I have ANOTHER new toy!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
I have ANOTHER new toy!
Yeah, I have the two 69 corvettes and the 96 LT4 but this week I added another thoroughbred to the stable:
Yeah, I know. Its a Ford. That's OK. I grew up a Ford guy. Plus I've had a different 95 F150 SWB pick up truck that has been invaluable in the restoration of my vettes. Unfortunately it was terribly underpowered for towing with the wimpy 5.0L. I wanted the Lightning when I bought my truck but I was in no position to spend $20K at the time so I spent $13K on the lesser truck. Now I have PLENTY of power in an awesome package. Of course I don't mind the 17" wheels, handling package, and fully decked interior with adjustable lumbar and side bolters. It didn't hurt that the Lightning only had 29Kmi!
Yeah, I know. Its a Ford. That's OK. I grew up a Ford guy. Plus I've had a different 95 F150 SWB pick up truck that has been invaluable in the restoration of my vettes. Unfortunately it was terribly underpowered for towing with the wimpy 5.0L. I wanted the Lightning when I bought my truck but I was in no position to spend $20K at the time so I spent $13K on the lesser truck. Now I have PLENTY of power in an awesome package. Of course I don't mind the 17" wheels, handling package, and fully decked interior with adjustable lumbar and side bolters. It didn't hurt that the Lightning only had 29Kmi!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (69L71)
Good luck with it!
I didn't know they made a Lightning in the old body style. I like it! I'm on my second new F150 (99, then 02) and they have been the nicest and most reliable daily drivers I've ever owned. I love my Ford trucks :)
I didn't know they made a Lightning in the old body style. I like it! I'm on my second new F150 (99, then 02) and they have been the nicest and most reliable daily drivers I've ever owned. I love my Ford trucks :)
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (Flareside)
Ther is nothing wrong with Ford trucks. I have a 98 Ford Eddie Bauer Edition 4x4 Expedition with a modified 5.4l engine. It has custom wheels, intake system, exhaust,and sound/ video system. And it makes a great tow vehicle for going to the track. The kids love it too when they go to soccer practice. I am a true blue GM man. But when it comes to comfort, the Ford is hard to beat.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (69L71)
Ok Chris, nice truck (even if it is a Frod). I personally would have preferred that you buy a Cyclone instead, but... Hey, if towing is the goal, do you want to buy a 68 Mercury Colony Park 10 passenger Wagon???? :lol:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy!
Flareside:
I always loved the 1st Gen Lightning. They were somewhat limited compared to the production numbers of the 2nd Gen and were only built in 93 (5276), 94 (4007), 95 (2280). Like I said, I couldn't afford one when they first came out. Now I have #1017.
Denney
The Cyclone and Typhoon are fun trucks but they wouldn't serve my needs worth a damn. The turbo motors kill any possibility of towing because of elevated exhaust temperatures. They're essentially Buick Grand Nationals with truck bodies and a 4.3L instead of the 3.8. I rememebr the reviews in the auto rags and they said the most useful piece of cargo it would be capable of carrying would be a keg! Now the 68 Mercury Colony Park would be a great choice if it didn't SCREAM Rodney Dangerfield! I dare you to post a pic of it here on the forum!
I got some seat time in the truck today and I have to say it's a very nice piece. Rumors in the day had Jackie Stewart lapping the Ford proving grounds road track faster in the Lightning than the 93 Cobra! I don't know about that but I will say its a fun truck to drive!
I always loved the 1st Gen Lightning. They were somewhat limited compared to the production numbers of the 2nd Gen and were only built in 93 (5276), 94 (4007), 95 (2280). Like I said, I couldn't afford one when they first came out. Now I have #1017.
Denney
The Cyclone and Typhoon are fun trucks but they wouldn't serve my needs worth a damn. The turbo motors kill any possibility of towing because of elevated exhaust temperatures. They're essentially Buick Grand Nationals with truck bodies and a 4.3L instead of the 3.8. I rememebr the reviews in the auto rags and they said the most useful piece of cargo it would be capable of carrying would be a keg! Now the 68 Mercury Colony Park would be a great choice if it didn't SCREAM Rodney Dangerfield! I dare you to post a pic of it here on the forum!
