I just did a search on both topics and the number of people who have blown a plug due to the thread problem in the head and the number of people who have a broken rod is just unbelievable. It may not seem like a large number but when you consider the fact that only about 4000 L are made a year the % ends up to be astoundingly high. Not to mention not all SVT Lightning owners are on message boards so there are a lot more cases that we are not aware of. Why do we take it? Has anything every been done to put pressure on Frod/SVT to fix these problems. I for one did not pay this much money for a truck only to worry every time I drive the thing. My truck has been great do date but it only has 5000 miles on it. Has this question ever been asked before, and if so what has been done about it?

 

well if ford was ok with mods, then no i wouldn't stand for it.

but very few stock trucks blow up their engines.

but still i would like to see a better built engine, i'd pay an extra grand or so for an engine from the factory thats bullet proof.

 

Quite a few of the trucks popping plugs were stock though.

 

From what I see its not only the modded trucks that are breaking. It may be that they are not disclosing thier mods but it looks like many are stock. If this was not a problem other then for modded trucks then I would not complain at all. Its the fact that it does happen to stock trucks that bothers me. Because it does happen to stock trucks then who is to say its the mods that caused the problem. Mods may just bring out the problem quicker so at 15 000 miles rather then 25 000 miles. It is impossible to tell. You know what I mean? The fact that it does also happen to stock trucks makes me have mixed feelings. lets say a plug blows out or a rod goes.. who is to say it was because of the mods? and Ford is sure not going to cover these problems if one happens and you are modded. This would not bother me if it was not a design flaw..

 

i mean throw a rod. the head problem is well know on every 5.4 out there even none L

 

Is it just detonation that throws rods in our trucks? I have heard of stock trucks throwing a rod. Was I being lied to?

 

detonation, skywalker, does everything evil to engines.

 

Thats what I am getting at.

1) I have heard of stock L's throwing a rod. These things are set pig rich from the factory so I know its not due to detonation. So there has to be another reason for the rod to go.

2) I have also heard of extremley safe tuned L's that are set rich with a pulley throw a rod. So again detonation was no existent but a rod did break. (This example does not have the impact of the first one but still adds to my point)

So if you tell me its only detonation that throws rods then I will feel a lot better since my truck was put on a wide band 02 dyno and the A/F mixture was set to be very very safe on my chip.

 

I really can't see any other explanation, your examples aside. Maybe there is a combination of a certain percentage being weak, with most holding up unless there is detonation.

IMHO, the only "extremely safe tuned L" is a stock L.

Four threads in a head is a stupid mistake for which there is no defense. Ford should recall them all.

 

Yep...even non-L's that have the 5.4 heads...plane Jane F150's ....sad, just sad

--wes

 

When I purchased my used 99 at 18K miles after a week it started acting up. I got ready to leave for work one day, fired the truck up and it had a sputtering idle, like an exhaust leak..It sounded awful..I thought maybe someone poured some sugar in my gas tank..Well I was stuck at the appartment and called in to work..Next morning, first thing I took a chance and drove it to my local SVT ford dealer. I thought for sure something was about to go from how it was driving so I crept like 30 mph the way there. Since it still had some warranty on the truck they took it in and fixed it in less than an hour. They told me a spark plug came lose.. At that time I had no idea that this was gonna become a big problem for lightnings just thought it was coincidence. I'm at 71K miles now and havent had any problems but then again i've changed my spark plugs twice..Now I wonder if they knew this was a known problem and just didn't want to make me aware of it.. I wonder if some/most of the people are spitting plugs because maybe not warming the engines up on cold starts...On a cold engine (especially motors that havent been broken in), things can easily come loose?? I could be wrong but just a thought..

 

The rod problem is twofold: Factory rods are marginally strong enough for stock output and these engines have a stroke about 2 miles long which doesn't lend itself to durability but is responsible for the boat load of torque they make.

 

I'd still like to see the "stock engine threw a rod" people step forward.

It seems thats one of the big internet-lightning-urban-legends. Next I'll be worrying about my kidney's and a tub of ice.

Daniel

 

I have to agree with thepawn on this. However, I was shown a completely destroyed lower from a Harley Truck. Supposedly it was completely stock but I have my doubts as it broke all eight rods. I think some heavy boost or nitrous was involved with this failure. If you stay stock I dont think rods are a concern. Now, the heads are a completely different matter.

 

all 8 ?!?!?!? wow i would have liked to see that !

CRAZY !