Greetings Truck Enthusiasts,

Just saw on Spike TV the Hot Rod Magazine sport truck live test of the 2004 Ford Lightning versus the new Dodge SRT-10.

The 2 big editors of Hot Rod each tested both trucks at Willow Springs race track and at ????? race track. The Dodge had a 6 speed manual while the Lightning had a 4 speed automatic. Essentially, boiling it all down - everybody knew the Dodge had 120 more hp than the Lightening - though it only did 1/2 second faster in the quarter mile (13.44 for the Dodge). Both Editors opinions were - the SRT is bulk fast - but for day-to-day driving - they liked the Lightning better (and its 12,000 cheaper). In 2006 Ford has a new Lightning coming out.

What I'm wondering - is where in the heck is Chevy? My stock extended cab is only about 20 pounds heavier than the regular cab Lightning. My 6 liter stock high output engine gets 345 hp while the Lightning gets 380. But I'm betting the Chevy wheelbase, chevy torque curve and high performance suspension are an advantage over the Lightning. Whether Chevy would be the best or not I sure can't say - but why don't they have an entry? Stock - off the dealer's showroom floor - Chevy offers a rwd extended cab with high performance suspension and high output v8 engine and hd transmission. I know because I bought one. My MSRP is within $200 of the Lightning ($200 less) - except mine is an extended cab and I have 20 inch wheels and tires instead of the Lightening's 18s. Why is Chevy afraid (or unable) to tell the publications and the public about their sport truck they produce (no - I don't mean the SS)?

Its one thing to get "beat" in a competition - its quite something else to never compete. Come on Chevy - what does your marketing and PR department do?

White Lightening

WTF ever happened to the Joe Gibbs trucks? They came and went really quickly it seems.

Greetings,

I don't mean to sound like a know-it-all. In fact - when it comes to racing and vehicle modifications its quite the opposite. But every time I turn around - I see Chevy not involved in evaluations - or not involved with the right vehicle. The SS is a nice truck - but at $45,000, with AWD, and 5400 pounds of weight - it just doesn't measure up to the Sport Truck category that Ford and Dodge have. It would be one thing if Chevy didn't have a product to compete with - but it does. Nothing wrong with the Ford SVT Lightning or the Dodge SRT-10 - very nice trucks. It just seems to me that Chevy has a product either comparable to the Lightning or better and Chevy is keeping it a secret instead.

Although the Ford has 35 more hp - it doesn't have the Chevy torque curve. Also the wheelbase of the Chevy extended cab RWD with the Limited appearance suspension is more condusive to handling and smoothness I would think. The High Output 6 liter V8 is natural - no Supercharger like the Lightening - no need for more cylinders and complexity like the Dodge SRT 10. Racing - by itself - is not the measurement of a stock truck one chooses to drive around town. But good performance and better handling seem a great motivation for Chevy to be involved and to show it has a truck to compete with the other new products.

Recently I've been contacting magazines that do performance and sport truck/car activity as their business. I've heard back from several that they have NEVER heard of a truck like mine from Chevy - even though other dealers have them too. Most car makers are telling the publications ahead of time about their performance trucks - while Chevy is not telling anyone it appears. Seems like a very bad business move on their part - and a big missed opportunity.

Chevy's full sized sport truck in rwd is extremely competitive in purchase price to the Lightning and as good or better driveability. Its also competitive in power and usability and is an extended cab rather than regular cab. To me - that means the baby boomer generation and the family man don't have to give up on performance to own a truck. No hemi, no supercharger or turbo - just better more efficient design and longevity. Come on Chevy pr and marketing departments - wake up to what you are missing.

White Lightening

Last time I checked the Joe Gibbs Silverados are available in Houston.....bothe 4.8 and 5.3L versions.

white lightning, i hate to start an argument, but i have to disagree with something you said. You said that the lightning might have more horsepower, but doesn't have the torque curve of the silverado. This may be true with the stock 5.4 which is a real dog in my opinion, but i cannot believe that a NA engine will even come close to the low end torque of a simularly sized supercharged engine. The lightnings have a roots type blower which provides instant torque down low. Makes for an extremly fun street ride. once again i'm sorry if it seems i'm starting anything and i may be completely wrong b/c i haven't seen the curves for these two trucks, but this just seems to be the case for most supercharged engines. especially with the twin screw of roots type blowers.

