Questions about the first Gen Lightning.

[Lonesome7.3]

I know the suspension was significantly different from the other F Series trucks that were out at the time but what else was different? What made the 5.8 in the Lightning different from the 5.8 in our 96 F250? Also, what if any interior differences were there? Were the gauges different at all? And finally were there any body mods on them? I would like to tweak the output of my wife’s F250 but I would like to do it with factory parts. So I am wondering what will not only interchange but also what our truck can benefit from. I am also interested because I would like to get a first Gen Lighting some day.

 

[MUDKICKR]

frame is thicker, frame has a plate welded on top of rear axle hump to help from flexing, tighter ratio steering box, different springs, shocks, factory lowered, rear springs are completely different with the overload leaf flipped upside down and cut with a rubber snubber, rear axle has ribbing on bottom for cooling and strength, has factory alum driveshaft, interior is different by a few tweaks, has 120mph speedo, bucket seats, engine has gt40 heads/intake combo, has factory headers, factory bigger exhaust, 24lb injectors, trans is a e4od with diesel guts in it (basically a small block diesel trans). has 17" rims and there are prob a few things im leaving out. also on the intake, it looks like a mustang intake.

 

[Lonesome7.3]

Can you tell me more about the steering box?

 

[MUDKICKR]

i know the steering box was a quick ratio steering box, but i have never found how much quicker it is compared to a regular one.

 

[MUDKICKR]

the interior also has special gray door panels which is a darker gray then usual. i stripped a totaled 93 lightning and installed most of the parts on my 96 f150, so i learned a lot with that swap.

 

[Diesel_brad]

frame is thicker, frame has a plate welded on top of rear axle hump to help from flexing, tighter ratio steering box, different springs, shocks, factory lowered, rear springs are completely different with the overload leaf flipped upside down and cut with a rubber snubber, rear axle has ribbing on bottom for cooling and strength, has factory alum driveshaft, interior is different by a few tweaks, has 120mph speedo, bucket seats, engine has gt40 heads/intake combo, has factory headers, factory bigger exhaust, 24lb injectors, trans is a e4od with diesel guts in it (basically a small block diesel trans). has 17" rims and there are prob a few things im leaving out. also on the intake, it looks like a mustang intake.

Frame is no thicker than a 4x4 frame.
Has 4:10LS factory .
Only interior difference is the lightning seats and 120mph speedo.
Dark charcoal interior is from 87-93. the light opal gray is 94-97.
It is lowered 1" in front 2.5" in the rear and has slapper bar
Steering box has 17:1 ratio..not sure if any different from any other f-series
functional front air dam with fog lights
My lightning

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[MUDKICKR]

Frame is no thicker than a 4x4 frame.
Has 4:10LS factory .
Only interior difference is the lightning seats and 120mph speedo.
Dark charcoal interior is from 87-93. the light opal gray is 94-97.
It is lowered 1" in front 2.5" in the rear and has slapper bar
Steering box has 17:1 ratio..not sure if any different from any other f-series
functional front air dam with fog lights
My lightning

You must be registered for see images attach

hmm, the lightning frame was thinker, 0.170 versus the 0.143 inch on the regular F150- and it had brace plates welded on the kick-up over the rear axle. this kept chassis flex to a mimimum and contributed to the gen 1's amazing handling.
the lightning had a special gray interior, WITH fully adjustable sport seats with embroidered lightning logo and full xlt trim.
it was 1 inch lower in frt and 2.5 in rear with a slapper bar, and bigger frt and rear sway bars and monroe formula GP shocks
yes it has a quick ratio steering box, but im not sure of the measurements.

out of a brochure for the lightning, which i guess ford could be sued for if it was wrong. and that looks like a nice lightning, but there are some things i guess you didnt know about it, i do like the newer rims on it and where you put the lightning emblems on it

 

[MUDKICKR]

also the rear axle did have the 4.10ls in it, it also had a tag on it to call ford before servicing the rear axle. and on the bottom of it there are ribs on it to cool it and for strength. and the factory 17" rims have a zero offset and were wrapped in 275/60r17 firehawk GTA tires.

