Whats the general consensus on Lightnings

[00Bolt]

I know we L owners know what these trucks are capable of, but im just curious what the average car buff thinks about our trucks. I wonder if people think of us as a bad azz machine or do they not even associate us with being a "sport car" at all and think of us as a quick truck.

The main reason I ask is because on Saturday I was on my way home from work on Cooper st. and a Camero SS pulls up beside me (later only admited to the Long tube headers)... this thing looked sweet, had HUGE, i mean HUGELY wide tires in the rear and alot skinner up front, was lowered, and sounded mean!!! anyway, it was a pretty day, both us had our windows down and we got up beside each other and Ill admit, i was wanting to play... i gave it a little gas and let him hear the SC wine and i swear, he looked over at me and gave me this smerk and basically laughed at me.... kinda like the feeling we get when a dodge neon or civic or something does the same thing.... he wouldnt budge... anyway, a few mins later we got on 287 and he was in front of me at the light, light turned green and we got on 287.... so I was behind him... i wanted to pull up beside him, but wasnt able to... anyway, we got in left lane and he finally decided to punch it... i immediately got on it as soon as I saw he did, but i had disadvantage because he went first, and I was behind anyway... we went at it until about 100+ and we got off... he never walked me, and I never really caught up... i just stayed planted in his bumper... we then exited and he we pulled up and talked for a second... he said something like, wow, im impressed... i coudlnt lose you, you stayed right there on my ass... he said all he had was the LT, but with the "look" of the car, i doubt it...

anyway, i think this guy was actually shocked that i hung with him, so im just curious what the average person thinks of our trucks....

[wesman]

Some folks just think their sh!t don't stink.

I just like to be sure that I get on the left and let them hear the exhaust and SC whine as I blow by them http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/burnout.gif

--wes

[tliss]

There are people out there that don't even know what a Lightning is, and most that do know what it is tend to underestimate it. It's always nice to wipe that grin off of their faces...especially when they think their sh!t don't stink. I partularly find it gratifying to beat a Corvette on the drag strip, but most times we will get beat on the big end.

Tom

[Lyfisin]

Probably 50% of the people I talk to don't even know Lightnings exist at all.

The ones that know about 'em pretty much know they're awesome. :burnout:

[SpeedyBolt]

Before I was a Lightning owner I thought that L's were just rich-boy-toys and that they weren't all that fast. I had smoked many of them in my Trans Am. But Now that I own one and have seen the potential in my truck and know what some of the trucks run on this board, I ll have to say that it didn't take long for me to change my mind! I fell in Love on the test drive, if you know what I mean!

[WA 2 FST]

The L attracts all the little crap cars out there. I can't go anywhere here in Allen, Plano, N. Dallas without some little fart-can wannabe wanting some. Frankly, I'm getting tired of it.

I even had a guy in a new '05 F150 want a piece. Kicked his butt bad (of course...not a big deal) and gave him the flashers for about a 1/4mile.

[Tex Arcana]

I'm with Brooke on this one, about 50% or more have no clue what a Lightning is, and the rest either think it's "rice" (or would that be "corn"??), or that it's just a wanna-be Mustang. Everyone else either poo-poo's 'em (the bowtie fanbois who don't think their sh!t stinks, and the eurotrash bimmer bois who think everyone else's cars stink like rotten garbage), or they want to run 'em because they think they have somethign faster (ricers).

The rest, and I'd figure that's less than 10% total, either know of the truck from articles and/or TV shows (car shows like Motorweek or the late AutoweekTV), or from second-hand experience (eitehr seeing one race, or getting their asses handed to 'em by one). Very few people have had any first-hand experience, and those that have are usually sold on the truck. :tu:

[Lincolnlightning]

Lots of people have still never seen a REAL LIGHTNING.Many have seen imposters.I haven't raced mine in about 3 years now but have been told several times the sounds made when coming off the line are impressive.I assume they are talking about the supercharger whine.I usually had people come wanting to look after I lit it up .

