Got out of class early today and decided to take the freeway home instead of my usual backway. I haven't driven the M is 3 days, which is actually a lot, since it is driven everyday. Just enjoying my cruise in 5th hearing the Eisenmann purr I'm enjoying my drive home going about 85 mph, occassionally passing someone in the fast lane because they opt to not move over.

I am coming up to something rather unfamiliar, not the typical redneck lifted F150 I'm used to, but once I get closer it is no doubt a Chevy SSR, I maintain my speed and proceed to pass him in the slow lane, but he wouldn't have any of that, I hear him downshift and romp on the throttle, I also drop it into 4th bringing me right to about 4000rpm and hammer it. The Eisenmann Race and Cosmos intake wail melodiously at my foe, he continues to stay with me. We go to about 115-120mph before having to slow due to traffic, dead even. He had a little jump, but that thing sounded mean. I looked over and gave a thumbs up, the guy refused to look, he looked identical to Paul Sr. on OCC, if anyone watches that show.

Ugly as hell, but it moves pretty quick.

My mods, Cosmos racing intake, injectors, fan delete, euro HFM, Eisenmann Race, URI crank pulley, JC chip, etc.

Damn... never knew they were fast.

Too bad he didn't acknowledge you...

Damn... never knew they were fast.

Too bad he didn't acknowledge you...
5.3-liter V-8; 300-hp; 331 lb-ft torque
There is no way it was the new 6.0 liter. 395hp 405tq.

they are teh quick

there so damn ugly...i cant beleive anyone would wanna purchase that...groossssss

there so damn ugly...i cant beleive anyone would wanna purchase that...groossssss

Not as bad as any Bangle mobile.

I actually think it probably was a newer one. My old stage 2 SRT-4 put a quick 3rd gear buslength on an '04 SSR. With your mods you're not all that far off from the power my SRT-4 was making. Those SSR's are heavy. Maybe it was a new one. If it was an old one it looks like ol' Paul Sr. had some something to it.

The whole OCC thing, classic! Not great to hear that those SSRs are quick since I am not a Chevy guy, but hey Ford is coming out with the Lightning next year (or end of this year) so get some more mods on the M3 and smoke Paul Sr. and the lightning! Good job on keeping up with him! :)

5.3-liter V-8; 300-hp; 331 lb-ft torque
There is no way it was the new 6.0 liter. 395hp 405tq.

I agree with steiner on this one that it could have been the newer model. Don't forget that it is a truck, not a sports car, and you are going to have the weight advantage in this one. Not to mention that around 85mph, this is where your car is really starting to move. Anyone know how much these things weigh before I try to look it up?

I actually think it probably was a newer one. My old stage 2 SRT-4 put a quick 3rd gear buslength on an '04 SSR. With your mods you're not all that far off from the power my SRT-4 was making. Those SSR's are heavy. Maybe it was a new one. If it was an old one it looks like ol' Paul Sr. had some something to it.
Yeah definately wasn't stock if it was the previous motor.

Motor Trend reported out a 0-60 in 7.6s and 1/4 as 15.9s

They are way too heavy so now they are just going to throw a bigger motor at it and force it go faster.

If you didn't hear a nasty exhaust note, you definitly came across one of the new ones. As has been stated, the older 5.3 motor ones (how anyone paid $45k for that thing with that pissant motor I will never know) are super-turds. Another vote for LS2-equipped SSR here. :cool


Oh yeah, good kill. :D

5.3-liter V-8; 300-hp; 331 lb-ft torque
There is no way it was the new 6.0 liter. 395hp 405tq.

I'm willing to bet you raced a newer one. You also have to take into account the weight of the vehicle.

With your mods, you would pull on an older stock one pretty damn hard... it either had to be a new one or an older one with quite a bit done to it.

In any event, those things look hideous to say the least (much like the design going on now for BMW's :( )

I bet it was the new one, they are heavy as hell, like 4700 lbs or something...

I bet it was the new one, they are heavy as hell, like 4700 lbs or something...