Jake

I just wanted to reassure myself that i was thinking on the right page so i tracked down the torque curve of the ford lightning. It can be found here http://www.stangnet.com/specs/lightning_torque.jpg Now that curve starts at around 350 goes up to 440 and then back down to around 350 or so. I found out that your engine produces a max of 380 torque. alright i have to head off for my morning classes now. Sorry if i seemed to rant about this.

Jake

I just wanted to reassure myself that i was thinking on the right page so i tracked down the torque curve of the ford lightning. It can be found here http://www.stangnet.com/specs/lightning_torque.jpg Now that curve starts at around 350 goes up to 440 and then back down to around 350 or so. I found out that your engine produces a max of 380 torque. alright i have to head off for my morning classes now. Sorry if i seemed to rant about this.

Jake

Greetings Jake,

Don't worry about me - I don't take things personal - and to me (remember, I'm a Ford kinda guy for 30 years) I just want to see Chevy get its "due". Yes - you are correct just by the numbers - Ford's torque curve compared to mine is a bit higher. But that on its own wasn't my point. In Hot Rod's televised evaluation - the SRT-10 far out powered the Lightning - wasn't even close. Yet in the quarter mile the "real world" measurement was only a half second different. And they had a hard time keeping the SRT-10 controllable going around the race track - it over steered and spun easily. Thats because specs are for paper and theory. My point is - a Chevy truck like my extended cab is an Extended Cab (not regular cab) yet weighs the same as the Lightning regular cab they tested. Their opinion was the Lightning needed better brakes and some better handling. I think on the oval tracks (like they tested) - a Chevy equiped stock just like mine - might handle better than the Lightning because of its longer wheelbase. Also - as their editors pointed out - its not just performance that makes one truck more desirable over another. The Chevy H.O. 6 liter is a - no super charger - no hemi - no turbo unit. That leads to less maintenance and more longevity I would think.

But my real point is - Chevy wasn't there. In all the periodicals where they evaluate muscle trucks and sport trucks and review the top vehicles coming out - each time you don't see Chevy mentioned or don't see it mentioned in a positive light. The SS is MSRP $12,000 more and 400+ pounds more. The AWD isn't the simplicity and performance that rwd is (and its a stiffer ride IMO because of the AWD). Yet Chevy isn't telling the public or the periodicals about the "other choice". The SS is a nice truck - but not a legitimate consideration compared to the Lightning or SRT-10. Ford and Dodge had legitimate candidates for Hot Rod to test - but I think Chevy had a choice to enter too - yet Hot Rod didn't even know about it. It doesn't even matter if a truck like mine would have come in 3rd of three - the idea is - an extended cab is attractive to many buyers who still want "sport truck" performance and handling from a stock vehicle. I'd love to see Chevy match up their truck (like mine) to the others. Not just in the quarter mile, but on a race track setting like Hot Rod did - where many things COMBINED come into play.

Hey - any insights what weaknesses the Chevy would have?

White Lightening

The Chevy's not there b/c GM is FUCKING GAY! I'm starting to b/c more and more upset with GM and their lack of trying to offer a truck that can compete with the Lightning and/or the SRT-10. If GM wanted to save money. They could develop a truck that could compete from the factory, but make it special order only. That way those who wanted single cab could get that and those who wanted extended cab could get it as well. There are way too many morons operating GM and they all need to get the hell out and start doing shit the customers really want.

Looks like we'll have to keep building fast GMs ourselves. Doesn't bother me though, because I'm still all motor and don't have as much money in my truck as the last Lightnings that came out(and they're supercharged). I like building on my truck, and it is a perfect ringer to all the Lightning and SRT-10 drivers who think they're running a "stock" silverado. As long as the aftermarket is there for us, we'll still find a way to stay close to the top. It just takes a little work, which I enjoy.

