94 Lightning custom engine build
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94 Lightning custom engine build
I am looking for some advise building a good proven set up for a naturally aspirated 351 that will be compatible with my 94 Lightning.
I bought the truck a few years ago with a Motorsport Supercharger, MSD, and shorty headers, it runs fine but with 150k on it and several leaks its time to go through it. I would like to remove the supercharger and go NA.
I am no stranger to big hp but I don't plan on breaking any records with this running on 91oct pump gas I just want something that will make good reliable power. I also don't mind spending money on good quality parts that will last but I just don't know much about 351's and lightnings, being almost a 20year old truck I was hoping to get some advise from a few that have done this.
Here are a few parts I am looking for feedback on, any other advise or experiences are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Rods and pistons.
Aluminum heads
Cam
Injectors
Throttle body
Tuning options, I will be tuning on a chassis dyno.
I bought the truck a few years ago with a Motorsport Supercharger, MSD, and shorty headers, it runs fine but with 150k on it and several leaks its time to go through it. I would like to remove the supercharger and go NA.
I am no stranger to big hp but I don't plan on breaking any records with this running on 91oct pump gas I just want something that will make good reliable power. I also don't mind spending money on good quality parts that will last but I just don't know much about 351's and lightnings, being almost a 20year old truck I was hoping to get some advise from a few that have done this.
Here are a few parts I am looking for feedback on, any other advise or experiences are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Rods and pistons.
Aluminum heads
Cam
Injectors
Throttle body
Tuning options, I will be tuning on a chassis dyno.
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Joined: May 2013
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How much power are you looking to make? Stock 351 short block should be able to handle decent N/A power. Saving you money to spend on the top end. TFS Canfield or AFR heads, TFS Comp XE or custom ground cam, TFS Edelbrock or stick with your GT-40 intake, 75 or 90mm accufab throttlebody FMS injectors. This is more or less what I'm going to be running but it's going in a car. Stock 96 short block, TFS R upper and lower intake, 90mm Accufab t-body, 90mm mass air sensor, GT-40 heads (saving for Canfields) FMS 42 lb injectors, and a TFS stage 1 cam.
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I assume I will have better results if I go with a MAF so I am open to that, if you have experience both ways I would like to hear the pros and cons.
Thanks
Thanks
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New User
Joined: Jun 2013
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How much power are you looking to make? Stock 351 short block should be able to handle decent N/A power. Saving you money to spend on the top end. TFS Canfield or AFR heads, TFS Comp XE or custom ground cam, TFS Edelbrock or stick with your GT-40 intake, 75 or 90mm accufab throttlebody FMS injectors. This is more or less what I'm going to be running but it's going in a car. Stock 96 short block, TFS R upper and lower intake, 90mm Accufab t-body, 90mm mass air sensor, GT-40 heads (saving for Canfields) FMS 42 lb injectors, and a TFS stage 1 cam.
Thanks
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From: Calhoun GA
Your cam choices are limited with speed density, but you can still make a good bit of power with it. If you're wanting a cam with a lopey idle then a mass air swap will be needed. If you have a good tuner in your area that can work with speed density, then injector upgrades wont be a problem if you decide to keep the speed density system.
Some other parts I would recommend would be a higher stall converter, Punisher valve body to firm up the shifts and traction bars to control wheel hop. Since yours is a 94, you could easily swap to a roller cam. I've found rollers lifter, spider and dogbone sets for under a 100 bucks; from there you just need a cam.
Some other parts I would recommend would be a higher stall converter, Punisher valve body to firm up the shifts and traction bars to control wheel hop. Since yours is a 94, you could easily swap to a roller cam. I've found rollers lifter, spider and dogbone sets for under a 100 bucks; from there you just need a cam.
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I'm hoping to be running that setup soon. Like Blurry said, you also need to look into upgrading other things that will help you get faster.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2007
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All good advice. I would suggest you go over to the NLOC site National lightning owners club and ask the same question in the Gen 1 section and look to the classified section for parts.
My son and I got most of out stuff the new race truck 93 lightning body off that site.
We also parted out our old race truck, a 94 Lightning thru the NLOC site.
Stay away from comp cams. I have a 94 DD with a mildly built 351. Around 300 HP NA and after 2000 miles 2 have gone south. They explained the first failure as engine had a high flow oil pump. Still waiting to hear their excuse for the second one 2k miles later. This is just my opinion by the way YMMV
My son and I got most of out stuff the new race truck 93 lightning body off that site.
We also parted out our old race truck, a 94 Lightning thru the NLOC site.
Stay away from comp cams. I have a 94 DD with a mildly built 351. Around 300 HP NA and after 2000 miles 2 have gone south. They explained the first failure as engine had a high flow oil pump. Still waiting to hear their excuse for the second one 2k miles later. This is just my opinion by the way YMMV
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