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Lightning Supercharger interchangability

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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:21 PM
  #1  
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Lightning Supercharger interchangability

I have a chance to get a Lightning motor with a thrown rod pretty cheap. I was wondering if the supercharger set up would swap to a normally aspired 5.4. Is there a difference in compression ratio? If the swap works, should I swap the heads too? Or are they the same?
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 07:15 AM
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I think, and i could very well be wrong, but i think that the only difference is that the lightning 5.4 uses a forged crank.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 11:18 AM
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Actually, the crank is forged on the regular 5.4s also. Unless it is a factory rebuiold, in which case it may have a cast crank. Pistons seem to be the main difference between the L engine and the non-L engine.

You can definitely put the blower on your truck. Here's a link to the parts you need for the kit:
http://www.madenterprise.com/scparts.htm
(mods, please delete if posting this link violates the forum rules)

I know of several people who have done this. Great mod, though you'll need a custom tune to make it all work.

If I had to start over, I think I'd do exactly what you may do: get a used L blower for cheap, then get the kit from the link I posted and install it. While I love my procharger, I like the idea of OEM reliability.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 11:40 AM
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Looks like he's getting the whole engine, so he could probably even use the computer from the lightning and he'll have a bunch of spare parts. Thanks for posting up the right info.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 11:43 AM
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Mr. Jordan...

I thank you for posting this. Your link was a missing piece in my puzzle on the potential swap. Why didn't you mention this in my "KB ?" post in the power adder forum?

Apprently I hadn't done my research well enough in that area. Thank you.

-Kerry
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 12:56 PM
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Guys, thanks for the responses! Sounds like I'll have everything I need except for the computer.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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you aren't getting the computer from the lightning?

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to tune your computer with a tuner chip of some sort, but you may have to have it special tuned locally on a dyno and all that.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 11:10 PM
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The compression is different. N/A 5.4's use 9.5:1, lightnings are 8.5:1. The lightning also has forged pistons. The stock computer does not have enough flexibility in the fuel tables to handle a blower, so will therefore need a new ECM, not just a tuner. Plus injectos, manifolds, throttle body's, etc. Then the rest of those parts listed in the website above.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2006 | 11:23 PM
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Fbodyfan, is the difference in compression ration due to the cylinder heads or is it in the pistons. Sounds like the blowers have been used on 9.5:1 N/A engines. I'm wondering if the extra point in compression causes a major problems.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 07:16 AM
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http://www.johnnylightningperf.com/
heres a link to the man who owns and drives the fastest lighting and runs a speed shop only for lightings who just may put any one wanting information in the correct driection.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2006 | 07:30 PM
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I believe it's the pistons that are different. Lightning of course has forged. You shouldn't have a problem with the compression using 93 octane and a blower on a 9.5:1 motor, just listen for any knocking or pinging. Make sure you don't crank the boost up too high, as these pistons are weaker than the lightnings. I could be wrong but I think the heads are the same.
 
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