Holy crap, thats a pig and then some. You'd figure even with an LS2 that thing wouldn't be the fastest moving object around....

It's based on a truck frame... not exactly a fly weight platform to begin with...

Theyre so ugly though...

Ford is coming out with the Lightning next year (or end of this year)


Sorry, but that's not the case. SVT has put the Lightning project on hold for an indeterminate amount of time. The reasons I have heard sited are the lack of resources for all the time spent on the GT over the last 3 years, and then the fact they want to have a '05+ body-style Cobra ready ASAP. Sad but true. I like the L-trucks myself.

IIRC the 'old' SSR were disappointing despite the numbers. I read a few reviews that basically went:
-aggressive, awesome look
-modern look with retro flair
-coolest thing out there this year
-performance is disappointing. On writer said "How can a 300HP V8 be so slow?"

I've seen a SSR with paper tags around the hospital recently.

aww, sorry to hear that! I was actually looking forward to seeing those souped up monster F150s on the road, but I can definitely understand how the new GT has taken its toll on Ford. It appears that Ford has spent a great deal of time making the GT a quick and affordable car, cheers to Ford and fast Mustangs!

I agree it was a new 6.0.

Also, never underestimate the power of a jump.

-Eff

I would put money down that was an LS2 SSR
This is just from memory but I believe the LS1 model was only equipped with a 4 speed auto and ran 7.1 to 60 and 15.5's.
The new LS2 is either a 4 speed auto or a 6 speed manual from the vette and isnt as fast as you would think, due to its weight.
Its around 5.3-5.7 seconds to 60 with the 6 speed.
The GTO LS2 is 4.8 and CTS-V LS2 is 4.7(from motor trend), so add a few thousand pounds (SSR 6 speed) vs your tuned 95 and you have a pretty even race. soooo...

LS2 SSR = 95 Tuned M3 in your case. You would of abliterated an LS1.

Geez, I had no idea, oh well, I'll be looking for him again.

you know alot of people say the SSR is ugly..i guess its up to personal opinion. i'm a sales manager for a chevy dealer and i can tell after having driven both 04' and 05' SSR's, the 04' sounds great....the 05' hauls ass. these things weigh in at just a hair under 5000lbs. i have to think if the one you ran up on was an 05' he'd have eaten your lunch. i've gone stop light to stop light with a few diff people while driving an 05' SSR, suffice to say it suprised the sh*t out of them. the looks may be debatable but there is no denying that they flat out fly.

you know alot of people say the SSR is ugly..i guess its up to personal opinion. i'm a sales manager for a chevy dealer and i can tell after having driven both 04' and 05' SSR's, the 04' sounds great....the 05' hauls ass. these things weigh in at just a hair under 5000lbs. i have to think if the one you ran up on was an 05' he'd have eaten your lunch. i've gone stop light to stop light with a few diff people while driving an 05' SSR, suffice to say it suprised the sh*t out of them. the looks may be debatable but there is no denying that they flat out fly.

Hmm id say a vette with an LS2 flys, but that weighs in at around 3000lbs maybe less, add almost 2000lbs more, and it wont fly. Its quick, for a truck maybe, but the weight is holding it down, its nearing the weight of 2 vettes being powered by 1 engine.

I agree it was a new 6.0.

Also, never underestimate the power of a jump.

-Eff


No way was it the new one. They are running mid 12s.

No way was it the new one. They are running mid 12s.

How does that work?

The Vortec 5.3 is a pretty nice motor (that's the 5.3 Vortec in the first gen. SSR, not the LS1). It motivates my 'Burb pretty well, but I have 4.10's, too. It'll will waste my e30 325i, and out pulls a buddy of mine's Cummins TurboDiesel while towing. However, he gets better gas milage than me while towing, and he can launch much better while under load. It takes me a little longer to get into my power band... I think it's been Hypertech'd, though. The previous owner was the owner of the dealership where we bought it. I love my pushrod motors. :evil2

Don't discount the trucks just because they are heavy. They are making some serious power, and some of the diesels are just obnoxiously fast.

