I was just at the local pull-a-part yard, and they have a 1997 Lightning extended cab out there. I have a 1997 f150 XLT, reg cab, SWB, V6. My wheels got to turning and I looked, the front springs, shocks, and control arms and spindles are all there in the front, and the rear end still has the leafs. My question is this, If I go pull the front end and rear suspension parts and swap them onto my truck, will I gain any lowering, since I have a V6, will the lighter engine just make the springs about the same in the front. Plus the weight of the extended cab. I may just swap all this stuff and not gain anything. Also, what makes the lightning lower, is it the leaf springs and coil springs, or leafs and spindles, or are the control arms different, or all or some of the above. Is it worth it? What kind of gains, (or suspension losses in height) will I see? Anyone done this? Thanks, Chad

 

No they don't. Lightnings are not available with extended cab and were not available in 97. The only years for Lightnings are 93-95 and 99-later. There was a company that converted 93-95 Lightnings to extended cab. I don't know of any 99-later that were converted.

 

that's what I thought, so maybe it is just a rebadged xlt or lariat...
had fender badges and leather, but no ground effects, hit in front, but found some parts of the front airdam in the bed

 

anyway, back to the question, what lowers the lightning, springs or spindles or what?