I'm seriously considering parting with my '00 H-D F150 for a Lightning. I'm holding out on the chance that I may only be obsessing and it will pass. My truck has only 8000 miles on it and is like new.

From a practical standpoint, it seems rediculous but I'm hooked on extreme acceleration. Last year I threw four grand at my Dynaglide just to make it run as I thought it should. Mad money well spent... It cooks!

My saving grace is the lack of availability and a modicom of common sense. I'll most likely wait until spring and if the fever hasn't come to pass by then it's a go.

Hopefully the lack of driving my H-D F150 over the winter lay-up will make it feel like a brand new experience once again and curb my desire for the Lightning.

 

get an 02 or 03 HD... You get to keep your harley and still have some pretty serious HP. It certainly won't smoke a lightning, but it will give an awful lot of unsuspecting sports cars a run for their money after you mod it a bit.

 

Hey...If you can afford it...go for it. Life is short.

 

I'm not crazy about the S'crew platform and the Lightning is a few grand cheaper. I really like the flareside body style of the '00 H-D's and the L's.

So far as modding an already breathed upon 5.4 goes, I suppose one could approach the threshhold of power of a Lightning but not quite since they're lighter. I've been lurking around the L' board and those guys are tearing thier engines up hand over fist. They're pushing the envelope and then some with all of the mods. I could easily let well enough alone with the stock L' motor!

I'm still having a tough time justifying the thought of trading in my baby. I had a month long anxiety attack when I first bought the truck!

This too will probably pass!

 

Supercharge it. I put one on my 01 HD and I'm less than a sec slower than an L (until my next mod). You would have the best of both worlds, your HD and an L

 

1JT,

I've pondered the thought. If you don't mind me asking, just what kind of cash lay-out are we talking about here and what's involved? How about compatibility with the stock ECM? Is your's intercooled? I'm chock full o' questions, am I not?

 

I suppose I'm chasing my tail here. Money is the big factor here since I'm just wrapping up the finish work on a 30x50' garage and it's full of very expensive toys already.

I am hoping the showroom condition of my truck and the extremely low miles would put me close to the value factor of the purchase of an L'. Maybe I'm jumping through hoops here!


Post Script,

Upon rereading this post I've realized there's much too many heres here! Okay it's past my bedtime and I'm getting loopy. Good night all!

 

My setup is a vortech SC total purchase and install was about 4500 and I got a gain of 110 hp at the wheels. I just purchased an intercooler for about another 800 which I will install myself. I plan on running about 7-8psi of boost. With the intercooler I should see another 60 hp. Total hp at the crank should be about 420 not including the gains I got from my diablo chip. When I'm finished I will dyno again and post results. I do know with the vortech in your truck you should be in the mid to high 14's.

 

I think you will be happy with an L if you like SPEED. But don't think you will be getting anywhere near 30k for an '00 HD - I am asking 28k for my '01 HD with same miles. Good luck!

 

From a practical standpoint, it seems rediculous but I'm hooked on extreme acceleration. Last year I threw four grand at my Dynaglide just to make it run as I thought it should. Mad money well spent... It cooks!


4K? I hope you didn't get taken!!! I hopped up my EVO Road King....punched out to 1440, Mackie Engineering cam, pistons, and OEM heads ported and polished to match, and a Hooker 2/1 exhaust for a lot less. I already had a HI-4 ignition on it, and a Mikuni 42 mm carb. Hopefully I'm done. Getting 90 hp from it, dyno'ed

 

1JT,

Admirable power gains you established with the Vortech! I may just squirrel away some funds generated from my new paint shop to bankroll a supercharger for my H-D F150. Still undecided at this point.


RiceKicker,

I found a used '02 L on a lease buyout deal but don't know the particulars of the transaction involved to purchase the truck. Haven't really looked into it yet but it seems that I would only be taking over the remaining lease payments and I would rather just sell mine and buy it outright. Don't know if that is an option though. The price is considerably below book but the lease is for 60 months if I recall correctly.


PhillyRube,

My '99 FXDX is pushing in excess of one horsepower and lb.ft. torque per cubic inch with all Screamin' Eagle internals: 95" forged hi-comp(10.5 to 1) pistons, SE heads, SE 257 cams(.569 lift), 6200 RPM race ign., adj. pushrods, Thunderslide & fat jets, Samson Street Sweepers, KuryAkyn black powdercoated Hypercharger. All work was done at the dealership with the exception of the carb, which I tweeked myself. I spec'd the build myself and the labor involved was the expensive part. The tech took his time and it shows. This bike is smooth as a cat. I know it was expensive but this is my total personal outlay since the bike was a gift from my then girlfriend. And yes I did marry her!

 

I say keep the HD. It has super low miles and garage kept isn't it? I'd say keep it, and if you can't take the need for speed, supercharge it. I like the setup HD2NV89 has. A polished holley supercharge. looks sweet!

if he were to sell his 00 HD down in south jersey with that low of a mileage, he could get 30K no problem. A 01 with 10K miles went for 34K a few months ago up at the dodge dealer here, and it was filty too. 02's never went below msrp here. after i got my 00HD in 2000, a month later they were asking 10K over msrp and getting it!


so my vote is keep the HD (i'm like you and love the flareside look sooo much more) and if after winter the HD doesn't feel fast enough, supercharge it! but i say keep it

 

Well Harley 356,

Due to a late breaking change of events I'll most likely be keeping the H-D F150 since my Honey wants a new truck. We're going shopping for a new Chevy Tahoe or extended cab Z71 since her '96 has over 90,000 miles on it. I know, how dare I mention the 'C' word 'round here. To tell you the truth I've always been partial to GM products and the H-D F150 is my first Ford. I basically bought it on a whim on the odd chance that it would hold it's value. I wasn't even truck shopping when I stumbled across it. We were Christmas shopping and stopped at a red light in front of the dealership when I saw it in the showroom. Called the place the next day and the salesman made me an offer I couldn't refuse. $6500 under sticker!

So She gets her new ride and I get to drive it from time to time for a change of pace and everybodies happy. I keep the mileage low on all my rides since i have a company truck. Hell they even buy the gas.

And yes all my toys are garaged well within firing range of my .45!