Hi, All

I own a 2003 F150 FX4 with 5.4 and 4r70w, and a '99 or '00 L blower unit and a pile of gradually-accumulated parts in my garage, and no idea what to do with them. All I know about engines and superchargers is that I like them.

The goal of the project is a conservative conversion, using pretty much all OEM parts, running maybe 6 or 8 lbs of boost, hopefully a reliable and trouble-free daily driver and long-hauler. I started a little fast, buying stuff before I knew what I was doing, but then I started working from Mad Mike's list, and eventually figured out that this forum is the best source of information out there. I've started to recognize people from their posts-- Tarajerame, Str8tSix, TwinSkrewd, CobraKit, rus, etc (pardon me if I am overlooking anybody else knowledgeable). I've sent a lot of e-mails to Mike Dunn, and called him a number of times, and he has been very patient answering my dumb questions. He has yet to sell me anything but does not appear to give a damn. He helps just the same.

I'll finish off my kit with some MadEnterprises purchases.

I am at the very start of learning how modern engines (well, 10- or 11-yr old engines) work, and are tuned, and how superchargers work-- The last car I turned a wrench on had carburetors and a distributor. It was mid-1970's and we had long hair and dressed goofy and smoked funny stuff. I understand you guys like to be helpful, but I have figured out that you prefer that people study up and THEN start asking questions. So, I've bookmarked a s--tload of threads and bought a couple of books and am taking notes, and am learning what I can. I am asking for your help and advice, but I'll try to keep the painfully dumb questions to a minimum.

If a couple of deals I have going right now go through, I've got most of the parts I need for my conversion a la Str8tSix (still after H/E brackets and some other odds and ends). I am in no particular hurry, especially because my money situation is going to start to suck. I work for the USAF, and am fixin' to get furloughed 1 day a week from 22 April through 30 Sep-- I love a 3-day weekend, but not with no money to spend. Can you say "Sequester?"

So, anyway, this is to introduce myself, and ask for your help and advice. I'll post some pictures of the truck (its nothing special but I love the damn thing) and my parts eventually.

Thanking you for your consideration in advance,

Stewart Hilliard

(also known as "k9dr," and recently mistaken for a dog-beater in the "Other Body" section of the forum. I'll try to keep the wry sense of humor under control)

San Antonio, TX

 

lets get some pictures

 

hey man, just post up some questions if you have any more.


i still have some parts im trying to get rid of. what else do you need for the conversion?

are you in the AF or a contractor?

 

First I'll CLEAN the truck, and then post some pics, assuming I can figure out how.

I'm a civil servant/civilian in an AF training squadron at Lackland AFB. We're the ones getting furloughed (3 day weekends from 22 April to end of the fiscal year, and 20% cut in pay). The other civilians, term hires and the contractors, are the ones that are truly f---ed, many of them are just flat losing their jobs.

Thanks for the offer of advice, Str8Six-- I'll be asking once I do a little more studying up.

The main parts I am hunting at moment are a good 10-row intercooler, and the brackets for the OEM H/E. I'd buy a spare H/E if I had to in order to get the brackets. Could also use a Metco/LFP Quick-Change lower pulley hub (have a ring already), PCV or IAT tubes in good condition, wouldn't pass up a cruise control cable.

Thanks.

 

Awright, here's a question for you. I will eventually do electric fans, but to keep the cost down, not at first. So is it worth trying to find an L fan shroud for my conversion? I had a shroud lined up for like $30 shipped, but then the guy figured out what a huge PIT and expense boxing and shipping the thing were gonna be, and asked to drop the deal. Is there something unique about the L shroud that makes the reservoir mount that much better, or do I just drill a couple holes in my stocker and everything works out fine?

 

Second question-- I have a line on an '01 Lightning engine with a little under 100K. The guy will sell me pretty much everything under the hood from intake up to tranny, with all engine accessories and parts etc, for $1,500. Would this engine bolt into my '03 FX4? I would then wind up using the L ECU and harness, but then that is not set up to control my 4r70w/4X4, right? So there are all kinds of complications....? If it is even possible, is there any argument for sticking a L 5.4 in a 4X4, rather than just bolting the blower onto the stock 5.4 in the 4X4 and using the original harness, 1 IAT sensor, etc like Str8tSix?

My 5.4 and tranny have close to 160K+ on them, probably not well-maintained, so they may not last all that long with the blower on there.....

