Ok...I've had my L' for about a month. In that month I've gathered tons of info from here as well as the other Lightning boards. I've reads tons of threads talking about how fast these trucks are and how "Bob" ran 13.5's bone stock, and how "Jim" ran 13.6x w/ horrible track prep and weather conditions. All of these amazing times really impressed me (considering the physical handicaps this 4800 lb vehicle suffers).

Ever since I've read those types of posts, I've suspected one of two things: Either I have the Doggiest, slowest, most pathetic L ever produced or somebody is, ummm....."exaggerating" just a bit.

Admittedly, I hadn't taken it to the track yet, but my SOTP feel told me that there was NO WAY IN HELL, that my L would run sub 14's. I've owned 13 sec, 12 sec, and now Low 11 sec vehicles....no way was this truck running 13's. (maybe downhill....maybe)

Since my SS is down (waiting on new Walbro fuel pump), I decided to take the L to the track for the 1st time last night. My only mod is a PSP filter Kit. Temps were Mid 80's w/ very high Humidity (It was threatening rain) around 82%.

My first run: 1.98 60' and a 14.25 @ 96 mph (beat a civic barely).
My 2nd run: 1.92 60' and a 14.42 @ 95 mph (lost HANDILY to an LS1 SS with only a Lid for mods)
My 3rd run: 2.02 60' and a 14.33 @ 95 mph (Lost again to an older Fox body GT)
Final run: 1.95 60' and a 14.31 @ 95 mph (Lost one last time to a 99 Mustang GT w/ minor bolt ons)

So based on my times when compared to the Many posts on here....my L is down about 60 hp from others. Is that what I expected to believe?? Wow...I realize that there are variances w/ every mass produced vehicle...but damn....60-70 hp resulting in .6 or .7 differences in the quarter?? Admittedly my 60's aren't the greatest...but they don't suck either. Regardless of the 60' that still doesn't explain my low trap speeds when compared to the "Stock" 99+ numbers that everyone else is reporting.

BTW...there were 2 other L's there last night.....an 01' L that ran 14.5's (unknown Mods, if any) and another 00' that ran 13.9 w/ a Chip n filter, 90mm MAF and a Borla (negligible gain).

So my question is....how are these 13.5's happening bone stock?

Please don't tell me it's weather, because several of those INCREDIBLE times were noted w/ the "bad weather", "poor conditions" etc.

Honestly I don't care if the truck is a dog or not. (I didn't buy it to race...I've already got a race car)....I just wanna know how these almost unbelievable times come from stock trucks.

 

Paul, I understand you anger on this subject. BUT, all Ls are different, one may be faster than the other. My very first stock run on my L was a 14.36 and my best stock run was a 14.02. I don't think by your numbers that your L is SLOW. I think it is average. I think if you go with a chip along with your filter you will be running around a 13.70. I run about a 13.80 now because of the heat and humidity and my best time modded is a 13.41. DON'T GIVE UP!!!! I know I am not. It looks like you are near me, and there are a couple of Ls here, and we all race together. We go to the Hagerstown track and we LOVE it. Hopefully we can see you there the next time we go. We can help you find the best combination.

 

Ebbsnflows

If you read with a little less "half empty" point of view you will see that MANY people have posted as much as 7 tenths difference based on "Environment"

The track, the weather, they all combine to make a BIG difference.

Wait till the fall when things cool off before putting your L out of its misery due to perceived lack of performance. Next time go to the track with other L's with similar Mods and do a compare.

Mine is off More than 7 tenths from its best... Waiting for Fall !!!

Doug

 

13.82 stock & 13.16 104mph with a few mods. Have not been back since the last round of mods.

There is a 99 running at the same track 100% bone stock that ran 13.6x against me. And yes he really is stock.

Take your truck to a dyno maybe you do have a dog. Get some miles on it and try in cooler weather.

Running mine in the heat I went from 13.16 to 13.4-13.5x's. Heat and humidity is hard on force fed engines.

Calling BS on someone running high 13's stock will get you laughed out of here. Too many have done it/do it to be not possible.

 

I think mine is a factory dog also. We just keep having to put on more mods to keep up with everyone else's stock lightnings. In fact Tuesday I was running almost stock-et streets, NGK's, upper pulley, straight pipes and electric fan and all I could manage was a 9.18 1/8th. That is about a 14.2 1/4th.

 

Ebbsnflows- I personally feel that you can't compare your L's times to other L's times on this board because temps, track prep and evelation all play to big of a role in the times of our L's. Plus I have seen some of the stock 13 second runs and on some of them the only thing left on the truck was the driver's side seat. So it's hard to compare to others unless you run at the same time they do and see for yourself if the L is actually full-race weight or stripped to the bone.

 

the first run i made with my truck was in 105+ degree/ 100% humidity weather.. i was at state capitol raceway in baton rouge, LA. 4160 miles on odometer.
i only got to make a few passes before it started raining.
here's my best.