Looks like we'll have to keep building fast GMs ourselves. Doesn't bother me though, because I'm still all motor and don't have as much money in my truck as the last Lightnings that came out(and they're supercharged). I like building on my truck, and it is a perfect ringer to all the Lightning and SRT-10 drivers who think they're running a "stock" silverado. As long as the aftermarket is there for us, we'll still find a way to stay close to the top. It just takes a little work, which I enjoy.
Good points. The SRT-10 a piece anyways. It'll end up having just as many problems as the viper does.

White, I agree that they should have been there just so that people like us who wonder about these things could have some closure. I agree with everything you said. The torque curve thing was my only complaint.

Jake

did you mean "lightning'?

did you mean "lightning'?

I'm pretty sure he did. :biggrin:

did you mean "lightning'?

Greetings,

No - I deliberately spelled it White Lightening for some pun comical impishness.

1. White Lightening (like White Lightning) - represents "power in the package". Just a little experience with it gives you tingles LOL.

2. White Lightening (like Enlightening) - I'm using my white truck to enlighten people to what Chevy offers but doesn't promote to the public. Its nearly impossible to find out from Chevy that they make these wonderful specific combination packaged trucks. So I try to enlighten others of the possibilities.

3. White Lightening (like lightning) - fast flash - powerful - an act of immense power - nature at its fastest and strongest suddeness. The meeting of negative and positive into a burst of power. A spark.

Catch U later,

White Lightening

Am I the only one who bought a truck that is used as a truck? I couldn't care less if my truck didn't go over 55, and if it took half a mile to get there. If I wanted a sports car, I would have bought one.

As an ex-Lightning owner, I will admit I miss it dearly. A 6# pulley, chip and intake and that truck had no problem running 12's in the quarter mile for very little money in mods. It also didn't affect driveability. The only downside for me was the standard cab (I'm 6'7") and fuel economy (premium gas at 10-11mpg got a bit expensive).

I think you are incorrect about plans for a 2006 Lightning. Everything I've read from SVT says they cancelled plans for a new Lightning in the new F150-style trucks due to their new heavy-weight design. They think it will cost too much in development and take too much horsepower to be competitive with the Dodge. How disappointing...I thought their 2006 concept Lightning truck looked pretty good. If I remember right, they mentioned concentrating their effects on a lighter truck (aka Ranger). :banghead:

Their is a remedy for my poor 4.8 Silverado. It is called the Whipple Supercharger!! :ylsuper:

Am I the only one who bought a truck that is used as a truck? I couldn't care less if my truck didn't go over 55, and if it took half a mile to get there. If I wanted a sports car, I would have bought one.

Greetings J-Ri,

I think we are seeing a very decided improvement in truck expectations over the last 10 years. If you're buying a new vehicle - the cost helps get supported if you are using it for both "truck" purposes and also for pleasure purposes. I know that I didn't research and buy my truck to be a street streaker from the stoplights - but it sure is nice to have that power when I'm pulling a trailer or climbing a hill or passing a poor driver on the highway. And we're seeing more of this especially the last 5 years now - more extended cabs - more doors - better family access - more features - more comforts - more durability (rust etc.).

It was a pattern we saw with cars - then vans - then SUV's - and now trucks.

White Lightening

WTF ever happened to the Joe Gibbs trucks? They came and went really quickly it seems.
I dont' have anything to add to the thread, but wanted to tell Jayson thanks for updating the sig picture! Looks good, I like !

Am I the only one who bought a truck that is used as a truck? I couldn't care less if my truck didn't go over 55, and if it took half a mile to get there. If I wanted a sports car, I would have bought one.

I can haul my motorcycle/furniture/etc anywhere I need to haul them and still have a toy that stomps sports cars on the weekends. I don't think people buy single cab 2wd stepsides with the intentions of using them to haul heavy loads, mud ride, or any other activity YOU find fit for a truck. Honesty, this is your second post of that nature, and it still seems as though you really care about how people fix up there truck. Does it really bother you THAT much that people like fast/lowered/performance oriented trucks.

On another note, why would I want a sports car when I have something that can function as both a truck and a car? The way I look at it, I've got the best of both worlds-functionality and performance.