So the verdict is still out, what was it?

I bet it was the new one, they are heavy as hell, like 4700 lbs or something...

Same as a Lightning weighs. Stock 01+ Lightning has 420 hp at the flywheel, and the LS2 SSR will weigh almost 100 pounds less than the steel blocked SSR and have 400 hp at the flywheel. Less torque though.

I suspect they run 13.5-14.0 or so.

Sorry, but that's not the case. SVT has put the Lightning project on hold for an indeterminate amount of time. The reasons I have heard sited are the lack of resources for all the time spent on the GT over the last 3 years, and then the fact they want to have a '05+ body-style Cobra ready ASAP. Sad but true. I like the L-trucks myself.

I heard a rumor that a Lightning IS under development. With a V10, as a direct SRT-10 competitor.

I heard a rumor that a Lightning IS under development. With a V10, as a direct SRT-10 competitor.

Actually the whole SVT department has closed it's doors (for now) and the next High performance Mustang (from Ford anyway) will likely wear a Shelby badge.
There is no Lightning in sight.
To deal with the SRT-10 they are going to have to come out with what, a 600rwhp truck?
It's a good time to be alive.

SVT is alive and well, working on the next Cobra. The Shelby will be the GR1, styled after the Cobra Coupe Shelby made famous in the 1960s and built on the Ford GT chassis.

A Lightning with 500 HP easily outruns the 500 hp SRT10. The problem is, the new F150 weighs as much as the Dodge. Expect a new body style F150 to run about the same times as a similarly powered Dodge. However, the 4V 5.4L engine makes 550 rwhp easily, and could make 700 in street trim--modified of course, on 91 octane. More than 1k flywheel hp on trick, if the internals can handle it (and Cobras have been flogged at that power level).

However, I'll have no interest in the new Lightning if it is too heavy to turn and brake. Hp can make a heavy beast go fast, but thats not everything.

No way was it the new one. They are running mid 12s.

Gonna need some hardcore evidence on that one, cuz from what I have seen, the might run mid 13's...

Rest assured the new SSR's are not 12 second trucks. Not even close. Its taking an above-average driver to get the new C6 Vette's into the 12's consistantly (granted mid-12's are just a retune away). Chevy and Pontiac both gave the SSR and GTO, respectively, what it needed with the LS2 motor. IMHO, neither of those 5k and 4k lb. vehicles should have been equipped with the LS1 or certainly not the 5.3 motor (not a bad motor at all in its own right, just not a performance mill). Both have been somewhat of a dissapointment in the performance dept. The LS2 should remedy that nicely.

002, I wish you would go to Dale Jarrett Ford here in Charlotte and tell them about that whole "affordable" part. They have not 1 but 2 GT's in stock, and have turned down $200,000+ offers on several occasions. You can make a right out of the parking lot, drive 10 miles down Independance Blvd to the Masserati Dealership, he will be more than happy to hand you the keys to a Lambo. Galardo they have in stock for significantly less than that. Or if your in that category, they have 2 Porsche GT's (asking $440k)and 1 Enzo ( asking a cool $1.1 million for that one) for you to contemplate as well. :D

Edit: On the LS2 motor, you guys should see what the tuner shops are working on with that motor. This time next year, 500 rwhp all motor, stock displacement vehicles will be a reality. Throw in a stroker kit, and there is one shop that already has seen 560 rwhp (all motor) out of an LS2-based 402 stroker setup. Its about to get really interesting here soon. :evil2

I agree. Had to be the LS2. The older ones are dogs. Glad they're bumping the power up on the bad boy though. I was real excited about the SSR when it was in conceptual form. And despite the fact that the concept models were ten times better looking than production, it's still a pretty hot looking truck imo. I was just real disapointed when i found out it was slow as sh*t. Only 300 ponies in a 4700lb vehicle? Come on, how could you possibly think it was fast. When i saw those numbers, i was surprised it could move at all! :confused Nice story though!