[StormShadow]

Some folks just think their sh!t don't stink.

I just like to be sure that I get on the left and let them hear the exhaust and SC whine as I blow by them http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/burnout.gif

--wes

Same here Wes. (Losers on the Right biatch!!!)

[99WhiteBeast]

was it red or silver? Big DR's out back?

[Aggie Mom]

I’ve had several “boys” fly up behind me and get in the other lane to race, only to see it’s a girl driving and then they back off. I guess they don’t want their asses beat by a girl and deal with the hazing from the other guys in their car. If I’m stopped at the convenience store most of them will come up and talk to me about the truck. All the farm boys around here know what a Lightning is and that a girl owns the only one in town. :evil My favorite comment, “Is that your husband’s Lightning?” :rll:

[TP Derrick D]

My take on this is that the real racers know what a Lightning is. Because we(they) follow the automobile circuit.(all the TV shows,car shows,races).It is and has been the Super Bowl of wins when you beat a car that suppose to be faster than yours. But then you got people like me & Wes that got cars that will probably smoke all except the extremely fast ones. I don't mean to burst anyone bubble here just telling you like it is. For cars running low 11's or faster the owner probably will give you that" I'll embarass you" look. I've done it myself. Thing about is that I got a Lightning and I know what they are capable of. A Lightning that run's 12's would be considered slow to some and extremely fast and bad ass to others.It depends on the person you dealing with. I think the trucks are bad ass what they can do but I realize its not so bad that it can't get embrassed. If this is anyone's first "performance" vehicle you may not realize that. Just as I had to learn a lesson in '93 with my '89 Mustang when the new '93 LT1 Z28's came out. One flat walked one me about 1 & 1/2
car lenghts. So Scott don't worry about what others think, you got to learn your limit. You also got to learn because of dump tubes and loud exhaust don't make a car/truck fast,its just alot of noise. Anybody can put fat rims/tires on and look mean ,thats the first thing I do. By the way what type cars would you challenge? Mustangs,Cobras,Porsches,Vettes, or you just beat up the rice burners.If you just beat up rice ,of course its fast,once you start messing with higher end cars things change. Now Rocks & Robs G2's were in a different class so don't get it twisted.

[WA 2 FST]

Derek makes some very valid points.

However, I will add that anything that runs low-12s or faster on street tires is pretty fast for any type of racing on the street (unless you're the kind that goes out at 3am on deserted highways at night when you can run up to 180+).

Anyone in an F-body should know what a Lightning is. If not, and their car is near stock, they will lose to an L with $700 in mods.

The biggest thing to remember about "exhibitions" on public highways when you're running at speed is... you do not have the luxury of running slicks on the street and the L is not going to win lots of top-end races. I think Scott realizes all this.

Slicks on an L (like any other vehicle) can drop its track times .5-1.0 seconds easily (depending on mods). But on the street from a roll, an L that runs "12.2 @ 110", for example, at the track on slicks will not keep up with a car that also runs 12.2 @ 115. You'll get left pretty hard.

I'm glad you went after the guy and raced him. He figured he was going to smoke you. He didn't. :) From a standing start at the track, if you've got your slicks on, you'd probably beat that guy.

I raced a guy the other day in my Vette. We met up at the stoplight. He has a supercharged C5 Vette. He said at the track on drag radials he ran 11.0 @ 125. His car was an automatic, so it hooked up better out of the hole than mine does. He asked me what my best time was. I told him the truth... 11.4. This was not even a race from 20-130mph. I pulled him by 8-10 cars. He thought his car must've been running poorly afterwards. I then told him my trap speed was 132-133, granny-shifting. He just chuckled at that earlier omission on my part.

On the street from a roll its all about top-end HP b/c both vehicles are hooked up.

