Got taken by an older style 5.0 Mustang today.

In my 310 RWHP-dynoed 01 L (why so weak?), I pulled up to a three lane merging to two lane. Mustang on the left, me on the right, some big Yukon or something in the middle.

At the green light, I pulled out, knowing I had no problem getting in front of the Yukon before the merge.

I looked over to see if the Mustang was going for it, and sure enough, he got the jump.

I floored it, but he had a car length easy.

He was cool about it; it was a 45mph zone. He shut down quickly, I passed by him, tried to give the thumbs-up, kept going, and came to another stoplight, waiting for him to pull up.

He rolled up to the light as slow as possible, to get a slight rolling start, it seemed. Maybe he's run L's before.

He got maybe a 2-5 mph rolling start on me, but had no difficulty getting a car length on me.

That Stang sounded good. Definitely not stock. Oversized hood, though I didn't hear a blower. He had some gauge mounted on the dash, but small, not ricer. Older guy, playing it cool.

From the line, assuming he wasn't severely tricked out and just playing w/ me, I think I could have given him a much better run for the money, but I don't think I'm launching right.

Here's what I did: Now this is like my first real run from a light. I mean, I didn't even think to turn off the air conditioning.

I went straight from brake to gas, WOT. My stock 01 (3000 on the odo) won't usually even chirp the tires from a start, so I'm wondering if I should be power braking from 1000 rpm or so and then dump or spool out as well as I can without slippage.

What do you think? I mean, sure, I need a chip n' filter, but I really think I should be pulling harder from the line, even stock.

I know this is street racing, but it was totally cool. The other guy was careful not to spin his tires (big tires) so far as I noticed, and we both shut down well within the speed limit.

It was like we were testing each others' hole shots, you know? And he's got a pretty good one, so far as I could tell. He took it easy, didn't lose traction, got a car length (to 35 mph or so), and that was that.

As I passed the guy (not a flyby, thank you), he absolutely would not look at me. I wanted to get the guy's attention, thumbs up, ask what's under the hood, but nothing.

Oh, well. Practice, practice, practice, and start working on those mods.

 

Acoder: it read like you were not left-foot braking? IMHO (i've not drag raced yet, but have run laps-driver's school-with my z281le at road atlanta & roebling road), this hurt your "holeshot"? glad you posted 'cause i need the info too.

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2001 Lightning, silver, escort 8500, ranger 2950dx dual band radio, wilson 2000 ant., bot/picked up on 05/08/01, 1997 f150 xlt 4.6L 4x2 with: a/f one fipk, superchip, optima battery, bbk 75mm throttle body, edelbrock ias shocks--2001 lightning to come(she came--see above)

 

ACoder, each truck will need to be launched differently than the next. Depends on how much wheel spin you are getting off the line. If you arent getting any, then you need a little more power on the launch. Its a matter of playing with it until you know how much power is needed w/out spinning the wheels. I am planning to go to Speedworld next Weds. Can you meet me there, I will show you how to launch it! Once you go to the track you will be addicted.

 

Yoda is Right on...Depends on your truck.
Hook up with Yoda,,Hands on experience is always better then reading it..Good luck.

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Ted O, Black 00 "L"
Superchip, PSP filter kit.
Roll & Lock bed cover
#4944 of 4966

 

Well, sh*t happens! Wasn't nice of the guy not to look, but at least it wasn't some young punk laughing and pointing.

I'm certainly not making fun of you, but it does seem like you're a little down on power. About 30-35 hp worth to be exact since it's an '01. That alone makes a huge difference - the difference of a chip, which is huge IMHO.

I'm not saying anything is mechanically wrong with your truck, maybe just needs to be data logged to see what's up. And get it to a track and see what your 60 ft. times are. It could be something stupid like a sensor and easily fixed.

 

Yoda: Speedworld's quite a stretch, but I'll try to make it.

GForce: Exactly. Think it's worth dropping it off at the dealer? Would they know what to check out if I told 'em it seems pokey?

 

I drove my frinds L one time, and i raced a pretty cool lookin older 5.0, and it jumped on my off the line by like a whole car, an then the L slowly passed him, all well ends well

 

Only because it's under warranty which means free, so take advantage of it. I wouldn't tell them you lost a race, just that you drove another stock L and you feel it's down on power in comparison and are concerned. And only if you stay with the truck the whole time. I wouldn't let it out of my sight, because that would just give them an excuse for a "flogging session" you can't supervise.

What's your altitude and the same for the dyno shop? (roughly) Maybe that Mustang had some serious mods and if you're at high altitude, your hp would be higher somewhere else.

 

Well I found on my stock 01L that i got the best 1/4 mile times by brake torqueing for my launch. I hold the brake with my left foot and give her enough gas to get the converter up to stall speed (~1700 rpm), and lift and plant on the third yellow. This shaved .2 seconds off my 1/4 mile time, compared to launching at idle and yes the tires were spinning.

It's no shame losing to a Mustang though. Go to the track any weekend and you will see that the mustangs, especially the fox-bodies, are damn fast cars. I know, I have one myself and it would easily toast my Lightning!

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90 LX Mustang 5.0
-ATI Dominator D1B S/C 14 psi
-TFS Twisted Wedge Heads
-GT40 Intake
-BBK Shorties
-E303 cam
-70 mm TB
-75 mm MAS
-MSD 6 BTM
-Tremec
-Aeromotive fuel system
-3.55 gears
(505 rwhp , 495 ft-lbs)

2001 White Lightning
-magnaflow 12468
-JDM Chipnfilter

 

If you had it dyno'ed I'd take the dyno sheet with me and show them how low your power is. That's what the 99 Cobra owners had to do to make Ford give them what they were paying for. Just MHO.

Later,
Roger

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The early bird gets the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese.

2001 Black Lightning
Stock, but not for long...
Best Stats:
RT .519
60' 1.986
1/4 13.73
MPH 99.83

1996 White Mustang Cobra
Offroad H-Pipe, MAC Mufflers, and a K&N

,
This PIC provided so that Chevy
and Dodge owners can see what
the front of a Lightning looks like.

My First Attempt At A Web Page
Roger's Lightning Page

 

Just remember, there are many older 5 liter Stangs that are highly modded. Look at Wes Tarbox's machine. There are some of those on the street!

------------------
Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Lake Mary, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 (Sold) Now Audi TT Quattro Roadster
I Miss The L

 

Some?? In my experience 95% of all fox bodies (atleast in Colorado) are modded in one form or another. No shame in losing to a Fox body. My white 91 notch ran 13.40's with just a nitrous kit, nothing else. When you laugh at 13.40 remember that Bandimere speedway is at 5800 ft.


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LEFT ON VACATION CAME BACK ON PROBATION

 

Your truck is still just a baby, be patient. When I picked up my new '00, it wouldn't chirp the tires either. Once I got some miles on it, it really loosened up. Just yesterday I punched it from the brake to the gas and it laid down a good 10 - 15 foot patch of rubber. I think it's gotten faster with each mile I've put on it. I just turned 10k.

 

ACoder, oops sorry forgot you are in Gilbert. That is kinda a drive for you. I would meet you @ Firebird, but there are way too many people there on Fri nights (you get like 2-3 runs in like 4 hrs). At Speedworld you can get 15 runs in 2-3 hrs. A lot less people! If you can meet me there just once, I think you will learn a lot about your truck! I will see if Peter, Ross, & maybe even XCheyennesuper can make it also.