1LethalSVT

Hello all. First off I'm new to here and the Lightnings, lol as if yall couldn't tell with this post. Anywho, what are the best basic mods I could do to my 03 L witch is my daily driver? Most basic stuff I've modded on other cars I've owned were just chips, air filter, and exhaust those where on 2 SHO's I owned. Then also a Dakota r/t I did a little more, headers, flowmaters, msd 6a and coil (ford coil at that lol) reflash ecu, and 14" round k&n. Now with the SHO's they responded good fuel mileage wasn't hurt any. The dakota, well lets just say it was still a slow pig that sucked gas.

Currently only thing I know that's done to my L is a Magnaflow cat back, although the boost gauge tends to tell me something else might be done since it will peg 10psi instead of setting at 8psi. I was told by another L owner I met one day 8psi is stock and both my pulleys are stock. So basically what would you guys recommend?

lihtning

If the boost gauge is pegging quickly at 10lbs, then you most likely do have an aftermarket pulley. You MAY see 10lbs with exhaust and a filter (and if the weather is cool/cold). As for mods....the basics to start with are what you stated.......chip, filter, lower pulley (4lb will be safe), Factory tech valve body. This will give ya some jump. All this is very inexpensive, and can often be found in the classifieds. Hope this helps.

chickenwings_85

+1 with above, but you also want to get a tune if you get the 4lb pulley to make sure you arent maxing out your MAF.

as far as the 10psi, you may have a pulley but like you said if you checked and they are stock then it may be a dirty intercooler causing more restriction and that will show as more resistance to the air flow and give a higher reading on the gauge. if you just purchased the truck i would suggest getting an oil separator, and cleaning the intercooler, check plugs, fluids, all the basic tune up stuff. good luck!

charles

Dr. Matt

+1

The above mods combined with a good tune will really wake a L up and make it a lot more fun. There are other options for a valve body such as a DMP or Punnisher, but they all fix the lame factory shift. Oh and lowering really helps the look.

1LethalSVT

Thanks for the info guys.

BBYSTWY

i bought mine with 24k on it and its a 2000 and since the day i bought it it always showed 10# on the gauge... unless it was balls hot outside... i know for a fact it was completely bone stock when i got it and i ws told it was just a freak idk anyway yea like everyone said pulley, tune, valve body, heat exchanger if you want to see consistent boost numbers all the time(and it looks cool as hell in the front bumper haha) you'll be extremely happy i almost sold mine before i dumped some money into it cuz it was boring, but a lil pulley change amongst other things and now i wouldn't trade it for the world

dlightnin

Mine did the same after the boost bypass mod.

J.Rovirosa

Like others have said, clean your intercooler. And change the plugs while you've got the blower off. You should see "stock" boost levels after this, assuming you're not pullied.

lvgolfer962

when i had the stock pulleys on, mine would show 10. the factory gauge isnt very accurate. if u really want to know how much boost, get urself a nice boost gauge.

lightningone

Another simple mod that will give ya a couple of extra horses, improve your gas mileage and run cooler would be to change out motor, tranny and rearend diff. with a synthetic oil like Royal Purple or Amsoil.