If this vehicle is the replacement for the Lightning, and Ford is trying to attract current Lightning owners, who know the "weak point" of the vehicle they are driving, they really need to let us know that the replacement for our truck, will be powered by the same bulletproof engine that 03-04 Cobra owners were able to get huge horsepower gains, with simple bolt ons. the chip/filter pulley combo, that we all do, simply makes the vehicle feel like the "way it should have come" from the factory. none of us want these simple mods to make our new Adrenaline go into cardiac arrest

 

You guys took my response too seriously -- I was just kidding.

My "real" response is that I'm sure that Ford did learn something. They learned that supercharged vehicles are just too damn easy to hop up. They learned that most owners of supercharged vehicles are not smart enough to properly hop them up and would run the tune past the ragged edge ("Hey, it's PRM Outlet's Package C - it must be tuned right"). They learned that a surprising portion of them would then conceal their stupidity and make fraudulent warranty claims.

So to make the next engine idiot/crook proof, I'm sure that the next time Ford will spend the extra $100 or so (it's nowhere near $600 in marginal cost) on forged rods. And a lockbox over the OBDII port.

 

HEH HEH HEH ... Good one !!!

 

B-man

If you had any sense of humor, then you would've taken my statement for what it was... a sarcastic, if not entirely inaccurate, description of the results of putting a weak rod in a VERY long-rod motor. To say that my post was a crock is ironic since we are saying exactly the same thing.... that Ford made a mistake by putting a weak part in an especially strained area of a 5.4.

Oh, yeah... and I'm sure that those "built blocks" that you speak of from the vendors don't use anything approaching a stock rod.

 

Sorry iceman302, I re-read your post a dozen times and, other than the baked goods comment, I can see no humor or sarcasm in it.

Your description of the 5.4L being a longer-stroked 4.6L sounded like an excuse - and thats how I read it.

As far as the vendor's engines, I did say "built" to include the rods. Everyone here knows the rods are the main reason for a built motor. If the weakness was simply because:

that would indicate a fundamental design flaw. But, since the addition of better rods and pistons eliminates those issues, it isn't really anything beyond Ford sucking when it came to rod selection.

Sorry if I offended you - I didn't mean to.

BTW - I have a GREAT sense of humor !!!

 

B-Man...

Glad to hear that we are both on the same page regarding who is responsible for rods occasionally taking a hiatus from their homes. The intention of my post was to insinuate that, not only did Ford design a motor that required a stronger than average rod, but then decided to use one that's weak enough to be made of your run of the mill baked goods.

BTW... glad to hear that your sense of humor is intact.

 

they didnt ask me anything....how can i put my 4 wheeler in the back of that thing or my jon boat.....my idea about a lightning is a truck guy that wants a hot rod also i just dont see the point with that little thing,might as well get a stang

 

Well, I saw the SVT Adrenalin tonight at the NY car show.
I also spoke with the Rep they had there talking about the vehicle.
1) He said the Black grill will remain and be the signatureer SVTs request.
2) The 21" wheels- who knows...special and Goodyear prototype.
3) The Cab will be the same on the SVT model as shown on the concept. Which means appears lower than the regular model.
4) 6000lb towing, IRS, anti roll system.
5) He believe the exhaust will change, door handles will be added and Height will be higher (stuff we kinda knew)
6) PRICE? all I will say, he asked...do I think $40-45 is fair?
well I will be interested to see what the final models turns out to be. It does look special and, too me, it appeared kinda large.
I look forward to it.

take care.

 

HOLY CHIT!! $40k-$45k for that piece??? Count me out. (not like i would get one anyways but more reason not to)

 

Personally, I think it sucks!

The Sport-Track is a useless little CAR that is a compromise between a truck and car and a minivan, with none of the full benefit of any of them.

It's not enough car to be a twisties-cutting car because its balance and height is all wrong.

Its not enough of a minivan (AKA SUV) to pull proper soccer practice duty as there is not enough interior room.

Its not enough truck to haul anything worth having as there is not enough exterior space.

In short it trys to be too many things and fails at ALL of them.

Ford did not interview current Lightning owner to create this abortion - they could only have interviewed people to see why they DIDN"T buy a Lightning. What of our beloved truck is there in this pile of steaming dung?

How about a show of hands - who here, or on ANY board, has been contacted by Ford for solicitation of preferences on how to build a turd?

Herb

 

well... when i purchased my truck i got on a website that had a poll on what could be improved on our trucks. dont really remember what was on it though. seems like it may have been on the svtoa website b/c i was sent a letter from them saying to access it and take the poll

 

I think that you hit the nail on the head, Herb.

It's too small.

Its bed is too short.

It's just not a fullsize truck. And anything less than a fullsize truck is unacceptable.

For many Lightning owners, it should do fine. Many Lightning owners don't use their truck as a truck -- "get dirt on my bedrug?" And many don't need the headroom of a fullsize. But to those people, I have to ask -- why the hell have a truck at all? Get an SUV or a 4-door.

 

That was just plain funny.

 

I like how they call it something like a "sequel to the lightning"....



BLEH


I've almost always hated sequels. this is like HomeAlone 20



-Mike

 

I agree, Ford has failed, trying to multi-task the truck and dropping the ball in every case. In fact, I had come to a cross road in my vehicular existance in Dec '04. I had become a partner in a resturant (with my brother and sis-in-law) on Long Island, and needed something dependable to commute from Delaware to Long Island every other weekend (I have to take the ol' bassett hound with me). Should I trade in the Lightning or the '95 vette??? What to do, what to do??? BANG!!! The vette was traded in on a '04 Toyota 4Runner Limited (with the V-8 of course!) I can't/won't part with the '00 L (I think it's quicker than the '95 vette w/6-sp.) I am a happy camper with my hot rod p'up and my new mountain goat (so does the bassett hound, got her own room in the back!)It also keeps the L dog hair free! It will be strange owning a vehicle (Toyota) and not going to the dealer on a regular basis for warranty work.

Can ya feel the love???!!!