351 needs more power
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 279
Likes: 3
From: Shawnee KS
Lightning ECU isn't really much better (that's our largest customer base for the PiMPxshift). Mass-air conversion kits are available that use a 95ish Ford ECU and harness (or a modified stock harness) but the price is about the same as the price as a modern standalone that's actually tunable (for no additional cost) as opposed to the mass-air setup that still requires additional hardware and software to be able to tune it.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Your ratio will either stay the same, or get a small bump, depends on what the chambers are on the set you buy. The GT40's off the Cobra Mustangs had 60 cc chambers (they were milled from 64 cc by Ford before assembly) E7's (what you have now) have 64 cc chambers
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
What heads would give me the compression i'm looking for?
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Lightning ECU isn't really much better (that's our largest customer base for the PiMPxshift). Mass-air conversion kits are available that use a 95ish Ford ECU and harness (or a modified stock harness) but the price is about the same as the price as a modern standalone that's actually tunable (for no additional cost) as opposed to the mass-air setup that still requires additional hardware and software to be able to tune it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 279
Likes: 3
From: Shawnee KS
The main thing it will do for your engine is allow you to run whatever mods you want without worrying about whether it's going to cause problems with your stock ECU.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 367
From: Candy Mountain
300/350 horse power is a lot more than stock.
The stock 351 in your truck was rated for 210 hp. The power rating stayed more or less the same whether it as a SD or MAF.
The Lightning 351 was rated for 240 hp. The Lightning used a SD management system.
The stock 19lb injectors will not support more than 260ish hp. So, you will need 24lb injectors. The stock computers have to be tuned in some manner to use larger injectors.
The stock truck computers SD or MAF will not be able to support your goals without someone opening them up. The Lightning computer has the ability to accept piggy back tuners, and may be a workable solution for you.
Ford Motorsports (now Ford Performance) made a MAF conversion kit for Lightnings that came with a dual computer setup (one for the engine and one for the transmission) and 24 lb injectors that would probably support your goals. They pop up second hand on the Lightning forums and are very spendy. You can make your own system like this sourcing parts from various performance vendors.
Or you can go full aftermarket, with a PimpX or other aftermarket EFI although I don't know if anyone else supports the E4OD.
Or you can scale back your power goals.
Or for all that you could swap to a big block with a stock control system.
The stock 351 in your truck was rated for 210 hp. The power rating stayed more or less the same whether it as a SD or MAF.
The Lightning 351 was rated for 240 hp. The Lightning used a SD management system.
The stock 19lb injectors will not support more than 260ish hp. So, you will need 24lb injectors. The stock computers have to be tuned in some manner to use larger injectors.
The stock truck computers SD or MAF will not be able to support your goals without someone opening them up. The Lightning computer has the ability to accept piggy back tuners, and may be a workable solution for you.
Ford Motorsports (now Ford Performance) made a MAF conversion kit for Lightnings that came with a dual computer setup (one for the engine and one for the transmission) and 24 lb injectors that would probably support your goals. They pop up second hand on the Lightning forums and are very spendy. You can make your own system like this sourcing parts from various performance vendors.
Or you can go full aftermarket, with a PimpX or other aftermarket EFI although I don't know if anyone else supports the E4OD.
Or you can scale back your power goals.
Or for all that you could swap to a big block with a stock control system.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
300/350 horse power is a lot more than stock.
The stock 351 in your truck was rated for 210 hp. The power rating stayed more or less the same whether it as a SD or MAF.
The Lightning 351 was rated for 240 hp. The Lightning used a SD management system.
The stock 19lb injectors will not support more than 260ish hp. So, you will need 24lb injectors. The stock computers have to be tuned in some manner to use larger injectors.
The stock truck computers SD or MAF will not be able to support your goals without someone opening them up. The Lightning computer has the ability to accept piggy back tuners, and may be a workable solution for you.
Ford Motorsports (now Ford Performance) made a MAF conversion kit for Lightnings that came with a dual computer setup (one for the engine and one for the transmission) and 24 lb injectors that would probably support your goals. They pop up second hand on the Lightning forums and are very spendy. You can make your own system like this sourcing parts from various performance vendors.
Or you can go full aftermarket, with a PimpX or other aftermarket EFI although I don't know if anyone else supports the E4OD.
Or you can scale back your power goals.
Or for all that you could swap to a big block with a stock control system.
The stock 351 in your truck was rated for 210 hp. The power rating stayed more or less the same whether it as a SD or MAF.
The Lightning 351 was rated for 240 hp. The Lightning used a SD management system.
