I've found a supercharger for $335 off of a 2002 Lightning. I'm thinking about springing for it... what do I need to get it to fit besides the T-body and intake manifold? Will I need the cylinder heads? I know that I'll need to get more powerful fuel injectors and such, but that's in my adjenda already. Any thoughts?

The truck is the one in my sig: 1998 F-150 5.4L (E4OD transmission)

-Flea (edit; needed to include information.)

 

Is it do-able yes. But it will be a lot of work. I may miss a few things but I will give you some ideas as to all that will be needed to do this install. If I miss something, others please add to it. Yes you will need a different intake, throttle body, the inlet into the supercharger for starters. The fuel system will have to be upgraded. Bigger flow pumps in your tank, different injectors, and possibly the fuel rails themselves. Not sure what yours are rated for. Also, all the pulleys, idler pulley, drive pulley from the crank and all associated brakets. And hope this does not interfere with your other accessories. Then, you would not want to add this without the intercooler, so all wiring, plumbing and pump for this. Then the intercooler itself. Then comes all the vacuum lines, and replumbing them to fit. Then you would have to have a chip too.
After all this is said and done and the money and the headaches are finished. You will have spent just as much if not more, and a lot more headaches, as it would have cost to get a kit for your truck in my honest opinion.
I am sure I have missed some items, but I think you can see, just by what I have posted, you will have one heck of a job on your hands.

 

For that money you can't be getting all that much.

I think that even with a price that low you would still find that it would be cheaper to buy an aftermarket kit that is designed to fit.

If it were easy to fit a Lightning supercharger on our trucks we would see more doing it.

Buyer be-aware.

 

That's kinda what I figured, but my biggest question is do I have to change out the cylinder heads. My Fuel system needs upgrading as it is, and the chip reburn is part of that package. The supercharger comes with all the necessary pullies and brackets, just no intake manifold or throttle body.

-Flea

 

Why not put that $$ towards a used Lightning?

 

Heh... what Lightning owner would expect a '98 ORP to go flying past them?

-Flea

 

You may need to change the tranny as well. I am not sure if the E4OD would hold up.

 

No, you can use the stock heads. And yes the tranny will have to be rebuilt as well. No way it would hold up to the torque of a s/c for very long if you get on it that much

 

The heads were my main concern. Looks like I'll have to look for a good magnacharger or something this summer. The transmission wasn't a big concern of mine either; I'm planning on rebuilding it this summer with racing internals.

Thanks for all the info
-Flea

 

The heads used on the L are the PI heads. The heads used on the 98 5.4 are non PI. Theyt will not match up. Yes they will bolt up but the ports will be misaligned. Keep your $355.00 because by the time you are done you will have spent much more than the price of an after marked SC.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

You'lll probably spend more than that just on the new alternator.