utvolman99 Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 Well, I know my Z is still sitting in a heap but at least I can kick a little A$$ with my new truck! It only has 400 miles on it so I have yet to really stretch its legs but Im finding out that it really doesnt need to stretch them too far to do some damage! I was visiting some friends out of town last weekend so I could show off my new ride. I was driving next to my friend (2001 Celica GTS) and he decided to "show me what a real sports car can do". He pulls up beside me at the light and starts revving. I really dont know what the truck will do but I decided to play. I hit about 3/4 throttle and that is all it took. Tires chirped and I was gone. I love that Mercedes 5 speed auto! Anyway, at the next light this guy pulls up beside me in a 2000 Silverado. I could tell he had put a lot of work into it. It was lowered, had 20" wheels, dual exhaust and actually sounded pretty mean. Well, I used to have a 2000 5.3L Silverado so I didnt hesitate to make a street comparison! He jumped out a truck length off the line (due to the much lower torque curve on the 5.3) but once the HEMI hit 4K it was all over. I reeled him in like he had blown an engine. The guy stopped at the restaurant we were going to and talked to us for a while. The Silverado had duals, TB, an intake and had been reprogrammed. I really feel that the HEMI engine is under rated. I think that Dodge reports 345HP for nostalgia purposes only. The first HEMI was also a 345CI with 345HP. My next step is to challenge my friend at work and his 2000 lightning. I know its suppose to be faster but my Dynobutt2000 tells me its pretty close! Ill let you know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 I could tell he had put a lot of work into it. It was lowered, had 20" wheels, dual exhaust and actually sounded pretty mean. Bah, an exaust will make any truck sound mean, if it has a V8 that is I like your DynoButt2000 comment LoL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S30Z Bushido Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 i didn't know there was a hemi in production again. is your new tuck an SRT ram? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utvolman99 Posted March 3, 2003 Author Share Posted March 3, 2003 Mudge Bah, an exaust will make any truck sound mean, if it has a V8 that is Yeah, I know but I had almost the same truck with the same engine and this one sounded better. I think it was probably the cold air intake. I thought at the time that he might have changed the cam because of the exhaust note. S30Z No my truck is just a regular SLT for 2003 it comes with four optional engines. 3.7L V6 215HP 235LB/ft 4.7L V8 240HP 300LB/ft 5.9L V8 245HP 335LB/ft 5.7L HEMI V8 345HP 375LB/ft Im telling you for a 4700lb truck it is bad A$$! The best part is that the HEMI engine is only a $750 upgrade over the 4.7L! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racin_Jason Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 Dont get too cocky around your friend with the Lightning. I'm looking to buy one of these and am very, very familiar with them. He will hand your new Ram its ass on a silver platter Mid 13's stock in good air and they arent that hard to launch. Just be fore warned.. RJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tht1KSguy Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 Hmmm... I wonder if they'll ever offer the Hemi in the Grand Cherokee? With AWD that would be quite the combination for a SUV. Maybe i'll just wait a few years for prices to come down and put one together myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperZ Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 Oh what is the world coming to? Street racing with trucks.....my, my. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utvolman99 Posted March 3, 2003 Author Share Posted March 3, 2003 Jason, I know the new Lightnings have 380HP but I think he has the last year of the 360HP. Also, I just dont think his comes alive off the line like mine does. We go to lunch together all the time and I just dont think its all that great. I honestly feel that the HEMI is underrated. Its funny to me that it just so happened to work itself out that the first new HEMI is a 345CI with 345 HP just like the first HEMI. Besides if I lose so what! He has a friggen supercharger... I cant wait till the warrenty ends on my Dodge. The same kit that is on the Lighting makes 500HP on the HEMI! Lets see $32,000 buys you a 380HP supercharged Lightning $25,000 + $4000 supercharger gets you a 500+ hp Hemi... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 My Dad just bought a new Dodge with the Hemi motor and while it's a great motor for a truck and pull like you know what it's nothing compared to his last truck a 2002 Lighting. That was a Bad A$$ truck. I still can't believe he traded it in for a Dodge... Oh well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 Yeah, I know but I had almost the same truck with the same engine and this one sounded better. I think it was probably the cold air intake. I thought at the time that he might have changed the cam because of the exhaust note. Cold air should do not a thing for sound, seriously a low backpressure exaust, on a truck will open up the floodgates of sound. Less bends in the pipe compared to the V8 cars of today with over the axle pipe etc, and trucks will hands down put out more DB and more resonance. As for the cam, the Dodges I hear do have a bit of a lope to them, I dont know the firing order but that is one thing that has made the Fords sound so nice for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utvolman99 Posted March 4, 2003 Author Share Posted March 4, 2003 Mudge, I know that a good exhaust will make a V8 truck roar. My silverado had a true 2.5" dual system. This guy had dual flowmasters just like I had. Also, you might be surprised at the difference in sound a cold air intake can make. A lot of that has to do with the fact that most stock intakes have a resonating bladder to help eliminate noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utvolman99 Posted March 4, 2003 Author Share Posted March 4, 2003 My Dad just bought a new Dodge with the Hemi motor and while it's a great motor for a truck and pull like you know what it's nothing compared to his last truck a 2002 Lighting. That was a Bad A$$ truck. I still can't believe he traded it in for a Dodge... Oh well Hey Cody, your dads lighning had 20 more HP than my friends. Also, what kind of Ram did your dad get? A lot of people dont really take into account the weight difference between a two door and a four door or two wheel drive vs four wheel. A crew cab 4wd Ram weighs almost 1000lbs more than my truck. I would also be interested to know what gear your dad has. I dont want people to come away thinking that I feel my truck is faster than it really is. I have just ridden in both trucks and I really cant tell any difference in power... Maybe he will toast me by two football feilds! Who knows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted March 4, 2003 Share Posted March 4, 2003 A lot of that has to do with the fact that most stock intakes have a resonating bladder to help eliminate noise. Yep, we like to call it the Donkey Dong That is air intake noise though, and I didn't notice a difference removing mine, but the theory for some is that it reduces resonance possibly in the air intake duct that may affect MAF readings at certain flow or etc, whooooooo knows. The cheap way to get rid of the 'Dong for some cars, is a shampoo bottle end cut off about 2". The GM people use Herbal Essence, fits perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 utvolman99, My Dad really did nothing but, drive the truck back and forth to work and pulled his boat with it a few times. I really thing he bought it 'cause he was looking a 'vettes and didn't want to spend that much. Not only that he is what I would call a semi-pro bass fisherman and really needed a truck for when he boat pulling truck was down or something. The Lighting when I drove it wasn't broken in yet but, he said that right before he traded it in he took it out and had some fun it like he did when he had his '65 GTO.(back in the day of course) He said it was increadable and almost backed out of the trade since he had a real taste of what the truck would do. Really the Dodge is more of what he needed with 4 doors and all. Now if they made a four door Lighting or even extended cab I think he would have had one of those....Heres my opinon on the two trucks. Lighting-faster, better handling, better looks, way more fun factor, BLOWN Dodge Hemi-more room, better gas mileage, more practicle and still a strong truck It's a Hemi and thats sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 I was at a track day with a Lightning, I was watching him take one corner and spin the tires to get some oversteer, nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Your Car is Slow Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 I love my new hemi also.....great fun picking on ricers...they must feel so sad to lose to a fullsize quadcab truck As for the lightning and mid 13s stock....ive yet to see it happen (not to say it hasnt been done....but id question it). High 13s seems to be more the norm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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