7-2-00
r/t: .866
60ft: 2.122
1/8: 9.131
mph: 78.54
1/4: 14.161
mph: 97.25

remember, this was in 105+ degree heat & 100% humidity..
not the best weather to get good times. LOL
the track down there is prepped really good.

after a few months, i installed a chip & filter and ran again..
this time at Red River Raceway in Shreveport, LA.
the track there is one of the best prepped i've seen..

2-18-01
r/t: 1.511
60ft: 1.989
1/8: 8.494
mph: 83.01
1/4: 13.247
mph: 102.61
i weighed my truck.. it came in at a portly 4960 then..
now it tips the scales at 5080!

wow, almost a full second was cut off my ET! it wasnt just because of the chippenfilter.. i raced in feburary.. it was like 55 degrees! i think the weather made the biggest difference.
our trucks LOVE cold weather.

note: both these runs were before the intercooler leak..
my truck doesn't run worth a spit now..

when i ran at WFC4 i couldnt get better than a 13.85
this was with chip/filter & ET streets. it was hot & my intercooler was leaking MAJOR!

 

Your L is average in my book. My 00 did consistant 14.3-2's and a best of 14.1. My 01 did a few 14.2-3's and a best of 14.0 stock.

 

You don't wanna hear it, but it's most likely the heat & humidity.
I had a '93 Cobra with a BBK Instacharger(Eaton Blower) and a full exhaust- That's it! Ran it in the heat one Summer (90 degrees and humid). It went a best of 13.36 @ 105x. Took the car back to the same track in the Fall (Temps in the 50's and low humidity) and with nothing changed since that Summer it went 12.80's @ 110mph!!

5mph and 5/10's just because of the weather! Add that to your L and I'd say it runs pretty good!

 

I wish that I had 1/4 miled and dynoed mine before the mods but I got in a hurry and didn't--so I can't 'compare' my L to yours.

As to "exaggerations"; many of the guys used to post pics. of their time slips and dyno graphs, but not too many now? I believe them--I know my 'after mods' numbers are true(if the equipment giving me the numbers was accurate?).

My L weighs (on the track's scales) between 4, 665 and 4,670 lbs with only the hitch, spare, jack, and handle removed--and 1/4 tank of gas--with me in it.

You said you've had it only for a month---how many miles on it--they do 'loosen' up.

Dan

 

Ebbsnflows:Where did you run last night?I was at 75/80 in Monrovia and there was several L's there.There was a stock '00 there that was running about where you are maybe a tenth or so faster.One was from Va.(silver '01)He had a chip,pulley,conical air filter,and 100 hp NX kit.The best I saw him go was a 13.11.He said he was spraying it from 2nd gear on.My truck ran 13.14 with a chip and pulley ,on F1's and a full tank.(dumb *** me!) Your 60ft times seem to be pretty good.Were you letting the truck shift or shifting it manually?Also what kind of gas do you use?

 

My 99 was running 14.6 new. Chipped it and it dropped to 13.8
Time and better weather contributed to a 13.2 best. Based on the times of most of the trucks here in texas, I think that 13.2 could well be equivalent to a 12.99 in new england. I dont believe I've ever run my truck in weather below 75 degrees ...

 

I was Capitol....it's the closest one to my house, so that's where I tend to run.

I was running 93 octane (1/4 tank)....and I let the truck do the shifting.

It's kinda weird driving an Auto at the track. I'm so accustomed to manual tranny cars, where I'm concentrating on my shift points, and hitting each shift hard.....it's almost boring doing the old "Stab and steer" type racing. Admittedly, Launching the L is about a gazillion times easier than bringing the SS off the line.

LightninRod-
I've had the truck for a month but I bought it w/ 2100 miles on the ticker. The owner of the Dealership drove it for a year and put a whopping 2k miles on it .....the truck was never titled, so I'm considered the "1st owner".

Thanks for posting everyone. As I said in my first post....I don't intend to race the truck, so I really don't care if it's a "dog" or not. As long as it's capable of towing the SS to the track (once it eclipses the "steetable" stage), I will be happy w/ it. I just wanted to get an idea of where I was losing almost a full second off of everyone elses.

I'm starting to see that the L is a completely different beast from the SS. The LS1 thrives in heat (to a certain degree)....hot lapping an LS1 will typically get you a better time than the previous run. Hot lapping the L will only result in a HUGE loss of E.T. If I run the L again, I'll be sure to take a few bags of ice with me....maybe that'll help a little.

 

You are suffering from the same thing many L owners of the early 99's were. Miss gapped plugs..........they will kill the performance of these trucks. If you have already pulled them and checked each one, then my next guess wouold be BP, Berometric Pressure (sp) Low Bp will eat HP for lunch, along with altitude.

 

Has the Lightning been in the same garage as the Z? As I feared, the GM is rubbing off on the L! If you will leave the L in a clean "Chevy-Free" environment for 3-5 days it will very likely get over this virus & return to normal, good luck.