What do I need to know...weak spots, what to do/not to do etc 
rl
Transmissions (e40d) are not great, but suitable. They will be needing a rebuild anytime after 100K miles (and on some 93-94s, even sooner). Differentials will be the next that go out, but mileage may vary. I have 190K miles, and they are just now showing signs of needing replacement soon.
Tires... if they have the stock Firestone Firehawks, chunk them. They are garbage.
Stock mufflers fall apart after awhile, the internal baffles break down and rattle like crazy.
As far as modifications go, it's the general concensus now to avoid mass air conversions, and go with an EEC Tuner. There are multiple supercharger kits available, (and a Silver State turbo kit coming soon) They take many of the same 5.0/5.8 bolt-ons as Mustangs. And it's a piece of cake to crack into the low-mid 14s with just bolt-ons.
Tires... if they have the stock Firestone Firehawks, chunk them. They are garbage.
Stock mufflers fall apart after awhile, the internal baffles break down and rattle like crazy.
As far as modifications go, it's the general concensus now to avoid mass air conversions, and go with an EEC Tuner. There are multiple supercharger kits available, (and a Silver State turbo kit coming soon) They take many of the same 5.0/5.8 bolt-ons as Mustangs. And it's a piece of cake to crack into the low-mid 14s with just bolt-ons.
Hey Brian is tha FAQ you made still up?
I tried the link and it gave me the "not found" page.
That might be a great post for RL.
I tried the link and it gave me the "not found" page.
That might be a great post for RL.
LOL... you know, I keep forgetting that I wrote that. Yup, it's up, but my ISP changed the hostname. Here's the new link:
http://w3.mivlmd.cablespeed.com/~baskin/faq.htm
http://w3.mivlmd.cablespeed.com/~baskin/faq.htm
Is there ANY good way to tell if the transmission has been rebuilt? The truck I got has 92k miles on it, and to me, it feels like it has been rebuilt, it shifts higher and firmer than stock (it shifts around 5300, just past redline on the stock tach...) It also has a HUGE aftermarket tranny cooler on it...
what exactly is the weak spot of the transmission?
The truck already has a full exhaust, with flowmasters (they will get changed out for something a little more quiet) and no cats. Besides that, the engine is going to stay stock.
what exactly is the weak spot of the transmission?
The truck already has a full exhaust, with flowmasters (they will get changed out for something a little more quiet) and no cats. Besides that, the engine is going to stay stock.
hey rob with nothing more then exhaust (stock headers+no cats+2-1/2" flowmaster) underdrive pullies and a cone k&n on the throttle body my truck went 14.59 @ 92
thats at 4680lbs and 10° timing (most trucks seem to like 14 but mine doesnt for whatever reason)
at WFC i was cutting 2.06 60fts on radials
common mustang go fast goodies work exactly the same on the Ls. basically think of them as giant heavy speed density mustangs and your on the right track
anyways if your truck has the tow package youll have a huge tranny cooler that looks like a B&M stacked plate style and a huge 4 core radiator (that works awesome) the E4OD transmission is a really good tranny, just not in stock form. they seem to be the number 1 thing to bite the dust. id say if your tranny fluid looks and smells good your probably ok
rear ends are 8.8s with 31 spline track loks so any breakage with them is similar to how a mustang rear breaks, clutches wear, spider gears break, etc
front suspension bushings is another item that wears out a lot on the lightnings, not hard to diagnose as you can tell by looking if they are bad because they will be cracked and split etc
thats at 4680lbs and 10° timing (most trucks seem to like 14 but mine doesnt for whatever reason)
at WFC i was cutting 2.06 60fts on radials
common mustang go fast goodies work exactly the same on the Ls. basically think of them as giant heavy speed density mustangs and your on the right track
anyways if your truck has the tow package youll have a huge tranny cooler that looks like a B&M stacked plate style and a huge 4 core radiator (that works awesome) the E4OD transmission is a really good tranny, just not in stock form. they seem to be the number 1 thing to bite the dust. id say if your tranny fluid looks and smells good your probably ok
rear ends are 8.8s with 31 spline track loks so any breakage with them is similar to how a mustang rear breaks, clutches wear, spider gears break, etc
front suspension bushings is another item that wears out a lot on the lightnings, not hard to diagnose as you can tell by looking if they are bad because they will be cracked and split etc
5300 is shifting really high. At WOT, mine shifts around 4600. Maybe check to see if it has a computer installed. The computer is on the driver side, against the firewall, behind the parking brake assembly. The Lightnings with the towing option did receive a tranny cooler, mounted in front of the radiator.
