Official build thread

[Burntoutaccountant]

So you guys have probably noticed me on the forum the last few months asking questions. I saved a lightning from an unknown death. It’s beat to shit and a theft recovery vehicle.

The truck is from a custom that comes into my shop. He wanted to find it a good home. I immediately jumped on it because I’ve always wanted a lightning and thought it would be a good counterpart for my 96 bronco.

I flip flopped on a bunch of ways to build it as you’ve noticed. One thing I want to do is keep it ford powered. I put this in my bronco but that isn’t the case here.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Originally I was going to run a procharger. I was supposed to get one of their new kits at a substantially discounted rate. They pulled the plug because they got a test subject closer to Kansas City.

I decided on a 427 from ford strikers. Still haven’t ordered that but have all the parts now. First I got an error sale from American muscle on a Holley hi ram. $600 which I think was cost. They changed the price hours later but honored the price. I found a set of old new Afr 220 heads. A guy bonded his mustang project and I got them for significantly less than the current cost of the heads. The big benefit to these is they run the old exhaust manifold style which allows me to run kooks.



I’ve been accumulating and at the same time I paid retail for some kooks 1 3/4” headers. That was painful because they charge what they’re gonna charge. After months of delays I finally got them.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Next was figuring out the transmission. I got offered a built tremec 3650 for cheap that mates to a Sbf. Lack of available parts caused me to back off this. I wanted a t56 magnum. Thought I got one ordered through jegs but they cancelled my order. I was livid. So I said screw it and bought a Tkx because I got a decent deal on it. I wanted the magnum because of it being able to handle more power than the Tkx. So that and all hydraulic stuff arrive this week. Went with a ingle disc 10.5” mustang clutch. When I do the motor I’ll upgrade to a higher performing twin disc.

Next I ordered a 550-937 terminator. Now this is where it gets interesting for me at least. I hate distributors. So back in an older iteration of my bronco I was going to run the same Holley and a dual synch distributor. Still have the NIB distributor so I can use it here. I also ordered the coil near plug kit. Should arrive by early next week.


More to be updated later.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

I plan on the following :

- True trac or wavered for the 8.8 and maybe changing to 3.73 gears. I haven’t decided.

- traction bars. Undecided on brand because I haven’t spent a whole lot of time researching but options seem limited.

- front fuel tank delete

- 38 gallon f250 tank once I figure out the sending unit. I don’t quite understand what needs to happen there.

- front fuel tank delete

- black widow true duals. Indicated if I’ll use a x pipe or true duals. Probably true duals as I can make them in my shop.
- full paint job and restoration at the end of the journey. I’m doing this last because I can’t find anyone not charging $40k for a paint job in Seattle. I might get the mechanical bits sorted and take it back to Kansas City and have it done there to save money. It’s originally black. I’m thinking of repainting it matte black or Oxford white. I haven’t decided. After two late model gtos, black is not an option.

-

 

[sg990]

Sounds like a fun build. Might want to save the gear change till last. With the 5 speed 3:73’s may not be necessary.

 

[RPM289]

Glad to see another one saved, cool build also!

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

What’sa gauge cluster and factory e4od worth? Anyone in the Pacific Northwest interested?

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Disregard my coworkers f body parts.

 

[COYS5813]

I hope you keep that tube bumper... if you don't let me know... mine has more than a few dings and no one in central Florida seems to think they can "heal" them or replicate without significant cost.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

I hope you keep that tube bumper... if you don't let me know... mine has more than a few dings and no one in central Florida seems to think they can "heal" them or replicate without significant cost.

I’m going to repair it. New bracket and the stuff from lmr. There’s one on eBay but the guy wants $3000. Hell no.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

 

[RPM289]

What’sa gauge cluster and factory e4od worth? Anyone in the Pacific Northwest interested?

Cluster $?

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Cluster $?

What’s it worth to you?

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Drove the truck home from storing in an emergency bay at my shop.

Sketchy as hell. It needs a steering overhaul really bad. It’s all over the place. I ordered tie rods and ball joints from lmr and rock auto. What do you guys run for gearboxes? The way to go on broncos would be to get a redhead or blue top.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Did some minor stuff. Air filter. Plugs and wires. And some new led tail lights. I think the air filter was pretty free flowing. It runs a bit better with the new plugs and wires They were probably original or older. They were rusted.

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Also got some trick flow heads last night. The stroker is on pause due to the dart block shortage. I’ll do that as a last item. I got the heads off Facebook for a good deal.

 

[Jssanders1979]

nice truck and progress!

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Has anyone run trick flow 51410010 as cast heads?

 

[Burntoutaccountant]

Ordered a custom cam from woody/ford strokers. Question still stands on the small cast trick flows.

 

[RPM289]

Has anyone run trick flow 51410010 as cast heads?

Following as I have no Idea what heads I'm gonna run yet, Street truck so NO where near the power you guys are putting down!