I have posted before asking what mods would get me to 12 seconds. I have been given a lot of good answers, but I still feel a little lost.

I am new to the L, but I am not new to building horsepower in motors. I have a 11 second Chevelle, but building a 350 is really pretty easy.

I want to put on a chip, pulley, exhaust, and open air intake.

Here my concerns and questions;

1)When I put on a #4 do I need to change plugs? It seems like some do and some don't. What is the right/best way to hadle this?

2)Do I need to change the thermostat to a 160 or 170? I read one place where a 160 is the choice and than I read where a 160 throws a code, WTF??

3)I am unaware of a dyno available here in Alaska. Can I get a good tune on a chip without a dyno?

4)My truck is a daily driver (during the short Alaska summer), would a #6 be to much? How about an #8?

5)Do I do the mods than buy the chip or should I buy the chip with the mods?

I promise I won't keep asking the same questions, I just want to make sure I do the build-up right.

I have checked a lot of other boards, and I am still a little confused.

I hope all of you who have information post your ideas, experiences, views etc. I am a sponge who wants to soak-up as much knowledge about building L horsepower as possible.

Thanks

 

you do not NEED to, but you should change your plugs with a #4. however, with those long cold alaska years, i would go with a #6 and a plug change. if you lived somewhere warmer, id say a #4 and a 100 shot. hell, id still say a #4 and a 100 shot. but if you want to stay away fron N2O, the #6 will be great. the #6 should have a colder plug. the 160 themostat will help out but is not needed with this set up. like i said though, it WILL help.

also, you can buy a pretty decent chip and have it sent. a dyno tune is ideal though.

my $.02...chris

 

FastAsl,

Thanks for the info.

What plug do you think is best with a #6 set-up?

Everybody,

I keep reading about the nightmare plug changes, are they really that bad??

I have also read about people using different gaps.
What are most people using as a gap with what plug??

TRK or Denso w/a #6?? What plug number??

I am open to any set-up that works well.

 

Hey Crewie, what year/color is your truck?

There are two dynos I know about in town. One at Hale's Technical Service and the other at Power Source.

So far I have done the mods listed in my sig.

Do you know about http://www.alaskamotorsports.com ? Its a local forum and there are quite a few Lightning owners on there. Check it out.

 

Hey SVTinAK,

I also have a red 02. I forgot about the one at Hale's.

I did not know there was a local forum. I will head over there tonight.

Who did you mods? What shop would you suggest?

I met a fellow L owner last nght, he has the only Gray 03 in town.
That gray is a lot nicer looking that I would have thought.


Hello out there!!!!

I know there are a lot of you with great info, please pass some on to me. I am very interested in learning a lot more.

 

Crewie,

I had a fellow Lightning owner do my pulley and plugs for me. He knows much more about the insides of these things than I do. His name on here and also on AlaskaMotorsports is NCETRY. Hes been real helpful and is always willing to help me out. You may have seen him around town, hes got a silver '01.

We're heading up to the track tomorrow at about 5 or 6 pm. They are having another Street Performance Test n' Tune night session. If you can, you should head up! Will give you a good chance to meet a bunch members off alaskamotorsports and hopefully a few other Lightning owners will show.

Let me know if you want to come and we can meet up and drive out there. My email is ssnow@gci.net.

 

For a 6# setup Id run the Denso IT-22s, you will love them...plug changes arent that bad, you just have to be a little patient....Id gap the plugs at .035 , youll feel a nice difference...

 

Sorry I can't be of help in the frozen North of AK ...

But, I bought my RED '02 L in OH and she's with me now in Plano, TX (north of DFW).

Just thought I'd "check-in"...

Take care,

Ronald

 

SVTinAK,
You have mail.

Thanks Promod. I will be buying everything soon. I will have to post info once I get everthing.