Just installed the following mods on my 01 Lightning:

JL Chip
JL 4# Pulley
JL Bed mounted Cooler
JL D/S Loop
JDM Breather Cap
JDM Filter Kit
PSP Valvebody
Magnapack Mufflers
Autometer F/P and Boost gauges

The truck has 4700 mile on the odometer. I have a few questions for all of you with the same or similar mods...

1. Should I change the factory plugs to NGK TR6's or should I leave the stock ones in? What gap should I use with the mods listed above?

2. I've been using conventional 5W-20 oil and want to switch to the Mobil 1 Synthetic. Should I go with the 5W-30 like the 99-00 Lightnings or should I stick with the conventional oil untill more synthetic options become available?

3. Should my Autometer boost gauge read lower than my factory gauge? Mine is lower than the factory by 1-2 psi....

I appreciate the help very much.



JC
01 Lightning

 

1.) YES! Get those crappy stock one out of there! Gap... Im not sure...
2.) Do what you want. If you want synth, then use the 5w30. If not, keep to the 5w20.
3.) Autometer guages are not all they are cracked up to be. At least in product consitancy.

 

I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing you run next weekend with all those mods!

 

x, the question i have, how does the truck feel? does it feel noticably faster or what?

 

JC -

How much boost is it making??

just curious.


Bob

 

CC: I'm looking forward to meeting all of you next Saturday and seeing what this heavy azz refrigerator will run. I will not have my shift kit installed for Saturday (it's on back order :-( ) , but all the other mods are already installed.

lightning al: It feels way faster than before.... This thing is flat out hauling azz...

Bob: It's making between 13 during the day and about 14 psi when the weather get a little cooler at night. Awesome stuff !!!

JC

 

Be sure an' help ol' CC out next weekend. You'll probably find him sittin' on his tailgate, tryin' to fine-tune that pesky ol' boostin' actuator. I understand, he likes to keep clean an' won't get too close to that greasy eng. Oh, an' check out that JC Whitney NOS kit--you know, the one with the hi' pressure aquarium air pump instead of a 'bottle'. He plans to get into the 14s with 'that'

Dan

 

*in his best Macon, GA voice*Naw, I took dat boostin' thingamajig offen threw it muh tool box along with my interkooler pump. Figurd it would be best to lieve dat kool flewid in da IC than tuh circumscarate it arouwnd dat hot enjun. Muh JC Whitney NAWS kit is du bistes thing cents I startid runnin' dat hi pryced 89 oktain fewl! Nowe all I gotz tuh dew is replayce dem 5 Spitfyres wit sum matchen NPK's (dey seiyd dey wuz az gud az dos NGK's down at Earls Hy-PoforMans Shiop) dat whey I cun have 7 matchen and 1 ACdaleco fur gud luck. Yeeeeeeee HAW! Me's gunna runs wit da BIGE BOYZ dis wekend!!

 

RAOTFLMAO--it's obvious you didn't take Southern Latin at Oxford...enough, I give up!

Dan

 

Thanks for the class on Southern Latin

Now back to my questions ........

JC

 

1.) I'm probably gonna go with the NGK's as well. I think they are supposed to be gapped at .040. Double check that with JL.

2.) I use Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic. Ford went to 5W20 for emissions only.

3.) The factory gauge is in NO WAY accurate. Trust the Autometer. BTW, mines WAY in the black with just a K&N. ~12+lbs. I don't even have a pulley...yet.

How's that?lol

 

I went ahead and installed the TR6's gaped @ 0.040".

I figured the factory gauge to be a little off, so I'll go with the Autometer all the way...

I ended up using the Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 5W-20 for now. It's a good value at $1.77/qt and I change my oil at 3000 mile intervals anyway...

How in this world do you see ~12 psi with no pulley???

JC

 

(1) If you have enough motivation to change your plugs, then by all means do it. Some have said that Splitfires work pretty well, and others go the NGK route (and we wont' even go into those Iridium deals!). You're definitely not going to lose performance by making the switch...but I don't think you're gonna gain a whole lot either.

(2) Switch to Mobil 1 Synthetic . (that was a "period!")

(3) Your stock boost gauge is really only good as a "yes/no" gauge as someone else so aptly put it. I have the Autometer gauge as well, and its safe to say that the stock gauge is a little "optomistic" at higher boost levels (by 1-3 psi I'd say).

Now my question:

What do you think of your rear-mount JL Powercooler, and is there any chance you could post a pic of it installed? Also, how easy was it to install, and how well do you feel it works: with just water (normal day to day driving), and with water and ice (track...or friday nights around town!).

Thanks.

Later...

GK

 

amsoil makes a 100% synthetic 5w-20 good for 7500 and it has better test results for wear then mobil 1

 

With the ever so accurate stock gauge. Just shows how far off mine is. Wish it wasn't.