soft tonneau cover

[pj_lightning]

I have a '00 Lightning, and I'd like to get a tonneau cover for it. Does anyone have the Ford snapless soft tonneau? Is it easy enough to use? Does it hold up? The Ford accessories catalog doesn't say much. Thanks,
PJ

[MadRabbit]

I got it. It has two rails that go onto the long sides of your box, then a cross-rail at the front and at the back. The cover itself is vinyl and at the front edge there is a round plastic insert. You slide the edge in to the front rail and the insert keeps it from coming out. At the back and sides it is a flexible piece of plastic that snaps into the rails. To let it shed water there are two spring-loaded cross members to give it a little dome shape.

Good points: The cover is quite fast and easy to do up or undo. I've only had it 8 months but no durability issues so far.

Bad points: At temperatures below -5 or -10 the vinyl doesn't have enough stretch to do up easily. The rear cross-rail stays in place even when the cover is off so you have to take it out to slide anything tall into the box.

[BlueOvalBolt]

I really like the Ford cover. It's tongue and groove snapless low profile design is, overall, the best looking and easiest to use soft tonneau out there IMO.

[Jstas]

I think I would recommend a hard cover. I was looking at the soft covers but in addition to not being plyable in cold weather, cold weather and UV damage destroy the soft covers too quickly for my tastes.

I bought an A.R.E. fiberglas cover for my Lightning. It looks very nice and is color matched using Ford paint. Everyone has said it looks great and its strong enough that I could stand on it without breaking it. Eventhough I don't do that. I got my hardcover from A.R.E. and its clamped to the bed rails using A.R.E.'s clamp design. Once the cover is installed and the clamps set, it doesn't move, shimmy or bounce. It weighs less than 200 pounds and while it is a tad heavy for one person, it takes me only 15 minutes to remove it if I need to carry something tall.

One thing I noticed about the hard cover I have is that in the center, there is a raised portion to "stylize" the cover. Its maybe an inch tall at its highest point and mimics the raised center section of the truck's hood. It resembles a spoiler in the middle of the truck bed. Well, before I had the cover put on, the rear of the truck was squirrely and twitchy in high winds. I had the cover installed and it made a drastic improvement in stability. It also showed a higher increase in gas mileage than a similar Lightning with a soft cover.

The only major issue is cost. The hard cover was about 3 times as much as a soft cover. However, the hard cover won't have to be replaced in a few years. Its basically there for the life of the truck and probably well beyond. I had added cost to mine because I had the underside lined with carpeting to match a Bedrug brand bed liner. I also have a Bedrug bed liner and it trims off the bed of the truck very nicely. its a nice, clean install. The Bedrug is marine carpeting on a 1/2 inch thick closed cell padding. Its velcroed in and if it needs to be cleaned, a vaccum cleaner works great. If it needs to be washed, it zips out in about 5 minutes, hose it down, hang it on a line to dry and throw it back in. Its nylon so it doesn't stain either. Its warrantied by Bedrug and basically, if it tears, they send me a new one. The cover is lined with the same carpeting so the whole rear of the truck is padded and doubles as one hell of a big ass trunk! Its great for Christmas shopping!

[alexpirnie]

I have the factory Ford cover and I like it alot. Its very easy to take on and off. But its all in what you want. I end up putting large things in the bed so the Fiberglass is not a option for me. I've seen those Retrax covers. And if I upgrade it will be to one of those. Just my thought!:iron:


Alex

[roger]

Originally posted by Jstas
...It also showed a higher increase in gas mileage than a similar Lightning with a soft cover.

Ok, I'll bite...I'm not doubting your word or anything, but I gotta know how you came up with this?

BTW, I've had a retrax for 3.5 years (on two L's) and it's worked awesome. Benefits of a hard cover (security; key-lockable anywhere along its length) and also a soft top (retracts so you can carry odd-sized stuff; I've loaded 2 bigscreens in mine + all sorts of other stuff). Works great when I auto-x because I load the tires at the end and lock the other stuff behind it.

Its stong and light--one person on and off (but easier w/2). Less than 60lbs complete. Sides are extruded aluminum and cover is lexan (polycarbonate). If its good enough for funny car windshields its good enough for a truck cover. Cover has alum. reinforcing bars riding on needle bearings every 12" along the length, which gives it 1 finger operation.

