View Poll Results: Is the lightning overated?
Yes
14
14.00%
No
86
86.00%
Voters: 100. You may not vote on this poll
Is the lightning overated?
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: austin tx
Is the lightning overated?
and one more thing... i have to agree the the ford lighting is the coolest truck since the syclone. if i was going to buy another vehicle, i would want a lightning(not that i could afford it).
-jeff
-jeff
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Is the lightning overated?
Originally posted by iamjeff171
where have these people been that they dont know what a lightning is. theyve gotta be import people...
-jeff
where have these people been that they dont know what a lightning is. theyve gotta be import people...
-jeff
Most drive either Ford, chevy or dodge trucks and cars.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Is the lightning overated?
Originally posted by iamjeff171
i believe that i just did say that... my point is that there are other ways to make horsepower then simply adding displacement
i believe that i just did say that... my point is that there are other ways to make horsepower then simply adding displacement
Of coarse you can add horsepower without changing the displacement. But the phrase "there is no replacement for displacement" isn't being used when talking about modifications. The point of the phrase is that no matter what you do to a smaller engine, if you do the same thing to a bigger engine, you will not make more power. You can't make 4000 horsepower with a 2.0L 4 cyl but you can with a V-8 because it's bigger. You cannot deny the fact that a bigger motor has the potential to make more power. This phrase has been around for years and it's just as true as it was years ago, are you trying to say it isn't true against any/all engine builders of the last 75+ years?
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: austin tx
Is the lightning overated?
i never said that displacement wasnt one way of making more potential for power. im just saying that there are other more echenomic ways of making power. of course if you increase two of the factors involved in making power you will make more power. i just used the buick as an example of a car that makes tons of power in a small displacement motor with 6 cylingers. thats why the stage 2 motors that the hard core buick racers use are 4.1 liter(as apposed to the stock 3.8).
-jeff
-jeff
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
Is the lightning overated?
You guys all keep talking about a replacement for displacement. One thing that was not mentioned above as a replacement is revs. If you don't have the cubic inches, then you can have revs and still get tons of horsepower. A good example of this concept is the Mazda RX-7. 1.3 liter rotary engine with 255 horsepower at 6500 rpms. Another good one is the new Honda S2000. 2 liter DOHC with 240 horsepower at 8300 rpms.
Last edited by f150-az; Jun 10, 2003 at 01:38 AM.
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Is the lightning overated?
Well, I don't own a generation 2 lightning, but I am a lightning owner. Its not as fast as a generation 2 in a straight line, but as far as handling goes, the generation 1 lightning is THE BEST handling truck out there stock for stock. I have owned two mustangs in the past, both with suspension modifications, and yet my lightning still sticks alot better in the turns and just feels better overall. And my lightning is all stock! I have not had the privelege of riding in a generation 2, but i'd have to believe that it is UNDERRATED if anything. If I had the money, I would look very hard at them. I will never get rid of my '94 though!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Is the lightning overated?
Originally posted by f150-az
You guys all keep talking about a replacement for displacement. One thing that was not mentioned above as a replacement is revs. If you don't have the cubic inches, then you can have revs and still get tons of horsepower. A good example of this concept is the Mazda RX-7. 1.3 liter rotary engine with 255 horsepower at 6500 rpms. Another good one is the new Honda S2000. 2 liter DOHC with 240 horsepower at 8300 rpms.
You guys all keep talking about a replacement for displacement. One thing that was not mentioned above as a replacement is revs. If you don't have the cubic inches, then you can have revs and still get tons of horsepower. A good example of this concept is the Mazda RX-7. 1.3 liter rotary engine with 255 horsepower at 6500 rpms. Another good one is the new Honda S2000. 2 liter DOHC with 240 horsepower at 8300 rpms.
I forget exactly but what does the S2000 have for torque? 150-160ish? Horsepower is not a main concern, torque is more important. Horsepower is just a mathematical equasion of torque and RPM. Basically, horsepower is how fast the work is done, and torque is how much work is done. You want a lot of both, but as you can see with an S2000, has pleanty of horsepower because they redline very high. Has no torque though. Fast car I've driven them many times.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 4
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
Is the lightning overated?
well justin...go take a look at a formula motor or any exotic motor. 4 liter v 12's and the such are the norm. there is a replacement for displacement unfourtunetly. You can't spin a big block at 10,000 rpms....i don't care what kinda of rods your using. Its going to break.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Is the lightning overated?
The nascar racers have V-8s don't they, they run 8500-9000 the whole day. But what do the RPMs get you, they don't get you the actual power, it's the torque that gets you somewhere. If you can rev the crap out of an engine of coarse you'll have a higher HP number, because your redline is higher, it's just a number from a formula. Diesel engine can only rev say 3000 RPM. They all have low HP numbers but high torque numbers. There's a 3 cyl engine in a snowmobile with 172 horsepower and it's only 1000cc, pretty impressive but only has 97 ft-lbs of torque (same kind of thing as the S2000). Are you telling me that it has more power than the 160hp V-6 in a car? I think not. The snowmoible redlines at 9k rpm and the car at say 5500 (hense the high hp number on the sled). I guess my point is that horsepower is not the most important thing. Torque is equally if not more important. You have to understand what horsepower actually is before you can decide what's best. He mentioned about getting higher revs to get more horsepower. Well duh yes because the higher the redline the higher the horsepower number. Doesn't mean you'll get down the track faster. Put that 172hp snowmobile engine to replace that 160hp engine in the car, and it'll hardly push that car because there isn't enough torque output from the motor.
