I have heard of other Ford drivers adding on overdrive systems on to their power strokes getting better MPG. Has anyone tried this on a Lightning? I have owned a 2001 L in the past and miss it almost daily. I drive way to many Miles per year to get 10MPG. Hopefully this will be a way I can get another L.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

I did a search for "gear vendors overdrive" which turned up several posts but it looks like no one has installed one in their truck as of yet. Mabye someone can help.

 

Not to sound like an a** or anything but you wouldnt want that on a L would you? I mean, another gear would definatly help gas mileage...but what about performance? Would you be able to deactivate it?

 

The Gearvendors Over/Underdrive unit is a fantastic piece. It will hold 1200 HP and have very little loss of efficiency. Due to it's cost I doubt you will ever recover your investment(over 3K) by fuel savings.
For performance use it is an intriguing possibility. Gear splitting will allow better acceleration with stock gear ratios, and enable a much steeper rear gear without any rpm gain at highway speeds.
Jim

 

RUSLOW claims they cannot handle that power and has seen several of them break. And there there are several rebuilt on Ebay.

 

I really hate to say this because I don't want to sound like an @ss either, but Lightnings already have an overdrive!!
Another thing I don't understand is why everyone is getting such terrible gas mileage from thier Lightnings. I was making 495HP with my '01 and it averaged 17-18 mpg on the highway, and 14 around town. I know that Don
(Dons Bolt) mentioned one time that while driving his heavily modded Lightning from his home to Norwalk, that he got around 18mpg also. Is there something I am missing here??

 

The few that I have heard of have had problems with them.In the lightning truck Ed that did the 1 lap of America broke 2 of them in the week that it takes to run that event.and they only work above 45 mph below that there is a safety switch that keeps it from being activated.Also they do not do well if you use them for coast down engine breaking like on a road course.sTan

 

I had one in my F250 Diesel some 10 years ago and it worked great and was a HEAVY duty piece. At that time the automatics were the C6 (3 speed) that were particularly bad on fuel mileage and high rpm's with the "towing" package. It was electronicaly operated and essentially gave me 6 speeds. It was especially helpfully pulling my horse trailer. I never had a problem with it! It fit just behind the C6.

 

Exactly. Just not worth it.
BTW, I think I get more than 10MPG on my built motor truck. -Mat-

 

I don't know why sooooooo many people are getting bad mileage. When I took our L to N.J. to have JDM tune the truck, I got 20.2 mpg average from N.J. to Mich. with the right tune up, you can't help to pick up mileage, evidently, you need a re-tune. Call JDM, I know they can help.

 

stock tune on a 2000 here, i get 10 in the city and 16ish on the highway... =(

 

Guys,
Here in Harris county we have crappy oxygenated fuel that make our MPG horrible. I also like to cruise on the highway at 80MPH. This is the only time I would be interested in the over drive system. Other than that I would only run the normal 4 spd tranny.

Even on the highway I have never done better than 12MPG. I typically got around 10 though.

 

BTW Harris County was referring to Houston. We have gas that is supposed to reduce emissions and help with smog. All it really does is cost more, get worse mpg, and hurt HP.

 

wtf? Was that with the Blower belt removed? whether you are making boost or not, it still take a lot of hp to turn the rotors.

 

Not much, counselor. Review the chart below and draw an imaginary line at zero boost (bypass):