I've got a 2000 L with no mods and about 1,100 mile on it. I had it out yesterday on country roads to practice launching for the first time. I was on a blacktop road, that I would say was not slick, but was only mildly rough. From a dead stop I would floor it. The tires would grip instantly, no squeeling. If I power braked, the tires would spin, and keep spinning as I let off the brake. By reading some of the posts, it seems like the tires should easily spin if I floor it from a dead stop. I realize I am getting a bettter launch without any tire spin, but I'm not sure I have all the power that I should. Other than that, the truck seems fine. I curious what results other members are getting under the same circumstances.
Tom

 

Morning Tom:

If you would go back to postings of 10-11 months ago, you would read dozens of similar postings from new owners of 99.5 Bolts.

In short, these motors are tight, maybe the trannies too, and everyone was bitching about "where's the smoke". In most cases, it takes 3-5K miles for the trucks to really start running good. After that, wheelspin is rather easy to achieve.

Should you wish to invest another $500 or so, a good chip, either PSP or Superchip are well regarded, and a better air filter, again PSP, AirRaid and Downs are liked here, wheelspin will be something you will have at will in both first and second gears.

In fact, if you do the above, better set up a special savings account for tires and the occasional traffic cite, cause your gonna need it.

Enjoy your ride, you chose well.

Bill

------------------
99.5 Lightning
Build #247
PSP Chip/Filter
Bassani full system
White/normal options
Tamiya 1/10 scale Bolt
Several old trucks/cars
Thunder & Lightning
Rag Doll Cats
E-mail MOSTOYSINC@AOL.com
Kennesaw, Ga. (Atlanta)

 

Ok, thanks Bill. i didn't want to go the chip or air filter route yet. I'm a little concerned about it voiding the warranty. I'll give it a few thousand mile and see if performance improves.

Tom

 

You might consider Danny Swanson's chip. I wasn't going to chip mine for the same reason you mention but the way his installs makes it undetectable. I am going to wait til I get a 4.10 rear before I do it though, so I don't have to reprogram the chip.

------------------
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.
'00 SVT Lightning, silver, G-tech Pro, JBA headers

alphadoggy@jetlink.net

 

I was going to order Danny's chip, but after talking to him more I'm going with Sal's or Superchip. Danny hasn't addressed the downshift points, and wasn't able to quote baseline or moded RWHP figures. He just said he picked up 38 HP with his chip. He hasn't run his 2000 at the track yet either. I did like the fact he is easy to get a hold of, and maybe down the road once he has more experience with these I will again consider his chip.

 

If you haven't, you may want to check your tire pressure. At 500 miles my truck would spin about 1 car length. Yesterday at 1600 miles I checked tire psi finally. Rear tires were at 29 psi. I inflated to 32 psi and went back to same spot and started from a dead stop (no power braking) and the truck left tire tracks for 3 car lengths, actually spun through 1st gear and shifted to second before it stopped spinning. I'm sure part of this is because motor is starting to loosen up some, but I contribute part to the tire pressure.

 

Hey George, Sal here. Danny told you that his chip is "undectable" when installed? I'd really like to know how he does this since it's impossible. When you plug any brand of chip into a PCM, it overwrites the PCMs memory, and the PCM detects that as a ROM failure and sets a P0605 code on OBDII vehicles.

------------------
SAL
13.209@104.3mph
Power Surge Performance 99 Lightning Chip and Filter Kit, full Bassani Exhaust, Nitto Extreme Drags
PowerSurgePerf@aol.com

 

TomG,
Give it some time. When I first got mine it seemed kinda weak compared to a well broken in '99 I'd driven. But, with each day it loosened up and ran better. Seemed to really get strong around 3000 miles. Check out the different thread for a dyno run at 3900 miles.