Hey, folks!

I'm about to go and buy my first Lightning - and I was just wondering if you guys could answer me some questions?

1) The L I'm buying is a 1999 - are there any known problems with this age of truck?

2) I currently drive a Corvette C5 - how is the Lightning gonna compare to my vette?

3) I've read through the faq, and there was a lot of mention of pulleys for the chargers, but are there any more powerful upgraded chargers I can buy, and if so, where from?

4) What MPG should I be expecting to see?

5) My vette is quite "tail happy" (sometimes fishtails in the wet) how are L's for this? Am I gonna get into trouble??

6) Is there anything else I should know that I haven't asked about?

Thanks in advance for any help!

U-E

 

1- Make sure the intercooler has been updated

2- The vette if a 6 speed will be faster stock for stock. With a 4 or 6 pound pulley the Lightning will kill a stock C5 in the 1/4. The C5 6 speed has insane top end and even with the pulley chip and filter it will be close on the top end.

3- Do a lower pulley not a the S/C pulley, chip and filter to start. The stock blower can put out more power then the stock rods can handle. (rods are the weak point of the motor).

4- Uhh Dont even ask.

5- Anything with 450 pond feet torque is going to be tail happy. Esp in the wet

6- Use the search button above. It is loaded with tons of good info!

These trucks are fun. Good luck with everything.

 

Was the intercooler involved in a recall of some kind?

Also - you say the rods are the weak point - can I buy performance rods from somewhere?

Thanks!

 

Yes there was a recall on the intercooler. Most likley it was done but check to make sure.

Many of the tuners offer built short blocks. Some do only rods but many will argue to do the complete shortblock. The labor is not cheap and you gotta do it right. That usually menas going to one of the big lightnign tuners.

 

The stock rods in a '99 are bit stronger than the '01 & '02s. Unless you're planning to really turn up the boost, you should be ok. By that I mean if you stay under 500 RWHP.

There was a recall for the intercooler but by now if it hasn't been done, you'll most likely have to pay for it to be done because of the age of the truck.

As far as vendors are concerned, there are plenty to choose from.

JLP
JDM
PSP
Razor's Edge
Outrageous Performance

To name a few.....

Good luck with the truck. I used to own an LS1 and I think the truck is much more fun.

 

do a couple of mods and it'll put your vette to shame.

in the acceleration department at least. although Lightnings handle great for pickup trucks, they will always be big and heavy, so don't expect your L to handle like a low and lightweight sportscar. they make up for it in brute force though...

see my license plate for more info on how they'll compare!



later,
chris

 

oh wow! youre lightning is gorgeous! even if its just the back...gotta love those sonic blue lightnings...nice plate too!


~Stephanie

 

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I ended up buying the truck - I pick it up a week saturday.

The current owner is unaware of the intercooler mod - can anyone tell me what it is so I can get it sorted out?

Also - the truck has a "Viper Chip" in it at the moment. I want to get to about 450RWHP, so based on that, what do I have to do? As the Viper Chip is a generic tuning chip, I assume I'll have to bin it for something a little more custom?

Oh, and I forgot to mention - I'm in the UK, so hello from across the pond!