By looking at all the topics and replies,I think I have figured things out here.I personally have found the only real performance upgrade that really works by itself is the air intake and chip.More the chip.I see alot of people bought exhaust upgrades and not once have I heard someone bragging about seat of the pants power.Most people say sound is great but you either lose hp or torque to gain the other.I know a chip and filtered Lightning is good for anywhere from13.0-13.5 depending on 2 things: traction/truck itself(not mods).
My point is......Some trucks are stronger than others.But the real deal is only the chip/filter combo is the real E/T and mph gainer.Second,.......To all you people who did gears.Did they really give to a better E/T AND mph gain by itself?This is the only other mod I was looking to do.This is also the only other mod I have heard to be a "everytime" gainer.Which is better 410 or 373.Forget gas mileage ,Im talking about time and traction.Thanks guys for all inputs.I would like to hear your comments

 

You're right, the chip and filter seem to be the most bang for the buck. My last trip to the track was opening day so I only managed 2 runs and my wife videotaped them so watching them I can see how I need to improve my launch. I feel with the combo I had then (filter & chip) it shoulda hit high 13.3's. I'll be goin back in a couple weeks to see if I can get there although now I have the Flowmasters on. Don't know what that will do(or won't) for me as I put those on strictly for the audio improvement and don't expect much if any gain. Actually expect loss of low end torque balanced by a slight gain on the high end cancelling each other.

$.02

------------------
Red 99.5 Lightning,
#0975,
Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99
SuperChip,
PSP Filter,
2 Chamber Flowmasters,
Water Wetter,
13.498@102.69



[This message has been edited by 4D THNDR (edited 04-02-2000).]

 

If you are looking for best buy(hp's for the buck). I would start with a filter kit, 2nd shift kit,3rd 4:10's or 4:56's,4th chip,5th full exhaust kit.
If your budget only can go so much than: cut out the bottom of stock filter housing, 2nd 4:10's, 3rd chip. This is what I felt to be the biggest seat-o-pants gains.

The faster you go the more stuff you will need. I don't feel I would be in the 12's without all the parts I have Every thing I have is a great product, and would buy it all over again.
KSP filter
PSP chip
TransGo shift kit
Ford Motorsport 4:10's
Bassani exhaust kit
LOTS OF RACE GAS & HOOSIERS

 

go with the 4:10's!

 

The GEN 1 had a 4.10. I think it really made the difference in that truck. I think they chickened out putting it in the GEN II when they saw how awesome it really was. (it no doubt pushed the truck too close to the maximum parameters they didn't want to exceed). The advantage of going with the 373 is Ford can reprogram your speedometer to work properly. They don't have the software to do this for the 4:10 so I've been told. 1Badtk has the 373 and said it and the filter were the biggest bangs. ( He does not have N20).
Cigar

 

I was informed by a bracket-racing friend that 4:10's would make the truck difficult for regular highway use...is it so?

 

correcting noelvm
3:73 gear and chip were the biggest bang for the bucks.
If you are not going to buy a chip use the supercharger pulley, and gear. Then air filter.
Also something I have noticed here on the board, no one is checking spark plugs. All eight of my plugs were gapped wrong from the factory all were off a little. I would be willing to bet that everyone has at least one plug that if off alot.

 

Now,I would figure with the 410 gears,There would be no way to hook up off the line.Is this so?Also,Do you think with 410s and battery in the back and slicks,Is there anyway to pull a front tire off the ground?I cant imagine the pull the truck would have with 410 gears.I also cant imagine it getting ANY traction.

 

top

 

Lightningquick
The 4:10's will give you a little trouble hooking up without drag shocks. Easy to blow the street tires off. You are going to need a set of slicks with either gear, drag shocks also. If gas mileage is not an issue go with the 4:10's.

 

Don't be mislead..... freer breathing exhaust does help. No it will not pin you against the seat back when you put on 2 Flowmaster, but it does get the exhaust out faster. You may have some gain but don't expect much. Maybe a tenth or two.

Any freer breathing like Ram air 2 to 3 tenths gain, better mass air meter couple tenths etc. air filter another couple tenths, better heads 3 to 4 tenths possible more etc.

Biggest bang for the "buck" tall gears. Big truck, big gears. Mebbe a little laughing gas too.

If you really want horse power put a big block stroker with twin turbos. That will light your fire.

------------------
John Armstrong

2000 Red Lightning

 

Ok, LQ, here's a couple of pennies....

Forget the N2O, for now, I'm talking just bolt-ons here.

I agree w/your assessment about the chip & filter, 100%.

There have been a number of things said about gears, none of which I would believe until I installed the 3.73. The one step in gear change puts me in the power band almost all of the time, now. Beastie pulls harder, & longer than I thought possible. The gear bought me an instant .25 sec. at the track.

The 4.10 is more gear than I think is good for the street on these trucks. Traction on a wet road is already so twitchy it can be scary.

On the track, traction would be nearly impossible w/o full slicks or other extreme measures. I have already had to resort to 16" Mickey Thompson ET Street tires (I have found NO 16" slicks to be found anywhere), traction bars, drag shocks (for the wieght transfer), and additional weight in the bed to keep the power on the ground. These changes and some alterations in driving approach brought about another .2 sec.

The Black Beast now launches like a rocket, but I have to be very careful on the big end because the ET Streets are so soft, the sidewalls start flexing at high speed and the rear end wants to dance around a bit. Very disconcerting.

The exhaust mods probably won't do any good until there are some extensive changes to the flow on the exhaust side of the heads, if even then. They do alter the tone of the exhaust to a more pleasant, lower note. Sounds are alway expensive, whether mechanical or electronics (j/k).

These are things I've been able to achieve thus far, there may be others, but I haven't tried 'em yet.

Last Sunday I pulled several passes in the low 8.40's at around 85 mph trap speeds in the 1/8 mile (w/the spray, Beastie is not one of the fast ones w/o it). Not too bad for a 2.5 ton truck. I did make a pass w/o the juice and ran 9.0003. Those times may be improved upon later with some more practice.



------------------
Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99, NLOC #315
Best run to date 12.857 @103.48
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood; Cal-Tracs traction bars; Bassani headers; Mickey Thompson ET Street race tires; Ford MotorSport 3.73 gears; Muth Signal Mirrors

 

Could someone tell me where to get a set ov thest Cal-Tracs Traction bars. Or maybe post a pic of one. Thanks!

 

4rts2nv,
www.calvertracing.com

 

I have observed pretty much the same thing. My bone stock 2000 Lightning with 1600 miles on it has run a best of 14.0 at 98 mph. I ran a 99 Lightning the same night. He had an aftermarket mass air meter and what looked like a 9 inch conical K&N filter hanging off the end exposed. He ran a *drum roll please* 14.0 at 98 mph. I'd say his mods basically did him no good. His 60' is comparable to mine to so it's not about traction. The first thing I plan on doing is getting the chip. A) Because it improves the shifting in the transmission and removes soft limiters in the engine. B) Because it's not on backorder. I may do the filter kit later if I still want improvement. For now I like the stock sleeper effect.