I guess Im one of the "old guys",but
this Lightning is the first automatic
vehicle that I have ever owned.
Generally I think its more fun to have
the control of a stick, not just for
dragracing, but for cornering,
brakeing,etc. I do agree though that
the throw on a stick in this truck
would be too long to be fast or fun.
But how bout an auto-stick set up with
the ability to go up or down all the
gears with the flick of a button. Its
not quite as much fun as a true stick
but it would give us more control.
By the way, ive been on this board
before, but I changed my username.

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Im not sure why my sentences came out so choppy on my last post. Sorry about that.

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GOOD CALL an auto stick would be absolutley awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

and selectable AWD would be nice to. For launching and for bad weather.

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I have autostick on my GS, it's nice to kick it into manual and do the up/down shifting with the steering wheel shifters, and it is great for the twisties and saving brake pads.

 

I agree an auto stick would be very fun to drive, although I doubt Ford would do it, just like I doubt they would do AWD. I think they did a great job with the Lightning transmission anyways. About using stick shift, I remember on TV they said that the professional drag racing trucks are REQUIRED to use manual - do you think they would be faster with automatics?

Mike

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99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
So-Cal Lowering Kit; Cal-Tracs traction bars
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

dragracing=consistancy=automatic tranny..

 

A car or truck is only as fast as the driver.I believe there are probally two variances in the new lightnings.It seems as though they made two different trucks.Some low 14/ high 13 sec. trucks and some mid 14 sec. trucks. The rest is probally driving techniques.I do believe some of the trucks did come out tuned down though.

 

I agree on the de-tuning part. Mine ran 14.6 stock (exactly what the literature says). It's much better now with the chip.

As to the earlier post about transmission choice being a marketing decision, I have to disagree. Maybe it worked out in their favor that an auto was used, but look at the other SVT products ... both the contour and cobra are manuals. Because of the torque and shift throw distance, they couldnt have put in a manual even if they wanted to.

 

The cobra and contour are also both sports cars/sedans, not trucks. I agree the auto was easier to make work. But i feel it was more to make a larger purchace range in people.I will call svt moday and see what they say, ill let you all know. we could all be wrong.I also feel that a powerstroke stick would have easily handled the torque,but autos apeal to more types of people.6 speed would have been cool!

 

EBOLT
I have seen a Viper with a blower though. It made around 780 hp at the wheels. He was on his second diff and said he will change to a bigger capacity one when (not if !) this one goes.

It was a R/T with a roll cage and ran a 9.5 1/4 mile on 10" wide MT slicks with some traction problems.

The point is, his box was holding up just fine, and according to ChryslerBenz, the race versions also runs the same box with a stronger diff.

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99 Black Lightning
Rhino liner
Superchip

 

These trucks were developed using the "parts bin" aproach. Except for the cosmetics, almost everything on the L is used on another vehicle in the Ford family. One reason a manual works better in a car is that the shift lever is much shorter because you sit lower in the vehicle allowing for a much shorter throw. Emmissions testing is also very expensive so there will probably never be available both a auto and a manual Lightning.

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White 99 Lightning
Snugtop
Bedrug

 

BlackLight (good name)
I was just agreeing w/long throw/handle/linkage problems.
And more importantly the consistancy in drag racing, and the broader appeal of the auto. vs. manny.
After all it is a truck, and the auto. does tow better.

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99 Lightning Black Dk. Gray Bedrock spray in liner,
CDChanger, Class III Hitch,
PSP Filter,
ARE Cap,

 

I read in a rag the only reason that the Lightning came around was because Ford could use the parts bin. If it had cost them much more to put it toghter they wouldnt have made it (those damn beancounters). Ford is a high volume co. & specialty cars arent in the agenda, they cost a lot of money & time to develop.

 

It may also have something to do with the fact that Ford doesnt even offer a manual with the 5.4l and probably the only manual that woiuld handle the lightning motor, would be the 6 spd fromt he deisel, and i bet it wouldnt bolt up