D

Gonna need some hardcore evidence on that one, cuz from what I have seen, the might run mid 13's...

No evidence, I was waiting on the return of an email.

Friend of a friend who has one said he was already modified when we were at the track.

So, I was wrong. not mid 12s...but they seemingly respond to modifications nicely!

No evidence, I was waiting on the return of an email.

Friend of a friend who has one said he was already modified when we were at the track.

So, I was wrong. not mid 12s...but they seemingly respond to modifications nicely!

It's an LS series motor, of course it resonds well to mods. That's why so many people are talking about swapping an LS1 into the e36 chassis now.

SVT is alive and well, working on the next Cobra. The Shelby will be the GR1, styled after the Cobra Coupe Shelby made famous in the 1960s and built on the Ford GT chassis

I'm not sure where you are getting your info about SVT but from everything I've read, all the key players have been reasigned and are working on other projects that will not be wearing an SVT badge.
I hope you are right and I am wrong but,
There is currently no SVT product in production.
I know about the Shelby GR1, but rumor has it that there will also be a Mustang with a "Shelby 500" badge.
If they are still working on the 07 Cobra (and I hope they are) they sure are being very quiet about it.
I totaly agree with everything you stated about the Lightning (I have been in the market for an 02-03 myself) and I personally like the old body style MUCH better even if it were not lighter and more nimble.
It seems even stock, a race between an SRT10 and an L can come down to driver skills but with the usual mods on the L, I'll take the Lightning any day.

Coletti retired, and Huang is in charge now. Cobra will be the 1st SVT project, followed by others for several platforms to come out over the next several years.

That's why so many people are talking about swapping an LS1 into the e36 chassis now.

Now THAT would be the ultimate driving machine!! The possibilities are truly scary. :evil2

Now THAT would be the ultimate driving machine!! The possibilities are truly scary. :evil2

They sure are. :help :help

...I hear him downshift and romp on the throttle...

It was the newer one. When those first came out they had a 300hp V8 AUTO, if you heard him downshift, then it was the 395hp version, those you can get the 6-speed stick as an option.

Nice job of keeping up with a monster!!! :)

I'm not sure where you are getting your info about SVT but from everything I've read, all the key players have been reasigned and are working on other projects that will not be wearing an SVT badge.
I hope you are right and I am wrong but,
There is currently no SVT product in production.
I know about the Shelby GR1, but rumor has it that there will also be a Mustang with a "Shelby 500" badge.
If they are still working on the 07 Cobra (and I hope they are) they sure are being very quiet about it.
I totaly agree with everything you stated about the Lightning (I have been in the market for an 02-03 myself) and I personally like the old body style MUCH better even if it were not lighter and more nimble.
It seems even stock, a race between an SRT10 and an L can come down to driver skills but with the usual mods on the L, I'll take the Lightning any day.

John Colleti reitred but SVT is still in place. They are focusing on the Cobra, due as an 06 model last I heard. Shelby's name will be on the GR1 and probably a line of upscale vehicles like a performance/luxury SUVs.

SRT10s are better under perfect conditions, but at the track most drivers are doing well if they hit 13.5 or less.

002, I wish you would go to Dale Jarrett Ford here in Charlotte and tell them about that whole "affordable" part. They have not 1 but 2 GT's in stock, and have turned down $200,000+ offers on several occasions. You can make a right out of the parking lot, drive 10 miles down Independance Blvd to the Masserati Dealership, he will be more than happy to hand you the keys to a Lambo. Galardo they have in stock for significantly less than that. Or if your in that category, they have 2 Porsche GT's (asking $440k)and 1 Enzo ( asking a cool $1.1 million for that one) for you to contemplate as well. :D

WHen he said GT I think he meant the Mustang GT. Only reason I say that is becasue Ford GT's and affordable are never in teh same sentence together unless a very big NOT is placed before the word affordable.

