check your air pressures, watch your fluids and the truck will treat you right in return.

2000 Black, 40000 miles, raced whenever possible.

Daniel

 

The reason i would consider the cobra is because it has a iron block,steel crank,forged pistons and great rods to begin with......

 

what pawn said is the absolute truth.
Ican understand the need for more power, but you say you are worried about the rods and then you say you want a 6 lber

Why don't you put an filter kit, from one of the tuners here, and enjoy your truck. You can do a cat-back exhaust, if you like the sound, but you will not get any power out of it.

01 Lightning, modified and has had the pi$$ run out of it

 

i think he wants to go fast and cited the 6# as an example of what would make a lightning faster. hence a simple filter would not be enough for his tastes.

the 03 cobra does have manley rods....so they are stronger in that aspect. however, they do have their own troubles.

as far as a question you are asking about reliability and speed...it comes down to what you prefer. after all it's your money. do you want a sport truck that, in all its heft, can still take down c5s with ease? or would you prefer rowing your own gears with the 03 cobra, a sports CAR? i honestly dont think it's fair asking anyone else about this since it's sort of those "try to guess what i'm thinking" questions....

 

I currently have 4#,chip,filter,boost bypass.

 

update your sig and you would have cut these responses in half. Good luck either way you go. Most people don't buy an L and think it's a Porsche. When it comes right down to it, it's still a 5,000lb truck. If your main concern is speed and you don't care that it comes from something unique (like a truck) then go with the Cobra. The passion most of us share here is going fast in a "truck".

 

Well I know it's just my opinion, but here it goes:

A vehicle will last as long as you want it to as long as you take care of it. As far as reliability goes, there's no guarantee to that when we modify any vehicle. Engineers, some better than others, spend millions of dollars, countless hours of testing and what not on designing these things. Any time we make a modification, of course there is a risk of possibly damaging the motor, or whatever. Plus as in any case with a vehicle with that much horsepower from the factory, people are going to so called "abuse" it. It's just in our nature as humans. We want things bigger, better and faster.

So my theory on this, you play you pay, sometimes.
You can't just throw a major modification on and hope nothing ever happens to it. My advice...PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE!!!

Don't do it if you don't know what the reprocussion can come with it. A lot of these guys here as I've noticed are racing these things amaturely and professionally and have spent major dollars on these mods, from aftermarket superchargers, chips, catbacks, cold air, gears, pullies, plugs, cams, intake, throttle bodies, air sensors, electric fans, and who knows what else. I'm guessing most of them have hook ups when it comes to mods, or they are educated in auto repair.
Or probably more likely than not, they have a deep checkbook!!..LOL.

I think the L speaks for itself. It's a great performance TRUCK. And that is exactly what it is. A big toy for a man, or woman. I would love to have one, had a chance to get one. It was between what I got now and a 02 Bright Red Lightning.
Went with the 2002 SCAB 4x4 Sport, and I haven't regretted it at any time since. If I wanted something faster, I would have bought one. Wifey gave me the green light on either way. And chances are, there is probably not to many cars on the street that are going to compete with a stock Lightning. So if showing off on the street is the main goal, I wouldn't do major mods on it. Maybe a new catback, cold air, and an electric fan. Probably push close to 370-380 HP at the rear wheel with just those.

Another thing to think about, there is always gonna be something faster and better cause engineering and technology always getting better. Case in point - video game machines.

Well that's my two cents worth. I hope nobody fell asleep reading this...LOL

 

Add slicks to an 03 cobra with that IRS and you will be crying for new half shafts.

Having owned 2 cobras, i can tell you.. They have their own set of problems.

I ordered both a 03 Cobra and my 02 Bolt. Going over the list of failures in my 2 cobras, i took the truck home.

I would of added a 3 inch catback, 3 inch X pipe, CAI, Pulley and a hot chip.

After getting sick of not hooking up, i would of gotten slicks and tore that *** end out that car by munching half shafts. And if you think the T-56 is a strong tranny, i broke two of them. I could easily see myself throwing in a solid axle within 6 months. It would be my 3rd money pit.