I got some seat time in the truck today and I have to say it's a very nice piece. Rumors in the day had Jackie Stewart lapping the Ford proving grounds road track faster in the Lightning than the 93 Cobra! I don't know about that but I will say its a fun truck to drive!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (QuickVet)
Enjoy it, I had a Gen 2 Lightning which I had to get rid of when I got my race car trailer--short wheelbase was too squirrely for me towing a long and heavy trailer. Got a F250 PSD--I do miss the giggles I had with the L though.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (69L71)
Chris, the dare has been accepted on posting the 68 Merc pic. Watch here and hopefully by the end of the weekend (after I have a chance to get it off the lift and washed and waxed) I will post it for comparison with the Lightning. :p:
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Maricopa AZ
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (Denney)
Fords are nice trucks. I bought mine brand new. Its a 96 Ford Eddie Bauer Edition with the 351W. And its the last year 1/2 ton truck you can buy with the 351W V8 :D Enjoy your truck. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (Denney)
Folks, I've seen this car and it is in awesome shape, but doesn't it scream Rodney Dangerfield?!
Thanks Denny. You can have your toy. You'll look awesome tooling around it in with a pair of yellow, plaid, golf pants and matching white shoes and belt...
I'll stick with the Lightning...
[Modified by 69L71, 2:20 PM 8/11/2002]
Thanks Denny. You can have your toy. You'll look awesome tooling around it in with a pair of yellow, plaid, golf pants and matching white shoes and belt...
I'll stick with the Lightning...
[Modified by 69L71, 2:20 PM 8/11/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Toms River NJ
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (69L71)
Sweet truck 69L71!! Is that a supercharged motor like the newer Lightenings? Ive seen one around my area of a similiar year like yours, that has a window stick that says "Got Boost?" Wondering if they all were from the first generation?? Regarless its a nice truck!!
I have 98 Dakota R/T that gets spanked by the newer Lightenings all the time :lol: Never raced one similiar to yours...I wont even bother if they have SCers. LoL
Good luck with your new toy!
I have 98 Dakota R/T that gets spanked by the newer Lightenings all the time :lol: Never raced one similiar to yours...I wont even bother if they have SCers. LoL
Good luck with your new toy!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (Denney)
74VETTE:
Nah, this is naturally aspirated. The new Lightnings have factory whipple chargers and are pretty sweet. Quite a few of the Gen 1 guys are adding Vortechs to their 351 and get incredible performance. There are several guys over at the National Lightning Owners Club forum with Gen1 Lightnings running 12s in street trim and are still capable of towing a car or picking up a load of mulch! Not too shabby!
Denney:
No thanks. I'll leave you to pull your own stump... :lol:
Nah, this is naturally aspirated. The new Lightnings have factory whipple chargers and are pretty sweet. Quite a few of the Gen 1 guys are adding Vortechs to their 351 and get incredible performance. There are several guys over at the National Lightning Owners Club forum with Gen1 Lightnings running 12s in street trim and are still capable of towing a car or picking up a load of mulch! Not too shabby!
Denney:
No thanks. I'll leave you to pull your own stump... :lol:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (74VETTE)
Ford claims the Gen 1 Lightnings being in the high 15s. That's a joke. My mom could run mid 15s in stock form and WAY lower than that with mods (10s but they no longer look like trucks...). There's one guy over on the National Lightning Owners Club who claims to have gone 13.27 @ 101.55 'Au Natural'. I'm not sure what 'Au Natural' means but I can't see it being stone cold stock. Still, that's not bad for a 4400lb pick-up truck!
For some info on Gen 1 ETs: http://www.nloc.net/forum/showthread...threadid=19757
For some info on Gen 2 ETs: http://www.nloc.net/forum/showthread...&threadid=9927
Some of these guys are NUTS!
For some info on Gen 1 ETs: http://www.nloc.net/forum/showthread...threadid=19757
For some info on Gen 2 ETs: http://www.nloc.net/forum/showthread...&threadid=9927
Some of these guys are NUTS!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Northampton Ma
Re: I have ANOTHER new toy! (69L71)
What do the Gen1's put out for horsepower and torque? My buddy just got a 2002 xcab 4x4 F150, with the 4.6 and a 5 speed, he says that it's pretty fast but I don't know since I haven't gone for a ride in it yet.