i have a 2002 lightning that has 103,000 miles on it and it just blew engine #2ford replaced the 1st one with 78,000 miles on it for $6,000 and it just died on me.yes do the math thats only 25,00 miles on a motor that had a 36,000 mile or 3 year warranty! too bad i had it replaced in 2005 the service rep told me with a smile! any ideas on where i can get a decent remanufactured engine or have this one rebuilt a little cheaper but better this time would be greatly appreciated.

 

I would just find a good shop thats local. You can get a 5.4 from an exped and just use the block from it and build from there. It would probably be a lot cheaper then 6k in the end and you can put better stuff in it. I'd go for that and just use the stuff thats good off your "new" motor to make a good complete motor.

 

Go on www.lightningrodder.com and PM cyclone. He has a complete motor for sale that he would be willing to part out.

What kind of driving where you doing when these motors went? Even a stock motor can pop easily.

Beware the 2 gear kickdowns, watch out for cold weather, and no WOT blast with OD on or you are just asking for it.

 

Have a friend who invested around $10,000 in a motor and it lasted 11.469 seconds.

 

sounds like you have some bods you aren't tellling us about

or you're prone to 4th to 2nd kick downs and 3-4 WOT upshifts


or you're prone to WOT in cold weather


either way you need to find out what's going on before you destroy yet another motor

 

This is Mark the one with the clunking and hiccuping problem.
If you drive around town, what gear are you in on the shift lever, overdrive off or on? If you are on the freeway doing 70 mies per hour, I would think you should be in the overdrive mode right? What happens if you get on it at this speed in overdrive? Do you drive around(normal driving under 60 mph) in the non overdrive mode and if you get on it shift(press button) to overdrive? Is this truck that fragile? Can anyone who has had an L for a while, explain some of the simple facts I am not getting with this truck? Thanks again.
Mark.

 

I forgot to ask this question in my last reply. What is the weakest link with the Lightning and can it be fixed? I never had this being dainty problem with my old 01 Silverado.
Mark.

 

your silveradoslow also ran a high 17 in the 1/4 mile

 

with any automatic you never allow it to shift into OD unless you need it to, it has to do with the wear and tear on the coast clutches...

so that means use the button and turn OD off with the selector in D (drive)




the rods are the weak link, followed by the 90m MAF, the tune, the fuel pumps an of course the need for 91 octane or better fuel

 

What is the top speed that you drive while in the drive mode? Is the overdrive mode just meant for cruising down the freeway? Yes, my ole Silverado was slow, but with 130,000 miles on it, it probably would still run 17 second quarters with no engine blowup. Back to the OD questions. If I am reading what you are saying right, you drive the truck like a 3 spd. automatic and just don't over rev the sucker. Not the way the truck manual states it, but you guys have had your trucks for a longer period of the time the me. Thanks for all the replies.
Mark.

 

When I drive my 01L that I bought new in 01, I always drive with OD on. You'll find most everyone else does too. Now if you're going to race someone, then you'll want to have it out of OD. Generally what you want to avoid is cruising along in OD and suddenly flooring it and downshifting into 2nd gear which is really hard on your trans.

Actually this is a situation that shouldn't have to take place as when you're properly racing you're on a track and wouldn't be in OD anyway.

 

Talked to a transmission shop this week about the tranny in the L. He told me that I was thinking about it way... to much. He told me the tranny is strong enough for the truck, as the truck is way light compared to a F250. Yes, my Silverado was slow, as it was also a 4X4 with the good suspension, as it handled well for a four wheel drive. The main reason I am asking questions about the trans on the L is that it may have something to do with the hiccuping that is happening on my truck. The hiccup happens at any speed from 30 mph to 60+ mph. so I am checking out all possibilities. I am checking the codes again next week to see if anything is showing.
Thanks again guys and gals.
Mark

 

I can run over 80 mph in second gear, and probably 140+ in third

 

So it is safe to drive the truck, out of OD, around town at more than moderate speeds(realistic speeds) with no harm to the tranny? I do want to throw out another question about my hiccuping problem. Would having a bad oxygen sensor cause a problem like this? When they put the new exhaust on, they removed one of the sensors(right side) when they were welding on the pipes and then reinstalled the sensor to it original spot. Thanks again.
Mark.

 

Nothing wrong about driving around with OD off other than a loss in gas mileage. But I don't see any advantage in running the engine at a higher rpm than necessary. For example, if you're cruising along at 45 mph+ and at a light load, there's no advantage at running the engine and trans at a higher rpm than needed.