Now that I've spent all I can on performance mods,

SuperChip,AIRRAID I am hoping to get a tenth
by losing weight.

Is there a rule of thumb on how much weight
loss, say 100 lbs will help your et all other things being equal?

I'm thinking tailgate,spare,jack,muffler and tail pipe, minimal gas also folding mirrors in.:^ )

 

HI Dorgun,

Well, that really depends on the weight & power of each individual vehicle, so there really isn't any set formula like 100 lbs. weight reduction equals a tenth that can be applied across the board for all vehicles. Your Lightning weighs about 4800-4900 lbs. with fluids, fuel & driver, so it's a very heavy vehicle. Figure you've got roughly somewhere around 400-410 flywheel horsepower or so right now, for a power-to-weight ratio of about 12.25 lbs. per horsepower.

I wouldn't start stripping parts off of it to get another tenth, as you may make yourself unhappy with what you've done to your very expensive new Lightning as a result, so please be careful. Of course the spare tire & jack can go when you're at the track, and though I would not remove the tailgate, I'd lower it if that is allowed.

Have fun,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System

 

Welllllll ..... Freaky Neal removed his

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Andthensometoo ®
"Moonlight Blue" 98 F150 SC (FREAKING SUPER CAB!)
XLT 2WD 4.6, 3.55 LS Tow Pkg.
SUPERCHIP, K&N Airbox mod. w/ "Cool" intake,
Mobil One Oil, Bosch +4's, Throttle Body Spacer Plate. Lund Fastback, Lighted visor, Runninng Boards, Crome Taillight covers, Polished Steel Fenderwell Moldings, Smoked Bug and Rain guards, Shelf-it,
Carpet dash cover, "Andthensometoo" in silver Letters 3" tall on tail gate.
Red Wings license plate in front,
Red Wings license plate frame in back,
Little Detroit Viper hanging from mirror,
Oh yeah, and one "Blacked-out" grill.
Gonna get my Bed rails back on, Finally!
Couldn't find the right Polished steel design, so once I modify the powercoated ones I just bought, I will paint them.

Q: who wants my "Pocket Mount" chrome ones? Price:cost of shipping, or gas and maybe lunch if you live in S/E MI.

<A HREF="http://www.andthensometoo.com" TARGET=_blank> </A>
BuiltFordTough@Andthensometoo.zzn.com
"Rocks don't move unless pushed, and neither do chevys!"



[This message has been edited by Andthensometoo (edited 05-16-2000).]

 

Do Lightnings have a bed cover? If not, then adding one might be good for a tenth.

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98 SC/XL/4.2/5 speed/3.08/MoonLight Blue Metalic/Mobil One Synthetic/235.70S.16 Michelin XC LT4/AR-136 Wheels/Chrome Nerf Bars/Bug Shield/Aluminum Tool Box/K&N/Superchip/NOS maybe.

DAMN FLEXING DOOR CRACK!

Ford Engineering, reinforce the curve in the door! The cracks will stop.

 

Something like the neighbor's kid drawing on it with a compass...

 

Hey Mike,

I'm not sure you will bite, but did you see the huge controversy on timeslips that claim 13.2 or even 13.0x times with just a Superchip and filter on new Lightnings ? (with street tires) I think it is possible.
How about you ? I ran 13.6 and I'm not a very good driver yet. But 4- 6 tenths seems like alot to make up.

 

HI ATST,

Yes, you're absolutely right, Neal is much more prone to stripping any weight he can off his vehicle to get it to run quicker at the track. Just one of many reasons why we call him "Neal the HP Freak".

I made the comment that I did to Dorgun1 simply out of caution, we'd like to help avoid a situation where maybe something is removed and then gets damaged on those rare Lightnings, and then has to be repaired. Not because of a mistake on the part of Dorgun1, I don't mean that at all, but just because "things happen", if you get my drift. But certainly that tailgate does have some weight to it, and removing weight will of course help performance genrally speaking. Perhaps I projected *my own* concerns on him.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System

 

Hi Dorgunr,

No, I try to stay away from all the arguments, as I've mentioned to you before.

As I responded to you in email, we too, have had numerous reports that with just a Superchip and an Airaid kit, Lightnings can run as quick as 13.2, and 13.0 with slicks. Remember, there are some Lightnings, that, in cool weather, can run as quick as 13.7 or so bone-stock, if conditions are perfect. There are a number of them that can easily run 13.8-13.9 bone-stock. The Superchip has been shown to reduce 1/4 mile times on the Lightnings by anywhere from 3 tenths to as much as 8 tenths, with the average being about 4 tenths. The Airaid unit is worth anywhere from 1-2 tenths, so I can see those kinds of times happening with no problem on some of these vehicles.

As I mentioned in my email, it's a mistake to constantly compare down to the last tenth of a second what everybody runs from coast to coast, in all different types of weather. Just having heavy air (high humidity), even with a cool temperature, can slow these trucks down by 2 tenths, there are many things that go into making ET's.

Another thing that is not mentioned is staging technique, to increase rollout distance, which can shave another tenth or two off 1/4 mile times.

It all gets down to experience, the particular vehnicle, and the particular track and weather conditions. But yes, this can and has happened with numerous Lightnings.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System