ICULOKN- I have to agree. It just seems odd that some guys can run 16-18 pounds of boost or a 150hp shot of nitrous and beat there trucks to death and they just keep on running. Then other trucks will throw a rod with only a 4 pound lower. It just doesn't make since. I know after looking at a lot of old posts very very few of the 99-00 Lightning's have thrown rods even when subjected to a lot of boost or nitrous. It seemed like the real concern started with the 01's. It semed like they were throwing rods almost daily. Then when the 02's came out they seemed to be able to handle the mods just like the 99-00 L's. So I think that Ford must have gotten some bad rod's during 2001. I know alot of people claim that we just have weak rod's but I don't agree with that. I have seen to many 99-00 L's run 14-16 pounds of boost with a 75-100hp nitrous shot for way to long with no problems. So I think that it just boils down to the 01 L's just simply had defective rods.

 

Thats the post I first heard about it from over at NLOC. I don't see why it's that hard to believe, why can't there be a bad batch of Rods ??? Schitt Chevy had a bad batch of piston rings they were using for a while on the vettes and as a result has to rip down every got dam corvette they sold and rebuild the motor "INCLUDING THE Z06's" Two of my friends are having it done right this second. (1) Z06, (1) Regular Vette. One didn't have a choice, he send it in for the tranny (second time they had the tranny out with only 3400 miles on it) and they ripped the motor apart and told him he has no choice now because he's been refusing to allow them to do it for almost 2 years. He's pissed off big time because he didn't want them taking the motor out knowing it will never be the same (he's probably right). He was happy adding a quart of oil everytime he uses it and believe me he never uses it, 2yrs 3400 miles.

So Chevy has there share of trouble too, motors and trannys. But look at the differance, there is no talk of all these oil using vettes, meanwhile it happen, there's no re-call, instead they contacted every person that bought a vette with the faulty rings and asked them to bring it in for a free motor job. And yes they take your motor out, take it apart, re-ring it, re-gasket it, and put YOUR MOTOR back together and back in. In my buddy's Joe case WITHOUT ASKING

GIVE ME HEAD FORD, GIVE ME HEAD
I'll take my chances with the Rods

 

Wow Rob, be a cold day in hell before Ford would do that. First thing they would so is look for mods so they could VOID your warranty and not have to perform such a repair.

Props to Chevrolet on looking out for the buyer.

 

But could that be that the Vette is Cheby's flagship?
It is nice to see the manufactor stand behind their vehicles

Now before anybody starts that the Lightning is Ford's flagship, when was the last time you saw an add for the Lightning. Probably never, but I have seen a commerical for the SVT Focus a couple times now. WTF is up with that?

 

Good Point Gator my Friend
I thought I recently saw a milli-second glimpse of a L in a Ford commercial but it was so fast and so far away that no-one could have noticed what it was. The commercial was clearly showing their normal line up "Minus the Lightning of course"

As for the Vette, Joe was gonna pick it up today "hopefully", he's really pissed off that his motor and tranny has now been taken out, taken apart, rebuilt, and put back in, but I keep explaining what your saying, I commend Chevy for doing the right thing and insisting on fixing the Motors, even to people like him who have been refusing to take it back for the rebuild. The only bad part is they've had it since Christmas week actually he doesnt care, he has another older vette he don't drive either, his work truck, the wifes, and the loaner they gave him.

 

I think it is all B.S.
I would think if Ford noticed a problem with rods they would have stopped the line they always do it. I recall them stopping the 03 cobras for a few weeks cause of problems. So if there was a rod problem Ford would have stopped production in my opinion its cheaper to rebuild a motor before it goes in a truck then after its sold.
Hey just my opinion
???? Does anyone know if they run the motors before there installed in a vehicle....


Slick

 

Iam sure there where many Lightning before a question came up on the rods. And by then, the Lightnings where in customers hands and all over the US.

I can't say for certain, but they probable pull one in 50 or 100 motors off the like and run them. Alot of motors don't fire until they crank the truck up for the first time

 

Slick, it could be B/S about the rods, your right, we may never know. I find it hard to belive too, BUT I READ IT ON THE INTERNET, IT MUST BE TRUE RIGHT Gee now that I read what I just wrote, it may be B/S when you think about it. I read it in a post, then I put it in a post, and so on.

"BUT" there has been MANY TIMES a car Mfg had faulty, defective, or sub standard parts installed (sometimes unknowingly) and didn't find out until after they sold it, hence a re-call, there have been many big ones over the years.

 

Hold the presses.........

you mean not EVERYTHING on the internet is true?

O lordy, lordy

 

They stopped the 03 Cobra line to change tooling for both the Japanese and Australian versions which require special lighting, side markers and totally new interior config for the Aussie model.


There was nothing mechanically wrong with the powertrains or car itself.

I just wish Ford would get with the phucking program and upgrade our Rods and Heads.. Hmm, kind of go hand in hand dont they? Rod..Head, Rod..Head.

 

Don't get me wrong there could be a problem that was not found out until after the fact. But all these #3-#7 rod is B/S to me I dont think there is a special #3or #7 rod bin that comes from a different supplier. Same thing with plugs some are loose some are not Who really knows I never checked mine but havent felt any reason to also.
As for the Cobra stopping there was a problem I am sure it was bumper covers or something like that also I think trans issues i dont remember but it was not for overseas models
Hey I am not trying to start waves but just expressing my opinion I have a 2002 no problems (knock on wood) not even a fog light problem only thing I have wrong is the chrome is comming off the Lighning badges on the fenders

Hey maybe I am just lucky.....LOL or I dont have enough milage yet only 6k almost a yr old

Slick

 

Stopped by my dealer yesterday to shmooze and there was an '02 Lightning in a service bay with a blown rod. Mechanic said the truck was bone stock. I didn't bother to check which cylinder.

 

Could it be that all the rods are weaker than the '99's and that bank 3 (or 7) is just a wee bit leaner.
I'm also doubting the special bin for the #3 rod theory.
Jes

 

Well the modular 4.6 #7 cylinder is the leanest. Could be the same on the 5.4 but after my plugs got changed last weekend, im beginning to think that cylinder #4 is the lean one.

 

I was told long ago from a Ford engineer that the weakest link of the 5.4 is that the block flexes under very high pressures.
The discussion revolved around very high boost pressures, not stock configuration.
I believe I read a while back that the 5.4 block is being re-disgned too.

On a side note - Cut the guy some slack. He was merely asking a question only to get ambushed by most of you.
I'm now off my high horse and doning my carbon-kevlar suit.