Flowmasters and no cats... sigh, I hate the farmer john mods
I have Bassani shorties, bassani high-flow cats, and a custom dual catback with Dynomax Ultra-Flo SS's. I LOVE the sound, and it's unique.
As far as where the tranny ultimately fails, I do not know.
Flowmasters and no cats... sigh, I hate the farmer john mods
I have Bassani shorties, bassani high-flow cats, and a custom dual catback with Dynomax Ultra-Flo SS's. I LOVE the sound, and it's unique.
As far as where the tranny ultimately fails, I do not know.
wow 14.59? It would be hard not to want pulleys hehe It will get a K&N panel filter...because a car can't not have a K&N right?
It doesnt have a towing package....no hitch, someone obviously added a tranny cooler to it...the fluid smelled fine, so it should be OK.
By computer to you mean a chip? are these trannies electronicly controled, or mechanical via pressure etc?
hehe It will get a K&N panel filter...because a car can't not have a K&N right? It doesnt have a towing package....no hitch, someone obviously added a tranny cooler to it...the fluid smelled fine, so it should be OK.
By computer to you mean a chip? are these trannies electronicly controled, or mechanical via pressure etc?
the trannys have their own computer seperate from the regular EEC
BTW mustang underdrive pullies bolt right up....
BTW mustang underdrive pullies bolt right up....
If I am thinking of the same thing it's either the ABS computer or just a bulkhead fitting. Man my truck has been down so long I'm forgetting what things look like
One things for sure though, there's only one PCM unless you do something like a Pro-M mass air kit. Then you will have two.
One things for sure though, there's only one PCM unless you do something like a Pro-M mass air kit. Then you will have two.
Mike Gager said:
well i knew that the regular PCM controls the trannies, i just dont know why i thought there was another computer along with it, brain fart i guess heh
possibly tomorrow night....gotta do a tune up on it today when i bring it homeMike Gager said:
It felt pretty slow, like high 15 slow, but after getting out of an 11 second mustang, anything (slower) is going to feel slow
rl: Your WOT shifting sounds right to me. Mine shifts about 5300-5500 at WOT as well. Thought I'd mention, if you didn't know already, that the rear gears are 4.10s stock w/4 inch aluminum drivesaft. You can use something like big metal washers and shim the rubber snubbers up on the factory traction (slapper) bars to the leaf springs and help your traction. Here's some more interesting information you might want to read. Also check out the VP of the NLOC's web page at this link.
how much oil does this thing take? 6 quarts?
BTW, I LOVE the truck, pictures and track times come tomorrow...the exhaust thats on it HAS to go, it sounds friggen *******. (is the stock crossover like 1" diameter and have an 02 sensor in it? I dont want this thing to be loud, or sound like a 'truck')
does anyone make X/H pipes for these things?
BTW, I LOVE the truck, pictures and track times come tomorrow...the exhaust thats on it HAS to go, it sounds friggen *******. (is the stock crossover like 1" diameter and have an 02 sensor in it? I dont want this thing to be loud, or sound like a 'truck')
does anyone make X/H pipes for these things?
Yes, the original crossover pipe was tiny. The only company to make an X-pipe for the Lightning is Bassani... quality work. They also make equal lengths, high-flow cat pipes, and both front and rear exit cat=backs.
There are a few other companies that make headers, FRP, JBA, and Hooker. No long tubes specifically for the L, but some are making the mustang 351 conversion fit, by either notching the frame/motormount or heating the pipes and bending them out.
Oh, Cooks makes long tubes, but they are only sold through JDM.
There are a few other companies that make headers, FRP, JBA, and Hooker. No long tubes specifically for the L, but some are making the mustang 351 conversion fit, by either notching the frame/motormount or heating the pipes and bending them out.
Oh, Cooks makes long tubes, but they are only sold through JDM.
k, that thing is coming off ASAPblownlightning said:
how the heck do you get the computer out of those things? I tried and couldnt...i think it has a chip in it.
why would you want to remove the plenum spacer? most people notice small gains by putting them on, certainly couldnt hurt anything (longer runners = more torque)
the computer comes out from under the dash. you have to remove the bracket for the parking brake assembly i believe. the 10mm bolt holding the harness to the computer is in the engine compartment but the box itself comes out through the interior
the computer comes out from under the dash. you have to remove the bracket for the parking brake assembly i believe. the 10mm bolt holding the harness to the computer is in the engine compartment but the box itself comes out through the interior
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