Hi Wittom (and everyone else),

Good to see you again!

I couldn't agree more. As you put more & more money in these trucks, learn more about them, and start to really pay attention to what actually gets the best results, you start becoming more selective, and realizing the benefit of paying a little more for the best products.

Sure, many people love the sound of a Flowmaster - heck, even I like the way they sound on a 5.0 Mustang! But the loss of lower rpm and part-throttle torque is just too much of a compromise in heavier trucks & SUV's.

The bottom line is each individual vehicle owner needs to do whatever makes *them* happiest - absolutely. But I think the way you put it in your post Tom, is just dead-nuts on the money. Very well said.

 

Mike, I've learned this stuff from you and others on this board. You have taught me how to get the most for my money. In fact, it may be out with the old in with the new. I'm seriously looking at an '03 L. I'll be talking to you soon!

 

Yes adding a K&N filter will help your truck its hell of alot better than that paer filter FORD puts in the truck at the factory, and just about everyone on this site has one in their truck.

 

Hi Tom,

So you're thinking about a Lightning again, eh?

Good luck with that decision, I know that's a tough one!

Just FYI, there is another easy 40+ HP or so available with your present supercharger with just some mild configuration & tuning changes - I don't know if that would affect your decision or not, but always feel free to call me if you want to go over any of that. We can easily get that truck running deep into the 14's, or into the 13's with a bit more............

Of course, with a Lightning & some mild intelligent mods and good tuning, you can be running around in a 12 second truck that has even more performance potential for those who want to spend some real $$$ on mods - though it will never get the kind of MPG you can get with your present setup, of course. With a Lightning for a daily driver, you're usually lucky to average 15 MPG if you keep your foot out of it - for me personally, I don't care much about MPG as long as the performance I really want is on tap!

It's always about making some kind of decision or compromise, etc. - it never seems to get easier, does it?

You've got a very nice truck there, and one that there is significant additional performance available from, if you wanted to do some more work on it. I guess it's a matter of just how much potential you want, versus what it will cost you, etc.

Best of luck with whatever you decide on that, Tom!

 

It's been a bit discouraging so far. The decision I have to make is: do I want to "give" my truck away to get a Lightning? My truck is worth a lot more to me than it is to the dealers.

No, it never gets easier.

Regardless, I'll be taking to you soon.

 

You might look at your flowmaster application. I played around with some others on my '97 and when I got my '03 I went with the 430402 which is a Chevy application for a '89 350. It is a 3 inch in dual 2 and a half out and I feel I did not lose any thing on the low end with this application. The sound is totally differant than any flow sound from a Ford I've heard before and several people have commented so. Oh and I have gotten the 9100 tuner form Mike and a K&N intake and each of these only made the pie sweeter

 

Hi Tom,

I hear you!

Due to the $2500 rebate available thru the last day of this month, I had recently once again been thinking about picking up a 2004 Cobra - and maybe trading in the Lightning. But just like you & virtually everyone else in the same basic scenario, no dealership will ever put anywhere near what our low-mile 2001 Lightning is really worth into it for trade - car buying 101, I suppose.

Your supercharged F-150 is kinda like our Lightning - doesn't have many miles on it and has been well-maintained and very reliable. So there is no pressing need to get rid of it, and I won't (so far) take a loss like that on it - I'd rather just keep it, as there is *always* a lot more that can be done to your truck or mine to take it's performance to any level we want.

In fact, I waited a couple years after they came out to get a Lightning, as I didn't really want to get rid of my Lincoln Mark 8. I didn't do it until - well, come to think of it, you were there that day actually, so you may probably remember me sneaking the silver Lightning out for a test drive that day at the Ford dealership during our July 2001 rally. While Anita was getting her new truck, I kinda snuck in that quick test drive while she was busy doing her paperwork. I ended up buying the Lightning about 3-4 days after we were at the dealership together and Anita got her truck, and I'm *very* glad I waited.

For what it's worth, your truck has a much higher build quality than any 1999-2004 Lightning, in addition to having plenty of potential for still more performance.

I know it's an agonizing decision - it's really not worth taking a beating financially, we've both got nice trucks with plenty more potential!

Take care & talk to you soon,

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Superchips_Distributor


Installation of the Air Force One intake system is easy - figure it'll take you about 30 minutes to do, and of course good instructions are included - in other words, anyone who can read & follow instructions can install that intake kit.
[/QUOTE

Got a quick question for you (or anyone) --- this might sound like a stupid question, but I appologize in advance.

Does installing the Air Force One intake system (or any air intake mod for that matter) increase engine noise any?

I don't want the truck to be any louder and I recall a freind that installed some sort of air intake mod on his car and there was an increase of some "sort" of sound, especially when accelerating.

ps. I might want to get some sort of tuner, but I want to keep the truck at 87 octane as I'd like to keep my day to day costs down and higher octane around here can be 15-20% more in costs

 

You can hear the intake, it's sort of like flipping the air cleaner cover in the"old days" but not as loud. If you posistion the throttle just right when you leave the light you get this sound like you hear in Steve McQueens Bullitt ,like a gargling as the engine pulls in air

 

ok cool....I might get the air intake mod

Wonder if the computer chip thing will smooth out my drive trainand still not have to use above 87 octane

 

Take a ride through the "Chips & Programming" section and you'll find tons of info regarding chips. From what I do know, the tuners can be set for unmodified trucks running 87 octane up to wildly modified trucks using race gas. If you want it straight from the horses mouth, call Mike Troyer at Troyer Performance (540) 862.9515 .

SL

 

Thanks...I've been doing some reading now and I see a LOT of options. (my head is spinning) I'll probably have to call and talk live to someone

 

I have a Magnaflow on mine, it did the same thing, until I bought 3 rolls of Dynamat and sound deadend my floor (along with doors, back of xtra cab, and roof). If you just do the floor you will lose the annoying drone!

Good luck!!!

 

on my 03 i had the magnaflow 15609 single 3" and towed 7k lbs everyweekend- never droned and believedme i was running her from easy in drive at 65 mph to screamin in 2nd up hills

 

You must be the exception, because everyone I know with a 97-03 F150 that has put in an aftermarket exhaust has experienced the drone... but we all replaced the pipes with larger diameter aluminum or stainless from the cats back.

Perhaps if you only replace the muffler you dont get the drone? What did you do???