Ryan,

Displacement is a good thing, if you're talking about the difference between a boat anchor and a decent engine. How many chevy engines can say that they have over 300,000 miles? Not many that I know of. Now, take for example the Ford 300 six! Mine had right at 180,000 on it when I yanked it. It didn't leak, burn, drip, or even burble oil. It ran smooth as a clock, but I just got tired of the mileage, and needed a little more power.

That's the difference in quality parts too. Take a look at a lot of GM's replacement parts bags. How many languages are on there? 3-4 maybe more? Take a look at a Ford Part box, or bag from the dealership! Only one language there, and that's English baby!


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

That's exactly my point, hotrodford_88. I couldn't agree more. I was just bringing up the point that chevy made a 454ci engine and Ford put in the 351ci engine, and look what was better! But typically a larger engine yields more power, thus there's no replacement for displacement. I mean, obviuosly a 460 stock will have more power than the 351...size does matter here. But Despite Chevy's 454SS big block, it is still a muck, a piece, a heap, and running on foreign made parts. Look at the Duramax?! What is Chevy? An Isuzu with a truck body??? LMAO

Ryan

 

First of all I am not a "chevy guy". I just wanted to say that you guys need to get some facts straight before you go off on a rant. Lingerfelter is a guy that owns a company that makes aftermarket kits for all kinds of cars, the were never sold by a chevy dealer. Unlike the SVT, which not all ford dealers can sell because you must buy the right to sell them, the saleen mustangs, and the roush racing versions that are all sold right next to the factory versions. Why dosen't ford just do this themselves????

As far as engines go, I am in the process of rebuilding a 429 to put in a 68 ranchero and no new ford motor, after mid 70's, has near the power or torque that the older motors have. Same goes for the older chev's. Da** emisions crap.

As far as the isuzu crack, ford started the same type of "joint venture" with mazda in the early 70's. MY buddy had a ford courier pick-up that was the same as a mazda, now that is one to be proud of. If you take apart a door on most ford cars, I did this on a 92 ford probe this weekend, and look under the arm rest and read mazda, made in mexico. If you think that every part on a ford car or truck is made in the usa then you are on drugs.

I am looking at buying a new lightning and not all the parts on that truck are the same as a stock f150. According to the dealer they have the sc, the computer, fuel injectors, slight changes the tranny, driveshaft, rear end gears, and the suspension, rims and tires. They built the truck for one purpose and one purpose only, to GO FAST!!!

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 19-Sep-01 AT 01:19 PM (EST)[/font][p]Couldn't agree more, it's made to go fast. But it can haul a 5,000lb trailer, and it can hold 800lbs in the bed....no other sport truck or car can do that. True, Ford may not use all U.S. Parts, but the most important things, like engine, are made in the U.S. Powerstroke, made by International, as opposed to Duramax, made by Isuzu. And as far as I know, most Isuzu's are still made outside the U.S./N. America, as opposed to Mazda, which is now owned and operated in the states. Chevy is the one who has many assembly plants in Mexico, and their parts are made there.

Why doesn't Ford do what by themselves? SVT is owned and operated by Ford Motor Company, and sold by Ford Motor Company, so I'm not sure how you mean Ford Lightnings and Cobras are not made by Ford. Rouche Racing is a totally different story, it is an aftermarket company that adds mods like Whipple Superchargers (Lightning uses Eaton) ground effects, etc. It's kind of like Gladiator whom Chevy uses, or Centurion which produced the C series Ford trucks and also makes aftermarket mods, buildups for Almost any Company, be it Chevy, GMC, Ford, I think they may even do Dodges. The reason some Ford dealerships don't sell Lightnings or Cobras is probably the same reason some Chevy dealers don't sell Corvettes, or why some Dodge dealers don't sell Vipers. And about 6 months ago I did see a TV show (believe it was Shadetree Mechanics in fact) where Chevy was in the process of designing a vehicle similar to a lightning, a sport truck. It was a metallic blue "truck" that looked more like a futuristic El Camino, it had a supercharger, but the guys on the show even said how this truck would never reach Lightning status, it was about 70 hp shy of the Lightning's then 360 hp, and it cost nearly $20,000 more! That's right, a vehicle that isn't near the Lightning, but will cost you close to $50,000! I think it was cause it had that look that would attract prospective Prowler buyers. I'll try and find out more about it, but I think the idea was scrapped, cause I haven't heard anything in the past 6 months since seeing it. Anyone else catch that episode?

