3-D
04-12-2004, 02:58 PM
I have been playing with my truck and modding since it was new. You know the deal, it seemed fast when I first got it but I got used to it and it didn't seem so fast anymore. So on went the minor mods - JLP airbox, ported plenum, Accufab, FTVB and it seemed fast for a while. When it didn't, I upped the boost 2lbs and chipped it. A little faster but I got used to it. Then I went for the 4lb pulley and chip, Bassani cat back, e-fan and waterpump plus the Metco auxiliary idler bracket. WOW, I thought that would be all I needed. But after about 6 months it didn't seem as fast and I was disappointed in the 1/8 mile time I was getting. I decided with this season coming it was time to break out the long tube headers, high flow cats and 6lb pulley. It was fast but I didn't get into hard or stay in it long as I felt it needed to be dyno tuned with this new combination. Good thing as it was dangerously lean on the top end. We checked the chip and reburned it many times trying to get good A/F numbers, replaced the fuel filter and checked everything we could. Finally we hooked up a fuel pressure gauge and dynoed it. Not enough fuel pressure on the top end. To eliminate problems we robbed a set of fuel pump relays out of another Lightning. Bingo, that was the problem. So my advice to anyone trying to get their Lightning all modded up is to CHECK YOUR FUEL PUMP RELAYS. BUY A FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE AND MOUNT IT WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT. These problems give no warning and result in blown motors. I was lucky, others may not be so lucky. The same thing happened to the JDM/Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords truck. Be careful out there, OK?
D.
D.