Hi all,

I have recently purchased a 2004 Lightning here in the UK. And am looking for more power already. However, I also require driveability and specifically reliability.

Our lowest grade fuel is 91 Octane (Called 95 RON in the uK). So presume that the ECU can be programmed to use this as its lowest acceptable fuel grade.

In November, I am in Florida for 8 days, and am thinking of buying some bits to bring back home with me.

So....

Within a budget of around $900, and providing it fits within a normal suitcase and weighs less than 32KG. Can I have some recommendations please?

I assume, a programmer of some sort, an air filter and maybe a cat replacement? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

...Add

 

I would say skip the the catback and go for a cold air kit, pulley, and programmer. That should give you exactly what you're looking for. As for the gas if it 91 octane i think you should be fine running it without needing to retune. I a ran crappy 91 octane in California for 1/2 year with no problems. Good Luck!!

 

A chip, pulley and ram air kit should fit in your suit case if it is a nice sized one

 

Looking around there are just too many alternatives. Which is the favoured programmer?

And air filter?

And finally, pulleys. How badly do they affect economy or reliability (I did $500 of fuel last week!! UK taxation on fuel is scarey! That why we don't drive Lightnings!) . And what size pulley should I be after (Reliability being of most importance)?

And finally... How much extra power would I expect from these three things?

...Add

 

WELCOME madadd

Sounds like your best move is the SCT X Cal 2 Hand Held Tuner, or a Diablo Predator Hand Held Tuner (both will give you some adjustability), and a 4lb Pulley, and what ever filter system floats your boat. They're all pretty much the same, I use the PSP Fast Air System, but have also had the JLP Cool Air Induction System and would highly recommend both.

As for MPG, dont worry about it, with what your paying, whats another few bucks, HOLY FK THAT IS INSANE

As for performance,
TRUST US you WONT be disappointed

 

Hello Madadd, welcome to F150online.

Just for your info about fuels, this is what I found on Wikipedia

From wikipedia:

In most countries (including all of Europe and Australia) the "headline" octane that would be shown on the pump is the RON, but in the United States and some other countries the headline number is the average of the RON and the MON, sometimes called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), Road Octane Number (RdON), Pump Octane Number (PON), or (R+M)/2. Because of the 10 point difference noted above, this means that the octane in the United States will be about 4 to 5 points lower than the same fuel elsewhere: 87 octane fuel, the "normal" gasoline in the US and Canada, would be 91 in Europe.

I have been advised to run my HD on 98 octane preferably Shell Optimax as I will be fitting a 6lb pulley as soon as it arrives in England this month.

If you go for "mild" mods, you might find the general economy increases a fraction as you will be making better use of the power available.
If you cane the nuts off it though, expect to pay.

I'd say go with what Rob said if you want reliability and economy. There's a temptation to keep adding/changing or chasing a number and before you know it, you'll have a built short block and KB like the speed freaks on here

You can easily carry a Tuner, pulley and cold air back in your hand luggage. I did the same thing 2 weeks ago and as a benefit, no import duty

Not wanting to hijack the site but over in the UK, we have a site Rebel-V8 link where we have 1 Lightning and 4 HD owners so there's always something going on regarding performance.
We are organising a dyno day for late November (Midlands probably) so come along and join the fun.

 

This is what you need to do:

Pick up a 4# lower pulley w/ belt and a programmer (I'd perfer SCT)
The 4# will fit in the briefcase easily.

Whichever tuner you pick, will be able to send you new tunes Via E-mail as you add new parts and more mods. you can put them on your programmer and transfer it to the truck easily.

If you get a chip, you will have to pull it out, send it back to your tuner and wait until you get it back. Being that you're overseas it could take weeks. I personally wouldn't be driving the truck without the chip.

A chip and a custom tune will bring your truck alive!
I'd also get a Factory tech Valve Body (Shift Kit) which will fit in the suitcase, but it kinda heavy.. Maybe 30lbs.

 

Yo.. I have the same question. I have a 03 L and looking to add some more "pep" to it but as a daily driver I also wanna keep reliability and economy as close to stock as possible (if I take it to the track once that will be alot for me). I'm not looking to go nuts with a complete built bottom end so the stock bottom end has to be able to handle the mods easily.

