Hello guys and gals,
Long time Lightning fan here finally found a good match, a custom SVT, with a chevy 383 stroker, TCI 350 turbo transmission and a 3000 stall converter.
Please keep in mind, I'm just a regular guy with just basic mechanical knowledge.
First of all,how does that setup sound to you , but the real question is about the instrument panel.
With the swap, the person who did this swap was not able to use the panel , only the gas gauge, and installed external gauges for everything else,except the speedometer,which is out of commission.
I'd love to keep it stock-looking and be able to use the speedometer, will this be possible?
thanks in advance..

 

How much power is going in the tranny? Its a good set up to me depending on how much power its making. I know they generally hold up well in higher HP cars, but the lightning has a little more weight to it.

As far as the gauges go, you could just have a new instrument panel made with the aftermarket ones and have it set up however you like. All you need to do is make a face plate for the gauges and put them in.

 

Sorry about that, forgot to mention actual stats....the guy selling me the 01 SVT says that the engine right now does about 475 hp. Trust me, I test drove this truck and I was blown away, it's truly a beast, and what's awesome about it is that it doesn't look any more than a normal Lightning, although it's also lowered a couple of inches....

But going back to the panel, I need to explain that as of right now the check engine light remains on and I have no speedometer.....will I not be able to use the same intrument panel at all? I really would like to keep it stock....

 

Seems to me you want a stock truck. Get you a stock truck and mod it like you want. You are looking for issues with this truck, especially if you want it to look stock.

 

Ok, let me explain again:
I'm buying this truck, I got a great deal on it and could not pass.
Is there a way to have the instrument panel work with with the new motor?

 

Simple answer is NO. Stock instrument panel is controlled by the ecm which would not be compatible with that engine/trans combo.

 

Ok, I knew that answer already.....

Is the fact that this truck now has a Chevy block touched a nerve?

Holy $#%@*****....

My question was very simple:
Are there any other options other than the brilliant idea of not buying the truck?
Should I not care how fast I'm going?

WTF? a simple question? maybe I shouldn't even bother here....

 

whoa, cool it man. it seems that you want everything to work like stock (from what you said) so that was the reason for suggesting buying a stock lightning. then you got butt hurt about that and asked for a definite answer about the gauges and someone answered your question....

I always highly suggest against buying a vehicle that has a swapped engine, for several reasons.

But if you are dead set on it, the only other option I can think of is to get a chevy cluster and cut it up so it fits in the f150 dash then get a custom made gauge face to go on top to make it look like a lightning. Lots of work, I would just suggest put autometer gauges on an aluminum panel in place of the stock gauges.

 

Very much appreciated...
As I said before, I could simply not pass on this deal. Everything else looks perfect on this truck, the only issue is the panel. I was not going to allow that to be a deal breaker.
I understand your suggestion and I like the idea.....
Thanks..

 

I'm actually curious which are your several reason to avoid a custom truck like this one in particular...
thanks

 

If you look at post number 2, I told you to make a face plate for the aftermarket gauges already haha.

 

well for one the gauges dont usually work, as you know

who knows exactly what is in the engine (especially if you said its a stroker)

a lot of the integration doesnt transfer over (a/c, charging system, air bags, seat belts, emissions)

when something breaks good luck finding the right parts

and one of the main deal breakers is emissions testing, it will be damned near impossible with an ODBII vehicle

 

not to set off another nerve but I agree unless you are getting a STEAL I would stay away...it will NEVER pass smog (that may or may not be an issue for you), Im betting there are a few more loose ends than you are expecting if that is how the owner was driving it (no gauges).

On top of all that have you driven a stock lightning or even a slightly modded (bolt ons) lightning with the normal supercharged 5.4? They are monsters bone stock and VERY easy to make the same or more power this truck has with all the stock ford OEM parts & wiring / electronics intact and much easier to address problems in the future.

If it IS a KILLER DEAL, then a custom Aluminum or maybe carbon fiber plate cut to fit where the stock cluster is and then all mechanical gauges is really your only way of doing it. Could def be done right but Its going to be EXPENSIVE to do it right ESPECIALLY if you cant do it all yourself! Do you know what he is using for engine & trans management? stock chevy computer? stand alone system?

We have an offroad car with a "simple" stand alone system for an new LS7 and it runs great, but when there are any issues it is a MAJOR headache!

Personally I am much more of a fan of the potential of the supercharged 5.4 especially with all the OEM systems working correctly

 

Thanks for your opinion/input. I totally agree with you, this is not the best set up for a purchase of a legendary truck. In a perfect world, yeah I would save me enough to by myself 12-15 thousand dollar truck and keep that very big toy in my garage. Birds chirping yadah,yadah,yadah. But it hasn't turned that way for me,unfortunately.
Which is why, when this truck shows up on craigslist and see the price at less than half the price of a normal stock L, it's worth a shot,right?

Now here I am, asking these questions to find out if I can have this truck's interior as close to stock as possible. That's all . I've taken into account all your answers.
Hopefully, I'll soon be able to show you all this particular L in pictures.

 

what year of Lightning???