SVT LIGHTNING

by: ruff

1999 Ford SVT F-150..............Awesome....brutal.......fun........but let me explain or qaulify my statements. I am 45 years old and grew up owning 3 crossbolt 427's all with 2-4 barrel carb setups, you know of the 435 horsepower variety, three 429 super cobra jets 4 speeds, two 428 cobra jets, one 390 High Performance Torino GT, one Shelby 289 HP, and alot of the big and small block Chevy's that I drove each one mentioned to school, some more than others. But to this day I have never driven a vehicle that is so much fun to drive. I catch myself HOPING the stop light turns red! (Just gives you a chance to stop and start off again)

Ford out did themselves this time. Not only will it hook up and go down the ¼ mile track in a 'un pickup like' 14 seconds with my wife driving, but will top out at about 140+mph and stop like a Cobra mustang (give or take 10 feet from 100mph). I'll be frank and let you in on alittle secret. I love to put friends in the passenger seat and then proceed to hit a curve, say a exit circle ramp that has 25mph on the limit sign, and then put the pedal on the floor and exit it at 80 mph, its a hoot and they are screaming total believers ! This is a Pick-up I remind you, but you will soon forget it is a truck if you drive it towards its upper limits. I have had my truck for six months and it (the truck) laughs at me trying to test its limits. The SVT pickup is equal to the task of anything you want to do. With the four wheel disc brakes, you are safe to press it till it can't stand anymore, but most often it is you, that shakes your head and says...whew... WHAT A DEAL

The engine is a reworked 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine with a roots type supercharger from Eaton. The Lightning is a thrill like the old big blocks from the past. It gives you the feeling of the old brute power we used to have, but does it in a smooth pickup style. No wonder the other big companies are scratching their heads, this one is tough to TOP. Thanks Special Vehicle Team, from here you got a winner.