 

[Diesel_brad]

hmm, the lightning frame was thinker, 0.170 versus the 0.143 inch on the regular F150- and it had brace plates welded on the kick-up over the rear axle. this kept chassis flex to a mimimum and contributed to the gen 1's amazing handling.
the lightning had a special gray interior, WITH fully adjustable sport seats with embroidered lightning logo and full xlt trim.
it was 1 inch lower in frt and 2.5 in rear with a slapper bar, and bigger frt and rear sway bars and monroe formula GP shocks
yes it has a quick ratio steering box, but im not sure of the measurements.

out of a brochure for the lightning, which i guess ford could be sued for if it was wrong. and that looks like a nice lightning, but there are some things i guess you didnt know about it, i do like the newer rims on it and where you put the lightning emblems on it

The ONLY interior difference is the seats and 120 speedo. The interior other wise was all standard xlt f150 interior.

Trust me. i know the differences between a f150 and lightning. i have owned enough of them and been around them since they were new. Do you want some production numbers? mine is 3418 out of a possible 4007 total in 94 and 1460 white ones in 94. O and only 2221 white ones ever made in 94 and 95

the 4x4 had thicker frames than the 2wd f150

The 4wd has the same frame thickness as a lightning. But the Lightning has the extra plate over the rear axle as you noted earlier

 

[MUDKICKR]

the door panels and dash were a different color gray in the last 2 lightnings i owned, but i guess i MUST be color blind, and ford must have lied in there sales brochures as well. and production numbers were
1993: 5276 red and black being the only colors availble
1994: 4007 red/white and black
1995: 2280 red/white and black
i have also been around the lightnings since they were new, and it always seems you have to argue with anyone that posts specs up. im not arguing, im just stating the facts that i know, and are in a ford brochure. if you believe otherwise, then that is up to you.
sorry lonesome7.3 if it seems that theres arguing about specs, but theres a lot more to a 93/95 lightning then a warmed over engine and a body without moldings.

 

[Diesel_brad]

the door panels and dash were a different color gray in the last 2 lightnings i owned, but i guess i MUST be color blind, and ford must have lied in there sales brochures as well. and production numbers were
1993: 5276 red and black being the only colors availble
1994: 4007 red/white and black
1995: 2280 red/white and black
i have also been around the lightnings since they were new, and it always seems you have to argue with anyone that posts specs up. im not arguing, im just stating the facts that i know, and are in a ford brochure. if you believe otherwise, then that is up to you.
sorry lonesome7.3 if it seems that theres arguing about specs, but theres a lot more to a 93/95 lightning then a warmed over engine and a body without moldings.

Let me re say what i said earlier


Frame is no thicker than a 4x4 frame.
Has 4:10LS factory .
Only interior difference is the lightning seats and 120mph speedo.
Dark charcoal interior is from 87-93. the light opal gray is 94-97.
It is lowered 1" in front 2.5" in the rear and has slapper bar
Steering box has 17:1 ratio..not sure if any different from any other f-series
functional front air dam with fog lights
My lightning

 

[Lonesome7.3]

That is a sweet lightning you have. I have been looking for a front air damn with light for a while. There were no lightnings in 96, correct?

 

[Diesel_brad]

That is a sweet lightning you have. I have been looking for a front air damn with light for a while. There were no lightnings in 96, correct?

Correct. only 93 94 and 95. You can find air dams here http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fd/full.aspx?Page=23
and here https://www.cervinis.com/product.aspx?car=1&id=1125#4601

the Cervini one is a better product and fits better but cost 3 times as much. The brackets for the fog lights you have to make or find a used set. No one is currently producing them

 

[MUDKICKR]

Let me re say what i said earlier


Frame is no thicker than a 4x4 frame.
Has 4:10LS factory .
Only interior difference is the lightning seats and 120mph speedo.
Dark charcoal interior is from 87-93. the light opal gray is 94-97.
It is lowered 1" in front 2.5" in the rear and has slapper bar
Steering box has 17:1 ratio..not sure if any different from any other f-series
functional front air dam with fog lights
My lightning

can you say that any bigger, maybe you can make someone believe you more if its bigger, and by that statement it sounds like your saying a dash from a 87 will work in a 93, which we all know will not. and all lightnings had dark gray interior, even in 94 95

 

[Lonesome7.3]

I was looking at them in my LMC catalog. I want the Lightning one becuase it is so much cheaper. Plus I like that fact it is a stock part. The scary part is I do not know how much the factory lights will cost.