What are the usualy upgrades done to lightnings performance usualy, i've been seeing alot of different info on mass airflow sensors would a 90mm be an upgrade on my '00 L? is that the stock size on later model L's? Are the lower pullyes usualy upgraded as opposed to both or the top? Is the stock intercooler system {water-water} efficient enough for trucks pushing more boost in the summer espeacialy, do alot of people use Royal purple Rear Diff or trans fluid?
Thanks

 

got search?
To answer your question the stock 80mm mass air is fine up to about 400rwhp.. Stock intercooler is a darn good one... And yes 90mm is the stock 01+ size. Usually people do a lower pulley, then maybe an upper later on after you reach the limits of the lower pulley size. I would talk to one of our big 3 Supporting Vendors, JDM, JLP or PSP, they will hook you up.

 

free/cheap mods:

Boost bypass. THere are a hundred how'tos on here.
make your own electrical fan kit (save a few hundred dollars)
Navigator water pump upgrade.

Basic mods:
lower pulley, Cold air intake, 90mm maf (I'm still not convinced on this one), Factory Tech valve Body (best mod ever, "shift kit"), Dyno tune and traction bars. you'll easily be in the 12's.

 

fixed it for ya...

-Mark

 

The L is not like a 5.0 Mustang where you can bolt on a set of slicks, jack up the timing change the air filter/ remove silencer and run a 13.80, there aren't many free mods on this vehicle but being that buget is the concern, start in the used parts section on NLOC one can pick up a 4 lbs pulley, air intake kit and a FTVB pretty cheap, you need a custom tune/chip or programmer to maximize the parts but even the basics should get you 30hp and is just fun, next up an electric fan kit, exhaust, you also mentioned your running a 2000, upgrade the MAF to a 90mm, a tuner can get you set up on this, but again available in the parts section all the time for 50.00 or less. I would buy the programmer or chip new as buying either used is a bit risky and this way when you plug it in it works. Good luck, Todd

As for the search post above, This guy has 5 posts under his belt, and has no idea where to start, thats obvious, he's just asking for a bit of advice/help, isn't that what the boards are for.

 

Thanks that helps clear some things up, i am a super NooB to Lightnings so when i find a thread about mods i'm not even sure if i understand it clear.
For starters i bought my L modified, to list most of the mods: Electric fan, Cold Air Intake, {not sure if the mass air is stock, i'll have to measure it} Full Exhaust, Lowered about 2", boost bypass and i'm not sure if it has a tune or a Shift Kit but when driving like grandma it shifts normal but under WOT it SLAMS gears... and BTW it ran a 12.81et so based on the E/T i'm thinking that it should have about 400+ RWHP "dynoing sometime next week" so if I don't already have a 90mm i'll look into that. I have Nitto 555 but looking at some 555R's for the rear if i can find them for less than $232 each. Then probobaly a tune/chip and maybe traction bars. I think that would be good for lower 12sec et's. Where are the ecu's located on L's? Thanks again.

 

(ECU)Inside the cab, passenger side.
Congrat's on your fast time!

Bryan

 

I just upgraded my wheel/tire and have some 555R's if your interested, email me lprice536@adelphia.net, I'm near MD.

 

Should still be the 90mm I installed. And the shift is a JDM line mod valve, your E/T sounds dead on I managed a 12.6 with that truck with traction bars on the stock F1's. Also that truck was upgraded with 3.73 gears that full exhaust is Kook long tubes, Magnaflow dual 4x9 mufflers and Magnaflow or Catco cats.

Man I'd love to see that truck again. Sounds as if the previous owner left it the way I sold it to Ron Bortnick Ford in Upper Marlboro.

Later...
Bruce

 

Indeed.

And pointing someone to a rich storehouse of information is doing him a service, not a disservice.

 

Help is Help.

Later...
Bruce

 

gooberlog where in maryland are you at???

 

Bless you... Oh I thought you Sneezed...

 

I live in the Laurel/Columbia area. How about you?

Thanks for the info Bruce, It doesn't look like it has the traction bars anymore, and it doesn't hook like it would either, I'd like to meet up with you some time and get to know a little more about this truck and you could see how its holding up. Where abouts do you live? I'm about 40min from upper marlbro. You said it has a chip, can you use a programmer on a L that has a chip too? I'm just want to make sure its tuned well for the mods it has. Might be taking it to a dyno sometime this week.

 

I'm in Southern Maryland near Solomons/Pax River area.
The traction bars were sold off it before I traded it in, the chip will have to either be retuned by this time or taken out and use a programmer.
You really should get that thing retuned before you hit the dyno.
Give me a call on my cell phone...

Later...
Bruce