well on another site i was sort of arguing with a member about the diif between the lightning 5.4 and the std 2v 5.4 97-03

what are the differences.
here is what he said


The internals on the super charged 5.4 are stronger than the ones in your 5.4. Your compression ratio will be too high causing detonation, and your engine won't last long. You will be better off getting an aftermarket centrifugal super charger like a Paxton. It will work with your current engine configuration, and still give you a good power boost.

i called bs and he asked about compression ratios

Just two questions. What is the stock compression ratio of a supercharged 5.4L? What is the compression ratio of a stock 5.4L?

If you don't know the difference you will have problems. The internals are NOT the exact same. Before you call BS, please feel free to correct your rectal-cranial inversion.


to be exact
id like to prove him wrong since i think i am right but you all now far more than i do

 

Lighting Internals:
Forged pistons: 8.4:1
same rods as any 5.4L(except ford GT and GT-500)
Forged Crank

Standard 2v:
Cast pistons: mid 9's:1 compression ratio
same rods as lighting
mixed forged and cast cranks.

With that said you can run whatever blower you want on your 2v engine and make the same amount of horsepower as a lighting on a stock long block. The 3valve motors are 9.8:1 and there are several of us that run 12+lbs of boost all the time.

 

Engine differences are as stated, heads and cams are the same. This is why folks say to stay at 10 lbs or less of boost. The compression is not that big of problem (tuner can handle), but the pistons/rings are probably the weakest link. Rods are crap on both engines and L's have been know to throw rods when the wick gets turned up too high. Also, the tranny on the L is stronger and it has 2 fuel pumps. Other than that we can out tow them!!!!!

 

first off tell him to come to f150 online and search Lswap many people have successfully done it, if he still doesn't believe you than call him a moron and be done with it.

also, the lightings really didn't make much power all things considering 380hp if i remember right. not really enough to warrant a forged crank (in my opinion)

 

also many people with built lightnings and harley trucks and other supercharged 5.4's are running upwards of 9.5:1 compression with great results

 

I thought all PI 5.4's had forged pistons/crank?

 

I believe all 5.4 3v have forged crank with same pistons and rods as 2v. Problem with the rods are they are so strong it actually makes the brittle. Still on both 2v and 3v you can on a good tune be anywhere between 450-500RWHP and be reliable. Variable cam timing does wonders.

 

the 3 valve motors use a different piston than the 2 valve motors and the 32 valve motors use yet another piston (all cast) except on the forced induction vehicles from the factory

 

At a certain year, around 2002, they were mixing forged/cast into production. someone else who may know the specifics might set it straight. I remember asking and being told a certain year range was going to be a forged crank.

 

97-99 F-150 5.4s had forged cranks. Then the bean counters got involved and ...... There may be a few odd ball newer engines that still have the forged crank. All the L engines had forged cranks.

 

any way to tell externally?

 

Nope.