New F-150 "Lightning"

[mbrunson427]

I used to have a 2001 Lightning that I drove to work everyday. When I got rid of it a few years back it had 243k miles on it, only thing I ever ran into problems with were the coil-on-plug deals, but other than that it was a perfect truck. If Ford produced one again, I'd have one in a heartbeat. I was very impressed that they built a supercharged engine so reliable. Over the years the truck got some little tricks (nothing crazy though), ported blower, intake, exhaust, tune, replaced the bench seat with Expedition buckets and a center console, sway bars, big brembo brakes, bolt in roll bar and harnesses. Total blast to drive out here in the mountains surprising some Corvette owners.



Lately I've had the idea of taking a newer Ford truck and kind of giving it the Lightning treatment so I can have a bit of a toy to drive to work again. My little Acura TL is very practical, but less than exciting. Today I saw this and now I want to even more......biggest problem I see with this one is NO BLOWER!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F-150-not-a-svt-Lightning-or-Tremor-FX2/253519323564?hash=item3b06ede1ac:g:oqEAAOSwoddafdlw&vxp=mtr

[482supersnake]

The crazy thing is the new F150 with the standard 5.0 makes about 35 more HP over the blown 2v 5.4 that you had in your lightning. Ford does sell a supercharger for the 5.0 and I think that there was a dealer offering it as an add on to the F150 and it came with a full warranty if you had them install it.

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/10/new-700-hp-5-0-v8-supercharger-kit.html

[FElony]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt8zE6jnn9Q

[chilly460]

I had a 2001 as well, and a 93 Lightning before that.  Both were very fun trucks, with very different driving feel.  I had the same thought, 380hp and today they do that NA with less cubes, amazing progress. 

I have a 2.7L Ecoboost in a 4wd supercab, I imagine a 3.5 Eco on a shortbed regular cab, I Raptor tune, would be an absolute animal and very light with the aluminum body.  My truck only co es in around 4700-4800.  I actually preferred my 93 lightning, I did a bolt on powerdyne but still wasn’t as fast as my 01, but it only weighed 4100 and was more fun to drive, nice to get back to a truck that doesn’t weigh 5000lbs

[machoneman]

Does anyone know the cost of the blower kit yet?

The crazy thing is the new F150 with the standard 5.0 makes about 35 more HP over the blown 2v 5.4 that you had in your lightning. Ford does sell a supercharger for the 5.0 and I think that there was a dealer offering it as an add on to the F150 and it came with a full warranty if you had them install it.

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/10/new-700-hp-5-0-v8-supercharger-kit.html

[TomP]

I saw a video of a new shortbox 5.0 F140 running 13.2's. It explained in the comments that the 3.5 Ecoboost isn't available in a shortbed regular cab 2WD.  It also weighed "only" 4600kbs... about the same as a 72 F250 with all iron FE, iron Dana 60...etc..

Can't help but think what that 5.0 and ten speed slushbox could do in a much lighter older car.

[482supersnake]

I'm not sure what the exact cost is but would guess it would be  somewhere between $8,000 - $10,000 by the time you were all done.

[mbrunson427]

The new trucks are rated higher than the 01-04 Lightning was, but let me tell you, the power band isn't similar at all. I have a coyote in my F-150 and until it's above 3000 or 3500 it doesn't respond. Always needs to downshift to get itself going. In the Lightning I could pass people up a hill on the interstate and never kick out of overdrive. I think the blower helps out the mod motors a ton!

I tried to get my current F-150 with a dealer installed Roush blower but they wanted somewhere between 10k and 12k extra for it. Plus, they won't provide an extended warranty past 36,000 miles.

[turbohunter]

Always had a soft spot for those '01 Lightnings. There's one here in my neighborhood that I lust after.