Hey, everyone... I have 03 lightning with 17k on it...
I Recently added...
-Volant Cold air intake
-Accufab Throttle Body
-Superchips Max MicroTuner

The Superchips tuner has Towing..Performance.. and HP4(lightnings and harly trucks with a 4# pulley... )

I was running the truck on performace setting for a while it ran good with the mods that i have done..

Now is where the problem happens.. I Got a 9.75" / 8 Psi* Pulley... and Interchiller fans.... I installed everything... Tuned it to the HP4 setting drove it down the road... SOON as i hit like 3k rpm or if i just punched it the truck acted like it fell on its face like its not getting enough fuel... It just dogs down after the pulley starts spooling up quick... I tuned truck to performance and stock and it still runs like **** with the 8# Pulley... I am thinking the truck is not getting enough fuel... i just noticed that the Superchips tuner was for a 4# pulley... could this be the problem? I called sports truck direct where i got all the parts... they said they run the hp4 tune with the 8# Pulley and the truck runs great i dont see what i am missing or if the fine people at sports truck direct have no clue what they are talking about... Please help and post any pointers! Thanks!

 

id get it tuned for the 8# im no expert, thats just what i would look into.

 

My first question is are you running a #8 lower pulley with the stock bottom end? I personally don't think a preprogrammed tuner is going to tune your truck for that pulley. A #4 maybe. I think the truck is detentonating and the knock sensor is pulling the timing out of the motor to try to keep it together. Thats why it seems to fall on its face. I was new to the L scene and my truck would do exactly that, pull hard to 3 grand and then fall on its face. Well that costed me a new motor 3 days after i got it. My advice is contact a tuner that deals with L's and tell him your set up and they will point you in the right direction. I think you need a tune bad before it cost you a motor. Thats just my opion. Hope that helps.

 

I thought it could be bad... I am in PA.. I was planninbg on driving to Powersurge performance in NY but it seems i better take the pulley off or trailer it... Seems scary... with the setup I have though if its tuned right it should be alright? I dont need to replace a motor

 

Drop the 8 and put a 4 or 6. The 8 is a good set up , but if incorrectly tuned will cost you a motor and if correctly tuned will cost you a motor it just take a little while longer. Lots of boost is hard on a stock block and it will just be a matter of time for something lets go.

 

What Superchip programmer are you running? I was running a 1715 with mine before pulley changes and it did well. If you have one of these programmers with set tunes, they're not meant for pulley swaps. Im thinking your playing with fire if you have increased boost. You're canned tunes are not meant for this step in mods. I would either pull the pulley and return stock pulley, or get a custom tune quick.


2003 Gray Lightning
Ported blower,Excal2, 6lber,Lfp Idlers, JlP F. CAI, TR-6, Bassanni BX catback, 2400 Maf, Traction Bars, LC-1 Wideband, Boost gauge..420rwhp 486rwtq.

 

You live in PA? Man I would be at JLP, PSP or JDM's everytime my truck had an issue. I live over 900 miles away and still pulled mine to JLP's shop and left it there for the build and tune. I wouldnt waste any time getting to one of those tuners. You probably can still drive it there but I would stay out of the boost.....You Will Lose the motor if the tune isnt right. I am telling you right now the motor will let go if the timing and/or Air-fuel gets out of balance. It is almost impossible to diagnose the problem by saying this or that....Do yourself a HUGE favor and take the advice that has been offered. Call tomorrow and get a time set up to have it tuned. They can find out what the problem is. If it is indeed the fuel then they will know it, more than likely its not a fuel problem but instead a tuning problem. Just trying to help

 

Thanks for all the info guys.. I really appreciate it I think im gunna put it on a trailer and head to PSP somtime soon as of now im not driving the truck :-P

 

If you are in PA there are closer tuners...

 

You probably don't need to trailer it. Just change plugs cause you probably fried a couple of them and put the stock pulley back on and drive it to the tuner.

 

All well and good but L's don't have a knock sensor... I do agree with your assessment that he needs a new tune.

And there's no way Sport Truck Direct is running a 4 lb. tune on a truck with an 8 lb. pulley...at least not running well. I'm guessing in Scottsdale they don't have access to anything higher than the 91 octane that the remainder of the valley gets so they're yanking your chain. Keep it well below 3,000rpm on your way to PSP and you should be alright...but you've got a sweet grenade on your hands just waiting for you to pull the pin on it.

 

#8 with a stock bottom, wow.... Your flirting with disaster bud. I had a 6# in my 01 with a good tune and had detonation.

Ohh yeah.... What is an interchiller fan???

 

The "Performance" tune is only for stock boost and as you noted the HP4 tune is for a 4lb pulley only. You are very lucky that you didn't crater the engine. I would definitely check the plugs. Pull that 8lber off and install the correct pulley for the tune your running (i.e performance tune = stock pulley only and HP4 tune = 4lb pulley only).

Did you ever try the HP4 tune with the 4lb pulley or did you just run the performance tune? If you only used the performance tune with the 4lber then you are going to be surprised when you run the HP4 tune with the 4lber. Big difference in those two tunes! I also run the 1715 microtuner and they really did a good job with the HP4 tune IMHO. My best run is 12.85 @ 107 mph. Not to shabby for an off the shelf tune.

As everyone has said if you want to run a 6lb or 8lb pulley take you L to a tuner and have it tuned properly. I see you are going to take your truck to PSP. You can't go wrong with Sal, definitely one of the best in the business.

Good Luck to You.

 

Little update guys.. I took the 8# off... I put the stock pull back on now im running the performance tune.. The guys at Sportstruck direct are not being very much help at all... Wouldnt take tuner or pull back. I did get them to arrange a swap for a 4# pulley (They are trying to tell me they cant take the $50.00 belt I got back though) Even though I drove the truck prolly 10 miles and said hmm this doesnt seem good better stop driving it... Anyhow the truck is running like new again... Just had a couple more things to put into the mix...

Likei said mods installed currently are...

Interchiller fans
Volant Cold air intake
Superchips Tuner (running performance)
Accufab Throttle Body

I Still have these to put on...
(8.40" / +4 psi*) ASP pulley
Superchips tune (HP4)
The Power valve designed for the Ford 4R100 transmission

My questions are...
Should I put just go with the 4# pulley and the Superchips tuner.. Or should I go with a 6# pulley with a custom tune... Or should I get the 4 or 6 # pulley and swap out the Superchips tuner with a diablosport tuner... or am i wasting my time keep the 8# pully and get a custom tune already!

Any other mods that I should throw into the mix together would be great guys! Still building the truck up any advice helps on what to keep what to trash and what to buy!

Still kinda stuck any opinions help thanks again guys!

 

several people have agreed that you should take it to a tuner. You are trying to mix and match mods.....I have already done it. Now I have dropped over 12K in my setup. Consider your self lucky that the motor is still together. Take your pulley and go get a tuner to fix you up. A couple extra hundred dollars will save you 8,000 later. They will dyno it and give ($) you the chip or tuner with the correct tune for your truck. It will be custom to your preference and will be well worth the money for what you get in return. Heck, you are in PA, take it to JLP. It cant be far from where you are. If you have a problem with that then JDM and PSP arent that far away.