So it's better to go directly to a tuner (I'm about 40 minutes from JDM) and have your truck custom tuned then buying a handheld flasher and doing it yourself? I already have a open air filter so I guess I'm looking for 4# lower/tune or handheld flasher? Do I need an aftermarkit chip or can the factory one be re-flashed to give the same tune as an aftermarket chip?

So with the filter/4# lower/tune how much of a difference will I "feel" over stock? I'm not looking to break world records at the track but I also don't wanna spend the money if it's not going to "feel" much quicker either.

Say if I where to goto JDM and have them install everything- estimated price$? Someone please advise...

 

When my truck was a few months old I went to the track and made a pass on F-1's, a single 2 bank Diablo Chip, an open JDM Filter, and Ultra 94 pump gas. Results were 12.8 @ 106 MPH

I HAD NOT ONE OTHER MOD
No traction bars, no Accu Fab, no suspension work, trans work, exhaust, cooling mods, NOTHING....

Then I got the bug and put N20 on it, and never looked back

 

My only go fast mods are a 4# lower, JLP Forced Air kit, and custom predator tune by JLP. I also have the ftvb and moroso trans pan, but I wouldn't exactly call them go fast mods. Anyway, my dyno numbers are in my sig. JL said I would have hit 400/500 easily if he had layed into the throttle a bit harder at the start of the dyno pull. The difference over stock is unbelievable!!! I love this damn truck. I've never run it in the 1/4, but I'm dying to see what it can do.

emig5m, where in jersey are you?

 

Chips sux compared to the programmers , take out the chip , sent it back , HOPE it gets burned correctly and shows back up to you within a week !! My 01 had the chip , my 03 has the predator and I'd NEVER go back to a chip ! I can set it for better mileage on a trip ( Factory specs ) and then choose any tune from mild to wild and install within 5 minutes and can you feel the difference !!

I sold the white 01 and now have an 03 sonic blue with apten ported / polished eaton , 4 lb lower , predator programmer , Cold air induction , the port job REALLY lets the charger build the boost quick ! , I' m getting 15 #'s out of the eaton and it comes on fast ! My 01 was heavily modded and for some reason the 03 thats light on the mods runs better / faster / and has more Hp on the dyno's ? ? ? Got a really good one ! Looking to change out the exhaust , any opinions on brands ? complete from headers to exit ? or just take out the cats ? for $$$ savings ? Had a flat up front last week , only got 15 k out of the F-1's , they were showing belts !!! had to go to goodyear and pay $ 311 per tire ! OUCH , was going on a trip and couldn't wait on ordering them DOOAAHHH .

Steve

 

Valve body weighs 1-2 pounds and smaller than most books. Alternates, Mod Valve or Level 10 shift kit. Either weighs maybe an oz. and can fit in your pocket, basically a couple of small springs and a thimble-sized concentric aluminum sleeve/plug. When these three parts are installed in your stock valve body you create the equivalent of an aftermarket VB without the bulk or extra expense of the additional stock valve body core, just takes a minor amount of additional expertise to do the install.

 

If you are going to increase boost, don't forget to pick up a set of colder range plugs.

NGK TR-6 works fine for me, some go for Denso IT-20 ($$$)

 

One note on delivery.

Since you will be in Florida for a week and there are not storefronts where you can go but this kind of stuff - you might go to the supporting vendors page now https://www.f150online.com/vendors.cfm pick a vendor (REM is in Margate FL, not sure how much they stock and if they have a storefront ) and find a way to get the stuff shipped to your hotel so its waiting for you.

Florida is a LONG state and you can spend a GREAT deal of time driving to TRY to get stuff other wise...

Doug

 

I have a reply from JDM who seem happy to ship stuff to where I will be staying.

Incidentally. I just had a $225 order arrive with me in the UK today. And had to pay nearly $80 in taxes when the delivery man arrived. Not happy! So with international shipping I paid an extra third just to get the items over here. So my suitcase idea sounds increasingly better value.

Within a limit of $1000 JDM have suggested ..

SCT programmer w/ 2 tunes
4 lb lower pulley kit
NGK TR6 spark plugs
Oil breather cap
Phenolic spacer kit
2 " rear lowering shackles

Although, I really need an air filter too! I desperately want to here some whine!

...Add