whats the difference?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Montague, NJ
better suspension as in what? is it still leafsprings?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
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thats just what ive been told all it really is is a stiffer frame and a 120mph speedometer i wouldnt wase my money on one of them when i know i can build a better truck for alot less like my fi50 is an 88 model and i can build a 347 stroker that would eat a 1st generation lightening alive and i can get a 92-96 front clip and buy the air dam from summit or lmc or someplace like that and suspintion could be done with gas shocks steering stabilizers and a sway bar kit for the front and stiffer for the rear but thats been my plan sence i baught my truck a few years ago
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Lightning has lowered suspension with oversized swaybars and a 4.10LS diff, GT40 intake and heads and a unique cam. It works quite a bit better than a stock 5.8 truck and has more potential with upgrades like cams, exhaust, and forced induction.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
Crappy intake? As compared to what? The frames are thicker, they have Lightning specific shock/springs/swaybars/i-beams as well as the afore mentioned 17 rims with Firestone Firehawk tires and 120 MPH speedometer. The engine had GT40 heads, intake and their own spec'ed cam. They also have their own calibration PCM that allowed for higher RPM and firmer shifts as well a higher speed limiter. The stock rear gear ratio was 4.10 w/limited slip. The rear end housing also had a few extra ribs cast in the center section. It was rumored each transmission as well as engine were hand assembled. The Lightning also came with bucket seats with the Lightning logo on the head rest.
The brakes were the same as the regular F150, same for gas tank sizes and locations. The interior color was slightly different than the standard F-series as well as the Lightning branded floor mats. Pretty much sums it up for the Gen 1 Lightning.
I have owned two '93 F150 Lightnings. Nice play toys, but suck at hauling a decent amount of firewood
The brakes were the same as the regular F150, same for gas tank sizes and locations. The interior color was slightly different than the standard F-series as well as the Lightning branded floor mats. Pretty much sums it up for the Gen 1 Lightning.
I have owned two '93 F150 Lightnings. Nice play toys, but suck at hauling a decent amount of firewood
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: southwest michigan
I think some of the lightnings had gt40 heads
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
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yes they had gt40 heads and lighter pistons "wow" still not worth what people sell them for if they do have them for sell as for the intale the tubes running from the plentum to the lower intake are a little smaller than the other ones and if im not mistaken the throttle body bolts to the side of the plentum and not the front like the regular ones im not an expert on the lightning but i do know that i can build one to look like them and perform better and u can make a regular production frame stiffer my taking some 3/16ths flat stock and boxing in the channel lol but this thread wasnt started to find out how to build a better one was it srry i get carried away some times :P
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
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From: Kentucky
I will also add the Lightning 5.8L engine also had factory shorty style headers. The exhaust was somewhat compromised with 4 converters. That made the y-pipe specific to the Lightning too.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
yes they had gt40 heads and lighter pistons "wow" still not worth what people sell them for if they do have them for sell as for the intale the tubes running from the plentum to the lower intake are a little smaller than the other ones and if im not mistaken the throttle body bolts to the side of the plentum and not the front like the regular ones im not an expert on the lightning but i do know that i can build one to look like them and perform better and u can make a regular production frame stiffer my taking some 3/16ths flat stock and boxing in the channel lol but this thread wasnt started to find out how to build a better one was it srry i get carried away some times :P
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
FWIW here is a photo of my last Lightning I sold earlier this year:
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/o.../PC100160b.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/o.../PC100160b.jpg
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Montague, NJ
well heres the deal. i know my budget isnt for an original lightning. i love the looks of it. so if there wasnt that big of a difference, i would take a standard f150 and make it look like one. id end up building up the 351 in it anyway so i guess that dosent matter. the interior and exterior not a problem. whats the deal with the frame being thicker? why would they do that?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 261
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From: Mason Michigan
Ok so if anyone thinks they can build a lightning cheaper than say buying one for 4000 to 6000 grand prove,cause i have seen lightning's in my area dirt cheap.I mean they are mass air,gt40 stuff on it and restrictive exhaust.So if you do a little head work,better flowing intake and different cam you could have a screamer and guess what?It's mass air.So now take let's say a 1992 to 1996 and let's for argument sake it's speed density,3.08 gears,302 engine and automatic.First of all are you going to want to spend the money it cost to convert this truck to mass air?Or are you just going to run a junkyard hackjob mass air system?Bottom line I think it would even out,not trying to be a pessimist just giving my opinion.