WHen he said GT I think he meant the Mustang GT. Only reason I say that is becasue Ford GT's and affordable are never in teh same sentence together unless a very big NOT is placed before the word affordable.

Hmmph. I obviously was not reading for content at that moment. After going back and reading what he wrote carefully, it makes perfect sense that he was talking about the GT...MUSTANG. I just saw GT and went on from there. :rolleyes :D

They sure are. :help :help

You say that as if such thing does exist. If so, I would be most appreciative if you would post a link to it. I am more than curious. :cool

You say that as if such thing does exist. If so, I would be most appreciative if you would post a link to it. I am more than curious. :cool
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151815

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151815

Thanks Kevin! Phanta, these things will definately be nasty once they are abundant, and something you might have to start worrying about. :evil2

Sorry, but that's not the case. SVT has put the Lightning project on hold for an indeterminate amount of time. The reasons I have heard sited are the lack of resources for all the time spent on the GT over the last 3 years, and then the fact they want to have a '05+ body-style Cobra ready ASAP. Sad but true. I like the L-trucks myself.

Where did you get info that the Lightning is on hold? I heard that before but when I research it I find info it's still on the way.

Where did you get info that the Lightning is on hold? I heard that before but when I research it I find info it's still on the way.

Just about all the rags reported it, AutoWeek, Motor Trend, Car & Driver....

i'm a sales manager for a chevy dealer

...and you drive a bmw!
bmw - 1, chevy - 0 :buttrock

I've driven a LS2 SSR. They're damn fast.
I can't believe it didn't smoke a E36M3.

I've driven a LS2 SSR. They're damn fast.
I can't believe it didn't smoke a E36M3.
think corvette motor, but twice the weight. That would definately have problems from a dig, and slow it down on the highway, giving our little cars a better chance than just going against a vette.

think corvette motor, but twice the weight. That would definately have problems from a dig, and slow it down on the highway, giving our little cars a better chance than just going against a vette.
Since when did C5's weigh 2,350lbs? last I checked they were 700-800lbs more than that. :help

Since when did C5's weigh 2,350lbs? last I checked they were 700-800lbs more than that. :help
you have to learn not to get technical on exaggerations. Don't C5's weigh in at high 3k's? But i was just giving a reason why the SSR is slower. Also lack of aero dynamics can be a bit of a reason too.

C5 weight ~3400 lbs. Z06 is about 200 less than that. Verts maybe 100 more.

ok, I revise, the corvette motor, plus an extra 50% of weight
;)

you have to learn not to get technical on exaggerations.
No, you need to learn not to exaggerate. ;) :D

No, you need to learn not to exaggerate. ;) :D
what? You are like asking me to change my whole way of life. Take on a different philosophy. What you are speaking is non-sense man. :D

Just about all the rags reported it, AutoWeek, Motor Trend, Car & Driver....

The Ford SVT website says the Lightning is due out later this year and the Cobra mid next year.

The Ford SVT website says the Lightning is due out later this year and the Cobra mid next year.
I would be interested in seeing a link, as even the SVT team themselves say the Lightning is done.

PowerLease gives customers the opportunity to drive a new 2004 Mustang Cobra or F-150 Lightning on a short-term lease that will expire when the next-generation vehicles are launched. What's more, PowerLease includes a transferable priority option to lease or buy a next-generation 2006 SVT F-150 Lightning or 2007 SVT Mustang Cobra when they enter production (currently scheduled for late 2005 and mid-2006, respectively).

http://www.svt.ford.com/newsPowerLease.asp

I know the following site says something a little different>

http://www.svt.ford.com/newsSvtSleeves.asp

Hmm, it could be they haven't updated the site yet. But I suppose we'll see what happens this fall. Personally I don't even like the look of the concept Lightning, and I already have a gen2 Lightning, so I really don't care if they make another one or not. :D

The Powerleases were refunded......

The Powerleases were refunded......

I hate people that don't update their websites! :mad

Delays like this make the company look bad.