Figured I would bump this thread and hopefully can get an answer.

I have a '97 F-150 with the 4.6. I'm wanting to buy a complete lightning drivetrain (engine and transmission along with the computer). Will this bolt directly into my '97? I've read that it might need different driver side engine mounts?

Seems like most of the responses in here are about trying to add a supercharger, etc. to a stock F-150 engine to make it comparable to a lightning engine. That's not what I'm wanting to do. Again, I'm wanting to take the entire engine/trans combo out of a lightning and put it in my F-150. Just wanting to confirm that it will basically bolt right in before I pull the trigger on it.

 

I don’t understand why you people think that “the lightning engine” is so much better when the only difference between it and your standard PI 5.4 is only the Pistons



Anyway sorry for the reality check back on track to answer your questions

Engine
transmission
driveshaft
transmission crossmember
shifter cable
Not to mention your dash isn’t compatible with the lightning ECM anyway
Then you have to run down all the list of throttle cable cruise control cable all the little brackets and accessories and stuff we’ve got listed all over the place
Then your dash probably won’t work
plus you have to do exhaust and other misc “surprise” tasks

 

Not sure why you have to be so condescending. Not all of us live and breath cars and know the ins and outs of every little different type of engine. That's the point of these forums right? To ask questions and learn? Look at my join date and post count. I'm obviously still trying to figure out what would be best to replace my worn out 250,000 mile 4.6 engine.

Back to my post, you can find complete Lightning engine/trans combos for cheap. Much cheaper than finding a newer Coyote engine/trans or LS engine/trans combo. That's what started this idea. The one I'm looking at comes with the following:

• Complete engine from oil pan to Eaton supercharger
• Brake booster
• Coolant tank
• Heaet exchanger tank
• 4R100 transmission
• Driveshaft
• ECU wiring
• Engine bay wiring
• Body wiring
• Cruise control module
• ECU
• O2 sensors
• Intercooler pump
• Fan Shroud
• Fan
• Radiator
• AC condenser
• Transmission Cool
• Instrument Cluster

All for $6,000. So that's why I asked if this would basically bolt right into my '97 or if there would have to be some fabrication to get it to fit.

 

I would re-direct you to the post where I answered that for you but I’m not wanting you to feel further offended


good luck on your venture...

 

I'm not sure if you're not reading my post correctly or maybe I'm not reading the link you've posted a dozen times correctly. I'm not trying to take a N/A 5.4 engine and convert it into a Lightning engine. I'm talking about taking a complete Lightning engine/trans and putting it into a '97. Are there any clearance issues? Any custom fabrication that needs to happen? Or will it bolt right in?

 

Based upon what you have listed in that 'package' for $6K it sounds like you would have minimal fabrication to do...

 

besides the motor mounts, re-wiring the entire truck, I’d say that $6000 “package” is about $1500 worth of actual useful value to someone with a ‘99-‘03 factory V8 truck

 

OK let me reiterate your dash and truck wiring are not compatible with the lightning dash cluster


Your truck is not compatible with the modular V-8 engine mounts


I don’t know how to help you further because you’re dead set on wasting not only your time but everyone else’s time trying to help you avoid spending way too much on a project that’s not going to work as an end result


It’ll be lightyears ahead to start with a 99-03 factory V-8 truck

 

And let me reiterate that the lightning cluster and wiring is a part of this "package". So the fact that the existing wiring/cluster in my 97 won't be compatible with the lightning is not an issue. Now the engine mounts, there you go. You finally gave me an actual answer to the question I had.

Also, can you show me how I'm "dead set" on this? By asking a question? Wouldn't that be the exact opposite of being dead set on something? I'm trying to gather information about the best way to go about getting ~400 hp. If you have a better idea, I'm all ears. Never said it had to be a lightning drivetrain or bust.

 

Tarajerame:

Are you saying that even though they are the same generation truck and the 97 already has a modular Triton V8, the motor mounts are not compatible with 99-03 modulars?

 

no, the 4.2 uses a totally different motor mount setup

 

you missed the whole cab wiring part...

 

Tarajerame:

He wants to replace a 4.6 in a 97 truck with the L motor, not a 4.2.

 

Yup, that's also included. You really didn't read my post very well did you?

It's ok, you've made it clear that you don't really care to provide actual helpful info so I'm done with this convo. Enjoy your day.

 

Yeah, he didn't really read my post very well. Should have known from the start when he posted a link showing a part list for converting a N/A 5.4 into a lightning engine, which wasn't what I asked at all.