I have an 03 lightniing block ... just figured out from posting that it is going to be too expensive for me to install right now... it is a crate longblock and it has never been removed from the packaging... any ideason what I could do with the engine... swap out for another one... sell it ect... kinda in a dilema... spent 7,000 for the long block and now I limited on options

 

You can install the engine, there is nothing stopping you.

You will need the supercharger or the dished pistons will be wasted.

If you bolt on the supercharger, you will need a stronger transmission. A built 4R70 should be fine.

The engine should run fine. The Lightning has additional sensors but if your computer doesn't use them, then it should still run ok.

One of the problems is the knock sensor. The Lightning engine doesn't use a knock sensor because the supercharger trips it falsely. Thus if you connect the knock sensor up your computer may not be happy.

Come to think of it, yeah, just dropping in the engine is tougher than it appears. If you do install the Lightning computer, then you need to worry about a 4R100 transmission as well.

-Don

 

interesting screen name.

considering that Kar Kraft will sale you a lightning 5.4 long block for around $3700, the first thing i would do is go beat the he!! out of who sold it to you.

what is the current motor in your truck?

 

I'm guessing this is a complete short block w/heads and such. For that price... ouch. They charged you about double, unless it comes with the upper/lower intake and supercharger. If that's turnkey form, that's not so bad.

If I were you (and I'm not sure of the route you want to go), I'd fabricate some custom headers and run dual Turbonetics T3 turbos on that sucker. You'd see full boost by about 2800 rpm, with at least some boost from 1800 on up. Plus, you can upgrade to bigger turbos if the mood should grab you. Perhaps this is just my wi****l thinking...

Best of luck

-Flea

 

I have made the conversion.

E-mail me for all the info you will need.