Ryan

 

Ryan,

I believe this is what your talking about:

http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/cook/SSR/chevrolet.ssr.f3-4-2.350.jpg

Displacement..........364 cu in (6.0 liter), 5967cc
Power (SAE net)..........300 bhp @ 4800 rpm
Torque (SAE net)..........355 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Transmission..........4-speed automatic with lockup torque converter
Wheelbase..........116.5 in
Length..........186.1 in
Width..........76.8 in
Height..........52.6 in
Curb weight..........3500 lb


Im not particularly fond of it but its definately easier on the eyes that those 3500 HD dualies that theyre putting out now, those things are downright UGLY!!
Patrick C.

 

By the way:

The name of that thing is the SSR (Super Sport Roadster). Its set for release in 2002. Its been on the slated list for 2 years now so its gone through a few changes since i saw it the first time.

Patrick C.

 

That's the one! Man, I don't get why you'd pay such a huge tag for that!? When you can get 20 times better for like 20 grand less! So to whoever says Chevy doesn't produce hotrod trucks with aftermarket items....pthhhbbb!!! Hehe

 

I wouldn't exactly call that thing a truck. It belongs in the same class with that butt ugly Avalanche Chevy now produces. When are they going to stop making trucks that will never be used like a truck? At least you can still tow a trailer and haul loads with a lightning if you need to.

 

But, even trucks are being made more like luxury vehicles now. It's pitiful! I get more looks with my 65, than anybody with a lowered, airbagged Chevy gets in a year!

But then again, it's also a class thing.......

Trucks became luxury items a few years ago. Heated seats? Come on, in a real truck would you need a heated seat? 15 cup holders, but yet not one fits anything bigger than a coke can!

My 65, may not have A/C (yet) but at least it has style, class, and above all else an engine that will get it up & rolling faster than a factory work truck right now! Trust me I have left many new trucks sitting. And there's nothing special about my engine. It's a bone stock 390!

Basically every body & their brother has a truck, anybody with money can lower (or lift) a truck. But how many trucks are really used for their intended purpose are really noticed? NONE! That's because everybody's got one.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Yes that is the SSR it is to have a v-8 but I never heard that they intended on making it with a sc. It is modeled after the 47-55a models. It has a removable top and some other cool stuff. So far they say it will start in the mid 20's. The SST is a 1/2 ton silverado with a beefed up 6L. It is said to have 390 hp without a sc. I have not heard a price for it yet. I did a search on yahoo and found a picture but it is just a standard silverado w/ a flareside box, lowered and nice wheels and tires.

Again the reason that not all ford dealers seel SVT's is because it a special dealership and they have to buy that dealership from ford.

My other comment was why does ford sell the SVT, Saleen, and Rouch versions on their lot? The have the SVT on their own why do they need the others. They could do it all themselves and not have to "share the wealth."

 

One word...options. There are some people out there that are going to think the SVT mustangs are ugly as sin. And there are going to be people out there who think that the Saleen version is worse than that. Ford knows this, hence they have something for everyone. It brings revenue in for them and another customer as well. If your out shopping for a performance vehicle you can very well compare a Cobra R to a stock mustang. So they bring in a Saleen and a BOSS and a Rousch and say a bullit just for kicks. That way your customer can comparison shop on the same lot. It all gets back to the customer. The more choices they have in one place, the more likely they are to buy something from them.

Patrick C.

 

"Yes that is the SSR it is to have a v-8 but I never heard that they intended on making it with a sc."

You're right, I was mistaken, it's not supercharged. instead it is supposedly a huge 6L Turbo V8. What is this? Turbocharged? I dunno......

"It is modeled after the 47-55a models. It has a removable top and some other cool stuff."

It's supposedly modeled after a 54 Chevy pickup.

"So far they say it will start in the mid 20's."

