I went to the local Burger King last night (thats where some of the fast cars i know of hang out), looking for a race in my Vette. No sooner did i put the car in park and open the door, when 2 trucks pulled up on either side of me. One was a Dakota R/T, and the other was a newer Lightning. The owner got out of the Ligtining and told me to "choose my weapon, which one do you wanna race?" I asked him which truck was faster, and he said the Lightning. He wouldnt tell me what times it ran, even though i told him mine first. So, we lined up at a red light. I had my tires aired down to 22 PSI. When the light tured green, he launched with a small amount of wheelspin. Not me, though, i spun until about 40mph. Out of the hole he gained 2 lengths on me, and we kept that distance until we stopped going at 100mph. He couldnt gain, and i couldnt catch him. I think if i had gotten better traction, i could have stayed door to door with him. This was my first street loss in the Vette What i wanna know, is, how fast are these trucks stock? Ive heard they come from the factory with superchargers, but what kind of engine is it hooked up to, and did they come in a manual version? One of my Ford buddies told me that people were writing in to MM&FF with tales of high 12s stock. If so, i guess i did pretty good. Anyone got any info?

 

I've read in the new Car and Driver, that the '02 Lightening runs low 14s stock, 14.32 if I remember correctly. And they can do 130 easy.

 

The lightnings have 2 engine options. Supercharged 302, or a 'Charged 351. With a **** load of wheel spin they do low 14's. They air down the tire to help that out get traction bars and a few other tweaks... the LS1 C5 is in trouble. Stock they put out over 380 HP. And they were MADE to race, nothing else. Just be glad that Dakota R/T was not a few I have seen with the VIPER V10 in it. They can almost hang with the lightning. They would win but there is NO WAY TO STOP THE REAR TIRES FROM MELTING!.

 

at the track Ive seen them run 13.2's-13.5's @ 100-104 with a few easy bolt ons. I wouldnt believe 12s stock unless they neutral slam it with hoosiers. They have a 5.4L with an intercooled eaton supercharger like the ones on the GTP's.


"supercharged 302 or charged 351" -- and you have no idea what youre talking about

 

low 14's? they run like high 13's i've seen em low 13's with slicks, pretty impressive from a truck even though they're death traps.

 

Depending on what year it is they either make 360 (99-00) or 380 (01) horsepower. They're powered by a SOHC 5.4L with an eaton style supercharger making 6 lbs of boost. Bone stock you can expect them to run right around mid 14's if it's a '99 or '00 model and about a 13.9 - 14.1 @ about 100 mph in the 1/4 if its an '01 model, but they respond VERY well to mods just like any factory power adder car. For example, a chip and cold air intake is typically good for 4/10ths of a second inn the 1/4. The way you can tell if it's a pre-'01 or an '01 is by looking at the taillights. The '01 has clear taillights similar to the Altezzas on a lot of imports, while the pre'-01 has regular stle taillights.

 

I remember the old Lightning from '93 having a N/A 351 in it making 240 horsepower, but a supercharged 302 or S/C 351??? I have no idea what Camaro_Hunter_D is talking about.

 

These trucks are no joke, last year at Etown i ran a 2001 with chip and exhaust and he ran a 12.93. I was driving my friends 99z28 with a cold air intake, loudmouth exhaust, mas airflow sensor, direct flow lid, 3:73's and a 3,200 stall converter. I ran a 13.03 and was pulling at the end My friend also had his hypertech set to shift at 6,500 which killed the car at top end. that was way to high for his car. those trucks are awesome the only ford I would ever consider buying if i wanted a non reliable truck that had a lot of *****.

 

if you guys are saying high 13s, this guy had to have something done to it, cause im probably running low 13s right now, and i couldnt catch him after i spun out. ill probably never know what he has cause he wouldnt even tell me what he ran, let alone pop his hood. like we were betting on the race or something. he was real cocky. i wish i could have taken him out because of his attitude.

 

Did it sound like he had aftermarket exhaust? A cold air intake, exhaust and good traction he could get a low 13 high 12sec 1/4.
Since you spun horribly off the line, that would take your low 13 and turn it into a high 13, he hooked and ran a low 13. Atleast that would be my guess, next time you race him make him give you the "GO" and you would probably take him.

Nick

 

Most lightnings I've seen run mid 13s. Any where from 13.2 to 13.6 and supposedly the cat backs don't help performance at all. If it had the Euro taillights, it is the 380 hp version which is a little more potent than the 360 hp version.

 

maybe he was running drag radials. I usually just flash the converter to launch, but i brought the revs up for this race. i guess it was a bad idea. Anyone running drag radials on the street? which would be better : BFGoodrich or Nittos? Thanks

 

From what I've heard, general consensus is that BFG's hook slightly better, but wear faster.

 

I've raced two 2001 lightnings (they're everywhere around detroit) though both times were on the freeway. We raced from like 65 to 100 plus. I could just barely pull on them, they were both really close races. I bet off the line i could take them cause my car's a stick and i can launch pretty hard. I bet they're low 14s cause I'm about high 13s. BFG makes great drag radials, so i hear and read.

I think you would've had him with a good launch, if he's stock that is

 

Joe in our car club (TFCC) has an 02 lightening, and has run 13.48 @ 101.05 with a 2.01 60ft bone stock! Stunning performance for any stock vehicle, but especially a truck.
Watch out for them, they haul more than just stuff.

Cheers

Richard

 

this guy had a great launch, it seemed as though he was hit from behind by a 18-wheeler. i believe with better traction, i would have either hung door to door, or just edged him out. do these things come in a manual version? when we were pacing each other, looking for a red light, there was no auto trans lag when he downshifted to play with me a bit. it just took off.

 

Nope, only come in automatic.

 

One of my close friends has a 99 Lightning and he has run 13.8 stock and 12.8@104 with a chip, cold air, and a shift kit.
The guy that works on my friends truck has a 2001 and he has run 12.3@106 with all those mods and a torque converter.
They are fast gentlemen and I know it first hand as I have been in the car with my friend for many kills!

 

What I could not remeber was weither they have the 302(5.0) or the 351(5.4)(I am not F.ound O.n R.oad D.ead person) I hate fords. I thought they had both available, I quess not. But either way The vette has little chance unless it has mods.

 

ford doesn't even use the old 302 or 351 anymore. they were the old pushrod small blocks. new stuff has the modular motors, 4.6 and 5.4. the 5.4 is not a 351, it's a 330 cid. the lightning is a 5.4.

 

I think you guys are underestimating these trucks. I've heard the newer ones give LS1 cars a lot of trouble. I saw one run 12.40 last time I was at the track.

 

^ Yeap! Ive seen some impressive times! This kid that drives a sweet 110 HP car said "HAHA You cant even beat a new lightining"



Guess the jokes on me, my 230 HP car cant beat a 380 HP truck.

 

Do you think this guy might have been using NOS and thats why he wouldn't pop the hood or discuss anything?

 

in an issue of streettrucks stock they could only m8uster a 14.3 with nos they run 12's. it is the 5.4 rated at 360hp dont know where 380 came from

 

How much do those trucks weigh?

 

The '01 model was rated (underrated) at 380. The '99-'00 model was rated at 360.


over 4500 lbs.

 

The new lightning with the supercharger runs 13.9. This guy i know told me. He just got one. I peel out right next to him to mess around with him in my Camaro 350 which he thinks is a v-6. He will see its not when he races me. He will still beat me but not 4 long..

 

how is a 351 a 5.4????

 

its not, you misread