Hello, I wanted to take a minute and introduce myself to this bulletin board and ask a few questions. First, a quick introduction. I recently purchased a 96 LT1 Corvette and took it to my local track (Firebird International raceway), in total stock form I ran a 14.154 @ 97.97. There were 2 Lightnings that night. I had never even seen a 99 Lightning until then. They both ran together, one ran a 13.96 and the other a 14.04. I was most impressed to say the least, and of course very dissapointed that my Vette ran slower than "pickup truck". Seeing the Lightnings that night forced me to visit a local SVT dealer. Long and short of it, I saw a 99 at a local dealer and absolutely fell in love with the vehicle. That particular dealer wanted $4K above MSRP for the 99 and the same if I was to order a 2000. Of course I left that dealership and went to another dealer and put $1000 down and ordered a 2000 Lightning for MSRP; Red, CD Changer, Tow Package. I have never owned a Ford product before and plan to keep my Corvette (even though it apparently can't hold a candle to a Lightning), so this should be a very interesting first time experience with a Ford product. I have been reading postings on this website and I am confused. The times that people are posting (for stock Lightnings), are considerably better than the technical data that I have read that is published by Ford and several auto test articles. I have seen data of 14.6 to 14.7 quarter mile times @ 97 mph. Any of my past experiences with vehicles had always been that actual times were much slower than manufacturer published times or magazine tests. So how is it that I am seeing times in the 13 second brackets? It looks to me as if for whatever reason, the factory specs are very conservative. I am counting the days (or should I say months), till my Lightning arrives. The dealer said probably March or April. I was not able to obtain any information on the 2000 model other than they thought it would be the same as the 99, does anyone know any insight on the 2000's? Looking forward to some feedback.

 

I too am a new member, and i have a 2000 on order, but as far as i know the data should be the same, but i have heard that later models may have something like 275-285 hp, if this is true, i dont know. I was also wondering if Yellow will ever be offered or any other "racing" color, i mean black,red,white,and silver is cool and all, but this is a bad a$$ truck and we should show it with pride.

 

Hey Peter B when were you there??? I'll bet that you saw either me (Yoda)& Joelightning (date um... i think we were there 11-15 or 11-22), or Joelightning & Zonaman (date there 12-03). Both of them are on the forum. Hey welcome to the most insightful Forum out there (very biased)! Anyways what dealership did you see the Lightning at, and where did you end up purchasing yours at? The hp levels are all the same 360hp (everyone thinks underrated) from the 99's to the 00's. Only real diff on the 00's is the overhead console & CD in dash. Where do you live in the valley? me email is quikbolt@uswest.net send me an E-mail about youself. There are e few other Lightning owners here in the valley (or kinda close - hi Zonaman). BTW in stock form with the temp hovering about 85-88 I ran a 14.1 with a respctable 2.1 60'. Firebird usually has crappy traction but the week b4 I went there, they the "big boys" out there so the traction was great. The Lightning you saw in the 13's was most likely Joelightning's white beast. Wait till the temp drops to the 50's and a stock one should hit 13.'s. Just had a chip installed today, boy this thing just flat-out flies

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99' Black Bolt
PSP Filter
PSP Custom Chip
Clear Corner Lenses
SVT #3443


**Millions have seen Lightning
Few have ridden one**



[This message has been edited by Yoda (edited 12-11-1999).]

 

Congratulations Peter,

My name is Joel and I live in the Phoenix area (Chandler). I’ve been to Firebird several times. I met Don (Yoda) out there on November 11th and we ran together several times. Don’s was stock at the time and I was running with all my mods to date: Power Surge Performance’s Filter Kit (best hp/$) and the Superchip. On that night the track was in excellent condition, a rarity for Firebird. My best on that night was a 13.92 @ 99.17mph and Don’s was 14.167 @ 97.63 mph.

There are several factors for how our trucks perform, and in my opinion the biggest factor is weather assuming you get hooked-up off the line. To run consistent, the intercooler water temperature before each run must be consistent. On Dec 3rd I went out again to Firebird and the track conditions were typically bad (lots of dust coating the track from wind all day, and little to no track preparation). On that night the ambient temp was down 20 degrees from the November outing (55F vs 75F). My best time was a 13.710 @ 101.64 even with a 2.139 60’ time. My best MPH run that night was a 14.186 @ 102.86mph with a horrific 2.541 60’ time.

I went to the track for the first time on May 21st with only a 1000 miles on the odometer. The truck was totally stock. My best that night was right there with the published data, 14.366 @ 96.62. I was pleased with the run as the weather was 88F and 20% humidity and the truck weighed in at 4960lb with my big butt in it.

