with winter fast approaching i am planning in putting my L away and was looking to "beef" it up some while its sitting for a few months. I currently have a 2003 L that i bought 3 months ago and it is bone stock other than a shift kit i am told it has. I am looking to put a JLP CAI in it. Other than that i am not really sure where to start with performance upgrades. I was thinking about new spark, wires, injectors, pulley(s). Not sure if i really want to change the stock exhaust i like that its quiet at idle but "loud" when the pedal is at the floor. I was just curious what success others have had with trying to get more HP and torque without completly overhauling the engine. I plan on keeping the stock supercharger. Any suggestions as to where i should start and what specific brands have been successful?

 

I'm a newbie to the lighting myself I have had my 03 for about 6 months now though. I am pretty sure the best and most proven upgrades are a pulley and a "GOOD" tune from a compent tuner, not a canned tune. As far as plugs and wires. Depending on your milage I would say go ahead and replace the plugs with some NGK TR6's and you don't technically have wires but the COP's (coil over plugs) should be good unless you develop a miss in the future. So have suggested replacing the boots on the COP's but I don't think its necessary. The CAI is a good idea it and JLP is a proven and common name. I would start with the lower pulley and tune and that will pretty much be your best bang for the buck. A quick reminder though is to make sure you have all the upgrades your going to do done before you carry it to the tuner so they can tune it with everything already on it. Exhaust is to personal. My magnaflow is way to loud at speed for me and I am thinking of going with "slow"master for the sound quality only as it doesnt drone under normal driving but does sound better than stock

 

a 6# lower, NGK TR6's, with a good tune, MAf or MAFia, traction bars an oil seperator and call it a day


the JLP airbox is great I like the look and the chickenears scoop will work with it

just run your stock COPS

 

what does 6# and MAF or MAFia mean? sorry for my ignorance but i am fairly new at this ...?

 

Changing the lower pully to one that increases the boost by about 6 lbs. It is about 9 3/4 inchs across. Changing the maf to one that has a wider reading capacity. It is located between the stock air box and the elbow leading to the throttle body. The stock exhaust is good up to about 500hp before it starts to constrict the exhaust. The changes you are looking at will put you around the 400 rear hp mark.( depending where you are located, as air density will play a big part of how much boost you willl see.

A good dyno tune is important.

avoid the down shift from 4th to 2nd when hitting the throttle hard. The sudden shock to the engine has been well known to be the cause of rod failure. Turn the over drive off first.

 

can the engine can handle an additional 6 lbs of boost without completely beating the **** out of the engine? Any specific brand of MAF that you have found works well? And what exactly is the point of an oil seperator i have never actually heard of that?

 

The larger diamater lower pully may not add 6# of boost ..depends on the starting air density..It will provide up to 6# of in Ideal conditions. In Canada on a cool day ( 65- 70 degrees) I see 14.5-14.7 # of boost with my 6# lower. The boost pressure guage only reads the boost build up back pressure from the intake valves. A longer duration cam would let in more air therefore reducing the boost readings, but as a result it lets in more air. The 6# pully is on the edge of what your motor will take. Some motors take it well and last several years others fail fairly quickly.
The edge of safety seems to be around 425-450 range. I ran 428 rear hp on a summer tune all winter in an earlier lightning. that was with other mods and a 2# upper pully. Developed about 12 # of boost.

I personally would not use a 6# in a cooler climate unless the block has been built for it.


The oil seperator catchs most of the oil that gets past the pvc valve. It seems the oil build up becomes first noticeable in the rubber elbow between the throttle body and the air box.

My mafia is from Diablo sports and was already on the truck When I bought it.

 

that's just the point, the oil seperator keeps your intercooler clean

http://www.dm-racing.net/oil_separator.htm

and this one are very popular

http://www.lnsauto.com/articles/ford..._article.shtml

and this one is also used by a lot of people

http://www.lightningforceperformance...roducts_id=477


I personally run a SCT BA2400 but am going to step up to the BA2800, others are very happy with the diablo MAFia


a 6# lower is a tried and true mod with the valve body to protect the tranny a lil' bit, a MAF upgrade and a good tune, the plugs you change out for the additional boost so you can get ones that burn "colder" than stock

you can also upgrade the throttle body and intake tract for a lil' more throttle response.

 

whoa....a 9 3/4" pulley is only 6#'s?!?

 

anyways...everyone here has got great advice...now get to work!

 

There's nothing wrong with running a 6# lower up north. I lived in VT and drove the truck yr round with no issues. It's all in the tune. I had a winter tune and a summer tune. I was also running a ported blower