'01 Lightning

[EHardy1971]

Well, I figured I would start a thread on the L since I've already ordered some stuff for it. The first mod I've installed so far is the oil seperator from LFP....
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0337.jpg

And some of the other stuff I haven't had time to put on yet.

Drilled and slotted rotors with Hawk ceramic pads....

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/DSCN0317.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/DSCN0319.jpg

New tails...

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/DSCN0321.jpg

...I wanted to keep the factory look on the tails, but on the toned down side. Not pictured is the Energy Suspension front and rear swaybar kits (bushings and endlinks). Other mods that were already on the truck from the previous owner was a full Belltech suspension drop, full header back exhaust, and new interior with black carpet. I'll keep the thread updated as I install and/or mod everything.

[qkjuicedpony]

Port the Blower NOW!!!!!!!!!

[86GTPONY]

:nice: Very nice there Eric! Those brakes will help the whoa factor a bit.

[SlowJoe]

:chug:

[rtusnake]

I have a billetflow puller if you decide to get ready with the boost

[SilverBack]

Nice :nice:

[stangman]

Looks good..

[yellowSVT]

me to! he needs to buy my pulley, and idler too!

[NO2MORO]

Port the Blower NOW!!!!!!!!!

I agree! Porting the blower is a must. Easy and cheap horsepower.

I also have a Metco Idler pulley from my HD and I am still a Metco dealer if you need any parts.

[hevymtl]

............

[EHardy1971]

Thanks guys! The blower will be getting ported eventually, but after I get some money saved back, and find a set of Cobra rotors.

I agree! Porting the blower is a must. Easy and cheap horsepower.

I also have a Metco Idler pulley from my HD and I am still a Metco dealer if you need any parts.
Really!? What can you get me an Idler relocation kit for?

[NO2MORO]

Thanks guys! The blower will be getting ported eventually, but after I get some money saved back, and find a set of Cobra rotors.


Really!? What can you get me an Idler relocation kit for?

Are you talking about the Aux Idler pulley? Do you want single or double bearing?

[EHardy1971]

Are you talking about the Aux Idler pulley? Do you want single or double bearing?
It's the blower pulley idler relocation kit. It comes with two pulleys and a relocation bracket.

[blue90lx]

sweet :nice:

[waypastcrazy]

nice:

[SMOKNSS]

Looks good man. I have always liked those trucks. :D

[qkjuicedpony]

We can get it in the low 12s with ease Eric!!! Let's do work!!!!

[NO2MORO]

It's the blower pulley idler relocation kit. It comes with two pulleys and a relocation bracket.

I am waiting for Kristi at Metco to call me back, I can not find a relocation kit by Metco. I will let you know as soon as I know something.

[EHardy1971]

Thanks again everybody. I got the Energy Suspension front swaybar bushings and endlinks on earlier this week. I would've gotten the rear done, but I had to replace a tierod end, on top of being sick. While I was working on it, I got a pleasant surprise on the suspension. I had assumed it was a Belltech suspension kit because of the shocks. It appears he either put together his own kit, or sourced a custom kit from somewhere by the looks of the springs....

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0352.jpg

.....Yep, it has Eibach springs on the front, and from what I've read on Lightningrodder, Hotchkis (2 leafs) springs on the rear. With just the front swaybar kit on, there is a noticable improvement in the handling and steering response. One bit of advice though, if you ever do this upgrade, wear some rubber gloves when applying the lube. It's like trying to wipe wet RTV silicone off of your hands.
I am waiting for Kristi at Metco to call me back, I can not find a relocation kit by Metco. I will let you know as soon as I know something.
Ok, thanks!:nice:

QJP, I'm going to have to build some funds back up, and get some other home projects done before I dive into the engine. But when I get some $ put back, I'll take you up on the offer.:D

[EHardy1971]

Rotors and Hawk pads installed...

Front
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0384.jpg

Rear

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0386.jpg

...even while bedding the pads, I could tell a MASSIVE improvement in the stopping power. Even more so after allowing the rotors to cool and stopping normally.:nice:

[coupe]

And they look good too! :eek: Wow! :metal:

[EHardy1971]

And they look good too! :eek: Wow! :metal:
:yup: They're the ones I got from Rotorpros.net over on Lightningrodder. Of course they have the normal discoloration now after I bedded them.

[qkjuicedpony]

:yup: They're the ones I got from Rotorpros.net over on Lightningrodder. Of course they have the normal discoloration now after I bedded them.

Don't lie....you had to stop real hard on the way home today when your favorite sheep ran in front of you!!!!

[waypastcrazy]

Don't lie....you had to stop real hard on the way home today when your favorite sheep ran in front of you!!!!:rofl:

[EHardy1971]

Don't lie....you had to stop real hard on the way home today when your favorite sheep ran in front of you!!!!
Well, I didn't want to run over you too in the process. :jester:

[EHardy1971]

New tails are on...

