Tonight I had my first and second kill in my STOCK 2001 L. I passed a 2000 S-281 on a 4 lane road. He pulls up at the red light next to me. I roll my window down, tell him his car is a sweet ride and ask him if it's the "supercharged one"? He and his buddy nod with Co*ky grins on their faces "Yep".

Light turns green, I take it kinda easy out of the hole then floor it, He's hard on the gas from the get go. I had almost a full car length on him when he shifted into second, I shut it down at 70 MPH with 2 car lengths on him (showed him my brake lights). Race over.

Next light, now his window is rolled up. He's reving and concentrating on the light. (Coc*y guy doesn't want to talk now!)

Same outcome. Bone stock $30K TRUCK kills a $55K Saleen twice!
Was it just a bad driver? Possibly! I really don't care. I don't think he'll be as Coc*y the next time he pulls up next to a L. I LOVE THIS TRUCK!

Pat
2001 Silver L
Bone Stock

 

I haven't had any stop-light encounters yet; I'm scared when I do, I'm gonna stay smokin' the tires for a half-hour!!! Did you have any problems with your launch....especially the 2nd one?

JC

 

I race my brothers oo' SC Saleen s281 all the time. He used to beat me in my Lightning as he did mid to low 13's stock, but since I put a few mods on, he hasnt been a match since.
The guy you were racing most likely did not know how to run his vehicle. Either way, Im glad you shut him up with a can of woop @SS. Great kill!

 

No I didn't have a problem at all with the launch.

There's probably a better way to do it, but I found that if you go 1/2 throtle till you're going 5 MPH then NAIL IT, my L hooks up, without alot of wheelspin.

Pat
2001 Silver L
Bone Stock

 

My L hooks A LOT better and it is far easier to drive out of the hole quickly than my blown Cobra. The Cobra will incinerate the tires if I open the throttle too quickly (not WOT, just goosing it).

The L allows for great throttle modulation and is great to drive.

I really appreciate guys who can drive a muscle car well out of the hole. Just remember that when you line up next to a Cambird or Stang.

NakMak

 

NakMan

I can appreciate your post! I had a 98 Cobra Vert'. (Non-blown)
Basically stock except for 4.10 gears and a Borla cat back.

I got spanked twice by a Friggen late model Cadillac Eldorado!!! That SUCKS! The guy that got me had NOS---Ultimate sleeper. Looked like a regular Caddie northstar. My Cobra was sittin and spining while the Eldo was gone.

Man these L's hook up!!!!!!

There's alot of speed without all the drama in these Lightnings! They do hook up! Again, I LOVE THIS TRUCK!

Pat
2001 Silver L
Bone Stock

 

I own both of the cars/trucks you are talking about. Stock S281SC Saleens usually put out 290hp to the tires with almost a 1500lb weight advantage. My car is the heavier vert pushing ~320 to the tires and 385 tqwith the mods, and will be around the 350 mark with a tune. Like the L's, the torque peak hits very low in the power band which makes launching with a clutch on the street pretty difficult. 70mph is right around the shifting point from 2nd to 3rd. I have to feather 1st gear with half throttle, and even some of 2nd gear to gain any available traction, especially when its cold outside.

With all that said, my L is stock (Bassani Cat Back only mod), and I think it could take my Saleen to 70mph by a couple of car lengths like you said. Longer distances would be a different story, or punching it on the freeway at the same time, etc.. BTW, nice kill!!

Here's a photo of my Saleen:

 

Are you sure about only 290 rwhp, my buddies that have SS camaros are putting out over 300 stock.

 

Quick,

Unfortunately, that is the norm. I've seen some as low as 275 to the tires. Its been a big complaint issue on the Saleen forum. I think they tuned things down to keep the engine safe. No one knows for sure why the numbers are so low. Saleen quotes 350hp for the 99-00 SC cars which should put it around 300 on the dyno.
One thing Saleen didn't do, was install S-port conversion blowers on their cars, which limits hp. The new Gen 4 M90 blowers along with the Lightning M112 blowers have it already. Basically, it flows more air then the previous blowers. I just installed the new blower on my car, and should see the 350 mark like I mentioned above. A similar car made 356 and 417 torque...

 

I didn't know that. That is a good looking car though.

 

drove my buddies 281sc "01" #684 he says they come 365hp out of the box and he has let me drive it several times and by seat of the pants feel I think the lightning pulls better, but I tell you this that Saleen can CORNER. LIKE GLUE!!

 

When I was in Las Vegas (March of '00). And it was a 1999 prototype model. I found the dyno chart on the net somewhere and I think it was 400hp, 424torque.

I had just gotten to Las Vegas after picking it up in Seatle, then driving to L.A. And I wanted to take my friend for a spin. We came up on this slick looking white car and it looked like a Mustang, except it had SALEEN written on the rear bumper. We came up on him on a 2-lane left turn light, with him on the inside. Light goes green and we crept around the corner. Then we both nailed it at the same time. I couldnt beleive it, we were neck and neck! I saw him shift into second and I started to pull just a little bit, then 65 or so came up and he shifted into 3rd.

Thats when he finally got traction. By the time I got to 85 or so he must have had 6 or so car lengths on me. I talked with him later and he told me he took it up to about 110 or so. That thing flew, and I started to ask some questions.

1 of 12 Saleen 1999 Cobras.
Then Vortech got in contact with him and asked if they could borrow his car for a new supercharger prototype. I told him that was BS becuase I didnt hear any whine, but sure enough, he opened the hood and there it was. One of the first Vortech S-trims. I couldnt hear a thing when we were racing. He also told me in order for it to be tuned, they had to custom burn a superchip for the car.

That thing was damn fast. Nice kill, but I think he didnt hook up.

But still, who was ahead at the end of the race? Nice kill.

 

LOL Tundra!!

I know that guy. His name is Ken ,lives in Las Vegas, and that is correct about the Vortech prototype car. That car pulls 480RWHP, and was for sale for awhile. Not sure if he sold it or not. Look familiar??