The stock motor is sitting at my shop. I really wish it was still in the truck. I feel all I would have had to of done is turn down the boost a little and she would have lasted for a while running mid to high 11's. The only pictures I will have are of this last motor. It is not in my hands now so I cannot take any. From the things I have heard about the top end it is nothing nice to see. Certainly not what I orig. paid for to put it lightly.

I don't think this thread should be locked though as I feel EVERYONE that owns a Lightning should read it just so they do not have to go through what I have over the last 10 months.

In response to Tommy's line of how the cylinders were out of round and the other vendors chip. The truck was blowing smoke from the start with YOUR chip. Ever think that your chip dumping so much fuel in the cylinders was the problem>??? I will also say the truck made good numbers ONCE. But this was after the 4th try and then balancer situation happened the next day. Once you got your hands on that motor again and took it apart, it did not last 4 days. That is horrible, to put it lightly again. -Mat-

 

I had a motor built by Tommy at about the same time as you, as matter a fact, my truck was there the same time that yours was. I had blown my motor up and wanted a complete built motor. I contacted all of the vendors and decided to give Tommy my business. The price was right and he seemed to know what he was talking about. The truck was done pretty close to the date promised, but did take a couple of extra days. It was picked up and driven straight to Florida from his shop. After the motor had a good chance to break in, I drove it like I do everything else. FAST AND HARD..... I was not easy on the engine at all. The motor sounded good and ran good, with no problems. The tune had to be changed a little but Tommy did it for me at no additional charge. The truck ran strong for 8 months until it was totaled in an accident. I have since bought a new lightning and have been a return customer to Outrageous Performance. The prices are fair and service is pretty good, even though he doesn’t always answer the phone or return calls.

But back to Matt's statements
"From the things I have heard about the top end it is nothing nice to see. Certainly not what I orig. paid for to put it lightly."
“I am going to afford to fix this and don't want anyone else to go thru with the same thing EVER. The old motor is apart and I am ashamed at some of the things I have been told.”

There is no reason that you would not be able to repeat what was found, even if you were taking him to court. It would have no bearing on the case at all, unless the story was to change from now to then.
And if court was the reason why you do not want to say, then you could have a friend post it in his own words under his own account. It would not be able to be used in the case because it would be hearsay..

I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I am not sticking up for Tommy. I am just letting the people know about the dealings that I have had with him. I just find it odd that I emailed Matt 3 times asking him for more information on the motor, because I was in the process of trying to buy my salvaged truck back and I was really wondering if I was making a mistake due to the problems that matt seemed to have. After 3 emails explaining my situation, I did not even get a response. Not at all..... Not even saying that, He was not able to comment at this time.

That is why I chose to write this long reply, and I think that everyone in here has to remember that there are 3 sides to every story.

Work done 1st Lightning
Built motor
Stage 2 cams
Tit. valves
Head work
Line lock
Traction bars
Fuel pumps
Pulley
Drive shaft loop
FTVB
Boost gauge
Fuel pres gauge
Tran’s temp gauge
Predator
ect.....

 

First off, are you a lawyer who knows what can and can't be said>???

Second, very rarely do I look at my email because 90% of it is spam, many things get deleted that shouldn't. Sometimes I do read them and say I will respond later and simply forget about them. If that is a problem for you or you feel that discredits what I say, then I am sorry. If you feel your motor ran strong then you should not even have to ask me whether you should run it again. I would NEVER drop one of his motors between my fenderwells again, even if it was given to me if that will help answer your question.

There could be 20 sides to this story. No one can believe a word I have said. I believe it, and know it is the truth and that my friend is all that matters. I have spent thousands of dollars on this motor and probably another thousand with trips back and forth to Jersey. Have not been able to enjoy my Lightning for the last 10 months. I know the truth, I have had to deal with it all, not you. And for you to discredit me because I didn't answer an email is quite silly. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do with your Lightning and the old one as well. -Mat-

 

I have read 5 Pages of this. And not knowing any one on this site let alone either of the 2 parties involved, in the motor situation, I feel I can fairly & unbiasedly say that both parties involved have done a very good job of sticking to the facts. But, Both have scewed things in their preference, though probably not intentionally, it is just a natural thing for EVERYONE. I do feel that something was not right all along. And if JDM finds anything out of the norm that tommylightning will be pay JDM whatever it costs to get SVT F15O what he originally wanted in a modded motor.