Thanks,

K9dr

 

I didn't use the stock IC res so idk about the fan shroud.

The motor will bolt up just fine to your trans. If you use the 4r100 then there is more work involved but still do able. And no, the L ECM won't work with a 4r70w trans.

 

Hi, All, not much to report except I've gotten in some parts-- 10-row intercooler core, cruise control cable, pretty fresh-looking alternator, assorted brackets. All sellers polite and prompt and packed parts well, except one rude bastard, but then I guess I have little to complain about because he still got me my parts. Could still use an LFP/Metco quick-change lower pulley hub, maybe a throttle cable, and a L fan shroud that lives nearby (shipping, of course, is a bitch). Been trying to decide about e-fans, but reading horror stories about Troyer e-fans has not helped my nerves any......

Could the Lightning Swap Gurus help, please, with some questions?

1. I have a black-anodized aluminum quick-change lower pulley, just over 8.25" outer diameter, bearing surface for belt probably very close to 8" flat. Does that sound like a 2-lb pulley?

2. For my project (conservative daily driver truck running maybe 8 lbs boost), in your opinion is it worth picking up a set of '97 fuel rails for the ability to run aftermarket fuel pressure regulator?

3. Stock L has a barometric pressure sensor/BAP. Why? Doesn't the MAF do adequate job of compensating for air density changes w altitude and weather? NA F150 has no BAP, as far as I can tell. So when I do swap using NA PCM and harness, I'll be deleting the BAP from the L unit. This causes no problems with, say, driving to the top of a 12,000-foot peak in Colorado?

Thanks for help and counsel,

k9dr

 

as for the e-fans, im running fans out of a ford windstar they bolted up fairly easily and i just used a MAD controller for them, i havent had any problems.

1. seems like it would be close according to this website. http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/...charger-Pulley

2. i dont think it would be worth it. im running my stock lines.

3. do you change elevation frequently? i would think not running it would change the AFR due to the thinner air, but i would think if you kept an eye on it till you got back down to where you normally drive, then it wouldnt be a problem. but this is pure speculation since i havent changed where i drive since i got rid of the BPS/BAP.

 

Thanks for feedback, Str8tsix....I occasionally do long road trips to Colorado and get to high elevations. Do you think the MAF is deemed sufficient by Ford for NA engine, but because of criticality of A/F ratio in forced induction applications, they added BAP for L engine? Or do I misunderstand function/role of MAF?

 

i would call the tuner you are going to use and discuss if you will need the BAP or not

 

I asked JJ@WMS to see if he could find time to get on here and comment. I'm really curious about this BAP stuff-- NA150, no BAP: S/C Lightning, BAP.

 

Yup. Mike appears to be good people. I'm going to try and make sure to purchase a substantial amount of stuff from him to complete my swap, in at least partial payment for the help.

I found a local Lightning guy named John Campbell, recommended by another TX Lightning luminary, evidently called "Gumby" by one and all. A dude named Gumby I gotta meet. I think John will help me do the mechanical work. I wanna get my hands dirty, but I am gonna need a lot of adult supervision!

Thanks for the advice-- I'll clean up the truck and the parts and start taking some pictures and see if I can figure out how to upload them and begin my build thread. It will probably be a little outta control with more pictures than anybody wants, but thats how I seem to roll. I'll call it the "The Clueless FNG Lightning Swap Thread," or maybe "I can't stop myself: I'm gonna put a blower on this thing, but please God don't let me explode my motor!"

 

Went to see my mechanic today. Looked over my truck and blower and pile of parts. Everything seems like a pretty straightforward bolt-on, except the HE issue. The FX4 has a sort of air-dam under the front bumper with three ports in it. They're not very big, and the middle one is blocked by the license plate. Eyeballing the HE and OEM brackets, it looks as though the HE winds up hanging right behind the bumper, maybe somewhat lower. There are already two other HE's in the space-- power steering and transmission coolers, I think. Doesn't look like the best airflow situation. Str8tSix, was the setup same on your truck? You had no problems with sufficient airflow to HE? Think it would be a good idea to mount a fan kit on the HE? ...........k9dr...............

Man, I am having all kinds of problems with this "posting photos" thing..........

 

im using a PIAA valance, which allows for more air flow, but the OEM valence does block alot of air especially since you have a licence plate in the front. a fan kit wouldnt be a bad idea if your IAT's get too high.

wayne ran the OEM valence with no problems that i know of.