[my2002lightning]

Wes,

I think I have you beat on this one! http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif I had a coupla' kids in a 1-ton U-Haul "power-braking" at a stop-light next to me in Plano last year. It was all I could do to show them my tail-gate, given my extensive mod. list. http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrinflip.gif

I've had complete strangers ask me how much the L cost, what I had in mods, etc. and how fast I've had it up to. The day after I bought the L, Elaine took the L back to Montrose Ford b/c the battery needed to be replaced while I was at work. This other patron walked up to Elaine and asked her "Young lady! Do you know what you're driving ????" http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/nana.gif

Actually, one of the funniest encounter was a few days ago. I'm cruising back from the Sam's at Ohio/121 (Frisco/Plano) and this old-school Caddie low-rider pulls up next to me - no joke!

The kid says, "I like your Lightning!.... Hey, watch this!" He grabs this switch-box with a bunch of toggle switches and the car just starts jumping all over his lane. http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif I made sure he didn't follow me home. http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/flthrow.gif

My parents, brother think this is the dumbest vehicle I could own and that I need a '05 4x4 SD like Moonshine's contemplating. Those things are pretty tough looking, though! http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/nana.gif

My parents didn't speak to me for over a week after I told them I bought my L. Now, Dad's had the L over 80 and Mom wants to drive it now after a few road trips. Regan's had it over 100 so far with me as co-pilot - he thinks it's worthless if you can't deer-hunt and "mud" in it. http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/bash.gif

I still love my Suzy.




I even had a guy in a new '05 F150 want a piece. Kicked his butt bad (of course...not a big deal) and gave him the flashers for about a 1/4mile.

[03LightningRocks]

Hmmm...I guess you guys are all ass-hole magnetshttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/flthrow.gif . All I ever get is http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif and "Bad Ass Truck...Man". Oh well...I can always hope...http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl2.gif .

I do occasionally have guys try to pull on me...mostly the Hemi Crowd. They are all living in denialhttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/flthrow.gif .


Rockshttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

[00Bolt]

. So Scott don't worry about what others think, you got to learn your limit. You also got to learn because of dump tubes and loud exhaust don't make a car/truck fast,its just alot of noise. Anybody can put fat rims/tires on and look mean ,thats the first thing I do. By the way what type cars would you challenge? Mustangs,Cobras,Porsches,Vettes, or you just beat up the rice burners.If you just beat up rice ,of course its fast,once you start messing with higher end cars things change


well im not worried about what they think, i was just curious what the general car guy thougth about our trucks. And I dont usually street race at all, not worth going to jail over. This time, i just had the need for speed this day and this punk came along... Ill admit I was intimidated, I thought he would blow me out... but I dont mind losing, its all in fun to me. I remember a few months ago I raced a TT Supra and he didnt walk me, he RAN from me... I remember actually looking down to make sure I had my foot on the pedal. Ill race anything, i dont care.... not like Im betting money

[Sandman]

I raced a TT Supra and he didnt walk me, he RAN from me... I remember actually looking down to make sure I had my foot on the pedal.

:rll: :rll: :rll:

[Tex Arcana]

Derek makes some very valid points.

However, I will add that anything that runs low-12s or faster on street tires is pretty fast for any type of racing on the street (unless you're the kind that goes out at 3am on deserted highways at night when you can run up to 180+).

Anyone in an F-body should know what a Lightning is. If not, and their car is near stock, they will lose to an L with $700 in mods.

The biggest thing to remember about "exhibitions" on public highways when you're running at speed is... you do not have the luxury of running slicks on the street and the L is not going to win lots of top-end races. I think Scott realizes all this.

Slicks on an L (like any other vehicle) can drop its track times .5-1.0 seconds easily (depending on mods). But on the street from a roll, an L that runs "12.2 @ 110", for example, at the track on slicks will not keep up with a car that also runs 12.2 @ 115. You'll get left pretty hard.

I'm glad you went after the guy and raced him. He figured he was going to smoke you. He didn't. :) From a standing start at the track, if you've got your slicks on, you'd probably beat that guy.

