Hello all!
I haven't yet got to the install. I am trying to have everything as organized as I can. I think I'm looking pretty good at this point. As of now, I have scheduled to do the install the last weekend in Feb. I will have to pick up a couple tools this weekend. I want to read through the directions another fourty times. I think I have the directions memorized by now, I just want to be sure. I saw something in some of my notes I wanted to throw by you all.
When BOSS LARIAT did his install he posted about a problem he ran into. He said that when lowering the complete supercharger assembly into place the bypass came in direct contact with a pipe on the top of the enging. He came up with a fix for that problem He mentioned that he saw pictures of a F150 install where the bypass looked different from the one that he was installing. Any one know if this could be an issue for me. My 4.6 truck is a '98. I would assume that the Magnacharger is a gen 4? That bypass looks like it hangs down pretty low. Looking at the pictures in the instructions, the top of the engine looks like there might be enough room to fit that bypass. If I'm going to need to fabricate something I want to make sure that I have some stuff to work with.
I also wanted to ask this one again. You guys dealing with this stuff a lot would probably be the best to answer. Should I have new gaskets? I have just under 30k on the truck. Do they hold up for a while? Will I end up tearing them up on the dissasemble?
I know. These are pain in the a$$ questions. I would just like to report a flawless install. The odds are not with me on this. I know, my job has taught me that!
Any help/opinions you all can pass on will be appreciated!

Thanks!

Tom

 

wittom,

Good luck on the install. I am VERY seriously considering a Magnacharger in the very near future and would like to hear about your installation experience as I plan on doing the install myself.

 

2000regcab,

Good for you! I didn't want to help you anyway! Go buy your own tools! hahahahahahaha

 

IMHO, if you have the skill and know-how, you might as well replace the gaskets while you have everything torn apart.

NOTE: do NOT use the same bolts to re-attach the head (is that what the thing is called? i'm having a brain fart) or you'll risk blowing the new gasket. Get BRAND NEW BOLTS.

 

FASTRNU,

Who said you could post anywhere other than the Lightning forum? Obviously you didn't read your Lightning owners handbook. Section 5, paragragh 4. "As a Lightning owner, it is important that you do not post on any other forum other than the Lightning forum."

 

I thought I could post here since this is where all the Lightning wannabees hang out.

 

Crash!,
You have been a huge help! That is the kind of info I'm looking for. I really appreciate you taking the time to spell things out for me. I think that with yours, and the help from the others this install will go quite well! I will try to get you back for all that you have done. I will give you a call one of these days to chat a bit. I've got more plans, so I will be looking for more advise. Thanks!

I don't know about "wannabee". I want to, and some day will own a Lightning. I don't my truck to be a Lightning. I like it the way it is. I want to know how to do my own mods. I want a supercharged F150, with a 5-speed. Can't get that in the Lightning. You Lightning guys got nice, fast trucks. I could, just don't want to make the financial commitment at this time. By the time I'm ready I think they will have an outreagous version, with sick hp. I will have some knowlege on how to make hp. I could be kind of fast, some day.

Or, I'm a dreamer.
Time will tell.

 

Why do you guys want a 5-speed? Just asking.

 

HI!... YA! But running low 14's to high 13's N/A is VERY respectable!LOL!

 

Manual Tranny =
Control. Connection. There's nothin' like revving a gear up and then YOU are the one putting it in the next gear. An auto tranny just wrecks it for me. But, hey, to each thier own.

 

NEAL, you are very respected for your accomplishments. I know it takes a lot more than money to do an F150 like you have.

Thewhiteford has got it! "Control, connection". A stick in an F150 might not be an advantage at the strip. On the street though, it's quite good! Although I would never drive above the speed limit on a public roadway , it is nice to have the option of hanging on to a gear to jocky for position, or to downshift two gears at highway speeds to choose a lane position. The Lightning might have a nice shifting auto, the others though shift like there is marshmellow for tranny fluid. I don't think shifting is too much work, it allows me to manuvuer quickly and efficiently. I think it's worth it. I think it will be really cool having a stick with the blower. Like Crash! said, downshift and boost is up there!


Tom

 

I have to agree with thewhiteford and Crash.

I had a '94 LT1 Z28 with a vortech blower and all the bells and whistles. Only thing was that it was a automatic. All the power, and I couldn't really control the shifts points. That sucked bad. She sounded sweet though.

 

HI!... I don't really think my auto is a dis-advantage in my set-up. My chip/shift kit has been customized just for me. I have 4.10 gears and I can still drop it down to 1st gear at around 40mph!!. I drive my truck like a kind of manual anyway!LOL! Almost are my previous vehicles have had a reverse manual valve body installed in them. This forces you to have to shift your gears like a manual but with out a clutch. In other words, if you stopped at a stop sign and put it in 3rd gear. You could stomp it to the floor and it would leave in 3rd gear. It is up to you to drop a gear. Because I have got so used to driving like this, I column shift most of the time in the city. It gives me a ton of control over my shift points. Actually if I let the tranny shift it'self at the dragstrip, I got about 2 tenths slower over me shifting it myself. It works for me!

 

For thoes of you that are thinking you might install a Magnacharger yourself, allow plenty of time. If you have worked on many Ford trucks, you won't need as much time. If you haven't, I would say allow sixteen hours. If you think you can get it done in a day, plan on a long day.

I have not yet got to the supercharger it's self. I figured I would try to get a head start today. I figured I would install the intercooler setup. I was thinking it would take two and a half, maybe three hours. Nope. I took six. I'm not at all dissapointed. It came out real nice. Being that I have not done anything like this, I had to figure things out as I went along. I started by removing the grille. This took a while. I had to figure out how it was fastened. Then it was look at the instructions look at the truck. Over and over untill I had a good picture. Then I started bolting the stuff on. The tank, the radiator, the pump. The wireing was fun too. It took me some time to figure out how to remove the main fuse panel.

There are many fine details that you can't see untill you start taking things apart. I guess it's the learning curve. The Magnacharger instructions are great. They just don't tell you how to remove the things that need to be out of the way to install the new stuff.

I am pleased about how todays job looks. It took more time than I thought it would.

Next Saturday we get to the nitty gritty. There will be three of us so I am hoping we can get the thing in around eight hours.
It will be so awsome!

Tom

 

Hey Wittom, welcome to the world of superchargers. I was glad that somehow. someway i helped someone else out much like Crash helped me. It has been a while since i did the report, but i thought the part number for the bypass tube was included. If not email me @ Sidejobbob@aol.com and i will find it. The pictures i took of that part of the install did not come out. If you any ??? don't hesitate to ask. Good luck. Boss Lariat