Pretty much water tight other than around the T/Gate, and they sell a weatherstrip kit for it. Only down side is they're only available in black...but at least it's a semi-gloss and the side rails are powdercoated.

Customer service is great also. After 2 years of ownership, they shipped me a couple of bits *I* lost when changing over from one truck to another on their dime.

http://www.rolltopcover.com Contact them and they will send you a sample of the materials.

<insert std disclaimer>No financial interest, just a satisfied customer, yada, yada...

[Jstas]

The gas mileage things came from an opportunity to take a few long trips. About 3 months after I got the truck and about 3 weeks before the hard cover had shipped to the place I got it from, I took a trip down to Virginia, right about where all the sniper shootings are happening right now. I went to visit my future mother and brothers-in-law. The trip was about 6 hours and with no cover and the tailgate up, I got about 21 MPG on the highway.

Earlier this year, in July, I took a looooong trip to Michigan to visit my future grandparents-in-law. Drove from about 15 minutes southeast of Philly to Manistee, Michigan, ~1200 miles. On that trip, with the cover, I was seeing, and I kid you not because I kept track of it with reciepts recording fuel pumped and cost, 27-28 MPG depending on the octane level used. I don't have the reciepts anymore but, I was filling up at the first station I would hit on the highway when I hit a half a tank. I was averaging 350-375 miles on an average of about 13-14 gallons between fill ups.

The only things I have done to the truck are a K&N filter, Redline Watter Wetter in the radiator and intercooler and the hard cover. I don't doubt that the chemicals and filter had anything to do with increasing mileage but I had put the chemicals in for my first trip to Virginia. I did not have the filter and cover. Those two additions added 7-8 MPG if my observations and calculations were not decieving me.

I was talking to an owner of a similar Lightning. I do not know if he is affiliated with any SVT site of any kind. I was at MIR in Maryland and he asked me about my hard cover. We started talking and he said he only saw a 3-4 mpg increase after the softcover. He also noted that the soft cover made a good deal of noise at high speed (70+ mph). Whether it was installed right or not, I do not know. I do know that the road noise decreased by 15 decibels after I installed the hard cover. (don't ask, you can get a meter to measure sound at Radio Shack for about 40 bucks, may be cheaper now). After I installed the Bedrug, the road noise dropped about another 2 decibels. Its really quiet now and the bed doesn't make a booming noise over bumps either.

[roger]

Hi John. Say, thanks for the detailed reply. Wow, 27-28 mpg w/a full size truck (supercharged no less!) is nothing short of fantastic. 7-8 mpg going from one tonneau cover to another is fantastic as well.

I doubt the waterwetter had any measurable impact on your gas mileage, but the air filter is another story. The trucks literally "sip air thru a straw" (quote was used on the 03 Cobra, but is applicapble here as well). Is the K&N you installed a panel filter (i.e. did it replace your stock flat air filter panel in your stock airfilter box), or is it a cone that replaced the filter, including its enclosure?

Also, between trips, did you remove the little rubber boot between the end of the stock airfilter box and the fenderwell. We've got hard dyno #'s that prove that simple mod by itself is worth 13 HP on the dyno...repeatable with a stock paper element, K&N surely worth a tick more. Dyno #'s can be found here:http://www.svtoakc.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=21. Almost everyone who does this mod notices a 2lb increase on the ol boost gauge.

I'm trying to figure out when you did your first trip, but it seems to be in the springtime? Going down the east coast (PA to VA) would burn a lot of oxygenated fuel, which doesn't get as good of mileage as a non-oxygenated brand. Since you buy gas at the very 1st station after you reach a 1/2 tank fuel load, you're probably buying from different companies alot. You alluded to this when you said "depending upon octane level" (which can make a difference in power created/fuel used). I can't remember about the eastern seaboard, but driving from the VA area to MI (did that last year myself) I noticed the fuel octane climbing all the way to 94 at some stations in Michigan.