I raced a guy the other day in my Vette. We met up at the stoplight. He has a supercharged C5 Vette. He said at the track on drag radials he ran 11.0 @ 125. His car was an automatic, so it hooked up better out of the hole than mine does. He asked me what my best time was. I told him the truth... 11.4. This was not even a race from 20-130mph. I pulled him by 8-10 cars. He thought his car must've been running poorly afterwards. I then told him my trap speed was 132-133, granny-shifting. He just chuckled at that earlier omission on my part.

On the street from a roll its all about top-end HP b/c both vehicles are hooked up.

Yah, and you do as well, tho I think you don't give our prodigious torque enough credit, especially on a slow roll. If you get into a "contest" from a roll, it better be below 60mph if we wanna beat 'em, because above 60 we do'nt have our torque advantage, and when we hit 100+, the brick-like aerodynamics will kick in.

Damn, I do lurves our trucks!! :tu:

[wesman]

Slicks on an L (like any other vehicle) can drop its track times .5-1.0 seconds easily (depending on mods). But on the street from a roll, an L that runs "12.2 @ 110", for example, at the track on slicks will not keep up with a car that also runs 12.2 @ 115. You'll get left pretty hard.



This is why I like to run my cars in street trim as well, that way I know what it's capable of. It's nice to get the bragging rights, but it's also nice to truly know what your car can do when the time comes.

When i went to Kennedale, I ran my 19" street tires and was running 8.3 to 8.6, which obviously isn't that fast out there. However, I wouldn't mind running any of the guys that were running .5 faster than me with their slicks and reduced weight on the street in street trim....they'd just see and hear the "rice burner" pulling away from them.

--wes

[Beaudee]

Where is your sweet spot or awsome release of go! Mine is at 35-40 mph stomp it and bamm!All the rest are good too. :nana2

[02BOLT]

Most "Enthusiasts" know full well what a Lightning is, and most of them respect L's for what they are...fast ass and attractive pickup trucks. There was a thread on the Corvette forum a week or so ago about the L (I believe WA 2 FST replied to it:tu: ), and a lot of the Vette owners gave credit where credit was due to the L. Of course there were also those cool breezes who just don't know any better, and these are the guys that are going to get absolutely embarassed one day at a stoplight, by an L with a "well thought out combination".;)

Unless you're packing 500+ RWHP in an L, highway roll ons(70mph+) against C5/C6 Vettes, LS1 F-bodies, TT Supras, are not a particularly good idea. Even when my truck was a solid mid-low 11 second truck(on slicks); if I got into it with ANY fast car on the street/highway, I'd run it up to about 115 or the top of 3rd gear, then tap the brakes to let the other guy know the race was OVER.:D Even with 530 RWHP and 630 RWTQ, I'd have had my hands full in O/D, against only a lightly modded LS1/LS6. Plus I'd have run the risk of hurting the motor, which I wasn't willing to do. Bottom line: There's always somebody faster.....PERIOD

[TP Derrick D]

Wes,
There's truth to all above. However,what you compare to makes a different. Are we talking about un- modded vs. modded, or modded vs. modded? Because our trucks are not running low 12's from the factory. Matter fact all the low 12's I hear on hear are with slicks.With my last engine I ran 12.3 @119+ in the '02 True Street with a 2.4 60' on BFG comp TA's and that got 26th place out of 130 cars. Now if you follow true street you know top 25 get in the magazines.At the time I did not want to run my car on ET streets, but just as I drive on the street .So you know that the cars running 10 mph & a second slower got better times because of traction. So are the comparisons slicks vs. street tires or what? I guess all I'm saying is an un modded L on street tires not going to do a kill on the "faster" production cars as would a modded L on slicks on some of them.Like I said before I'm just realistic,not trying to burst any bubbles.

[r1eater]

Out here in San Antonio trucks are a big deal. I get so many thumbs up from people its crazy to me. I had one guy pull up next to me and signal me to roll down my windows, the guy was in a nice Acura and I thought maybe he thought I cut him off and he was going to talk smack. He looks at me and then at the truck and says, "I'm not a truck guy but thats a really nice truck! :tu: " I just about fell out...