Hope this helps and good luck. When you get it let me know and I’ll meet you out there (or earlier for that matter).




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Joel.......
99.5 White Lightning,
SVT # 0052
Superchip!!!!!

 

Thanks guys for responding back to my email. I was at Firebird on November 11th. One Lightning that night was black and the other was white. I didn't actually see the Lightnings run as I was in the line waiting to run, but my friend was in the stands when you guys ran, and he thought it was the black one that ran the 13.96, but he's not 100% sure. Wow, I am very very impressed with your run times. When my friend told me about your times that night I thought they both were highly modified vehicles, then after that night when I began researching about the Lightning, I couldn't find any hop ups, so it amazed me of the times. The first Lightning I saw was at Bell Ford. It was a 99 and they claimed that they obtained it from a Dealer in Colorado. It had 225 miles on it and they wanted $34,995 and there was not negotiating. I saw it about 3 weeks ago and they sold it within a few days. At the same time there was one at (I think it was either Sands or Sanderson used trucks) on Bell Road. It was a black 99 brand new and they wanted $37,000 for it. It too sold shortly thereafter. I tried to order a 2000 from Bell, but they would not agree to sell on for any less than $4K over MSRP. I left and immediately went to Five Star Ford on McDowell and ordered one for MSRP. That is their policy, they sell Cobras for MSRP also, they will not mark there vehicles above full list. I plan on many mods to my Corvette, so you will probably see me at Firebird. It is a Yellow 96 with chrome ZR1 style wheels, there is another one identical that I saw that same night, but it has the grey ZR1 style wheels. Look out for me and come say hi. If possible, I would love to see your Lightning and if there would be any way I could be a passenger for a quarter mile run, that would be very much appreciated. I kinda would like to get a taste of what I will be waiting months for. Thanks again for the responses, and I'm gonna grab myself a couple of beers. Later.

 

HI Peter B. Congradulations on your new L. Coincidently as you can see my name is also Peter B . I have a white L here in SoCal stock so far. I'll be doing the psp chip and filter soon. Those two mods alone are apparantly worth as much as .5 sec in the 1/4
and according the others at this site the chip significantly improves the shifting, the filter the breathing and SC sounds
This truck is worth the wait and worth its weight (in gold)
By the way I into it last week with an Lt1 vette
He tried to pass me on a curved 2 lane onramp and couldn;t, we both went to the metal as we straightened out on the freeway. I pulled about four or five lengths on him and backed off at around 110. He was apparantly a poor sport cause he stayed on it and seriously cut me off so sharply that he started to fishtail and almost lost it. Got to admit though, its a beautiful car . You are pretty lucky to have both

 

Welcome to the board Peter,You have made a good choice in purchasing this SVT.These SVT`s are highly underrated.As you can see in my sig. that with just a few mods these trucks are very close to 12`s.

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99 SVT Lightning
BLK. #1476 5/20/99
2 Chamber Flowmasters
Downs Air Intake
B.F.Goodrich Drag T/A`s
Superchips
A-pillar Phantom Boost Guage
Redline Water Wetter
Sportmaster Flip tonneau
Tow package
CD changer

Best run to date
13.064 @105.33

"Empty Pockets Racing"Drag Race Team NJ-DE

 

Hey Peter B.
I too am a new member to this forum, I am very glad I stumbled upon such a great place for us Lightning owners to discuss details on these wonderful vehicles.
My best friend has a 95 Vette (automatic/stock), and keeps telling me there is no way I can beat him. I have always thought I could have a chance. I have been in his passenger seat during city street drag races countless times. I gave him a ride in my Lightning last week, he still swears his Vette will eat my truck.
Maybe we will have to line them up sometime...Your story gave me some confindence.
BTW, is your Vette manual or automatic?

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Brad Lynskey
99.5 SVT Lightning
Oxford White
#1791, born 6/1/99, delivery taken 6/29/99
CD changer, tow package
Lund Premier soft tonneau
Lumar window tint, rubber bed mat
K&N Filter, Soon to be chipped

 

