Hello

[FIVE_FOUR]

First off, I don't have a lightning, however, these are the most beautiful trucks around. For being 18, they're a bit farther down the road.
Second, what in a lightning 5.4 is different than a regular Triton besides the supercharger? Because, buying a 5.4 flareside regular cab and adding mods is my closest option. I guess im wondeirng if the 5.4 can be modded the same way, as well as changes in gears etc...
All of you, nice trucks...

 

[molnya]

Hiya five_four,

I just got my Black '02 Lightning about 6 weeks ago. It's so much fun. I don't know what all is different in the Lightning engine. It has lower compression pistons to go with the supercharger of course. I'm not sure about the cam. Do you have a 5.4 F150?

molnya
(in austin) ;w

 

[aus6321]

Ok... what you get with a Lightning over a regular flareside.... someone insult me if I'm wrong.

1) Forged internals (rods and pistons)
2) Intercooler
3) S/C
4) Lowered suspension (not sure if the Flarseside has both front and rear sway bars)
5) Bilsteins
6) F250 tranny
7) 3.73 gears if >= 2001
8) SVT trim (body kit, dash, seats, wheels, badges)
9) Alum. drive shaft (not sure about this one)
10) F250 brakes
11) Some engine tuning
12) Tires filled with imported air
13) Vehicle delivered by female/male model of your choice with extended stay option for break-in period of Lightning.
14) Lunch with John Colletti where he thanks you for buying an SVT vehicle

Of course, #11 is open for your interpretation.

There are a few people in town who have tried to make their Flaresides look like Lightnings. To each his own, but I had to bite my lip when one bragged about his L because:

1) he wouldn't show me his engine due to a "secret setup"
2) he replaced his SVT gauges with a aftermarket F150 gauges because "they look better" (I got a kick out of that one)
3) he had replica wheels because someone stole his factory ones (believable, I suppose)
4) he was in a break-in period with his new "secret setup" and didn't want to drive his L very hard.

I think you'll spend just as much building up a flareside... just my $0.02.

 

[molnya]

Hey five_four,

I have to agree with aus6321. I think you'll end up spending more and not have the finished product that you'd want. I don't know what the market is for used Lightnings. Maybe that could be an option. Are you in Austin?

 

[NoMoFo]

Hey AUS...

You wanna show up those guys w/ the fake L's... Check the VIN... VIN's don't lie. You'll have to find out from a hard core L person what to look for, but the VIN will tell you what it is.. Hell, you can go to carfax.com and look up the VIN for free. All it will tell you is what kind of vehicle it is, the rest of the crap you pay for. There's a guy out here in CA w/ an extended cab L, Gen 1. First glance, you totally doubt it and call it fake. But, confirm on the VIN is it is a Gen 1 L, and he had the frame lengthened and the exthend cab added... BTW, there is NO way he can change the VIN that I've ever heard of. Best though to do for ultimate embarassment is to get the VIN w/o his knowledge, and look it up, print out the findings, then confront w/ the Print out, matching the VIN on paper to his dash/door/where ever...

Good LUck.. let us know, Love to hear fake *** punks get burned