I've been checking several things out regarding the new project 56 I have. Do any of you have an opinion about the Ford Lightening 5.4 supercharged motor? I've found one that isn't out of sight price wise but I've heard they take up alot of space width wise. I know we have alot of room under the hood but I don't want to create extra problems with headers, steering shafts, etc. I'm also concerned about how difficult it will be to wire up with the computer, sensors, and such. I've made a verbal deal on a chassis that has Corvette suspension front and rear that comes out less money than if I use mine and add a Mustang II IFS and 9" rear with a 4 link. Just wondering if a built 351 or big block would be a better idea. What do you think????

 

56 - Yeah, I got an opinion. Those babies haul butt!!! Electronics always freak me out, so I'd pass, personally. However, that said, I have seen two Effies whose owners are far less timid and have that motor (or equiv) installed.

Steve Stillwell is one of the Pickups Limited guys. Ed Oe put a pic of his primer black (with orange) 56 in a recent thread. He is running that motor and just got it running (literally) with some help on the electronics. IT FITS! Plenty of room. I saw the install a couple of months ago and I think I remember him running headers into a very nice exhaust which still used the cat converters and side-dump exhaust.

Keith McVay (Keiths56_Cruz_Cab) has one (a Cobra motor) also. He had the stock exhaust on it and it's not running yet, but plenty of room under the hood. Keith also set his motor a little higher than one might expect. Still plenty of clearance everywhere, but the big payoff was clearance under the pan to his MII IFS cross member. Very nice.

This stuff is Dark Side cutting edge, man. And the install really looks awsome. The motors are so trick looking stock that there really isn't any "pretty" work to do. But I venture to guess that if you put one in yours, you'll never get to see it at the shows or cruise nights unless you push the crowd of folks looking over the fenders out of the way.

 

RJ - thanks for the information. The wiring/computer interface is what concerns me most but I'll check around some more to see what kind of help is available if I decide to jump that direction. Probably have to make a decision fairly quick as I understand the Lightening 5.4's are not to plentiful.

 

Where did you find one and what kind of coin?

 

check with some of the wire harness manufacturers, Painless etc as well as Fomoco they are making wiring harnesses for some of the EFI engines with a built in hardcoded mini computer that only uses the bare necessity sensors required to run the engine. It's a plug and go if one is available.

 

I'm old school and have to keep it simple (K.I.S.S.) just to keep it running. Anyone who can do it has my admiration. Ford Motorsport might have a loom kit for the Lighting motor. They started the Ford in a Ford program after seeing all the GM motors in the old Fords. About time!

 

Thanks Axracer, I'll check with them on the harness. It would be good if they could customize and simplify also.

Fomoko1, a friend put me in touch with a guy who buys cars and parts all over the U.S. and he has a complete engine/trans setup. He wants $4K which seems to be very reasonable compared to what I have heard from others. However, I found a guy in Texas who bought a salvage '02 Lightening truck and plans to use the complete chassis under his 55. He stole it for $4.5K with only 13K miles. I think he'll have a difficult time getting the 55 to work with the track width on the '02 but he thinks otherwise so it will be interesting to see how it goes. I'm leaving today to purchase his old chassis which has a Corvette setup front and rear. I'll try to get some photos of the '02 chassis.

 

$4K Sounds like a good price IF it comes with computer, all the sensors, wiring harness, catalytic converter(s) and in tank fuel pump. I'd still want all of it even if you go aftermarket harness you'll not know exactly what you need and those little parts can add up REAL fast. Besides anything you end up not needing can be ebayed to reduce your cost. Ford Motorsports is what I called Fomoco. Ford has been trying to develop strong aftermarket sales of their engines and parts so are offering a lot more parts and accessories geared towards street rodders.

 

thanks for the reply 56Fun. That is a great deal as it would be impossible to get that kind of performance for the money and it is a Ford power train. Let us know what you end up doing, hope it works for you as it is exciting idea.

 

Sounds like a great project! I love the reliability, efficiency, and performance of fuel injection. As much cussing as we do about the factory engineers those guys ahve really done a great job in the last 10 years or so.

Bobby