Don't usually floor it much, but got P.O.'d the other day & floored it as I changed lane from about 5mph. Is the changing of lanes at wot that caused the fishtail or possibly too much air in tires? It was filled to 32 from 28 since I thought maybe 28 was causing me to get real bad gas mileage.Should I go back down to 28?

 

I run at 32 for better mileage. The L initiates turn-ins very quickly (responsive steering) and at 5mph you may have done a fairly large input to the wheel to get over to the other lane as you stepped on the throttle. With the light rear load of any truck it loves to spin on throttle. Add to that an off-angle launch and it's fishtail city.

 

If you go WOT from 5 mph you better not be doing anything but trying to hold the beast straight, NOT making lane changes. You're lucky you didn't do a couple 360's. Not meant as a flame but, have you ever owned a high performance vehicle before? The fishtailing under WOT is not unusual for a high performance vehicle if you're attempting something like a lane change at 5 mph with your rear wheels spinning.



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Dave
dgoetsch@socal.rr.com

2000 Red SVT Lightning
Superchip R9
Line-X spray-in bedliner
Snugtop Snuglid
Tinted side windows
Lightning Hitch Cover
Many more to come.......

 

I did the same thing this morning, though not quite from WOT. When I recovered and was pointed the right direction, I hammered it and lit 'em up again. I've noticed that in the last week or so with the lower temperatures (30-45F) that I can break loose from a roll as fast as 20mph (with no chip). Colder tires could be partly to blame, but I think it just shows how much these trucks like the cold air.

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Mark
'00 Lightning
'79+ Corvette

 

I have installed Cal-Tracs traction bars and it helps some controlling this. It plants much like my '94 did under WOT now where it was very loose before especially from a rolling start. From a standstill, it plants itself well but without slicks, the full benefit will never be acheived. Still, I'm very happy with them.

Personally, I think 32 lbs is ideal for these tires on the street. A few runs at the track at 26 or 28 lbls. is one thing but these tires are too expensive not to run at the optimum (recommended) pressure on a regular basis IMO.

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'99 L, JL Stage II Ram Air, Bassani cat-pipes, Borla cat-back, R9 Superchip, Cal-Tracs, Chassis Tech 2" drop shackles, Water Wetter

'93 Cobra, 1 5/8" FMS shorty headers, 2 1/2" Mac cat-pipes, Borla cat-back, 180 degree thermostat, 4" ram air, 3.55 gears, March pulleys, strut tower brace, Kenne Bell flip chip, Crane Hi-6 ignition, Crane coil, Global West Trac-Link, Hurst chrome shifter, Canton oil pan, BFG g-force kd tires

 

My L has exhibited a bit of posterior uneasiness in recent weeks, mostly attributed to the following:

1. Depleting tread. (16,000 on original skins).

2. Combination of cold, not cooler, COLD air and cold tires.

3. Frustration-related right-foot spasms caused by "snails", late-brakers, and morons attempting to hide half their F&$KIN CAR behind my tailgate. Now I know how truckers feel.

Maybe it is time to "winterize" the Red Rocket.... Winter skins and removal of chipenfilter. Firm shifts in the aforementioned conditons only further risk damage to said vehicle, its value, ego, and pride.

I am beginning to loathe cold weather....

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Brake Late, Dive Deep

Speedin Bob
'99 'Red Rocket' Lightning #2504, 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
13.56 @ 100.89, 1.97 60' on F-1's (still learning)
JL Ram Air, R9 Chip,Keyless Entry, Retrax Bed Cover, Shackles, Wet Okoles, Mobil 1/FilterMag, Clear Corners
Autophysics filter FOR SALE [9" x 3.5" Red Trim]

 

Never had a high performance vehicle before, so thats why I had to ask about the fishtailing. Thanks for the comments 7 suggestions.
BTW, after I changed the air back to 32, I got 2mpg less than at 28. Weird, because i didn't do any aggresive driving. I figured it would at least be the same, if not a little higher.

 

The colder weather has had a big impact on lack of traction. Going to WOT at about 35 mph, the L starts to get sideways. Once it grabs, the acceleration is downright scary.

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2000 Black Lightning, Snuglid
Custom Bed Carpet
Clear Corners, Lightning banner
Tinted Windows, Custom air intake
2" drop, VTech Taillight covers.
NLOC #377
Build Number 1405/4966
DOB 3/21/00
See pics of '00BlackLightning at:
http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4294555843

 

Fishtails are part of the fun of having a powerful rear wheel drive vehicle. Don't forget, it's not the cold tires, it's the cold asphalt. The tires heat up as you drive. Your mileage drop may be due to a change to winter gas.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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