just saw on bolra's website they now have the 1999-up lightning wxhaust. Anybody see it yet?

 

Thx for the Pics Rob....I wanted to see what that unit looked like before I bought it.

Paul G.

 

The system looks good. Were there any clearance problems between the muffler and the heat shield?

Mine is so close that there is no room for adjustment of the stock muffler or tips.

------------------
2000 Red Lightning Born 3-8-00 / Delivered 3-22-00
22% Window Tint, Clear Corners

'99 Yukon Denali - Silver, Lowered 1", Borbet CW4's, 285/60R18 Toyo Proxes S/T's, Hotchkis AntiSways, Edelbrock Shocks

2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car




[This message has been edited by WHAT04 (edited 04-16-2000).]

 

Hey BlkSVT,
I have that kit on my truck, I got it right before Christmas and it's one of the easiest
kits to install. The sound is a little raspier at idle and wide open throttle, but
during regular driving it sounds stock,
great kit. If you'd like to see pictures go
to nloc.org and click on the trucks icon, once there click on 99 and color red and you
will see my truck with a picture of the stock
exhaust next to the Borla.
Rob

 

Hey Guys,
The only problem I had is I noticed the tips
were not centered in the cutout in the ground
effects. I took off the exhaust and I cut
about 3/8" off the pipes that connect to the
H-pipe(you can't slide them further because
of a welded seam)this allowed me to push the
Borla pipes in further and it centered the
tips. However, the hanger was now touching
the shield so I had to carefully bend a small
lip so there would be no interference. This was back in January and I've had no problems
since. Later.

 

Anyone have a reputable dealer to get the Borla kit from? One that gives "discounts" would be preferable.



------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--586rwhp/587rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--365rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html

 

http://www.truckperformance.com/cat-...212.39.130.212

Brand: BORLA
Description: Side Exit Cat-Back System With Dual Round Angle Cut Phantom Tips
Manufacturers Part Number: 14872
TPC Part Number: BOR14872
Year: 1999
Make: FORD
Model: Lightning
Engine: 5.4L
> Quantity: 1
> Price: 390.59
> Subtotal: 390.59
>
> Total: 390.59
> Tax: 0.00
> Shipping: 0
> Grand Total: 390.59
>
> Shipping Option: upsgrnd

adp
#1530
Black '99

 

To be honest, I seriously doubt there are significant gains from just replacing the cat-back. Ford has done their homework on most of their late-model cat-back systems. They screwed up the '99 Cobra, but I have documented that you get a whopping 2hp from replacing a '96-98 Cobra exhaust with a catback.

Obviously, this is not an L, but the point is that Ford has a good reputation of late regarding making non-restrictive cat-back systems from the factory.

------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--586rwhp/587rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--365rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html

 

when the first lightnings hit the streets a year ago and everyone was looking for exhaust/headers to find some hidden hp, there was a lot of talk about the factory system being computer matched for this blown engine. i can see opening up the exhaust for a stock truck with an aftermarket blower, or if you are looking for a better sound, but no one has really shown how much better this truck performs with a high priced exhaust system. it might help , but those are some big $/hp IMHO.

 

Are you guys looking for performance gains or just a better exhaust sound? I believe I read elsewhere on this board that the biggest gains come from the headers, so I installed JBAs on my truck. If there are significant gains to be had from replacing the cat back I would be interested in seeing the data, but $390 plus install for a sound I can't hear over my stero anyway, I don't think so.

 

There has also been research that has shown that big headers with big exhaust pipes and low restriction actually hurts low end torque. An exhaust system upgrade, including headers may gain you some top end HP, but most people don't spend much time driving at top end. Most daily driving uses low end torque as opposed to high end horspower.

Headers, a new H pipe and a cat back system will run you over $1000 just for the parts. You can plan on at least that to have a pro install them for you. This will get you maybe 20HP at the top end. Like MRBBQMAN says, that's a pretty high $/HP ratio, but the cool factor of your truck just got a big boost.

 

I have to agree with MRBBQMAN,
I bought the Borla kit mostly for the sound.
But if someone is buying any exhaust kit for
a new Lightning for performace gains they
will be dissapointed. A local dealer put
the entire Bassani kit on a '99 L and then
dynoed it. You wanna know how much the truck
picked up? A whopping 8 horsepower! And this
is from a place that sells Bassani. It's
just eyecandy if you ask me.