I spoke with a SVT Rep at WFC 6.

There will be a 04L, same body style as 99-03. No changes, maybe a new color.

For Gen III L, summer of 05 as a 05L or 06L in December of 05. mybe no L in 05 at all. In other words, He said they are not sure.
He said the Gen III was a Concept Lightning, They haven't decided when they are going to release one for sale to us.

4V heads for sure, no supercooler, solid axle, Column shifter with maybe a optional auto floor shifter with bucket seats.

 

Damn man....I just checked your Photo Gallery......are all those nice little toys yours?!?!?!?!......Wife is talkin of gettin a Mach1 this Fall.....If that one in the pic is yours....what do you think of it?.....pretty interested in what owners think of it.

 

01's wife here.

That information makes me wonder about a couple of things.

First, why would Ford let Dodge have the "super sport truck" market all to itself for a couple of years???? Sorry, but I don't buy it.

Second, if the supercooler isn't going to actually be used in anything, why did Ford bother to patent it???

It sounds like Ford is playing the misinformation game pretty good.

Of course, maybe all of that is right, and I am wrong. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

 

The new Gen III will have 500 hp /500 lbs torque without the Supercooler would add 50 -75 hp.

Good thing is 4 valve heads and larger more efficient blower.

They patented the supercooler for future use one day, I would guess. The SVT Engineer did not rule out that they would ever produce a vehicle available for public purchase with it, just that it would be to costly to produce at this time. Ford doesn't want to make the price of the next Gen III so high that most people will not be able to purchase one.

 

I just came across this and found some info recently, take it as you may. A source told me also that the supercooler was a no-go, to many problems with it holding a seal at ~psi. Kinda a bummer though. Also that the trans would not be up to the task of mass produced 500ft.-lb torque engines driven by leadfooted teenagers

 

Idle Musings:

If the '04 Navigator gets (as is rumored) an optional 385 hp 5.4 DOHC, I can see the '04 Lightning with the same motor and a supercharger good for 450 hp (sort of a mini Gen III). Keep everything else pretty much the same and they should be able to pull it off for mid to high $30's. Due to lighter weight, this should be competitive in the 1/4 with the SRT-10.

Then, for '05, do the Gen III concept thing with the motor to get 500 hp, add stronger brakes, but no IRS or SuperCooler, and charge $40K.

In '06, add the SuperCooler, IRS and 6-speed option and charge $42.5K - $44K.

Also, regarding the SVT Focus, add a turbo in '04 to make it competitive with the SRT-4 and then add the SuperCooler in '05.

And while they're at it, why not go ahead and add the SuperCooler as a $750 option in '04 to the turbo diesel.

Ok, I'm done for now.

Mike

 

My Ford Dealer just accepted a $500 deposit towards a 2004. No date, no price.

Even the dealer wasn't sure what I'm sigend up for, just that I'm first.

Anything coming out in 2004 ahead of the new version?

 

The 2004 will be the same trucks as 2003 - The order sheet was posted a few weeks ago ...

Doug

 

Yep. The only thing changing from '03 is the return of Silver as a color option and an optional bedliner.

 

So, if there are no power upgrades for '04 and if the Navigator offers an optional 385 hp DOHC 5.4 motor, then the Lightning will no longer be the most powerful truck made by FMC. (!!)

Anybody have any updates on the '04 Navigator?

 

New for 2004


-Tire pressure monitoring system now standard

-Optional AdvanceTrac™ now features Roll Stability Control

-Front tweeter speakers

-New exterior colors: Merlot, True Blue, Light French Silk

-New interior colors: Light Parchment with Dark Stone accents,

-Dove Gray with Granite accents


Powertrain

A 300-horsepower DOHC 5.4-liter InTech™ V-8 powers the Navigator. It is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with either two- or four-wheel drive.

The engine has lightweight aluminum pistons with low-friction coated skirts, low-tension rings and floating pins with cracked powdered metal connecting rods.

A fail-safe cooling feature allows the vehicle to be driven temporarily if coolant loss is detected, preventing the driver from becoming stranded.


Courtesy of FoMoCo

 

Good! Maybe they won't offer the optional 385 hp version, as has been reported by several of the automotive magazines. Would hate to see the L relagated to second place in the power department.

 

I wonder what the price will be and if they will be willing to make deals or sell at xplan like many dealers are right now. I am talking about the 04's. Now that I think about it, cosidering that they only make 5000 a year and the bodies on every other '04 they make will different, I can't believe they would make a lightning for '04. It seems like a huge money sucking hole. They couldn't keep the line running or the people working, I wouldn't think, or maybe the '03 L is different enough from all the other '03's, frame and all, that it actually won't be any problem for them to do this. I think I am confusing myself.

 

You know, if the standard '04 5.4 motor has 3 valve heads and generates 300 horsepower, it seems logical that the '04 L would have more hp than the '03, which utilizes the 260 hp 2 valve version as a base.

Also, will the '04 L body use the "new" F150 body or utilize the Heritage ('03) version? In '05, when the Heritage version will no longer be available, the L will have to use the new body style (like the concept truck) but what about '04?

Mike

 

The specs for the 2004 Lightning