The Ford Lightning took a turn for the WORSE, AGAIN...not clickbait! 

Well, what are yalls thoughts? let me know below! Stay tuned, plenty of content, and the rebirth to come!

Wishing you all the best for the rebuild, Bro! 😎

I’ve only watched half the video so far, but appreciate your honesty in telling us that you decided not to use the octane booster that one time and did a couple pulls on entirely pump gas. I’m almost certain that is it especially with the combination of head bolts. With all that money invested in your project and the fact that you are learning to tune yourself since Eric Korn retired his services, I would highly recommend a J&S Vampire. That probably would’ve saved your motor. You already have an AEM failsafe, so I think the Vampire would pair off well with it. Either way it’s good to have you back! I also have a Lightning and Terminator, but just haven’t bothered making content such as yourself. It’s a headache when you’re heavily modded compared to stock. Good luck!

Sorry 4 the issues whit the truck men I know how it feels bro hop all goes good and easy 😢

Garrett has my lightning after buying one someone cheaped out on HG's. He seems to really know the platform well and I have a lot of confidence its gonna come out of there better than its ever been!! Good luck with yours!

Bummer to hear, but definitely seems like the culprit is pump gas at 20+ lbs. Now maybe if it was studded it may not have lifted a head, but it likely still would not have survived that boost on pump gas and likely would have eaten all 8 plugs and possibly melted valves/cylinder heads (only saying it because I've been there, done that, and have the carnage hanging on the wall above my desk LOL). Fingers crossed you don't find that when you pull it apart, but just prepare yourself it could be gnarly when you pull the heads off as well. I had a fuel issue years ago and thought it lifted a head because it was dumping coolant out the tailpipes. Nope, it melted thru the exhaust valve into the coolant chamber! The bright side, it'll come back stronger! Also heads up, there's two versions of ARP head studs, the heavy duty version isn't that much more for added peace of mind. I'd also be cautious on the octane booster. Most of those don't bump it by the amount on the labels. I've always kept it at around 18-19 lbs on pump gas and then let it eat 25 on C16. Keep me posted if you want to add any other electrical mods while it's apart. Perfect time to toss in an efan harness and a big 3 kit if either fits in the budget! Looking forward to more content in the series!

Tough gig. Good luck with the build. Looking forward to see what the absolute cause was

Just might be the head bolts....I learned my lesson way back, before you were born.....I started using ARP studs on my builds like in the 1970sish....and not long afterwards started using absolutely ARP everything. The Pig is completely built with ARP studs/bolts/fasteners/washers...oil pan/water pump bolts//motor mount bolts/carb studs/intake bolts/value cover bolts/header bolts/rocker arm studs/main studs/everything your brain could think of internally...even the wheel studs....spent some bucks on the Pig motor build....the whole build actually....lol. Sorry ya having to go through this.....Remember what I told ya a long time ago......"Mo' Power, Mo' Money"......and I suggested to keep it at the level previous to this build.....🤔....been there with the monster builds, continual repairs just for a few 10th of the clock.....I stepped back to mild builds and had so much more fun, like the Pig....probably built around 25 or so SBF with 450/550 HP for friends/myself earlier in my life....Yep, more fun, more time with the family, more money in my pocket.....of course I still built a very stout engine....the Pig, all day 275/300 big shot, no problems....with the Dart Block in her, I build to handle a progressive 600 shot.....very reliable but could turn it up if necessary....Love ya brother.....think about it when you do this rebuild....Still have tons of fun keeping it mild.

My JDM built engine has been in my Lightning since 06 with a 3.4 whipple. I think you've learned the hard way here but you'll come back stronger. Even when I'm pullied down i always run pump 100 octane which we have around here. I look forward to your progress. 🤜🤛

No matter if the entire longblock is made of billet, predetonation will always win. 20+psi on octane booster with pump 93 would scare the hell out of me. I wish you the best and I share your pain for the build. Take your time and touch all bases, their is no such thing as building on a budget anymore. Good luck bro.

Man, I’m really sorry to hear this. 😢 I know you will build it back better and stronger. 👍🏼

Sorry for all your troubles.Been following your videos since I just got my first one a few months ago and I have been shocked at the amount of engine failures these cars have.Its definitely not a cheap platform to modify thats for sure.Best of luck getting back on the road

I'm set up pretty close to how you are but in a swapped 4x4 truck and a Whipple 2.9 I have a "93" tune that is 18PSI and 10.5 degrees and I have a "99" tune that is 20PSI and 16 degrees. I use boostane marine to get to 99 because I still have cats on the truck. I have a J&S Vampire, which is set to pull global timing vs individual cylinder timing, having one is crucial in these motors(I believe anyways).

That is wild to me that you can buy a 10K long block that DOESN'T have at least ARP 2K head studs.

Should have had studs, especially at 23 PSI.

HI .,😮 my friend I salute you .,sorry to heard that I believe it's to much bost second it's a must ARP STUDS for this builts a 3ply headgaskets.this are the parts I have on my built. I wish you the best of the best 👍

My lightning is down right now but I was thinking of a gt500 swap or supercharged cayote motor

I have a 2001 ford svt lightning and yesterday I noticed it was having trouble starting up and like an hr ago i was leaving work and i stepped on the gas and I noticed it lost engine power and it was shooting a bunch of smoke from the exhaust and i was wondering if you knew what could be causing the issue im having

RPG did my motor....so far so good but still on stock blower....

What head gaskets are you running. I had todd warren help me with my build and he had me run cometics with ARP studs

Hey bro you are some what familiar with my build I ran a couple TVS’s before switching to Whipple I was running around 23 lbs with the TVS and when I had the engine built here in Oklahoma City the builder did demand head studs and they have a lot of experience building race engines for Pierce Racing some of the Street outlaw guys and others. Some info for what it’s worth

20 pounds on pump gas is crazy

Where you. Get the carbon fiber hood and is it real carbon

Are you still selling the lower grill delete interested in one

Why would you cheap out …. I run 18 pounds and Torco every tank.. pull or no pull

23 pounds of boost using pump gas with a can of octane boost = a total rookie move. you spent all of that money on a built engine/tuning and then went cheap on the fuel- have you seriously considered that maybe building ford lightnings arent your thing? you have video after video of failures