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0439.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0450.jpg

[qkjuicedpony]

Now it looks just like mine! Copy cat!!!!! :D

[EHardy1971]

My wheels look better. :D

[qkjuicedpony]

My wheels look better. :D

Mines faster!!!!!

[BIGDATOWN]

next question is who's bigger? lol

[rtusnake]

Much mo better

[itlepeanut]

Don't lie....you had to stop real hard on the way home today when your favorite sheep ran in front of you!!!!

Might have been the donkey....
















:jester:

[EHardy1971]

Well, I restored the headlights using the 3M kit. They weren't real bad, but were starting to get a slight haze across the middle, and were a bit on the sandblasted side. Before...

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0624.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0625.jpg

During :eek: ....

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0626.jpg

Finished product....

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0627.jpg

Although they weren't as bad as typical Fox headlights (or my '95 F-150, which was the guinea pig for this kit before I tried it on the Lightning) there is a noticeable improvement in light transmission. I need to get a 'refill' for the kit to do the fogs next. In the not too distant future, it's getting the DDM Tuning HID conversion on the heads and fogs, like RTUSNAKE did on his tree fiddy. The pics in his thread don't do those things justice after seeing them in person. I also gave the engine a good detailing a couple of weeks ago...

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Gadsden%20cruise%20in/DSCN0622.jpg

[rtusnake]

If you want the hids in the near future, you better order them now so they will be in on time :jester:

[EHardy1971]

If you want the hids in the near future, you better order them now so they will be in on time :jester:
:rofl:

[SlowJoe]

:metal:

[EHardy1971]

:ohsnap:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0636.jpg

:D

[itlepeanut]

Looks good EJ!

[yellowSVT]

looks great that bolt is not so great

[EHardy1971]

looks great that bolt is not so great
Yeah, I'm going to try and locate a stainless one for it.

[rtusnake]

I just put a black plastic push in clip in mine

[EHardy1971]

Ok, some of you guys that have/had have L's and 03-04 Cobras (although not as bad as the Lightnings) know about the tendency they have to pull oil into the intake tract via the PCV valve. This problem is fixed with an oil seperator or catch can. Some of you remember where I put the LFP oil seperator on mine as SOON as I got home from the sandbox. The truck had 114k miles on it at the time, which equates to a lot of miles/years worth of Mobil 1 cooked into the intercooler. So yesterday, I finally dove into tearing the top of my engine apart to clean the I/C. I have to give my wife credit though, she didn't bat an eye when I told her I would be taking apart a large portion of the engine on "her" truck ;). I finished it up at 11 pm last night, and the cleaning portion was more time consuming than the actual wrench time. Oh, I also took the opportunity to fill in the silencer holes on the Eaton while I had it off. That bitch REALLY wails now! I also picked up over 1 lb of boost doing this. On to the pics...
Before...
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0063.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0064.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0065.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0066.jpg
After. And a HUGE difference...
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0068.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0069.jpg
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0070.jpg

Also cleaned out the lower intake...
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj228/ehardy1971/Lightning/DSCN0067.jpg
....This wasn't JUST a performance related procedure, but also a gas mileage improvement one. It obviously increases gas mileage by creating more airflow, but also lets me get my money's worth out of the 93 octane (it requires 91 or higher) in the tank, by not decreasing the octane from the oil in the intake tract. I'll get an in cockpit video up shortly, but be forewarned, I don't have a damn Go-Pro hero, so it may be a bit shaky. But the sound will be noticeable.

[SlowJoe]

:metal:

[TheJeanyus]

And a HUGE difference...
That's an understatement! :huh: Nice work.

[EHardy1971]

That's an understatement! :huh: Nice work.

:nice: Thanks! Here's a little video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPpM5CF_vFA&feature=context-gau

[TheJeanyus]

Funny how they have US speed limit signs down there in Mexico. :jester:

[EHardy1971]

Funny how they have US speed limit signs down there in Mexico. :jester:

:hiding:

[banditmwp]

Funny how they have US speed limit signs down there in Mexico. :jester:

:rofl:

[qkjuicedpony]

Shame on you for not smoothing out that casting flash on the plate to get a smooth transition into the intercooler....and for not porting the blower too

[EHardy1971]

Shame on you for not smoothing out that casting flash on the plate to get a smooth transition into the intercooler....and for not porting the blower too

That's forthcoming. There's a method to my madness here. ;)

[yellowSVT]

he has to sell the idea to tonya, LOL!

[EHardy1971]

he has to sell the idea to tonya, LOL!
Pfffffffffft.

[rtusnake]

Need to put it on the dyno saturday

[yellowSVT]

okay!

[EHardy1971]

Cleaning the I/C picked up the gas mileage a bit, to the tune of 2 more mpg's :metal:. It already had a K&N drop in when I bought it, which also helps out. These trucks were rated at 13/17 from the factory, which is about what I've been getting (or less depending on how heavy footed I get). I logged my mileage on the highway going to Gadsden last night, and got 19 mpg, with no A/C running, at 70 mph. Logged it tonight going back up to Atalla. I got 14+ mpg, A/C on, and mixed city/highway driving. :nice: