Hey, everyone... I have 03 lightning with 17k on it...
I Recently added...
-Volant Cold air intake
-Accufab Throttle Body
-Superchips Max MicroTuner

The Superchips tuner has Towing..Performance.. and HP4(lightnings and harly trucks with a 4# pulley... )

I was running the truck on performace setting for a while it ran good with the mods that i have done..

Now is where the problem happens.. I Got a 9.75" / 8 Psi* Pulley... and Interchiller fans.... I installed everything... Tuned it to the HP4 setting drove it down the road... SOON as i hit like 3k rpm or if i just punched it the truck acted like it fell on its face like its not getting enough fuel... It just dogs down after the pulley starts spooling up quick... I tuned truck to performance and stock and it still runs like **** with the 8# Pulley... I am thinking the truck is not getting enough fuel... i just noticed that the Superchips tuner was for a 4# pulley... could this be the problem? I called sports truck direct where i got all the parts... they said they run the hp4 tune with the 8# Pulley and the truck runs great i dont see what i am missing or if the fine people at sports truck direct have no clue what they are talking about... Please help and post any pointers! Thanks!
<!-- / message -->

 

be carefull i dont know the problem . but your gonna be running pretty lean but watch out for detonstion 8 lb pulley is asking for trouble if its not tuned properly if it has a setting for 4 lb pulley and running 8 lb pulley you will have way to much timing .somewhere in this forum there is a formula telling how much timing you need. wont take much ping and you will be buying an engine

 

Need some info on an 02 harley underdrive pulley this tells a bit more on what happens when to much boost and timing . type in the search field under this forum . just trying to help

 

You need custom tuning by someone experienced with Lightning tuning for a pulley that size or you're risking engine damage, especially if you end up leaning it out too much. An off-the shelf tuner won't handle this. Scroll down to the chips and tuner section and check out Troyer Performance. It sounds like its over-boosting and the boost-dump is kicking in. This can be overcome by a competent tuner. I've done plenty of these myself but don't do mail-order tunes for blowers these days (only for local guys). Heck, I'm playing around with the tune on my Roush this week.

 

You need to get a custome tune on a dyno or a new eng. much cheaper to get the tune. Store bought tunes are not kind to your fuel/air mix.

 

Mr. Payne, not to thread hijack, but what are you using to tune your Roush with?

kenoof, in my personal opinion, you'd be better off staying with a 4lb lower. Or at the most, a 6lb lower. Running an 8lb lower on the Eaton will overspin the s/c, creating too much heat, and that gives diminishing returns on your increased boost. Basically, while you've increased the boost, you've unfortunately offset (eliminated) any increased performance by overheating the supercharger.

There's a reason the Eaton superchargers are nicknamed Heaton's.

Some guys will run with a 6lb lower (I do) and a ported blower, but that can push the MAF envelope, pushing the MAF voltage dangerously close to the maximum.

I'm not saying every truck will peg the MAF with a ported blower and a 6lb lower, but I am saying that seems to be right around where the margin starts.

Pegging the MAF voltage will eventually lead to unwanted carnage inside the block. Sometimes, you even have unwanted holes appear in the engine block.

A MAF extender like the MAFia or SCT Big Air MAF are added whenever you get close to pegging the MAF. Both items also must have a custom tune created for them.

A custom dyno tune is a must, whenever a pulley swap is done, if you want the longevity and the safest productivity from your truck. A canned tune is a stopgap measure, until a custom dyno tune is created, in my opinion.

Stewart

 

SCT. I'm an SCT dealer though only with locals these days - I stopped mail order a long time back except for existing customers. Mike Troyer, whose guys installed the blower for the article, did the initial tuning. Now I'm starting to play around with the tune on it myself. Don't get me wrong, Mike did a fabulous job and I highly recommend him. Its just that I'm a computer guy and truck guy all rolled into one and I have to tweak everything. If you can't get dyno tuning for a Lightning or Roush application he can provide you with a safe mail-order tune, then provide you with datalogging instructions so he can tweak it for you if you can't get by his shop to use the dyno.