Most people think its nice but have no idea what it can do.

[WA 2 FST]

Wes,
There's truth to all above. However,what you compare to makes a different. Are we talking about un- modded vs. modded, or modded vs. modded? Because our trucks are not running low 12's from the factory. Matter fact all the low 12's I hear on hear are with slicks.With my last engine I ran 12.3 @119+ in the '02 True Street with a 2.4 60' on BFG comp TA's and that got 26th place out of 130 cars. Now if you follow true street you know top 25 get in the magazines.At the time I did not want to run my car on ET streets, but just as I drive on the street .So you know that the cars running 10 mph & a second slower got better times because of traction. So are the comparisons slicks vs. street tires or what? I guess all I'm saying is an un modded L on street tires not going to do a kill on the "faster" production cars as would a modded L on slicks on some of them.Like I said before I'm just realistic,not trying to burst any bubbles.

Derrick, we're in full agreement. Slicks are a _huge_ advantage, no matter what vehicle you have. Then take one that has loads of low-end TQ, substantial gearing, and no weight in the rear (read: Lightning) and you pretty much _have to have_ slicks once you get into the mid-12s. Otherwise, you will run a little quicker, and maybe the same even with all that extra HP.

Heck, I can say the same thing about my Z06.

I never make a modded vs. unmodded argument. To me its "run what ya brung" and don't cry if you didn't bring enough. That's one reason I hate bracket racing. Hitting the brakes and drag racing are exclusive in my opinion.

Yes, I know all about True Street. I finished in the Top 5 on several occassions back in the late '90s. Raced at HRP and Texas Motorplex. Best finish (as far as the # of entries) was 5th out of 135 cars. Averaged 11.004. I believe that was Oct of '00. That's a fun event.

But just like anything else the lines got severely blurred when they allowed anything with a sticker to qualify. I'd have rather them do a sniffer test. The problem with that is that the overall field would be slower, less people would qualify, and so the event would die. But a guy rolling up with a 2-speed Powerglide and 4.30 gears ... and barely making the 25-30 mile "road trip" does not own a street car. That's a race car. If they'd left the "trip" at 50+ miles and made the cars go through some city streets (stop n go), then it would have kept the event for the REAL street enthusiast. The one in Houston was like that the first time I raced in it (I think in '94). Mike Murrillo was running in that before he raced in Outlaw 5.0. He finished 2nd. I finished 6th out of 38 cars with a 12.1 average. How things have changed, huh? :)

Another idea is make _everyone_ run a DOT approved radial tire. That would slow the competition down. The super fast _race_ cars would have to go run Outlaw/Renegade or something else.

[TP Derrick D]

Wes, I certainly agree. This year I will be running ET streets tho.Times should drop into high 10's low 11's. Yeah,sometime I was thinking, this is just too long,too many slow 15 sec cars. Like you said get rid of the race cars and go from there. I also agree on the distance. I can cruise cross country /w AC on so that would'nt bother me. Now MPG would bother me,8-9 mpg is not good. :burnout:

[WA 2 FST]

Why do you think your gas mileage is so bad, Derrick? On the highway with 3.55s and a TKO w/ overdrive I would usually get 21-22mpg. I stepped down to 3.27s and got 24.

But my combo was not a high compression, big cammed engine, either. I am not familiar with your setup, so maybe its more radical than mine was. I used a PMS to get mine set up and it worked great with the blower. 600+rwhp and 22+mpg on the highway. That's pretty cool.

[BLACKSUNSHINE]

Hmmm...I guess you guys are all ass-hole magnetshttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/flthrow.gif . All I ever get is http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif and "Bad Ass Truck...Man". Oh well...I can always hope...http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl2.gif .

I do occasionally have guys try to pull on me...mostly the Hemi Crowd. They are all living in denialhttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/flthrow.gif .


