A few thought starters for sort of non-heavy duty upgrades/mods.

1. I own a White Lightning, the bed is painted white both outside and inside.
While I love the super low profile tires, I am unhappy with the appearance of the tires in relationship to the wheelwells. They look too small in those huge wheelwells.

I am going to paint the exterior walls of the bed (behind the wheels) as well as the fender/box stays flat black so the wheels/tires will blend in more with the profile of the truck.

2. The charcoal accented items.

You other owners may convince me not to do this, but I am at least considering painting the various charcoal items body color. Mirrors, top of rear bumper, bed rails, step plates on the bed and etc. Most high performance vehicles today are totally monochromatic (single color) and I find it a little jarring to have these odd bits and pieces a different color. I've read SVT's advertising, and I understand that this is a "styling statement" from their point of view, but I really don't like it. Please let me have your views.

3. Rear view mirror.

I currently have a posting on the salvage yards local net looking for a mirror similar to that on Pat's 98 Continental which is an auto dim with compass. Some of you are also advising an aftermarket mirror that also incorporates temperature, but I would like to stay Ford. Any ideas?

4. Visors.

Same posting is looking for some XLT or Lariat lighted visors to pacify Pat on the one hand and my own disappointment with the XL trim level of some of the interior appointments

5. Floor mats.

Yes we have them, but no they are not specifically SVT identified like those on a Cobra or my old SHO. Anyone know of a source for 99.5 compatible mats that have either SVT or Lightning embossed on them?

6. Wheel color.

I know this is blasphemy, but I recall someone, can't remember who right now, that is going to chrome his. I am leaning to do the monochrome thing here too, that is to paint my wheels white to match body color. Any input on this one?
I believe this would work well on red also, possibly not that cool on black. On the other hand, that fellow that is waiting for a yellow Lightning would have one wild rig if it were tricked out with all yellow accents as well as wheels.

7. Exhaust.

I have tried real hard to stay away from performance issues here, and actually I think I am still thinking styling as well as performance/sound, but if anyone ever hears of a system that gives us a duplication of the right exit exhaust on the left side, please post it. As you can read from my signature, I come from a sort of a different era, and "duals" always meant exactly that, even if it was dual outlets per dual as we have in the singular sense on the Lightning. I have a Borla system on my '56 F-100 that has twin dual outlets exiting out under the rear bumper, one set on each side and that is the look I prefer.


"Nuff said for tonight on the subject. I know I can count on some good input.

Thanks.

Bill Murray

------------------

Bill Murray
60 going on 17 w/my:
99.5 White Lightning
Bone Stock for now.
Stay tuned.

 

Bill.....I like the look of the charcoal accents, so I can't comment on that one...but agree on the mirrow, visors and mats....as for wheel color, I really like the look of some of the White C5's that I have seen with White Wheels, but the darker colors just cry out for Chrome....and it was me that said that I will have mine Chromed...as soon as I find someone close by to do the work......On exhaust...well you know how I feel on that one.....It needs to sound as mean as the darn thing looks and is.....aftermaket suppliers are you listening??????

Tybee

 

Bill,

As for the color-coding on your truck...I would highly recommend against doing any kind of painting on it, especially the mirrors. Even if you keep the truck for many years, painting the items you listed will only hurt the resale value. I agree that alot of performance vehicles are monochromatic, however, you can take the mono treatment too far before you know it. It is kinda like where do you draw the line of what to paint and what to leave black?
I understand how you feel with a white truck...all of my late model Mustangs have been white and the black trim looked like such a contrast. However, when I see older Mustangs (87-93) that have the trim painted body color it completely detracts from the car. I feel that you would regret painting on your new truck a few years down the road.
Since SVT is supposed to build this truck for six years, I would probably wait and see if they make some changes in two or three years to the exhaust or look of the truck before I went changing a stock '99.

Just my thoughts,

Collin

 

with the black truck, everything matches, all the bed covers, bed liners, bugshields etc,, all look factory, the wheels even look ok, i'd prefer chrome, to match my other vehicles, only thing i want to change is the blue oval (flame suit on) to black to match.

 

Bill,
I also thought about doing the mono job, I will probably stay away from it for now though. The exhaust coming out of both sides sounds great to me too. If you come across the plastic moulding for the outlets, let us know. As for the wheels, I can't decide on going white or chrome. Both would look great, but I'll probably go with the white also.

------------------
PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNING

 

Thanks for the input.

Mirrors etc. yes (keep old)
Monochrome paint no.
Exhaust wait for SVT or top line aftermarket
Wheels Probably go with white.

Thanks again

Bill Murray

------------------

Bill Murray
60 going on 17 w/my:
99.5 White Lightning
Bone Stock for now.
Stay tuned.

 

a quick note on one of the hazards associated with running the exhaust out the driver's side. The fuel filler neck is right above the area the exhaust would exit. Can you say "flash fire" from an overflow? I think this is one of the reasons Ford opted for the right-side duals. I would agree that it would look better exiting the back, but will wait for further developments before deciding one way or the other.

Just my 2-cents worth....

------------------
Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
Black 99.5 Lightning