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[PhucNguyen57]

Hi, I'm new to the site, just looking around. I am serioously considering buying a Lightning, and I am mostly doing research on easy mods, warranty issues, and just about anything else I can soak up in the process. So anyone who replies, will you reply with your year, color, mods warranty claims and anything you decide to tell me. IF you have one for sale please let me know. I am haveing trouble geting a test drive anywhere (rather offensive) and I am moving away from the idea of purchasing one at a dealership.

thanks,
the new guy:throw:

[tliss]

Check the For Sale threads on this board. There are a few for sale in the club.

Tom

[Sixpipes]

There are some excellent trucks for sale in our For Sale forum. You won't be able to buy a truck from a dealer and mod it for near what you can get it for from one of our guys. The big plus is, most of the trucks on here have been done up right so you don't have to go through the hassle of getting things to match up, ie chip, pulley, tranny mod, etc.... already done.

59,9XX miles on my 99. Driven the thing agressively at times and the only problem I have had to date is stopping (shucked a couple of pads / had to replace a rotor because of it). :cool:

[PhucNguyen57]

Originally posted by Sixpipes
There are some excellent trucks for sale in our For Sale forum. You won't be able to buy a truck from a dealer and mod it for near what you can get it for from one of our guys. The big plus is, most of the trucks on here have been done up right so you don't have to go through the hassle of getting things to match up, ie chip, pulley, tranny mod, etc.... already done.

59,9XX miles on my 99. Driven the thing agressively at times and the only problem I have had to date is stopping (shucked a couple of pads / had to replace a rotor because of it). :cool:

Good looking truck man, i checked your link.

I dont want one that is modded really. Taking another mans hot rod is like him giving you his wife. Taking your friends girlfiend, though she is hot is a mistake, because then you find out why he let you have a go at it. :hammer: ON the other hand, if some one has a stock one at a good price, I'm all for it.

What kind of recalls were there. I already read about an inner cooler recall, and a hassell with that, but what others are out there?

[Sixpipes]

Intercooler recalls for 99/00 years only and "the clunk" (front end alignment). Only ones I've actually experienced. Went through three intercoolers before getting the new improved version which I have put 23K miles on with no problems. Some issues with drivers seat, ocassional spark plug spitting, but overall forgiveable problems as long as it doesn't happen to you. :cool:

[PhucNguyen57]

what is this sparkplug spitting? I have read somethign about this today, and it kind of bothers me. What exactly happens?

[Sixpipes]

Basically, the plug loosens up to the point that the pressure in the head spits the plug out when there are not enough threads left to hold the plug in. It ends up stripping the remaining threads requiring head replacement. There have been three or four guys in the club that have experienced it with varying degrees of success getting help from their friendly Ford dealer. :cool:

[PhucNguyen57]

Originally posted by Sixpipes
Basically, the plug loosens up to the point that the pressure in the head spits the plug out when there are not enough threads left to hold the plug in. It ends up stripping the remaining threads requiring head replacement. There have been three or four guys in the club that have experienced it with varying degrees of success getting help from their friendly Ford dealer. :cool:

can it be put back in, or heil-coiled, or do you just have to get a new head? That is kind of scarry. I will have to get one that is still in warranty if this is a common problem. Are there VIN's that this applies to, years, or is this all models?

[wesman]

Originally posted by PhucNguyen57
can it be put back in, or heil-coiled, or do you just have to get a new head? That is kind of scarry. I will have to get one that is still in warranty if this is a common problem. Are there VIN's that this applies to, years, or is this all models?


It's all 5.4 heads, not specific to Lightnings.

I was a victim of the spitting plug. The truck is still down, I'm well out of warranty so I have to eat the cost myself. I bought a set of used heads and had heli-coils inserted in all the plug holes as well as a valve job and a little port and polishing since it was down.

Hopefully I'll be swapping the heads out next weekend....we'll see.

--wes

[microsuck]

Yeah, I launched one of my plugs too. I didnt even have it in gear when it went. North Central ford gave me 2 new heads for free(warranty), and had them installed all in less than a week. But I had to pull all my mods to get the free work done. I actually bought my truck on ebay. Dont bid on one. Just call the seller with a reasonable offer.
Andrew

[PhucNguyen57]

Were your vehicles stock when this happened? Did you have the boost up or something that increased cylinder pressure? I would hate to spend 20-25k on a truck and havethis happen. I want one that is not modified in the first place, but if this is happening to Stock engines, then forget it. I love the truck, but I need dependable transportation also.:hammer: :beer:

[Actionpike]

I am trying to sale mine right now. I had a ad in the paper but only received a few calls. The truck is a 2001 black, hard cover, spray in bedliner, alarm, lojack, window tint, and borla exhaust. I am trying to sale it for 27,000, bring any reasonable offers. The truck only has 14600 miles.

Let me know if you are interested. I will meet somewhere to let you look at it. I do not have any pictures of it in the forum.

Brian K

[wesman]

Originally posted by PhucNguyen57
Were your vehicles stock when this happened? Did you have the boost up or something that increased cylinder pressure? I would hate to spend 20-25k on a truck and havethis happen. I want one that is not modified in the first place, but if this is happening to Stock engines, then forget it. I love the truck, but I need dependable transportation also.:hammer: :beer:

It's a problem inherent to the head design. I'm sure you could possibly contribute it to increased boost/ cylinder pressure but it happens to stock F150's as well.

--wes

[Crawford]

My 01 is also for sale. Check here for details:

http://205.214.76.165/~talonsv/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1505

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks

[microsuck]

Originally posted by Actionpike
I am trying to sale mine right now. I had a ad in the paper but only received a few calls. The truck is a 2001 black, hard cover, spray in bedliner, alarm, lojack, window tint, and borla exhaust. I am trying to sale it for 27,000, bring any reasonable offers. The truck only has 14600 miles.

Let me know if you are interested. I will meet somewhere to let you look at it. I do not have any pictures of it in the forum.

Brian K
Actionpike, will you part with the bed cover? How much do you want for it? PM me please. I have the exact same truck(minus the lojack and borla)

[PhucNguyen57]

Originally posted by wesman
It's a problem inherent to the head design. I'm sure you could possibly contribute it to increased boost/ cylinder pressure but it happens to stock F150's as well.

--wes

is there a fix for it? :crying: This should be covered under warranty, :nono: for the life of the vehicle if not. I'm really dissapointed in this. I mean if this was not a problem then I would be all sold. I dont think the inter cooler and the suspension bolt thing are that big of a deal, but a head that "spits" :vomit: plugs out is a major problem. Especially considering the price tag of the vehicle:eek:. I guess I will do more research and findo out how common this is. The other truck I was thinking of geting is the new Dodge Hemi with 392 gears and putting a Blower :burnout: on it after warranty is up. I may still do that.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by PhucNguyen57
Were your vehicles stock when this happened? Did you have the boost up or something that increased cylinder pressure? I would hate to spend 20-25k on a truck and havethis happen. I want one that is not modified in the first place, but if this is happening to Stock engines, then forget it. I love the truck, but I need dependable transportation also.:hammer: :beer:

Plugs eject due to an increase in cylinder head pressure or inadequate tightening of spark plug(s) per Ford Detroit. This IS dependable transportation. Hence, I have no pullies, nor chips. I am in the safe safety zone here matey. End of story. There appears to be alot of mis-information concerning the spark plug issue. NO ONE would admit to pullies/chips to get warranty work concering the spark plug issue. My .02