Vortec350ss

iTrader: (20)

Alright so the Lightning is a different ball game, no doubt. They all run such small primaries. The SVT crowd in general has far fewer knowledgable owners IMO, but so many decent HP lightnings run 1 5/8" headers and it seems only the big dogs step up beyond that to 1 3/4 or... Dare I say 1 7/8". Seems making 600hp with a supercharger the 1 7/8" would be a no brainer. Are they choking their beloved 5.4 triton? Does it like smaller primaries?

Can anyone share thoughts or experiences here?

George C....

I ran 1.625 on stock setup with dual 2.5 exhaust cause i was able to get full headers to exhaust tips all stainless for 700-800$

But big target power guys do run 1.875

The bigger headers and exhaust are expensive so not many run them


Plus lightning owners are a wierd cult

George C....

Thing about a lightning unless you spend some serious coin they lack rpm.....the stock heads flow maybe 180cfm
Ported stockers flow 200 for budget heads
High end ported stockers flow 240
Trick flow out of box flow 210
Ported trick flows flow 250 but also cost 4500-5000

The intake design limits rpm range as its designed for torque

Another reason why the larger blowers dont work so well on the motors...you have 2.3s outrunning 3.4s

Now the turbo guys see a huge gain by swapping to a vic intake

Another reason why i chose 4v path and bought Ford GT heads which flow 320-330 out of box

Vortec350ss

iTrader: (20)

Which would you consider high end ported stockers? I'm really unfamiliar woth mod motor parts.

Seems 1 3/4 would be a pretty good compromise... I guess.

George C....

TEA
JLP

Are high end and 2800-3200

Vortec350ss

iTrader: (20)

TEA looks like they are coming in at 1850 for their labor on the heads.

Thanks for the advice George.

I'm going to start another thread so we can keep this one on topic... but I would like to air some of the options for heads etc on the lightnings. Seems the SVT forums and owners are, for the most part, completely clueless.

George C....

Lightning rodder is only popular site

Most hate PI heads cause of the thread bosses

Ppl go TFS cause of better design but many hate how the ABC tuners cant get the TFS heads to shine

Its a everyday thing for lightning owners to melt plug bosses

Vortec350ss

iTrader: (20)

My buddy compromised with me and bought some ARH 1 3/4" headers. I was pushing for 1 7/8" but he wouldn't go that far. He wont have a built motor for a while and didn't want to hurt performance in the mean time.

George C....

That will get him pretty far

Wolftrk99

iTrader: (5)

Slightly off topic, but this thread actually got me thinking about this, what is the thread pitch on the ford 4.6/5.4 exhaust manifold studs in the side of the head???