Though I have never been in this exact type of situation on either end (Builder or Buyer) I have been in very similar situations, on both sides. And it isn't easy to deal with either way. On the one hand the buyers just wants what he payed for, and doenst feel he got it. On the other hand the builder has done literally everything he can do short of giving him his money back and he can't afford to do that becuase he has TOO much cash in it, on his end.

I do think some things are not meant to be. And these two people are not meant to do business. The whole thing if it goes to court is going to come down to where or not the judge feels if tommylightning has done enough to fix it or is neglectful of the product he is selling. And "I" think TommyLightning has done a ton of 'trying to make it right'.


Advice was given in the first page to not say to much until everything is finshed, and this is advice BOTH parties should take. SVT F15O is talking with his heart and not his head, it is understandable, but not advisable. Don't get pissed about what someone posted, well atleast don't respond to it even if you get mad. GOD knows I'ld be madder than a Skin head watchin the Jeffersons, especially if had been through what SVT F150 has been through.


I think I typed enough here, but if someone is wondering who or where i come from I just Bought a 98 F-150 flareside not a lightning unfortunatly, (and i love it so far) and i have been looking at some of the mods that can be done. I have also been a Ford nut Since birth. 71 F-100 w 390 and a 67 Galaxie 500 convert w/390

 

Did you ever get any pics Mat? I would like to see them.

 

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rob_02Lightning
[B]Mat,

I could not say it better than Jim
And I agree with Grimace 100% too

All I can say is, I'm sooooooooooooo sorry to read this BRO
AND you sure do have A HELL OF A LOT OF PATIENT
Cause if this happen to my L, and someone's lack of knowledge
and workmanship prevented me from driving it for @ a yr,
and they told me (and I quote) sue me, dragging the builder into court WOULD BE THE LEAST OF HIS WORRY's

Sometimes you have to help someone GO OUT OF BUSINESS
so this can never happen to someone else


So Sorry Bro....

And for all the people that are about to say
BUT WAIT, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY,
THERE IS NONE, Mat bought in a perfectly running Lightning,
spend prob close to 10K, and prob won't drive it again for a full yr (since this nightmare started), and will prob cost him another 5-10K. In my world YOU GET EVEN, WHAT EVER IT TAKES................

[b]EDIT[/bDID I FORGET TO MENTION JDM IS THE DAM BEST MOTOR BUILDERS IN THE WORLD THANKS TO JIMIII FOR ALL THE WORK HE HAS DONE TOM LIGHTNING FAST

 

Tom the motor will be at your door on monday or tuesday as planned. I loaded it myself last night on the Fed ex freight truck, sorry I didnt call today it was super busy here! Ill call you in the morning the the tracking # The plugs and header gaskets are in the valley of the motor!

JimIII@JDM

 

Just don't send him my motor....

 

They say patients is a virture my wife says i have no patients my hats off to JDM my wife told ME give them time and they will build you a good motor. my WIFE hasn't been wrong yet man i can hardly wait on my lightning you know that motor is the heart of my baby. wife says i think more of my lightning than her not hardly true she;s the one with the $cash THANKS TO JDM AND ALL THIER STAFF. "WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


POWERED AND TUNED BY JDM/



P.S. I HOPE IT WAS SHIP TO MY MECHANICS SHOP/

 

Thank you Tom that means alot to all of us.


Jeff yours is sittin pretty, waiting to clear some stuff out of here! Call me about the BTS before monday.

JimIII

 

looks like sumone else is gonna be needing a cage real soon........

especially since they are crackin down at 41!!!!!!!

 

got to make sum $$$ first....

 

I will try and get pictures up this weekend. I need to borrow a camera as I dropped mine. The bottom end is still intact as I had last hopes that he would be man. -Mat-