Modification Recommendations. Need Input!

Boosted

New member
Here's the deal. I have been informally challenged through a friend to go to the dragstrip Wed Oct 6th and run against a MODDED first gen lightening.
351 Windsor Supercharged.....dunno what else. Rumored to have 500HP at the wheels, whether or not he has done anything to make it hook is unknown.

Here is current Ty info.
Stock motor. Truck has 151K. No idea if engine has been rebuilt along the way. Slightest hint of blue smoke puff at start up. Seems solid. Non vortec heads.
Stock:turbo/chip. No cat with 3" to flowmaster. Trans was rebuilt a little while ago and shifts firm and solid. Transfer case and axles are all stock, but all will have fluid changes with synthetic (exept trans) shortly before the races. SO I have essentially a stock truck. I will have Fuel pressure, Boost, and Air temp gauges in Pillar by the night of the races. Should I spend the money on an adjustable FPR?
Fuel system is sumped tank with inline pump.
I do have another good stock turbo from a local member, that I ported exhaust housing and waste gate elbow, as seen on www.techweasel.com Should I make the efforts to install the turbo before races?
I will run several gallons of Race Gas on the day of the race for detonation insurance.

Heres the delima: Intercooler setup. I currently have all the stuff to make the a2w work, but it has yet to function on this truck. See http://www.syty.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=287281&highlight=#287281 for more info.
Do I go ahead and get all the a2w working for the racing,

or

Convert to A2A as Motormouth and Justa6 did, using a Saab 9000 core, and look at a low cost/ DIY alky setup? I intend to convert to the air to air with the saab core anyways.

Looking at the Sportmachines recipe, I have the ability to have most of that done in time but the Ultimate Chip. Some of the guys locally have gone the route of chip burning, and I might be able to do that for a lower cost. I am having to keep costs down so that I can afford to get the exterior painted in October as planned. I don't want to blow all my Paint money on preparations for one night of racing. Is there anything else I am missing that is low cost, DIY, that I can do to maximize things.

Ultimately I am trying to decide if I leave the chipping alone, and do what I can to maximize 15 lbs of boost, or upgrade and chip. Would I be best off to maximize the stock setup, have the ability to run Ice throught the intercooler, etc. Need some veteran insight as to the best bang for the buck with the above mentioned limitations.
 

hamrhead

Donating Member
IMO, if the Lightning actually does have 500 at the wheels, you're gonna need more than a chip, AFPR, and a Turbo. I'm assuming he'll be running slicks or drag radials here.

Wish ya lived closer. You could come pick up my Syclone and run him - if you think he wouldn't notice it wasn't a Ty? :p :roll: :D


FWIW, if you're going to mod, it's always a good idea to install an AFPR.

I say run him and find out what he's got. Then mod your truck and beat him next time! 0X
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
The port stock turbo probably won't make that much of a difference. You will get bigger gains from a functioning intercooler.
 

SeattleSy#1255

Category 5 Conservative
I wouldn't race him with 500HP with your stock truck...they are close stock v stock, not close once one or the other has 500hp. I don't even see why you would consider it to be honest.
 

Boosted

New member
SeattleSy#1255 said:
I wouldn't race him with 500HP with your stock truck...they are close stock v stock, not close once one or the other has 500hp. I don't even see why you would consider it to be honest.

FWIW, this is one of the earlier models, that had the 351 naturally aspirated. Knowing the person, he likely has refreshed engine with supercharger, and from friends descriptions, and intercooler. I will run him win or loose, for fun.
 

90stangGT

Cobra member
It's very likely. 351s are torque monsters from the factory. The 351 lightning motor is basically a 93 cobra spec motor ( gt-40 iron heads, mild cam) but with its own 351 intake since the 351 is wider than the 302. If you figure a 93 cobra is under-rated at 240 hp, the lightning with 49 more cubes plus the supercharger at the very least in terms of mods....... you get the picture. Its easy to make 500 hp with that combo.
 

sy1907

SYCOTIC
My buddies lightning is right along these lines. I ran him with my sy(decently modded) and it wasn't a rape. I got him, but he started pulling once he hooked up and got to about 60mph. My sy is fast, so i wouldn't put any $ on this race :D Sorry to burst your possible bubble. Do it for fun, hell yeah, that's why we have these things!! Good luck!
 

AXXE

Member
My friend had a First gen Lightening that was supercharger. It put like 390 - 400 to the wheels and went 12.8 on a good hook. It's going to take a bit of work to beat a truck putting 500 hp down.
 

Boosted

New member
AXXE said:
It put like 390 - 400 to the wheels and went 12.8 on a good hook. It's going to take a bit of work to beat a truck putting 500 hp down.

That is my thoughts.

I am not putting any money down on this. I know this owner, and he is fanatical about this truck. If he told me he had 30K into truck I would absolutely believe it.

I just want him to get jumped by what looks like a blazer. (currently in black primer for paint in Oct, no cladding, etc.
 

AXXE

Member
In that case, get a set of Green dot re-tread tires and a higher stall converter. As far as mods go, start off slow. Do the fuel pump, the Ultimate chip and get Datamaster.
 
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