My 2002 true blue baby had a heart attack about 3 months ago. I recently had a short block built and I am sad to say that I dont want to mess with it. My options are to either put the shortblock under all the stock crap and sell it or go ahead and mildly modify it and ask a little more. What would you do? I hate to put stock heads on a built bottom end but I know I would never get the amount I put in it back out of it. If I am going to do it I want to do it right and I dont have the fundage for that. Also what is the market doing for lightnings these days? last time I checked it seemed to be a little low due to gas prices, anything new going on?

Any ideas or comments welcome. Just need a little advice.

Thanks people

Josh

 

Josh I guess you already bought the shortblock, in your case it sure sounds like the move for you was to get another stock motor for it, they're a dime a dozen too. If your worrying bout resale your already in trouble so it's decision time on "if" your keeping it a while, and how much power do you want ?

Unfortunately I'm the frigging poster child on what to NOT DO when putting an economy built motor in a L. On my old 02 I tried stock everything with just Rods, Pistons, and ARP hardware (rings, bearing, seals, guides, pump, etc...)
THEN I also wanted a lot more power, but how the hell do you do that with stock heads and cams, so I boosted the hell out of it and bye bye that motor went....

If you just want it runing again you already spent too much so just stay stock up top and your good to go. But if you want to keep it and make it go
heads and cams are an absolute must!!!

As for resale you can buy Gen II's all day from 13K on up to 26K depending on condition and Mods.

 

Get ahold of CowlSS on SVTPerformance. He sold his truck recently, from what he's posted he maybe ready for another project. True Blue is unique so it may work for him. A shot in the dark for sure but worth the inquiry. Good luck with your decision.

 

Stop the bleeding, put it back together and sell it. Maybe try to sell the new shortblock and get a stock (cheaper) shortblock if you haven't installed it yet. You can get a new shortblock for $1,700 here http://www.karkraft.com/short_blocks.htm or watch the classifieds.

 

thanks for all the input. I guess I have a big decision to make. I mean I love my L alot but damm, when i bought it I had no idea the amount of money it took to repair it ......well repair it they way I want I still think my vette was cheaper to fix...

Well poop

Josh

 

Josh exactly what your feeling now is the hardest part about owning a Lightning

I'll never forget buying the 02, I went on a waiting list Aug of 2001 at two dealerships and finally got my L the last couple of days of Feb 02. By the end of day one I realized I couldnt drive it any longer with Torque Reduction turned on and that stupid *** Rev Limiter/ Fuel Cutoff set at (what was it 5250 / 5350). How people still have stock L's I truly will NEVER know ???
Anyway within 1 week I had a Chip in it and then found this place and also found out I basically just lost my wrrnty Then I read and watched and learned and saw and came to the conclusion I was DEF going to lose a motor eventually, (not a good feeling after knowing I already lost the wrrnty).
Plus by the end of the first month I already had a Filter Chip n Pulley on it, then a upper pulley by the 2nd month and there I was running 12's by the first summer, AND I WAS HOOKED....

The rest is history and here we are 3 L's later and prob 150K down in cashola,
the point is only YOU know how much it means to YOU. Only YOU know if you want to keep going or get out now. For me the disapointments, games, and lies, had me convinced it was time to sell. In the absence of the 02 I built an absolutely BEEEEEEEEEAUTIFUL Procharged GT Convert, (but it wasnt a L), I bought a 50K SRT8 (but it wasnt a L) and then I bought another L, and then another L, and here we are. Others sell and never come back, me I'm an old hot rodder and after owning pretty much anything you could possible imagine believe me when I tell you NOTHING compares to a Supercharged Lightning, there's just NOTHING on earth like it.....

Now as for you it seems you really dont want to spend the money and thats fine Bro, believe me I wish I would have made that decision back then.
There's a couple of ways you can play it now, fix it and sell, spend more and make it a monster, sell the Built Block as mentioned and put a stocker in it and sell. Only YOU know whats right.....

Best of Luck either way

 

words of inspiration. Man your awesome I guess I just needed some encouragement to continue my journey and to know that I was not alone.

Thanks and wish me luck

Josh

 

Luck