Lightning Owners, please chime in.

[black50]

consider getting an L from 1993-95

x2
easier to work on, can find one much cheaper and they are true half ton trucks

[scootro]

x2
easier to work on, can find one much cheaper and they are true half ton trucks

it'll last a hell of a lot longer. too! and you can make 'em scary fast

[AIFOX]

consider getting an L from 1993-95

x3, mine just turned over 210k and doesn't skip a beat.

[mk5.0]

Only problem with the 93-95 is that damn tractor front end death wobble.

[scootro]

Only problem with the 93-95 is that damn tractor front end death wobble.

thats bullshit i've had 4 of them over the years and currently own a 93' and a 94' i haven't experience this! its nothing a alignment or a new ball joint can't fix

[LaserSVT]

They are way over priced now days if you dont want one with tons miles. Get a new rcsb 5.0 f150, they are $20kish new and have a superior powertrain. Bolts + tune = 12 sec truck.

And they get 20+ mpg hwy.

I have noticed the price spike. I was looking at them about 4 years ago and they were WAY cheaper. 10k could get a damn clean truck with 40k on it. No 10k will get you a fairly clean truck with rock chips, couple scratches, bald tires and 100k miles.

As for the new ones, its $30,650 for a new 5.0 regular cab with power options. 29k for bare bones. I don't have choo choo money.

I'm glad you realized owning a 65 isn't the best idea.

Just a thought but wouldn't adding one of those airbag load leveling kits help with hauling more weight in the bed? It would take a lost on pressure off the leaf springs when the bed is loaded.

I still want one and one day I will have one.... I hope, but for now I need to keep investing in my business and wait until its large enough that it does not require my presence there all the time because its making pimp money.

the bags are a great suggestion, didn't even think of that. Thanks.

Work truck shouldn't be a play truck.

Because when it breaks(and it will) you will be fucked for work

I agree and I don't mean like a real toy. Just something fun to drive. I will prolly only go to the drag strip one night after I do some boltons. Don't rally care what the numbers are, only the smile factor.
Plus side with the Lightning is the 9.75 rear and 4R100 trans. Nice HD items and the blocks are pretty stout too. As long as I do the minor boltons and keep boost on the SVT blower to a respectable 12 or less lbs I don't think I will be taxing any mechanical parts too hard.

Get an 02 Harley F-150, DSG. We had one and I hauled all sorts of shit in it, and 4 people fit comfortably. I had the back end filed with dirt (loaded by a front end loader just dumping it in), rocks, cement. Had an E-fan, 6 lb. lower and made 400/500. Same basic truck as a lightning, just bigger!

Sexiness, LOL.

Ya know I hadn't even priced any of those out yet. I will take a look at them as well. Thanks for the heads up!

And yeah, been in Texas too long now. Thinking a truck is sexy is just wrong.

consider getting an L from 1993-95

Only problem with the 93-95 is that damn tractor front end death wobble.

I just don't care a whole lot about them. Bland interior, crap front suspension design and to make power you have to spend some serious coin. But still you have a truck that does not stop or handle well. They are nice trucks and all but really for less money I can make my 96 Silverado faster and know that everything else in the truck is already solid and fresh.


My primary concern with this thread was to get a feel for what to look for and what they can really handle for loads and such. I have a couple customers with them and one the dude traded a 97 Cobra for straight across and then brought it to me to inspect. I noticed right away some rust on the hood and was confused because I thought they were aluminum. Then upon further inspection I saw lots of oil in the intake, multiple vac leaks, seized brake calipers, SHOT rear end (we had to install a new axle due to exploded gears and bent axle tube) that I have no idea how he killed it, crumpled rear frame rails (truck was hit hard in the rear) and a few other issues.
He left it with me for a week to make sure it was all sorted out and after I fixed everything save for the rusty hood and crumpled rear frame I really enjoyed the hell out of driving it. Cornered very well, was lowered with sway bars and fresh Bilstiens, felt great when on the gas and the seats were the best truck seats I ever felt. I could have bought it for $6000 but no way I was gonna touch it with that damage.

