All excellent points. I didn't really like the V-6 when I drove it (didn't have the punch of the V8), but I was considering one for $$$ reasons (price and gas consumption). I love my Ford. Very happy with the purchase. As I said in my original post, I was just curious...

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I can verify big engine, light truck, towing, $500 below invoice, $18,600

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.

 

In 99 I bought a brand new F150 Shortbed Standard cab auto with v6 and 3.55 gears. I figured the V6 would be fine for what I needed and the tow rating was much higher then what my boat weighed. Well after a year and a half of driving it I decided I had enough, from a roll the truck ran fine but from a stop it was lucky to outrun an economy car. The worst thing was pulling up boat ramps, the thing just didnt have any low end torque. And it seemed no matter what it got about 15mpg (I drove a full tank with cruise on set at 75mph without ever hitting the brakes just to see what it would get if I set it and drove until the tank was empty, (long road trip). I decided I wanted a v8 after riding in one and could not beleive how much smoother and quieter the engine was. So I bought a 2k SC 2wd with the 5.4, I still get the same mileage and unlike the 4.2 which got about 10mpg pulling the boat, the 5.4 is unaffected. If I wouldnt have tried to save money up front I would'n have had to spend it in the end. The one thing I learned is buy what you want the first time around or you regret it. Only thing I miss about the old truck is those shortbed standard cabs have a tight turning radius.

 

hehe but the 5.4 gets 10MPG all the time? LOL

 

actually not, I drive the same rush hour traffic I have been driving for years, the V6 got 13mpg in traffic and only 15mpg on 100% highway drives. The 5.4 gets 14 in the same 5 day a week morning traffic and 15-17 on highway depending on if Im pulling the boat or not. I have never got as bad of gas mileage as I did with the v6 (my lowest with v6 was 9mpg when pulling boat through mountains and having to hold it on the floor for miles at a time) The 5.4 rarly downshifts and doenst have to work so hard on taht same stratch of road. If people buy the V6 for mileage I think they are making a mistake, the only time it might get better is empty with the wind behind you.

 

Here are my two bits. There are thousands of 4.2l V6 owners who are looking to get a bit more out of their truck. Who really gives a flying hoot why they bought the truck, everyone has their reasons for everything they do. We are manufacturing the supercharger soley to meet the demand of the 4.2l owners.

I own the 4.2l myself. I admit it wasn't as good as I had imagined for gas. However, it has all the power and off/on road abillities that I require. For the hauling tht I do it meets every demand. I can't wait to supercharge my baby.

Imagine pulling up to a red light in a huge F150 beside a Mustang GT with their system pumping. You look down, rev the engine, they look up, laugh and rev theirs. Light goes green and their off... or at least you are, but where is that mustang... OH! there he is in the rear view!!! .

Who cares if it's a v6 or a v8 at least it'll do beter times than any other stock truck or any other stock mustang v6/gt!

There's my two bits.

 

Maybe you are looking at their rear bumper when you blow the trans with all that power!

 

True enough, if the transmission does blow then you will probably look at his rear end, then again, you probably wont be looking at that at all, I certainly would be mad if it happened to me .

Mind you, since we are creating AND testing the supercharger under major stress conditions, including quarter mile runs (extremely hard acceleration) and an aproximately 22 hour drive through the united states.

And as a reply to a few of the above mesages...

The 100 horsepower increase is of course an aproximation at this time but the numbers are feasable.

The numbers are guessed because of the displacement, stock horsepower, and the ability of the heads to flow air into the engine.

The 4.2L V6 is an extremely well built engine. The supercharger is not intended as a alternative to the V8, nor is it intended for hard core racing. The supercharger is a "street blower" meaning it is made for an increase in power, better acelleration for passing, better throttle responce (especially if you have the 3.55 gears).

Either way, to each their own, and whoever bought the 4.2L V6 truck good for you. Everyone buys a vehical for their own reasons. I bought a mustang gt vs. camaro/corvette because I like it, My business partner Paul bought his F-150 V6 because he likes it. And There should no fighting over which is better, superior, faster, etc.

The nice thing about the aftermarket is that it can allow individual users to customise their truck. It allows a bit of self confidence boost. Also, my car in its current stock condition would be beaten by a 4.2L Supercharged. That gives you MORE than enough power to have a heck of a lot of fun.

It is more than being fast, powerful, etc. it is about the love of your vehical. Do you like it? If so then who cares what other people say.



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Autonet Performance
http://www.autoperformance.net

 

hello these are trucks we are talking about, the transmissions are built to take abuse.Within reason of course. If crash! has no tranny probs in his truck with a 4.6 and magnacharger, I feel confortable with what our trannys can take

 

Why didn't Ford use the standard F-150 trans in a Lightning? They upgraded to a heavier duty one from the F-250. I'm not trying to start a fight, just giving you guys something to think about.

 

The 4.2L 5-speed Is the funnest ****** truck out there it's flies (with intake and exhaust) and you can smoke em better than the v-8. And it's all I could afford at 16 years old ($19,000).

 

The 4.2L 5-speed Is the funnest ****** truck out there it's flies (with intake and exhaust) and you can smoke em better than the v-8. And it's all I could afford at 16 years old ($19,000).

 

The F-150 Lightning transmission was upgraded mainly because it uses a Roots type supercharger. This adds a heck of a lot of low end torque. The horsepower is NOT what ruins a transmission, its torque, and high torque starts (such as in drag racing, punching it to the floor).

The V8 will obviously yield more torque than a V6, and Roots type superchargers give more low end, as in instant torque than a centrifigural like the one being used for the 4.2L V6 Supercharger.

The transmission should more more than sufficiant. We will test to see if you need a tranny cooler or not. It is hard to tell what exactly will happen until you test it. The AODE transmission found in the 3.8L V6 mustang is fine when supercharged. The F-150 tranmission should be fine as well.

If it is not we will let everyone know exactly what needs to be done to allow the supercharger to be safely run.



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Autonet Performance
http://www.autoperformance.net

 

I will just say that at the time of purchase not everyone is blessed with the money and credit for the payments that others have. At least that is why I have a V6, but now if I wanted I could trade and get a 5.4. But I am not going to do that, I have spent too much time and money to turn back now.

 

That is a very good hint to allow it to shift faster. making a shifter that can shift faster would be a possibility. Mind you the main idea of making it shift faster is to make it shorter. I would personally have to work on a 5-speed truck for a bit. It is very hard in my area to find one, especially one that someone would let me play with their shifter.

It wouldn't be hard to produce even just a shorter handle, perhaps a $25 US modification if that. Making an entire shifter for the 4.2 would definatly be a more difficult task.

Basically ill say if anyone is in the Greater Toronto area and wouldnt mind someone snooping around in their truck, they would obviously get the shifter/handle for free.

I may also buy a shifter handle from Ford Themselves brand new to see. All depending on its design it may even be able to be cut and re-threaded. Mind you we would probably only give information on how to do that verses attempting to sell a product that is modified from an OEM.

Thanks for the suggestion we will look into it.



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Autonet Performance
http://www.autoperformance.net