Not knocking your cover in the slightest, but my personal feelings are that the K&N was worth the lions share of the mileage improvement based on the documented HP/TQ improvements. Fuel quality has about 1-2 mpg responsibility (oxygenated vs. a good (94 octane) premium fuel). 7-8 mpg improvements on a cover vs. NO cover is one thing, but 7-8 mpg from a covered bed to another covered bed is somewhat difficult to believe. And NO, I'm not calling you a liar, it's just somtimes things (like K&N filters) account for more of the difference/change than you originally think they will. Does the cover have a wing on the back by any chance? That may help smooth the airflow off the back end of the truck.

The bedrugs are neat, aren't they? I really like mine, and I agree, they really help to quieten down the bed; gives the truck a more solid/quieter feel.

[Jstas]

Forgive me for picking apart your post but you posted many things that I want to respond to.


Originally posted by roger
Hi John. Say, thanks for the detailed reply. Wow, 27-28 mpg w/a full size truck (supercharged no less!) is nothing short of fantastic. 7-8 mpg going from one tonneau cover to another is fantastic as well.

I didn't have a soft cover. I was talking to a gentleman in Maryland who did and we compared numbers. I did not see a 7-8 MPG gain from one cover to the other. It was only 3-4 MPG. The 7-8 MPG gain was over numbers I noticeed when stock. At the rate these trucks suck gas, the hard cover would pay for itself in about a year and a half.



I doubt the waterwetter had any measurable impact on your gas mileage, but the air filter is another story. The trucks literally "sip air thru a straw" (quote was used on the 03 Cobra, but is applicapble here as well). Is the K&N you installed a panel filter (i.e. did it replace your stock flat air filter panel in your stock airfilter box), or is it a cone that replaced the filter, including its enclosure?

The Water Wetter had a noticable impact in running temperatures. After dumping it in the radiator, I noticed that typical operating temps would be over-all, lower than they were without the chemicals. Just on a whim, I dumped half a bottle into the intercooler system. After that, running temperatures did not drop any but they remained rock solid at a temperature just above what the thermostat opens at. I don't remember the number but the guage in the dash, albeit inaccurate, reflects this behavior. Since running temps did drop, fuel mileage and power production should increase, theoretically. Especially if the intake charge temperature is reduced. I do not believe that the engine is making anymore than 5 horses off of the chemicals but I do believe that I picked up 2-3 MPG after using it.

There is no "FIPK" kit from K&N for the Lightnings. I asked why and they said that the market was way too small. I informed them that the K&N panel filter was 8 dollars cheaper than what my local parts stores wanted for a paper filter. That obvious cost difference alone told me that the K&N was the way to go. I have seen the other kits from the other companies but there are things about them that do not sit right with me. So I just went with the panel filter.

I also have to add one thing that I forgot to mention earlier. I have been using AMSOIL 5W-20 sythetic motor oil which most likely contributes to those mileage and temperture observations. I was using the AMSOIL when I was on the NJ-VA trip and that probably accounts for the 3 MPG increase over stock that I mentioned.


Also, between trips, did you remove the little rubber boot between the end of the stock airfilter box and the fenderwell. We've got hard dyno #'s that prove that simple mod by itself is worth 13 HP on the dyno...repeatable with a stock paper element, K&N surely worth a tick more. Dyno #'s can be found here:http://www.svtoakc.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=21. Almost everyone who does this mod notices a 2lb increase on the ol boost gauge.

I have not removed ANY parts except the suck-ass stereo. Everything else is as it comes from the factory. I did not know of the rubber boot deal. Maybe I will try it.


I'm trying to figure out when you did your first trip, but it seems to be in the springtime? Going down the east coast (PA to VA) would burn a lot of oxygenated fuel, which doesn't get as good of mileage as a non-oxygenated brand. Since you buy gas at the very 1st station after you reach a 1/2 tank fuel load, you're probably buying from different companies alot. You alluded to this when you said "depending upon octane level" (which can make a difference in power created/fuel used). I can't remember about the eastern seaboard, but driving from the VA area to MI (did that last year myself) I noticed the fuel octane climbing all the way to 94 at some stations in Michigan.

My first trip happened in later December, after Christmas so it did probably include the oxygenated gas. However, I feel it necessary to point out again that I notice an average mileage calculation of 3 mpg over what it is rated from the factory with out anything other than AMSOIL sythetic motor oil. I doubt that the oxygenated gas would sap anymore than 2 MPG from the mileage. I never noticed any more than that in my Thunderbird.

