ok, so I'll try to keep this short and sweet (even though there is nothing sweet about it). Also, I had no idea where to post or even look for any of this so I figured this was my best bet...

I have an 03 5.4 4x4 with 45k miles that I did a lightning s/c swap on. Everything was going great until about the 4th tune from WMS and then it started to miss really bad. did compression test on all cylinders and found one dead with one only about 90psi. after pulling s/c and intake, valve covers and passenger side head, I found this:






So, it looks like I am going to have to pull the engine no matter what at this point.

What I am looking for is any advice from people who have built (or even stock) engines.
I can't decide whether to ditch this engine, sell the s/c and buy some crate engine?
Rebuild with stock pistons and components and try again?
Buy an already built short block from like MMR or MHP and through the S/C on?

I'm just looking for any advice to get my truck driving again. I would stick with budget of 5k max but would rather spend as little as possible (full time student)

Thanks in advance!

 

Did you put new pistons in with the S/C swap? or was this all bolt on from the outside of the engine,no internals worked on?

 

No, I did not do piston swap before. Just the stock N/A 5.4 with 45k miles on it. JJ and mad mike said it would be fine since I'm only running 10 psi. It was just detonating really bad with the last two tunes until it burnt the pistons.

Right now though I'm looking at a whole new set of forged pistons to drop in It an call it food. Found someone at a local shop that will trade the brand new pistons for some stuff I have so it's not that big of a loss for me I guess besides my time.

 

dont do that! your rods are weak aswell.

i would get a MHP longblock so you wont have to worry about it ever again. plus some stage 2 cams would sound awesome!

 

The only thing is that I don't necessarily have the money to drop on a $5k long block. I'd almost rather just screw the SC and go back to having just a regular N/A f1.

Could I just build my own engine? I have the means and free pistons. I can pick up rods for a couple hundred and then cams for another 600. What else would I need to make that all work well together and handle 400 hp?

 

sure you can build your own engine as long as you have the skills and knowledge to do so. i would go with some manley rods, and you need to make sure those pistons will even work with your block and have the right compression ratio. you will still need all new bearings, gaskets, timing chains, etc..

400hp isnt much, a stock Lightning SB or LB would be a good idea if you can find on for a good deal.

 

Ya I figured so much about gaskets and what not. But its still not gunna be 5k. Even 2k is a hell of a lot better than 5. And I would be getting it from a local performance shop so they will get me whatever I need. We did some work for them so they owe us.

And that's also why I see no need for a built SB or LB. I'm not tryin to make a full on drag truck so there is no need for me to have an engine that can withstand 800 hp. I'll settle for 400 (if that) because that's way better than the 260hp I had stock. And that's the problem with getting a whole Lightning engine because you can't find them.

So this is all the dilemma im in. My collee budget doesn't quite work out with what I unlltinately want. So Im just gunna settle for what I can get.

 

look on Lightningrodder.com, those guys sell their stock blocks usually.

 

Ok cool. I'll look around there and see what I can find. What did you do to yours when you put your SC on? I saw your build thread but dont remember what you said you did to your internals

 

I didn't do anything. I threw it on just like you did. Heck I even had the same tuner you had

 

That's what I thought. I tried telling my dad that and he's blaming it JJ. I blame it on him though cuz he was the one who hastily kept going through the tunes before I could get the wide and hooked up and that's when **** hit the fan...

But is you're truck still doing alright? And what do you know about aftermarket cams? A buddy was telling me that he heard of someone having issues with a truck idling after puttin high performance cams in

 

so you were doin tunes without a WB? no way i would have done that. i put my WB in months before i even did the swap.

im still getting the tuning worked out since i switched tuners, but its slowly coming together. i bearings in my blower went out for some reason so that slowed me down a couple weeks.

your truck should be just fine with stage 2 cams. alot guys run them. the problems come with stage 3 cams which are not really meant for daily driving a truck and are more for racing.

 

Ya, I know. So im pretty sure that's definitely why this happened. Ya, that's what I tried telling him but oh well. Nothing I can do now but rebuild it

Ok. Im gunna try to search around and talk to some people that have cams. Have you heard if they noticed a big difference with stage 2 and a S/C? Like of it was worth the 600 bones

 

im sure there is a pretty good gain with them. but i havent seen a back to back dyno with and without cams since guys either port the heads, up the boost, or change blowers all together when going built.