F150 Lightning
Discussion
Come the summer i'm hoping to be able to buy my dream car, or should that be truck?
I've wanted one since they were launched, spent a couple of years on the American forums about 10 years ago and did plenty of research.
I know there is a few peeps on here with them so looking for general owners advice, i'm going to be looking at a later model, 2002 onwards. I understand the early ones had "only" 360bhp and had issues with leaking intercoolers and spitting spark plugs.
So what are they like to live with on a day to day basis. I'm likely to go LPG for daily driving or i may well buy a s
tter for the 3 mile commute and use it as a weekend toy.
Any opinions welcome
I've wanted one since they were launched, spent a couple of years on the American forums about 10 years ago and did plenty of research.
I know there is a few peeps on here with them so looking for general owners advice, i'm going to be looking at a later model, 2002 onwards. I understand the early ones had "only" 360bhp and had issues with leaking intercoolers and spitting spark plugs.
So what are they like to live with on a day to day basis. I'm likely to go LPG for daily driving or i may well buy a s
tter for the 3 mile commute and use it as a weekend toy.Any opinions welcome
Ok, a quick run down on Lightnings.
1999 was the release date and these had the 9 row intercooler that potentially leaked.
Ford did a recall on these in the USA and if you found one, it might be upgraded or maybe not.
2000 had the 10 row intercooler (no problem) and the 360hp tune up with the 80mm MAF as did the 2001 model.
2002 went to the 90mm MAF and 380hp tune but still had the "4 thread" heads as in the number in the spark plug holes.
These can spit the spark plug, normally because people don't check that the plugs stay tight because the service interval is 100k.
2003 went to 8 thread heads in the March although some older engines were put in after that date.
I've actually heard of one truck with 4 threads on one banl and 8 on the other. Depends what came out of the parts bin during the build, I suppose.
2004 was the last year and these were left over trucks from 2003 as that body style was no longer being built.
Other recalls were for the brake light switch (permanent live feed)melting and catching fire and the fuel tank straps going rusty.
On a day to day basis, what can you say? They are a bit big, bouncy and fast.
The engine is too much for the brakes and chassis so the only sensible thing to do is to modify the engine for more performance like the rest of us do
The aftermarket can get you better brakes, suspension and way more power. It will always be fast but it will never be a sports car. Just too big and heavy.
If you can put up with approx. 15mpg and LHD, then go for it.
I have no experience on LPG and wouldn't even contemplate it.
Lightnings (and the 4 door Harley edition) are a massive performance bang for the buck with RWD and a V8.
Get one and join us at the drag strip
1999 was the release date and these had the 9 row intercooler that potentially leaked.
Ford did a recall on these in the USA and if you found one, it might be upgraded or maybe not.
2000 had the 10 row intercooler (no problem) and the 360hp tune up with the 80mm MAF as did the 2001 model.
2002 went to the 90mm MAF and 380hp tune but still had the "4 thread" heads as in the number in the spark plug holes.
These can spit the spark plug, normally because people don't check that the plugs stay tight because the service interval is 100k.
2003 went to 8 thread heads in the March although some older engines were put in after that date.
I've actually heard of one truck with 4 threads on one banl and 8 on the other. Depends what came out of the parts bin during the build, I suppose.
2004 was the last year and these were left over trucks from 2003 as that body style was no longer being built.
Other recalls were for the brake light switch (permanent live feed)melting and catching fire and the fuel tank straps going rusty.
On a day to day basis, what can you say? They are a bit big, bouncy and fast.
The engine is too much for the brakes and chassis so the only sensible thing to do is to modify the engine for more performance like the rest of us do
The aftermarket can get you better brakes, suspension and way more power. It will always be fast but it will never be a sports car. Just too big and heavy.
If you can put up with approx. 15mpg and LHD, then go for it.
I have no experience on LPG and wouldn't even contemplate it.
Lightnings (and the 4 door Harley edition) are a massive performance bang for the buck with RWD and a V8.
Get one and join us at the drag strip
Edited by HD Adam on Thursday 13th March 09:38
A quick word on LPG; yes or no depends on your annual mileage. I have just sold my '07 F150 (4.6l) which I had converted with a Prins LPG system 10,000 miles ago. It was faultless, and probably paid for itself twice over. I've just taken delivery of a Raptor (6.2l) and have booked it in for exactly the same treatment. So long as you have Autolube, it'll be fine.
Whilst I can live with 10-15 mpg for short trips, I've done >1000 miles this week, so LPG should save me around £50 per fill.
Whilst I can live with 10-15 mpg for short trips, I've done >1000 miles this week, so LPG should save me around £50 per fill.
get one, you won't regret it. i've had mine since october, like you i have always wanted one.
i have had to replace the dpfe sensor and a coil pack so far. but parts are available, i use rockauto.
brakes are terrible, i am fitting ebc yellow stuff pads this weekend so that should help. tyres for the standard wheels are hard to find. mine averages 15mpg and is standard apart from a k&n, that soon drops if you boost it everywhere!
i have had to replace the dpfe sensor and a coil pack so far. but parts are available, i use rockauto.
brakes are terrible, i am fitting ebc yellow stuff pads this weekend so that should help. tyres for the standard wheels are hard to find. mine averages 15mpg and is standard apart from a k&n, that soon drops if you boost it everywhere!
k22wes said:
get one, you won't regret it. i've had mine since october, like you i have always wanted one.
i have had to replace the dpfe sensor and a coil pack so far. but parts are available, i use rockauto.
brakes are terrible, i am fitting ebc yellow stuff pads this weekend so that should help. tyres for the standard wheels are hard to find. mine averages 15mpg and is standard apart from a k&n, that soon drops if you boost it everywhere!