As far as the difference in octane level, I was reffering to a difference of one point. I probably should have mentioned that but I went from 93 to 94 octane. I was running the 27 MPG average with 93 and hit the 28 MPG average with 94 and that was even thorugh the mountains of Pennsylvania. The 94 octane is available in NJ, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Michigan mostly at Sunoco stations. I did not see anything higher than 93 in Ohio. Then again, I wasn't in Ohio too long and never hit the first rest stop on the OTP to see if it had 94 Sunoco.


Not knocking your cover in the slightest, but my personal feelings are that the K&N was worth the lions share of the mileage improvement based on the documented HP/TQ improvements. Fuel quality has about 1-2 mpg responsibility (oxygenated vs. a good (94 octane) premium fuel). 7-8 mpg improvements on a cover vs. NO cover is one thing, but 7-8 mpg from a covered bed to another covered bed is somewhat difficult to believe. And NO, I'm not calling you a liar, it's just somtimes things (like K&N filters) account for more of the difference/change than you originally think they will. Does the cover have a wing on the back by any chance? That may help smooth the airflow off the back end of the truck.

First, like I said before, the difference in covers was half of what you are referencing. I do not believe that the K&N offered that much over stock. If it did, it would have been noticable and the butt-dyno would have told me so. As far as the fuel goes, I only use 93 or higher. It gets a steady diet of Amoco Ultimate and it runs well on that. It ran even nicer on 94 but there aren't many Sunoco stations around.

The cover has no wing. I will not own a car with wings and stickers unless they either came on the car from the dealer or they are full-fledged race cars that need wings. The cover does have a raised portion that increases in height as it travels to the rear of the truck. I have no doubt that this cover's raised portion served to clean up air flow around the bed because it is very much more stable with the cover on than with it off.

The additional benefit of a hard cover is, it allows less air to fill the bed. With the cover off, the air getting trapped and compressed in the bed by the flow of air over the truck can add 100-200 pounds of extra weight in addition to increasing its drag coefficient. Both issue reduce gas mileage and the high pressure area in the open bed can have the same areodynamic effect as an airplane wing. That is most likely why the tail end gets twitchy at high speed and in high winds.


The bedrugs are neat, aren't they? I really like mine, and I agree, they really help to quieten down the bed; gives the truck a more solid/quieter feel.

I like it because it is durable and has utility, its easy to take care of and it gives the bed a nice, trimmed, finished, classy look. After-all, thats what the truck is about: high perfomance with utility and class. It does it all well!

Sorry for being so long-winded.

[roger]

Originally posted by Jstas
Forgive me for picking apart your post but you posted many things that I want to respond to. Hi John. Hey, no problem. I trust you will feel the same when I reply here? :D That's another good thing about most SVT owners is we can discuss something pretty vigourously without anyone taking offense or getting bent out of shape. Makes for a better flow of information and all points of view are brought to light.

...The 7-8 MPG gain was over numbers I noticeed when stock. At the rate these trucks suck gas, the hard cover would pay for itself in about a year and a half. Ahh, you are correct, I misread that, my mistake. 7-8 mpg adding up the cover, filter, synthetic oil and everything else could well account for that amount. I must say you must have exceptional driving habits to get 27-28...The window sticker says, what, 17 mpg Hiway? Getting 11 mpg over what the factory quotes has got to be some kind of record! It's by far the best I've seen/heard/read about. I can say that from hanging around the L sites daily for about 3.5 years and personally talking with dozens of owners, that the mileage you describe is exceptional. I have to ask tho--does that include any WOT driving, or are you conscious about gas mileage 100% of the time? Most of the people I hang with are throttle bandits--not dangerous, but driving enthusiastically:D

...The Water Wetter had a noticable impact in running temperatures. Water Wetter is indeed good stuff. I've been using it for many years in one vehicle or another in my garage, and have been dumping it in both radiators of my L's since I brought them home. I'm not sure what benefit it has on gas mileage, but I fully agree it does help stabalize coolant temps, especially the recovery time after a WOT run at the track (or two). You'll find a 170 degree thermostat helps even more, should you choose to go that route.

