Hi guys, I'm new to the board, and have always been a chevy guy , but I'm looking for a used Lightning.

My questions are what the powertrain differences are with each year Lightning, 99'-03'. Like how they have different computer's each year, lower gears, etc..

I'm looking for an L with less than 15k on it, likely an 01' or 02'. Is there anything that makes one year much more desireable than another year? Or any year that is harder to mod (engine-wise) that I should stay away from?

Thanks

 

If you get a 01+ you will have less 'catch-up' to do as they come with 3.73 gears as opposed to 99-00's 3.55s. Also the MAF was upped from 80 to 90mm on the 01+. Plus a new intercoller design. The 01+ are supposedly 20HP stronger from the factory, but each truck is different.

Not that much $$$ involved to 'catch-up,' but at the same price/miles and what not, an 01+ would probably be a better start.

-Kimball

 

Thanks Kimball!

Are the 01'/02' computers any better (easier modified) than the 99' and 00' models? I heard that, but haven't found anything posted on this board to back that up.

Is it fairly typical of stock 99'/00' trucks to run high 13's at 97-98mph, and 01'/02' trucks to run mid-high 13's at 100-102mph?

 

Before any mods my '00 was running 13.56@100. Also something you might want to think about is the '01 and up plug launching problem. I haven't heard much about the '99-'00's loosing plugs(maybe i have missed these threads?). I don't know anything about diffs in the computers. Just my 2 cent!

 

Specific to the transmission, first, all of the Gen 2 trannies are interchangeble, so if you have one you can use any of the others, but here goes..

1999, Model F1
Had green solenoid, same as orange but the screen fitler lets bigger particels through, not only on Lightnings but this solenoid is more prone to problems than the orange one from contamination.
The Intermediate brake drum (7D044) had a bronze thrust washer that was deleted in later years, competely swapable, I never knew why they changed it, must have been a cost issue, the new part works great, but so did the old one.

2000, Model 1S
Orange Solenoid, no thrust washer on the Intermediate drum

Early 2001, J1
New material on the intemediate plates, supposed to be better, mechanical diode instead of the interemediate sprag, the diode had problems across all models and the design reverted back to the sprag halfway through the model year, only about 1600 of these models were built

Late 2001, and up, Model 5X
Same as 1S excpet for the new material in the intermediate clutch, no problems with this model, it is the same tranny that goes into all S/C Harley Davidson trucks and some of the NA Harleys. Units built after 8-11-2001 do not have a drain plug on the torque converter. Units built after 3-15-2003 have the 812 washer in the torque converter replaced with a torrington bearing and the phenolic washer on the reactor has been replaced with a metal one, a big improvement.

G

 

Awesome information, thanks a lot!