Ok just an idea here. I figure if I buy a Lightning chances are, i'm gonna want a built block, and if i get a built block, im gonna want a monsterbox, and chances are nothings gonna stand a chance for being stock. And since im not to big on badging vehicles anyway, the question is, are there any inherit frame diffrences between the lightning and any other 99+ f150 regular cab stepside? Thanks for the help

 

Don't know for sure about the difference in the Frame.

But just like a Mustang GT, VS a Cobra
And a F-150 VS a Lightning
NOTHING IS THE SAME, not the Motor, not the Tranny, not the Rear, not the Suspension, Not the Rim Tires, or Exhuast,
Not the Electronics Computer etc.... ----> NOTHING

But if it's looks your after and you plan on doing up a stock F-150 Motor to 500 HP then you are 100% correct in thinking you can make it look identical. I've seen some major hot F-150's out there.
Personally I wouldn't "L badge it", and I'd want 400-500 HP like a Lightning. The last thing we want is some a$$hole in a slow a$$ Hemi thinking he just beat a Lightning
CAUSE THAT AINT HAPPENING IN THE REAL WORLD

It sounds like you plan on doing up everything
Good Luck with the project grinomyte ,
Why not give some thought to buying a used L with a built motor and all the right mods, they are no more $ than a regular used Lightning.

 

btw whens this 04 ford F150 vs hemi comercial comming out, that one guy posted pics of ford filming it.?

 

Yeah thats kinda what i was thinking, then at least i could badge it a lightning (im highly against misbadging vehicles) and then enjoying while i mod, but i just know that i want to dump the motor, dump the tranny, dump the suspension. Id probably dump everything, seats tires, all of it eventually. Im justing thinking 19k for a 99 lightning then 10k into engine and trans vs 6-7k into a 99 xl with a 4.2 and then 20k into engine trans suspension tires body and the rest.

Buying a build L wouldn't be bad, plus i know they are hard to sell. . . . well not now, its coming within a year tho.

 

I dont have a tv so i dont know if its being shown, wouldn't surprise me if it was featured on fords website when its complete tho.

 

You could build a lightning out of a sport truck really easy. I mean 4 brackets hold the bumper cover on. You will spend around 700 dollars on the bumper cover alone that price is installed. Next you will need side skirts with the exhaust sticking out. I don't wanna know how much an exhaust will cost to fit a lightning side skirts for an built motor. Now your lightning head lights will run your about 450 dollars. I'd just go and put a console in a some sparco seats and save some money. Go on and get some lightning replica 20's and you will be in good shape wheel wise. If you got the money and don't mind hard work. I'd say go for it. Also forget ever putting lightning badges on the thing. I say take all the badges off period. Looks so much cleaner.

 

There's another alternative too....Why go with the L powertrain? Why not make it look like the L but put a big block in it?? There was a guy in Gainesville FFW in 2000 that had a carbed big block with a 200 shot. He had the side pipes, lightning stance, the whole nine yards, but he just put the custom K member and I think a 502 in it....That thing was wild, anyone here see that????

 

Why not just buy a high mileage 99 and built it from that. Another alternative is to buy my truck which is already done.

 

Thats actually the target right now. I've been looking at 99's and they seem to be around 19-20k which is a little higher than i would have thought but i can see why. But with apr and so forth i might as well buy it new. Thats when i idea struck me that, hey, im not keeping anything in there anyway, why go through the trouble of buyin an actual L when i could just get an xl and put the big stuff inside.

Yeah invalid i would remove all badges, actually i would probably leave the xl badges on for a little while, just for laughs but i would pull em and get it filled and painted.

Sorry 99 im not in the market quite yet, but im almost tired of my xlt so im gettin there. Just out of curiousity how much milage, whats your quarter, and how much are you asking?

swiseuf, it would be my daily driver, so carbed big blocks (though very appealing) wouldn't be a good option i think. My dream would be to have a high 10 daily driver, but since thats not really resonable i would shoot for a mid 11 daily driver. No easy thing in california but, hey you can dream right?

Still curious, will a 5.4 s/c bolt into a 5.4 xl? how about a 4.2 xl? Is the frame on the lightning reinforced in anyway to accomodate the power? Am i gonna need new axles for the 250 brakes?

 

A lightning motor isn't a regular 5.4. It was built alot different. BTW I think it would be funny to see an xl smoke a lightning.

 

One thing to think of is that if you crash or total it-- they will only pay for the price of a non-lightning and you will lose out....
You might be able to get special insurance though i guess but be sure to check into that!