 

Mail order tuning is nice but as you say it is a stop gap answer to a major need. You need to get tuned by someone in your area. Find a speed shop or a race car shop in your area and they will refer you to a good tuner.

 

Usually once a year, one of the NorCal guys puts together a dyno tuning weekend. Sal Mennella, from PowerSurge Performance flies out and tunes trucks for all the guys who sign up.

But I would rather learn to tweak my own tunes, and I'm contemplating getting the SCT Pro Racer Package, especially now that I'm having an engine built for my Lightning.

Stewart

 

Ken is dead on. The only way to tune this truck would be on a dyno. Emailing tunes is a big risk.

With that said... I am banned from driving my '02 Harley until such time permits.

 

I would have call superchips first and they would have told you 8 pound pulley wont work with thier program. I have superchips hp4 program in my 2000 but have 4 pound in mine. I have gotten 107 mph (1/4 mile)at the track with it. You also need cat back on for a little better flow. And that place just wants to sell you parts.You know most of the people answering the phone just can change an air filter and that is it. lol

 

Absent any exhaust problems, one should only alter the stock exhaust for performance when the power levels call for a change. At his power levels, swapping the cat back would only provide a sound improvement, it will not provide a performance improvement.

The exhaust systems in the Gen 2 Lightnings flow really well, and are pretty optimal for the power it creates, up to around 475 to 500 horsepower. That's rule of thumb, not hard and fast. Some say the power level is 450+

Lowering the backpressure too much (eg. better flowing headers, catless mids, or even long tubes) when his power levels aren't high enough will actually hurt his performance.

Lowering his backpressure just a bit by bolting in an aftermarket catback will give him better flow, and it probably wouldn't hurt his performance much, if at all, but neither will it help his performance.

I myself have lowered my backpressure too much by removing my catted midpipe. I now have straight pipes from the stock manifolds, to my Bassani cat-back, and I've lost a very measurable level of performance. But I did it for the sound. I don't enjoy driving my Lightning when it sounds stock. When I had to put my stock pipes back on to get smogged, I was dismal the whole week it was on. When I finally got them yanked off and put my catless mids back on, I lost a whole lot of performance, but gained a bigger smile because I could once again hear my exhaust.

Stewart

 

Little update guys.. I took the 8# off... I put the stock pull back on now im running the performance tune.. The guys at Sportstruck direct are not being very much help at all... Wouldnt take tuner or pull back. I did get them to arrange a swap for a 4# pulley (They are trying to tell me they cant take the $50.00 belt I got back though) Even though I drove the truck prolly 10 miles and said hmm this doesnt seem good better stop driving it... Anyhow the truck is running like new again... Just had a couple more things to put into the mix...

Likei said mods installed currently are...

Interchiller fans
Volant Cold air intake
Superchips Tuner (running performance)
Accufab Throttle Body

I Still have these to put on...
(8.40" / +4 psi*) ASP pulley
Superchips tune (HP4)
The Power valve designed for the Ford 4R100 transmission

My questions are...
Should I put just go with the 4# pulley and the Superchips tuner.. Or should I go with a 6# pulley with a custom tune... Or should I get the 4 or 6 # pulley and swap out the Superchips tuner with a diablosport tuner... or am i wasting my time keep the 8# pully and get a custom tune already!

Any other mods that I should throw into the mix together would be great guys! Still building the truck up any advice helps on what to keep what to trash and what to buy!

Still kinda stuck any opinions help thanks again guys!
<!-- / message -->

 

I think the the 4 pound is a safe bet. But I am sure others have there 2 cents. I have 4 pound lower pulley, knn cold air kit, C@L upper, acufab TB, Walker Glass Packs, Superchips tune, and I ran 12.95 1/4 mile with it . but it was a cool night which helped alot. Other told me if you put on the 6 pound you will get better power at he launch but at the end it heat soaks and robbs power at the finish. So you get lower ET's at the end. I think if you want to run the eight pound you might want a Whipple SC. That is my two cents.

 

My 2 cents. A 4# pulley Accufab TB, Bassani mid pipe back exhaust system. Stegmier Ported Blower and plenum, and an Air Force 1 CAI, and a SCT tuner.