Brad,

Thanks for the reply. My 96 vette is an automatic, that was the only transmission available with the LT1 in 96 (I also have the perf axle 3.07). The LT4 was introduced by Chevrolet in 96 to keep the sales up (as the new C5 was on its way the following year). The LT4 was only available in a 6 speed. The LT1 is rated at 300 hp and the LT4 330 hp, both are NET numbers. If your friend is running a totally stock Vette it appears to me he is dreaming if he thinks he will outperform your Lightning. The night I ran at the track my car was completely stock, the ambient temp was about 75-80 degrees and I made 3 passes. The first run I had a perfect holeshot with zero wheel spin and ran a 14.295 @ 96.66, the second run was terrible as I had extreme wheelspin a good way through second gear, and my last run of the night was 14.154 @ 97.97. The two Lightnings that were there that night ran together and my frien was the one that actually saw the run. Ran a 13.96 and a 14.04, so they both ran a better time than I did, and as embarrasing as it is to admit, my 1st and 3rd runs of the night were absolutely perfect runs, I believe those were the best times I could get for that condition that night. I believe the L that ran the 14.04 ran an even better run later that night, so he was definitely running better times than my Vette. The seat of the pants feel means absolutely nothing in my book, actual times are the correct comparison. I have been into numerous performance vehicles for a long time and many times something that "feels" faster or sounds faster, really is not. I seen many people make performance mods and thought they were running better, but in actuality were running worse than stock inspite of how they felt. Welcome also, and when you do run your friend, please advise of the outcome, I'd be really curious. Also, does he have the performance rear end or the standard 2.59 gears?

[This message has been edited by Peter B (edited 12-12-1999).]

 

Hey Peter B.,
I'm not sure of which gears he has, but I should beat him regardless since you have the high perf gears and turn those ET's.
The last time I rode with him during a drag race, a stock 99 Z28 kicked his a$$. Does this sound right as far as your Vette goes.
Bottom line: Vette's are an american icon and one beautiful car, but I would love to outrun one!
BTW, I know some guys here are going to jump all over me, but I was never a Ford Fan and never owned a Ford product either. I was a Chevy guy all the way, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! I also fell in love with this truck the moment I saw it featured on Car and Driver TB last January. I was knee deep in the purchase of a Dodge R/T at that time, only fate saved me from making a HUGE mistake.
Thanks for the info PB

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Brad Lynskey
99.5 SVT Lightning
Oxford White
#1791, born 6/1/99, delivery taken 6/29/99
CD changer, tow package
Lund Premier soft tonneau
Lumar window tint, rubber bed mat
K&N Filter, Soon to be chipped


[This message has been edited by 99WhiteLight (edited 12-12-1999).]

 

One the note of dealers here, prices seem to vary alot on the lightnings. My dad worked for ford, so I get "A" planning prices, but I had 3 different dealers tell me to add 3 or 4 grand to the A plan price. After much searching, I did find one dealer to sell me the truck at real A plan pricing... keep shoping, not all dealers are out to screw you.

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* 99.5 Black Lightning
* CD Changer
* Class 3 Towing Hitch

Injection is nice, but I'd rather be blown. 99 Lightning, the best of both worlds!

 

Brad,

The GM code for the 3.07 performance axle in the 95 Vette is G92, if that code is not listed on your friends car, then he has the standard 2.59 rear end and I have no data on times with the 2.59 rear end. I have only had my Vette for 2 months so as far as how it runs against a 99 Z28, I have no experience. From magazine specs on the LS1 corvettes, they clock in at 13.1-13.2's in the quarter and I believe (and this is not at all for certain) that the LS1 Fbodied cars are in the 13.3-13.4 bracket, but once again, I am not certain on those times. I can tell you this, the night I ran at the track there was a late model LS1 powered Trans Am automatic. The guy claimed that in stock form he ran in the low 14's, which really surprised me cause I thought they ran stronger than that. He said he regeared to 2.73 gears from the stock rear end and put reprogrammed his computer w/the hypertech and put in a different cold air intake and the same night I ran a 14.154, he said he was running in the 13.7's. The part he told me about the gears didn't make sense cause he said the stock gears were 2.23, I do not believe that is correct, I thought the 2.59 was the tallest gear available in those cars.

[This message has been edited by Peter B (edited 12-13-1999).]

 

SVT2Go,

Thanks for the pricing info. As I have already placed a deposit down on a 00, I guess it was pretty dumb of me to start asking about pricing. Can't wait to get it. This will be the longest I will ever have waited for a new vehicle order, but from reading all the messages on the board, I think it will be well worth the wait. That might be OK in the long run as this gives me plenty of time to start modifying my Vette to be able to run with my L when it arrives.

 

SVT2GO: I also get mine "A" or "Z" plan(retired) from my retired father-in-law. Those dealers that add to the price of the plan need to be turned in to Ford. Ford sets the plan price, not them. They can lose their franchise doin' that stuff.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, Foglamp Covers, 13.573@101.08