Rockshttp://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

Thats really the only folks who seem to know what a lightning is (besides F bodies) but I messed with all the time with a HEMI and after I unleash the devil they usually bow down to my L. Thoses HEMI's are worthles man... A lot of people have no idea what a L is and the horsepower, they just think its a normal ford truck.

[TP Derrick D]

Why do you think your gas mileage is so bad, Derrick? On the highway with 3.55s and a TKO w/ overdrive I would usually get 21-22mpg. I stepped down to 3.27s and got 24.

But my combo was not a high compression, big cammed engine, either. I am not familiar with your setup, so maybe its more radical than mine was. I used a PMS to get mine set up and it worked great with the blower. 600+rwhp and 22+mpg on the highway. That's pretty cool.


Well I wish I knew. One thing is the supercharger is not IC/AC so the fuel pressure is higher to keep from leaning out. I'm maxed out on small 42# L injectors. My compression is low 8.5 :1 or close to that, I'm running AMS B-31 cam so its not big. My crew chief & tuner believe if I put on a IC the fuel could be dialed back a little. This is the 4th engine so I'm on safe mode.

[WA 2 FST]

Well I wish I knew. One thing is the supercharger is not IC/AC so the fuel pressure is higher to keep from leaning out. I'm maxed out on small 42# L injectors. My compression is low 8.5 :1 or close to that, I'm running AMS B-31 cam so its not big. My crew chief & tuner believe if I put on a IC the fuel could be dialed back a little. This is the 4th engine so I'm on safe mode.

I completely understand being safe. My last motor was an A4 block, stroked to 331 cubes, 8.8:1 CR w/ an Anderson B4 cam. Ran 12-13psi with an S-trim... no issues. But I did have the big Aeromotive fuel system and MSD 50lb injectors.

A/F was always in the 12.0-12.2:1 range. No I/C for me, either. Plumbing the thing is a friggin' nightmare on these cars and many of the I/Cs out there are horrible restrictions in airflow. :( I didn't think it was worth it. I was maxxing out the airflow of the S-trim anyway. A bigger, more efficient blower would have given more airflow at lower air charge temps...a better solution than plumbing in an intercooler IMHO.

Full throttle, I'm sure my car got 3mpg. But you should be able to dial it back when you're cruising. With the PMS, I could dial back idle and part-throttle cruise and it got great gas mileage. Once it transitions into boost, the fuel supply is enrichened. People who say you can't tune for emissions/fuel economy with large injectors just don't know how to tune (this is a general statement not aimed at you or your tuner).

Good luck with it and keep the rubber side glued to the pavement! :tu:

[TP Derrick D]

I completely understand being safe. My last motor was an A4 block, stroked to 331 cubes, 8.8:1 CR w/ an Anderson B4 cam. Ran 12-13psi with an S-trim... no issues. But I did have the big Aeromotive fuel system and MSD 50lb injectors.

A/F was always in the 12.0-12.2:1 range. No I/C for me, either. Plumbing the thing is a friggin' nightmare on these cars and many of the I/Cs out there are horrible restrictions in airflow. :( I didn't think it was worth it. I was maxxing out the airflow of the S-trim anyway. A bigger, more efficient blower would have given more airflow at lower air charge temps...a better solution than plumbing in an intercooler IMHO.

Full throttle, I'm sure my car got 3mpg. But you should be able to dial it back when you're cruising. With the PMS, I could dial back idle and part-throttle cruise and it got great gas mileage. Once it transitions into boost, the fuel supply is enrichened. People who say you can't tune for emissions/fuel economy with large injectors just don't know how to tune (this is a general statement not aimed at you or your tuner).

Good luck with it and keep the rubber side glued to the pavement! :tu:
We running mostly same thing (well when you had it) same fuel pump,same SC,same boost, my block is a sportsman,331ci.
Man,just realized we jacked this thread :0fftopic .....sorry guys, got carried away

[WA 2 FST]

I think the thread had been exhausted anyway. ;)