You should take care of whatever you own, but once you step up and decide to race and mod it, be prepared for failure. Lightnings are good trucks. Practical, LIMITED numbers and down right sexy.

 

\The passion most of us share here is going fast in a "truck".[/B]

That sentence right there sums up my feelings exactly. I have never heard it said better. That is why i bought my truck. Best Decision i have ever made.

Vinny
02 Red L

 

I do not "think" my lightning is a porshe,never have.I have heard of these thing spitting out plugs stock.Thats just a bad design IMO,I have even heard of just n/a f-150's with the 5.4 doing this.I did not say i was going to turn it into a drag truck,hell,i have one of the lesser modded L's among my friends.I was saying that i would like to do a little more to it.Doesnt everybody?And dont think for a second i dont love going fast in my truck,just ask the poor guy in that nova the other night,he had such a puzzled look on his face.........lol! And the reason i havnt updated my sig is i hear of "Big Brother' trolling these boards trying to get info?Has this actually hapened?And again,i think these trucks are awesome,i just wish i didnt have to be as nervous.....

 

I'm not flaming you at all, but if your that worried I have a 00' with about the same mods. It has 65,000 miles on it and hasn't had a single problem. I would be glad to trade you for your 02.

Best of luck to you.

Oh BTW don't start talking about big brother or he'll come over to your house and steal your relays

 

I agree with most and every post i see about this plug throw issue certainly gets my undivided attention. I have a True Blue also and have modded it out (6 pound), etc. and have had no operational issues. I credit this to the good tune. I also do most of my own mechanical/install work and have changed my plugs twice now and checked them as well. So far i have had none of them loosen but am aware of the possibility and listen for any kind of change in engine sound, etc. You will see many threads on how to do plugs and they are great (how i learned) but one thing i do is make real sure i have them seated well before tightening by turning the plug back out and then in again a couple of times or more (by hand with a deep socket/ext) until i am sure it has seated. It is a shame that we have to deal with the problem like this. But....personally, i'm a truck dude and will try and keep it together and if something happens put a bulletproof engine in it next time. When the 05 Mustang gets here i am going after one if they stay looking after the Shelby but my Blue is gonna stay at home! Good luck in your decision we all have to make.

 

I have this issue of being scared. Any high modded auto will have reliability issues, thats just part of it. At least thats what I keep telling myself.. Don't think I could get rid of this truck..

PEaCE..........................

 

I have been a motor head my entire life, I have driven nothing but fast "CARS" my whole life, (over 50 to give you an idea) I sold a Cobra to get the Lightning, and had many 5.0's before that.
My earlier years consisted of about a dozen Big Block Chevelle's, some Nova's, Camaro's, and many other nice old muscle cars like a Big Block Cuda, BB Super Bee, BB GTX and way too much more to list. What I have found is this, SCHITT BREAKS WHEN YOU PUSH IT. Always had, always will.

I will say this though, our Lightning's CLEARLY have DEFECTIVE HEADS and apparently Rods that are just strong enough and can't handle a hell of a lot of extra HP over stock. To make matters worse, people like me who knew everything about hot rodding had to learn all over when it came to the Lightning.
Am I pissed at Ford for given us all these heads "YES I AM" Do I think they should ALL be changed under wrrnty, "YES I DO" Would I think twice before buying another SVT, "YES I WILL" (but I want a Gen 3 )

I will end this by saying, my obsession with my current 02 Lightning can be compared TO NOTHING I'VE EVER OWNED.
Not a wheelie popping 1969 396 Black Chevelle S/S, not my Turbo Pace car, not even my NOS Motor Cycles. The obsession for the Lightning for me is all about being able to own the worlds fastest something, and to be able to rip 12 sec 1/4 miles in a TRUCK that not only looks awesome, but actually handles quite well, better than most cars on the road, yet is still quiet, comfortable, practical, and can even be driven to Weddings and Funerals in style while still making Home Depot Runs, and weekend trips to the track blowing away most if not all other factory performance vehicles.


Lightning truly is the best of the best, with some issues Ford choose to overlook.