The stock 19lb injectors will not support more than 260ish hp. So, you will need 24lb injectors. The stock computers have to be tuned in some manner to use larger injectors.
The stock truck computers SD or MAF will not be able to support your goals without someone opening them up. The Lightning computer has the ability to accept piggy back tuners, and may be a workable solution for you.
Ford Motorsports (now Ford Performance) made a MAF conversion kit for Lightnings that came with a dual computer setup (one for the engine and one for the transmission) and 24 lb injectors that would probably support your goals. They pop up second hand on the Lightning forums and are very spendy. You can make your own system like this sourcing parts from various performance vendors.
Or you can go full aftermarket, with a PimpX or other aftermarket EFI although I don't know if anyone else supports the E4OD.
Or you can scale back your power goals.
Or for all that you could swap to a big block with a stock control system.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 367
From: Candy Mountain
A lightning computer would most likely have to be sourced from a rebuilder like A1 Cordone or from a private buyer. Either is a potential crap shoot on quality. There are still folks/shops that can work on these computers but they are getting rare.
The tuner companies I know remember are Tweecer and Moates. I am sure there are more. Google J3 port tuning. Stinger may still be a good vendor to work with.
Check out the Lightning specific forums for more info on all these topics.
The tuner companies I know remember are Tweecer and Moates. I am sure there are more. Google J3 port tuning. Stinger may still be a good vendor to work with.
Check out the Lightning specific forums for more info on all these topics.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
A lightning computer would most likely have to be sourced from a rebuilder like A1 Cordone or from a private buyer. Either is a potential crap shoot on quality. There are still folks/shops that can work on these computers but they are getting rare.
The tuner companies I know remember are Tweecer and Moates. I am sure there are more. Google J3 port tuning. Stinger may still be a good vendor to work with.
Check out the Lightning specific forums for more info on all these topics.
The tuner companies I know remember are Tweecer and Moates. I am sure there are more. Google J3 port tuning. Stinger may still be a good vendor to work with.
Check out the Lightning specific forums for more info on all these topics.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
A lightning computer would most likely have to be sourced from a rebuilder like A1 Cordone or from a private buyer. Either is a potential crap shoot on quality. There are still folks/shops that can work on these computers but they are getting rare.
The tuner companies I know remember are Tweecer and Moates. I am sure there are more. Google J3 port tuning. Stinger may still be a good vendor to work with.
Check out the Lightning specific forums for more info on all these topics.
The tuner companies I know remember are Tweecer and Moates. I am sure there are more. Google J3 port tuning. Stinger may still be a good vendor to work with.
Check out the Lightning specific forums for more info on all these topics.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 72
From: Calhoun GA
For me, the GEN 1 SCT databases (C3P2:speed density and AKC0:mass air) were better platforms to use for tuning my standard F-150 ECU's of the same breed. They had more tuning options for the engine and transmission. One thing to note with GEN 1 Lightning ECU's and/or tuning databases is that I lost 4wd Low, 4-high worked fine though...but I could use my factory ECU with these databases.
These days, PiMPx looks to be a good tuning option for a standard F-150 OEM ECU, and if yours is the same breed as the GEN 1 ECU, It may allow you to tune it like one..just have to check with a dealer though.
These days, PiMPx looks to be a good tuning option for a standard F-150 OEM ECU, and if yours is the same breed as the GEN 1 ECU, It may allow you to tune it like one..just have to check with a dealer though.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 367
From: Candy Mountain
The lightning computer will not support your goals without a tune, but unlike the stock SD truck computers it can accept a tune via the J3 port. The MAF Mustang computers can pull the same trick (which is what is most commonly used for MAF swaps) but there aren't any Mustang computers that will run the E4OD transmission. Until the PimpX system came out this was the most common path forward for anyone running an E4OD.
The PimpX will probably be more plug and play to get you started, but you will still have to tinker with it to get it dialed in. But the other options will be similar. Either you will have to use a "tune" that someone puts together for you, or is developed with the truck on a dyno or you will get a base tune that you will tinker with like the PimpX.
You are going to be in full custom territory, but others have gone before you and succeeded. In my opinion, you should research and talk to the companies to get an idea of what will be involved cash and time wise and see what will fit you best.
The PimpX will probably be more plug and play to get you started, but you will still have to tinker with it to get it dialed in. But the other options will be similar. Either you will have to use a "tune" that someone puts together for you, or is developed with the truck on a dyno or you will get a base tune that you will tinker with like the PimpX.
You are going to be in full custom territory, but others have gone before you and succeeded. In my opinion, you should research and talk to the companies to get an idea of what will be involved cash and time wise and see what will fit you best.