My other customer with a Lightning just turned 120k on the clock. He has it modded to 424rwhp and owned it for about 5 years. Its an 02 and its his daily driver. Hes been a customer for 3 years and only brings it to me but does his own oil changes. In 5 years he put 80k on it and I have only had to do tuneup, belts, trans flush, alternator, brake pads and front rotors and replace the AC manifold seals. Truck seems to be a solid vehicle.

But he does not tow anything and only has medical samples in the bed that don't weigh much. He also has only brought it to the strip a handful of times but I know on the street he loves to play with sports cars. LOL

[Mysticcobrakilla]

Sorry, but 93-95 L's handle like no other truck out there. You are correct in saying they don't stop for shit though.

[Cooter]

Needs more 6.4

[TeeShock]

+1 for 93-95 L. If I could do it again I would have started with a MAF truck. Mine would melt the tires with ease. Filling up two tanks was always a chore.

[LaserSVT]

I never had a 93-95 but drove a few over the years and they felt like any other F-150 save for a hair less body roll in the corners. I just never cared for the twin I beam setup.

I still look and point when I see one though and if the person is stopped I will compliment the truck or talk to them about it but they just are not my cup of tea.
I would want to do an STS turbo on it and forge/bore/stroke the motor, upgrade the brakes etc etc and by the time I do that I am well past the cost of a Modular powered Lightning that's just a more comfortable truck with a far better suspension and steering design.

[LaserSVT]

Needs more 6.4

I have also thought of an oil burner but I hate the way they sound. Plus they are all on HD frames and ride like a truck. They are heavy and handle like poo.
Excellent work trucks though, good mileage, great hauling and towing capacity and pretty decient interiors but they just are not what I am looking for.

Plus I would hate to replace a couple thousand dollar injection pump or lose a motor to a failed EGR system. Also to get a good price on one it will have well over a quarter million miles. Even if the engine is solid that's still a lot of miles on all the other parts and I don't feel like completely rebuilding another truck truck.

I also get a little scared. I have one customer with a 6.4 truck with 110k on it. He is on his 4th motor. Ford keeps paying to replace them but it seems so many people have problems with their 6.4 or 6.0 trucks.
I have had to replace a couple $900 injection pumps in the 7.3 motors and they seem pretty solid otherwise but they all ride like poop.

I am just not a diesel guy.

[asphaltjunkie]

Sorry, but 93-95 L's handle like no other truck out there. You are correct in saying they don't stop for shit though.

This. It's not just limited to Lightnings though...'87-96 rcsb F-150s all handle very well. I had a '90 model that would take these twisty backwoods east texas roads like it was on rails. Had several guys in highschool roll their chevys doing 60 down one curvy ass road...my F-150 would take them at 75... :dumbass:

Sent from my LGL45C using Tapatalk 2

[Aceman85turbo]

We just finished a mustang II swap and 4 link on an 87 F150 with coilovers and sway bars. Handling is incredible with no body roll and no oversteer. Weight capacity better than stock with the right components.

[LaserSVT]

Yellowstang, thanks for the heads up. Didn't think about the 02-03 HD F-150 and that may fit my needs better. Not saying I will go that route but now it has me looking. LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-DAVIDSON-V8-SUPER-CHARGED-UPGRADES-WE-FINANCE-TRADES-WELCOME-CALL-US-/400492885137?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5d3f3c7491

Would just have to ditch the cover and remove the stripe and I would be done. Already has the mods I want. Just would do a NAV system in it, already have the system but would have to figure out how the hell to fit a single sub in there. Does not appear to be any room.

[yellowstang]

Yellowstang, thanks for the heads up. Didn't think about the 02-03 HD F-150 and that may fit my needs better. Not saying I will go that route but now it has me looking. LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-DAVIDSON-V8-SUPER-CHARGED-UPGRADES-WE-FINANCE-TRADES-WELCOME-CALL-US-/400492885137?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5d3f3c7491

Would just have to ditch the cover and remove the stripe and I would be done. Already has the mods I want. Just would do a NAV system in it, already have the system but would have to figure out how the hell to fit a single sub in there. Does not appear to be any room.

When we had ours and were on a truck forum (Harley sub forum), a lot of guys built the sub into the rear console, or removed it totally and built a custom box with just as nice a cover on it. Thumped, and still looked pretty stock.