Sonic Blue, love that colour.i have had to replace the dpfe sensor and a coil pack so far. but parts are available, i use rockauto.
brakes are terrible, i am fitting ebc yellow stuff pads this weekend so that should help. tyres for the standard wheels are hard to find. mine averages 15mpg and is standard apart from a k&n, that soon drops if you boost it everywhere!
Thanks for the info Adam and others. I'm not over concerned about LPG but it was an avenue i had thought about. I'm not going to be driving vast distances so i guess the outlay isn't going to be recouped anytime soon. I've decided after selling my place when i move in the missus that i have to buy my dream otherwise i'll forever regret it. She asked where the kids would go, i showed her the load bed
I was delivering to Kwik Fit today and asked about tyre prices for them for s
ts, he looked at me strangely and scratched his head when i gave him the size 
I know of one for sale (2004) with a few special mods
10.8 1/4 mile
670 RWHP race tune 570 RWHP road tune
With full documentation
Its very quick off the lights & not for your average driver.
This thing pulls all the way to 150+ mph no problem.
Its in storage as the owner has no time to use it.
10.8 1/4 mile
670 RWHP race tune 570 RWHP road tune
With full documentation
Its very quick off the lights & not for your average driver.
This thing pulls all the way to 150+ mph no problem.
Its in storage as the owner has no time to use it.
SVTRick said:
HD Adam said:
Ha, you won't sell it
I will for the right moneythere is always another truck / car around the corner
I just have little time to use it or upgrade further to get 9s
Seems little point in taking it to the track and run 10.8 all day
Once you get your next goal, where do you go from there?
HD Adam said:
Then you'll never be happy.
Once you get your next goal, where do you go from there?
No I wont beOnce you get your next goal, where do you go from there?
Its run a 10 pass and I am pleased with that.
Need a 9 or its not worth running it again
As said I have run out of time for this year too busy at work.
Sell it and start again - its only a vehicle at the end of the day and can be replaced
not a problem. I'm not in love with it and not Married to it.
To run 10.8 its cost a shed load but I had fun so the right money gets you a 10 sec ride
the motor and trans cost a more than I paid for it and lost all the expenses on the firm
I may just go back to a quick road car that goes round corners
RS6 RS4 M5 or the stunning Nissan GTR
I've run a Lightning as my daily driver for 13 years. I'm on my third. Current one is coming up for 120,000 miles. My business partner ran one for around 80,000 miles and only sold it after a DD ban and they would not insure my niece to drive it
So I guess we have racked up between us at least 350,000 miles.
Reliability. All have been 2004 trucks. Gary's truck packed up once and left him stranded on the A1. I cannot remember what the fault was but nothing major. Other than that they have been totally bullet proof. All factory standard. Regular oil and oil filter changes along with the air filter. Front ball joints on occasions. A few years back I fitted a 380mm Brembo brake conversion with 8 pot calipers so stopping is not an issue. Not bang your head on the windscreen but they won't ever fade. I've just had to buy new discs with a set of pads at £900 plus the vat but they have done 100,000 miles. Not the pads they've managed around 50,000 miles.
I reckon I average around 18mpg and I only run it on Shell V power Nitro. For a while I switched to normal unleaded. The truck started to pink and would plume out a lot of black smoke when I nailed it. I thought it was on the way out until I switched fuel. I get around 10% better mpg so the extra cost on fuel is negated.
Forget LPG. A good mate LPG'd his Lightning with an oiler kit and has fried the valves. Waste of time and knocked the performance off. Bit like when you run the air con.
I am doing a bit of head scratching at the moment. A chap I know has a silver Lightning with 8000 miles on the clock. It came from ACI and has a power upgrade which he tells me the truck runs a different supercharger. Mine is black and I'm just not keen on silver. Can anyone out there enligthen me on the American Car Imports HP upgrade.
So I guess we have racked up between us at least 350,000 miles.
Reliability. All have been 2004 trucks. Gary's truck packed up once and left him stranded on the A1. I cannot remember what the fault was but nothing major. Other than that they have been totally bullet proof. All factory standard. Regular oil and oil filter changes along with the air filter. Front ball joints on occasions. A few years back I fitted a 380mm Brembo brake conversion with 8 pot calipers so stopping is not an issue. Not bang your head on the windscreen but they won't ever fade. I've just had to buy new discs with a set of pads at £900 plus the vat but they have done 100,000 miles. Not the pads they've managed around 50,000 miles.
I reckon I average around 18mpg and I only run it on Shell V power Nitro. For a while I switched to normal unleaded. The truck started to pink and would plume out a lot of black smoke when I nailed it. I thought it was on the way out until I switched fuel. I get around 10% better mpg so the extra cost on fuel is negated.
Forget LPG. A good mate LPG'd his Lightning with an oiler kit and has fried the valves. Waste of time and knocked the performance off. Bit like when you run the air con.
I am doing a bit of head scratching at the moment. A chap I know has a silver Lightning with 8000 miles on the clock. It came from ACI and has a power upgrade which he tells me the truck runs a different supercharger. Mine is black and I'm just not keen on silver. Can anyone out there enligthen me on the American Car Imports HP upgrade.
HD Adam said:
You've got that all wrong then mate.
UK fuel is measured in RON. US fuel is measured in (RON/MON)2
US 93 is like our 98.
after reading up about the difference i have learnt something new today. US 91 is same as our 95ron and 93 is same as our 98ron. i will start putting super in mine.UK fuel is measured in RON. US fuel is measured in (RON/MON)2
US 93 is like our 98.
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