03 lightning 5.4 swap in GT?
07-31-2009, 12:29 PM
#1
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,111
03 lightning 5.4 swap in GT?
I am getting pretty excited over a deal I came across 
. Guy my friend knows is selling a 5.4 lightning engine for $1500. Supposedly it has been sitting in a junkyard for a couple of years since the truck was T-boned. I know I would need another computer, fuel system, and not sure about the tranny. I would be selling my engine, computer, and possibly tranny to swap out. It seems like in $$, the upgrade ( cost of buying – selling my parts) wouldn’t be more than a few grand, so its cheaper than trying to upgrade my motor. So, I have a few questions.
1) What would be needed to complete the transformation?
2) Would it fit fine in our cars?
3) It doesn’t come with alternator and such, can I adapt mine to fit or do I new a new one?
4) What kind of power do they get with full bolt on’s, or with a turbo or supercharger swap?
I don’t have much knowledge about this subject, so I would appreciate all input I can get. I would probably swap the blower later, but for now I would do basic bolt ons like intake, tune, headers, etc…
. Guy my friend knows is selling a 5.4 lightning engine for $1500. Supposedly it has been sitting in a junkyard for a couple of years since the truck was T-boned. I know I would need another computer, fuel system, and not sure about the tranny. I would be selling my engine, computer, and possibly tranny to swap out. It seems like in $$, the upgrade ( cost of buying – selling my parts) wouldn’t be more than a few grand, so its cheaper than trying to upgrade my motor. So, I have a few questions.1) What would be needed to complete the transformation?
2) Would it fit fine in our cars?
3) It doesn’t come with alternator and such, can I adapt mine to fit or do I new a new one?
4) What kind of power do they get with full bolt on’s, or with a turbo or supercharger swap?
I don’t have much knowledge about this subject, so I would appreciate all input I can get. I would probably swap the blower later, but for now I would do basic bolt ons like intake, tune, headers, etc…
07-31-2009, 04:22 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 2,211
save your money and do a 5.4 3v or 5.4 4v swap. 5.4 2v is forged...but that is it's only benefit over a 5.4 3v/4v
the 5.4 2v is about 390 crank HP on the stock blower. a pulley and tuning upgrade will net you in the 450 crank HP arena
the 5.4 3v @ 6 PSI Roush was pushing 445 crank HP, and with pulley/tuning (10 psi) was closer to 500-520 crank HP.
After you spend all the money to modify, swap wiring harnesses, adress the PCM and lighting issues and a whole score of other things that you haven't even mentioned yet...you are looking at well over $5,000 in parts and mods alone. Not even counting the cost of the motor/tranny part.
it will fit width wise. 5.4 2v is narrower than a 4.6 3v is.
height wise, you are going to need GT500 motor mounts, and most likely a new hood as well to clear the deck height.
need new driveshaft. your current tranny will bolt up using a flex plate adapter
your rear axle is going to explode without some upgrades
need new front springs. 5.4 is about 200 lbs heavier than 4.6
might be able to save your A/C system. Depends if the 5.4 accessory setup has the compressor in the correct location
be 100% illegal for smog
just a few things of the top of my head. not saying it cannot be done. but this is a project that most weekend warriors would be better off not touching. This is a more involved swap that a Shop or Master Tech should accomplish.
why not spend the $3-4,000 for a blower? displacement is nice...but a blower makes up for it. and that install is a freaking joke. I did one in my driveway on my 5.4 3v
the 5.4 2v is about 390 crank HP on the stock blower. a pulley and tuning upgrade will net you in the 450 crank HP arena
the 5.4 3v @ 6 PSI Roush was pushing 445 crank HP, and with pulley/tuning (10 psi) was closer to 500-520 crank HP.
After you spend all the money to modify, swap wiring harnesses, adress the PCM and lighting issues and a whole score of other things that you haven't even mentioned yet...you are looking at well over $5,000 in parts and mods alone. Not even counting the cost of the motor/tranny part.
it will fit width wise. 5.4 2v is narrower than a 4.6 3v is.
height wise, you are going to need GT500 motor mounts, and most likely a new hood as well to clear the deck height.
need new driveshaft. your current tranny will bolt up using a flex plate adapter
your rear axle is going to explode without some upgrades
need new front springs. 5.4 is about 200 lbs heavier than 4.6
might be able to save your A/C system. Depends if the 5.4 accessory setup has the compressor in the correct location
be 100% illegal for smog
just a few things of the top of my head. not saying it cannot be done. but this is a project that most weekend warriors would be better off not touching. This is a more involved swap that a Shop or Master Tech should accomplish.
why not spend the $3-4,000 for a blower? displacement is nice...but a blower makes up for it. and that install is a freaking joke. I did one in my driveway on my 5.4 3v
07-31-2009, 05:33 PM
#4
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 2,211
normal GT has 8.8 with I think 29 spline axles
decent axle, but a big difference going from 300 HP to a 450 HP setup
not to mention the 5.4 has 60-80 more TQ than a 4.6 does. That is alot more shockload to be applied on the axle.
axle wise, he would be better off getting a Bullitt or GT500 setup. 35 spline axles are worlds stronger than the GT setup....and a girdle
damn, list keeps getting bigger
07-31-2009, 10:18 PM
#6
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
I love the idea.
$1500 for that mill justifies it.
Find a good speed shop in your area to help with the custom wiring of the electronics and post back with your bad *** ride.
Note:
You might have hood clearance problems, because on the lightning, the S/C CAI is on top of said supercharger and the feed is to the back of it.
So, you have an extra 4 inches to deal with.
But you know what? That will be an excuse to use a 2.5" or 3" cowl hood.
$1500 for that mill justifies it.
Find a good speed shop in your area to help with the custom wiring of the electronics and post back with your bad *** ride.
Note:
You might have hood clearance problems, because on the lightning, the S/C CAI is on top of said supercharger and the feed is to the back of it.
So, you have an extra 4 inches to deal with.
But you know what? That will be an excuse to use a 2.5" or 3" cowl hood.
07-31-2009, 10:54 PM
#7
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 1,136
Your in texas your smog is pretty lenient compared to cali. The rear end, driveshaft, tranny will hold up just fine with that powerplant. I don't even think springs will have to be changed to tell you the truth. Your mainly looking at computer/wiring harness, headers, intake, hood.
08-01-2009, 07:23 AM
#9
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 705
also something to think about, i know the gt500 coolent flow is reversed, and the radiator is directional, but i am not sure if the same holds true for the lightning or not. if it is reversed flow, you will need a custom built radiator, i dont see the lightning fitting in the stang, i opened both my hoods and looked
08-01-2009, 09:50 AM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 4,552
I don't think I would venture down that road. The benefits of the 3 valve are awesome and the possible issues you could run into, down time and maintance would be a pain in the ***. Your car can put 450 to the ground with almost any blower kit out. Probably for less money too in the long haul.
The rear axles in our cars are 31 spline. People pull 1.5 60's all day on them with no issues. Your axle is fine.
The rear axles in our cars are 31 spline. People pull 1.5 60's all day on them with no issues. Your axle is fine.
