Required Forged Parts
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From: Oklahoma
Required Forged Parts
When going to higher boost levels in a lightning 5.4, which parts in the following "wish list" are the "required minimum" that should be installed:
1. Rods
2. Pistons
3. Rings
4. Main bearings
5. Rod bearings
6. Head studs
7. Main studs
8. high volume oil pump.
The reason I ask is that, I have read that the rods are the "weak link" and need to be replaced with drop-forged rods. I have also read that, the stock pistons are "forged" however, I do not know if that is "sinter-forged" or drop-forged and what the pistons are rated at (hp).
I was going to try to just install the rods myself, until I found out that the engine needs to be balanced regardless of what parts are replaced.
I am on a very tight budget and can only replace the "required minimum" parts to protect my recently purchased 2000 lightning 5.4 engine with less than 10,000 miles, after installing it in my 99' F-150 supercab flareside and increasing the boost levels. Thanks.
1. Rods
2. Pistons
3. Rings
4. Main bearings
5. Rod bearings
6. Head studs
7. Main studs
8. high volume oil pump.
The reason I ask is that, I have read that the rods are the "weak link" and need to be replaced with drop-forged rods. I have also read that, the stock pistons are "forged" however, I do not know if that is "sinter-forged" or drop-forged and what the pistons are rated at (hp).
I was going to try to just install the rods myself, until I found out that the engine needs to be balanced regardless of what parts are replaced.
I am on a very tight budget and can only replace the "required minimum" parts to protect my recently purchased 2000 lightning 5.4 engine with less than 10,000 miles, after installing it in my 99' F-150 supercab flareside and increasing the boost levels. Thanks.
Last edited by iron horse; Aug 1, 2003 at 01:11 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2000
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From: TEXAS
The idea of putting a Lightning motor in other vehicles has come up MANY times. The cost of doing it so it would work was REAL high.
Dont forget you will need a Tranny that can handle the power, The Wiring haerness and PCM, Intercooler, pump, radiator, reservoir, Etc etc etc and on and on ...
Doug
Dont forget you will need a Tranny that can handle the power, The Wiring haerness and PCM, Intercooler, pump, radiator, reservoir, Etc etc etc and on and on ...
Doug
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,911
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From: South Florida
Originally posted by Silver_2000_
!
The idea of putting a Lightning motor in other vehicles has come up MANY times. The cost of doing it so it would work was REAL high.
Dont forget you will need a Tranny that can handle the power, The Wiring haerness and PCM, Intercooler, pump, radiator, reservoir, Etc etc etc and on and on ...
Doug
! The idea of putting a Lightning motor in other vehicles has come up MANY times. The cost of doing it so it would work was REAL high.
Dont forget you will need a Tranny that can handle the power, The Wiring haerness and PCM, Intercooler, pump, radiator, reservoir, Etc etc etc and on and on ...
Doug
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,472
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From: Shelton, Connecticut
Originally posted by Silver_2000_!
The idea of putting a Lightning motor in other vehicles has come up MANY times. The cost of doing it so it would work was REAL high.
Dont forget you will need a Tranny that can handle the power, The Wiring haerness and PCM, Intercooler, pump, radiator, reservoir, Etc etc etc and on and on ...
Doug
! The idea of putting a Lightning motor in other vehicles has come up MANY times. The cost of doing it so it would work was REAL high.
Dont forget you will need a Tranny that can handle the power, The Wiring haerness and PCM, Intercooler, pump, radiator, reservoir, Etc etc etc and on and on ...
Doug
If so, you ruined my day! -Mat-
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From: Oklahoma
Thanks for the input. I need all I can get. I think I have read everything on this site at least, about the swap. ha!
It appears that, if you attempt to swap out the engine AND transmission, you have to change out far too many items.
However, according to a Vendor's post in the computer chip forums, IF you swap engines ONLY, and utilize the existing transmission, you do not have to change the wiring harness and only need a dyno tuned chip for the set-up (besides the exhaust and flexplate). Infact, according to the vendor, his organization has programmed chips for this very swap.......and it worked. However, the vendor just informed me that, to do it properly, I need AT LEAST the PCM, powertrain wiring harness and the L transmission.
True my stock tranmission will not hold up to the torque of the lightning engine/supercharger assembly. However, I "hope" by taking it easy (yeah right) and with the Baumann shift kit, longer "supercharger spring" and Sonnax valves that I installed, will buy me some time until I can get a rebuilt or near race spec transmission and beef up the rearend.
Since I already have the Allen M90 intercooled roots supercharger kit with additional modifications, I already have an oem lightning heat exchanger bolted on, intercooler pump, an oem 90 mm MAF, 42lb. injectors, a highflow fuel pump and a chip, yet to be dyno tuned. The L engine I bought, has all the engine and supercharger pulleys/idler assembly attached to the front.
It appears that, if you attempt to swap out the engine AND transmission, you have to change out far too many items.
However, according to a Vendor's post in the computer chip forums, IF you swap engines ONLY, and utilize the existing transmission, you do not have to change the wiring harness and only need a dyno tuned chip for the set-up (besides the exhaust and flexplate). Infact, according to the vendor, his organization has programmed chips for this very swap.......and it worked. However, the vendor just informed me that, to do it properly, I need AT LEAST the PCM, powertrain wiring harness and the L transmission.
True my stock tranmission will not hold up to the torque of the lightning engine/supercharger assembly. However, I "hope" by taking it easy (yeah right) and with the Baumann shift kit, longer "supercharger spring" and Sonnax valves that I installed, will buy me some time until I can get a rebuilt or near race spec transmission and beef up the rearend.
Since I already have the Allen M90 intercooled roots supercharger kit with additional modifications, I already have an oem lightning heat exchanger bolted on, intercooler pump, an oem 90 mm MAF, 42lb. injectors, a highflow fuel pump and a chip, yet to be dyno tuned. The L engine I bought, has all the engine and supercharger pulleys/idler assembly attached to the front.
Last edited by iron horse; Aug 1, 2003 at 05:48 PM.
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From: Oklahoma
......since I anticipate a max. of 20 pounds of boost with a ken Bell or Works 140, does that mean, I need only RODS with a re-balancing and would not be required to install pistons, rings, bearings or studs?