Just under $30,000

"The SST is a 1/2 ton silverado with a beefed up 6L. It is said to have 390 hp without a sc. I have not heard a price for it yet. I did a search on yahoo and found a picture but it is just a standard silverado w/ a flareside box, lowered and nice wheels and tires."

Are you sure you were looking at the right car here? It's based on a Trailblazer platform with the look of a Prowler with a bed. Has roughly 300hp with the 6L Turbo(charged?) V8, again with a tag of just under $30,000:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/ryanstruck/SSR.jpg

"Again the reason that not all ford dealers seel SVT's is because it a special dealership and they have to buy that dealership from ford."

Correct, but how is this different than the Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler Five Star system? Or the Ford "Blue Oval Certified" system? Same thing with Chevy: not all Chevy dealerships can sell the Corvette. The rights have to be bought. They do the same thing we do with sport vehicles.

"My other comment was why does ford sell the SVT, Saleen, and Rouch versions on their lot? The have the SVT on their own why do they need the others. They could do it all themselves and not have to "share the wealth."

I've never seen a Rouch version on a lot before personally, not saying there aren't any, but typically Rouch is a company you have to send your vehicle to after purchase so they can modify it to your needs/desires, such as groud effects, s/c's, etc. As for SVT and Saleen, again, that is Ford Special Vehicles Team, also making soon a Focus SVT, used to be known as SVO (Special Vehicles Operation), I believe creating the Ford Taurus SHO. I'm not following why you think Ford Dealers should not share the wealth on SVT's. When Chevy sells a Corvette, you can bet alot of that money goes to Chevy's special vehicle production and design team. They need to make money to come up with these ideas and produce them. I gaurantee you will not see many SSR's at any dealer. Only specialty or certified dealers will carry it.

 

Now people get a life. I you can't compare a Vett to a Pickup.
Maybe in 1/4 the Lightning is faster, but in my world(Boston)we have turns in the roads. After the first turn the Lightning will remain in the my vetts rear view mirror. Both are great cars.

Also in the northeast try towing a boat with wide tires and two wheel drive, unless its a row boat, you will be stuck at the ramp spinning the tires.
My ideal truck. A lightning motor in a 4x4 F150 crewcab flairside.

 

What part of MA, Pagemaster? I'm from Reading, and I had a 99 F-150 XLT 2WD 4.2L, beautiful deep toreador red, swapped the stock 245/75's for 305/55/R16's, and I still used that truck to haul a 30 foot landscaping trailer loaded with 3 scags, ladders, equipment, all the likes, and it was no problem starting, nice accel and power, even at rotaries and on ramps. The Lightning has more than enough power to tow a Boston Whaler, and the 2WD wide tire set up (Goodyear Eagle GTII) doesn't hurt it's towning power that much. And true, a Corvette may have overall topspeed, but when, especially in Boston's city streets, are you gonna get top speed? Take Storrow Drive. Wide road, lots of curves, dips, hills (near the Fens)...the Lighting would take the Vette easily on side by side. The Lighting is designed for that, and has been said to have superiorr handling to the Saleen Mustang and the Camaro Z28, and I would suspect it to have much the same handling as the Corvette. Most of Boston's streets, being narrow and all block set up, won't see any very high top speeds, but the Lightning would definately loose a Corvette easily, having the better 1/4.

Ryan
1986 F-250 HD 4x4
4.10 gears, C6 trany
351W, Edelbrock 351 Performer intake
Edelbrock Performer 600cfm 4bbl carb
Edelbrock Pro-Flo air cleaner
Extreme 4x4 camshaft
Flowmaster 30 series dual exhaust
Custom headers
3" Warn body lift

 

And what about when GMC made their torbo-charged Cyclone? That's a souped up truck with non-GMC parts, and that wasn't sold at every dealership...in fact, it was more limited than the Lightning as I remember.....

Ryan
1986 F-250 HD 4x4
4.10 gears, C6 trany
351W, Edelbrock 351 Performer intake
Edelbrock Performer 600cfm 4bbl carb
Edelbrock Pro-Flo air cleaner
Extreme 4x4 camshaft
Flowmaster 30 series dual exhaust
Custom headers
3" Warn body lift