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Miami, Fl. U.S. of A.
Is the lightning overated?
First of all.....
Who in the right mind would compare :
a truck to a 2 seater sports car.
an 8 cylinder to a 4.
....
With all fairness. When comparison is taken into consideration between different subjects, there needs to be several factors which should be in common with each other.
example:
You want to compare a Vette ? Compare it to another 2-seater sports car.
You want to compare a Lightning ? Compare it to another P/U truck.
Now don't get me wrong. Once it is stablished who the "king of the hill" is on that comparison, you can actually stretch the category just for fun and compare it with others.....
example:
1994 GMC Cyclone copared to a ZR1 Vette....
Keep in mind when you do this these facts:
1) There is no substitution for cubic inches.
2) Horsepower to weight ratio.
Who in the right mind would compare :
a truck to a 2 seater sports car.
an 8 cylinder to a 4.
.... With all fairness. When comparison is taken into consideration between different subjects, there needs to be several factors which should be in common with each other.
example:
You want to compare a Vette ? Compare it to another 2-seater sports car.
You want to compare a Lightning ? Compare it to another P/U truck.
Now don't get me wrong. Once it is stablished who the "king of the hill" is on that comparison, you can actually stretch the category just for fun and compare it with others.....
example:
1994 GMC Cyclone copared to a ZR1 Vette....
Keep in mind when you do this these facts:
1) There is no substitution for cubic inches.
2) Horsepower to weight ratio.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Is the lightning overated?
F-150-az have you gotten a better idea of what horsepower is? The other thread of "which F-150 converts to SVT lightning" has a reply in it that coinsides with what i've been saying. Have a look if you havn't already. Horsepower is just a number from a mathematical formula of torque and RPM. It's how fast the work is done. Torque is how MUCH work is done.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
From: York, NE
Is the lightning overated?
I have to agree with justin about torque and horsepower. Sure if your car only weighs about 2000 lbs then a high reving low displacement engine is great, if you like down shifting, but I'd rather have torque making my horsepower than revs. I believe the equation for horsepower is:
lb-ft x RPM / 5280
horsepower is just a number, torque is the force behind it and what really matters, have you also noticed that the lightning is getting about 450 lb-ft. How much does that vette have that so many are comparing it to. Anyways adding revs won't increase your torque, it just delivers it faster so it works in small cars. Sure the more revs you can pull, the better for racing but you still need that torque there to do the work.
Can't wait to see what the next gen lightning will be capable of. What do you think of the idea of an independant rear suspension. Did you see truck trend is predicting a 4.5 0-60 and 12.5 1/4 mile. Should put Dodges SRT-10 to shame.
lb-ft x RPM / 5280
horsepower is just a number, torque is the force behind it and what really matters, have you also noticed that the lightning is getting about 450 lb-ft. How much does that vette have that so many are comparing it to. Anyways adding revs won't increase your torque, it just delivers it faster so it works in small cars. Sure the more revs you can pull, the better for racing but you still need that torque there to do the work.
Can't wait to see what the next gen lightning will be capable of. What do you think of the idea of an independant rear suspension. Did you see truck trend is predicting a 4.5 0-60 and 12.5 1/4 mile. Should put Dodges SRT-10 to shame.
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta Canada
Is the lightning overated?
Just to state a point that no the lightning is not over rated. I have had the chance to drive one and my first thoughts went back to an old pickup i had to also prove that old trucks can run below 13 seconds. it may take a pile of cash the size of everest but it is do able. The lightning is probably the most bang for your buck you could ask for, you get mustang and performance car numbers but still have the ability to work it if you want to. and yes I have seen a late mosel truck pull 11.5 quarters with a big block. See one I used to own one. As long as it's Ford it can always be made fast.
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Is the lightning overated?
I'm new here and saw this topic and this is what I have to say on the matter...I just picked up my new 2003 SVT Lightning on Tuesday and no way is it overrated. I've been taking it easy because it's only got around 500 miles on it now but DA**!!! If it's supposed to really open up after a couple thousand miles I can't imagine.....
Comparing it to a 2 seater coupe is crazy...Not only will my truck fly, it will haul my jet skis to the river and will hold my raptor in the bed...Will a 2 seater coupe do that?
Will any other truck stock off the showroom floor currently existing do that AND run 13's?
Comparing it to a 2 seater coupe is crazy...Not only will my truck fly, it will haul my jet skis to the river and will hold my raptor in the bed...Will a 2 seater coupe do that?
Will any other truck stock off the showroom floor currently existing do that AND run 13's?