I read that ford is increasing the power of the lightning to something like 385 horsepower, also torque is up can't rememver what it was. Go to www.blueovalnews.com for more info on whats new for the 2001 lightnings.

 

I went to blue oval news and i got the actual info( Didn't have it at the time i wroteit).

year............2001.5 1999.5
power........... 375 360
0-60 time....... 5.8 6.18
1/4 mile time... 13.99 14.63
1/4 mile speed.. 100 97.4

Also they are putting better brakes on them and chanfing the headlamps, bumper,grille, and tail lights. On the bad sign ford is saying the mpg will drop slightly and there is an unwanted exhaust tone.

 

If this is real true:

 

Not to burst Ford's nor your bubble, but if you follow a lot of postings on 99 as well as 00 Lightnings, they are already getting this power stock as a rock.
My own dyno runs gave around 380 horsepower at the flywheel if you use a 20% loss factor for the trans and rear end and many, many others have seen the same or a little better.
1/4 mile times seem to show the same, in that well broken in examples are already equalling the times Ford is projecting for the 01 Lightning at 375 horsepower at the 360 horsepower level.
Kind of reminds me of the late 60's early 70's when everyone underrated the horsepower to avoid insurance problems.
As always could be wrong, but I think the 99/00 Bolts are a bit underrated.
Bill

 

My 2000 bone stock with 1000 miles and an idiot behind the wheel ran a 13.95 in 50 degree weather. If the 2001 is rated higher I wonder what the real world results will be for them.

Doug

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Got Silver 2000 Lightning 2/28/00!!
Doug
Carrollton TX
drbdkb@hotmail.com
Had 87 Turbo Coupe traded for
92 F150 XLT 302, Put K&N Filter, cat back and Chip on 92 Still not enough. For Sale.
Silver 2000 Lightning, Valentine 1, Snuglid and Bedrug. K&N Filter as soon as I can find one

 

Hmmmm, well looks like I might as well just wait till the '01 comes out.

Dan R.

 

Maybe Ford just decided to correct their mis-information about the eariler models and claim an increase... It would be some very needed good publicity for SVT...

 

I agree with Bill. I think Ford is just realizing that the 360hp listed for 99-00 is a little on the low side. I'll reserve my final judgement for when Ford engineers provide the details on changes they will make to warrant the increase in rated horsepower.

 

I think the extra HP is due to the plastic bed that Ford is putting on the 2001 L.

Andy

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Red '00 L On Order
(ETA: 4/17/00)

 

The power increase was made by several enhancements to the engine and exhaust to make it breathe better and operate more fluidly. The engine is actually increased in power not just ford realizing they listed it wrong.

 

Remember that BON is the same site that says currently Job 1 for the 2000's is Dec 06...and that we are getting an in dash CD player... Since we all know Job 1 was pushed way past 06Dec and that our 2000's don't have the single CD player you can't believe everything you read... On the other hand the new fastest color, Silver, the overhead console, the color keyed mirrors, and the dark tinted rear glass are all spot on.

The information that BON is using probably was valid at the time of publication to the groups within Ford that are designing our L's...after that BON got it somehow (???) and that was many months ago. Back in August of 1999 was when BON published the two pages of summary tables that discussed the '01 L's vs the 99.5 L's, not the 00's. Instead of publishing the two page document the current page reformats most of the data, that is what you are seeing today. The document also shows 3 exterior colors for the '01 L, hmmm, does this mean that Silver is gone, or Red, or Black, or White, or that Yellow is coming, who knows? Or is the information out of date?

This is the same information that has been rehashed over and over again since then...is it true? Unless you are on the '01 L team you don't know. Is it enough to make you wait? That's your decision. A recalibrated chip and a less restrictive airbox could bring the 15HP and the stated performance figures...

And since I wouldn't have purchased a Black, Red, or White L, knowing back then that Silver was coming got Ford a sale. I would have gone for the mid life crisis Corvette or an Audi S4. Am I glad I waited? HELL YES!
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Silver 2000, Delivered, 2Mar00!
NLOC Member #344



[This message has been edited by bobb (edited 03-22-2000).]

 

Increased power via 3 valve heads to match the rest of the f150 modular line up.

 

When I asked SVT about horsepower loss from drivetrain,They told me the lightning is the most efficient vechicle they have ever worked with.They said they are only losing about 11% thru the drivetrain.

 

If they are actually changing some of the engine hardware (like the beforementioned 3-valve heads) then I can see a legitimate increase. BON is good, but they do post some things that are not true from what I've seen.

Anyway, I think its a joke that Ford claims 14.6/97mph in their press releases regarding the '99-00 Ls. I've yet to see anyone racing an L below 5000' elevation run that slow with a stock one.

Most people running at decent tracks (which Ford certainly has access to) in decent air/elevation conditions are running 13.8-14.2s (on average) with a '99-00 L.

If the '01 L has more power then it will run 13.5s out of the box, not 13.9s. Heck, if they just get a bit more aggressive with the engine management programming (like those of us with chips have!) then they'll run mid-13s or better with no other mods...without any new hardware.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--586rwhp/587rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
97 SHO
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--362rwhp/444rwtq
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fsT/index.html

 

I did read at that same sight that the 2002 5.4 triton will be upgraded to a 3 valve 305 hp with 385 lbs tourque, not sure what it becomes with a supercharger.