...There is no "FIPK" kit from K&N for the Lightnings. I asked why and they said that the market was way too small. I informed them that the K&N panel filter was 8 dollars cheaper than what my local parts stores wanted for a paper filter. That obvious cost difference alone told me that the K&N was the way to go. I have seen the other kits from the other companies but there are things about them that do not sit right with me. So I just went with the panel filter. You will get some improvement from the K&N in a stock box, but 1/2 the problem is the intake is restricted in air volume received. As you know, the only inlet is that small, fist sized opening in the side of the stock box. Opening it up to a cone filter does wonders for throttle response, and although it does increase blower whine, everyone sees between 1-2 psi difference not only on the stock boost gauge, but aftermarket as well.

Underhood air difference is not an issue unless you spend a lot of time in bumper-to-bumper/stop-n-go traffic. Early on one of the L owners on another Internet board had access to both some temp sensors and a data logger. He placed some temp sensors around the engine compartment and did the test with both the stock box and a cone filter (that used a piece of foam to link it directly to the fenderwell also). While at a dead stop, after 1 minute the temp difference climbed to about 10 degrees, but once the truck reached 5mph the difference was back to 1-2 degrees and at about 10-15 mph is was 0. I'm quoting #'s from memory, so I may be off a bit, but they're close.

I have not removed ANY parts except the suck-ass stereo.I can't agree more. Both of my L's have had the complete stereo yanked immediately upon delivery. It all goes into a storage crate until the truck is sold. In a pinch you can upgrade the sound considerably on any Ford product by upgrading speakers, but while you've got everything torn apart...what the hey :D


...I did not know of the rubber boot deal. Maybe I will try it. 13 documented HP / 11 Torque is hard to give away, especially when its free. :D The boot is held in place without fasteners, so it's fairly easy to work in/out as desired. It WILL give a considerable increase in blower whine--but to many of us that is desireable :D

Sorry for being so long-winded. You weren't. I enjoy a healthy discussion, just as I hope you do!

[Jstas]

Well, those MPG numbers are not for everyday. I do alot of driving on backroads between my house and my girlfriend's house and the trip to work and back is just over 7 miles, 5 of which are on an interstate. Normal weekly operation sees gas mileage of about 18-19 city and around 22 even highway.

I do "get on it" every now and then for "spirited" driving or a "stop-light schooling" but I am quite far from beating on it. In other words, alot of Lightning owners would call me a sissy. I'm not afraid to lay down rubber and I did get pulled over doing about 60 down an on-ramp the other day but I don't beat on it on a daily basis. I do like to push its limits at times and they have been pretty hard to find. The truck handles much better than alot of people who have never driven one care to admit. Its under-rated and will turn much better than the rated 13.9 seconds in a 1/4 mile. Thats going by the butt dyno which isn't always accurate though. The truck pulls just as strong as the Mustang I had did but you can tell that there is about 1500 pounds more weight and less traction. Drop this 5.4L motor and blower into a Mustang weighing about 3300 pounds like my 83 was, its good for low 12's if not high 11's. Kinda like the current Cobra.

As for the averages on the long trips, yes, they did include some WOT runs to pass drivers who felt the need to squeeze between me and my future mother-in-law whom I was following. We did average about 80 MPH for the entire trip though. I was not following close enough for drafting to be a contributor. Besides, her rental car was a pretty puny Mitsubishi Galant. It doesn't cut much of a hole in the air. I also found out that a 30 second trip to 130 MPH burns just under a 1/4 tank of gas. I do try to be civil with the truck. I drive it year round, switching to snow tires in the winter, and I find it quite easy to handle and very comfortable as long as one remembers that eventhough its only 380 horses, there is 450 pound feet of torque under your right foot just itching to turn your tires into powdery, smoldering piles of vulcanized rubber on the road.

Along that same note, many people will stop and oogle the truck, especially at work. All but maybe 3 people I know are afraid of it though. Most say because they don't want me to kill them if they wreck it. Thats a cop-out though. If you think you are going to wreck it, then you aren't afraid of me, you are afraid of the truck because you believe that you can't handle it.

I'll have to take a look at the rubber grommet deal though. I had no idea that it was there. I would have gone with the cone filter too but very few places offer a cone setup and I didn't want to do too much hacking. Some kits did not have a reuasable filter either and 60 bucks for one filter every 3 months was not worth it to me. Thats why I went with the K&N, cheap and easy.

I doubt I'm going to fiddle much with it though. I got it because it was cheap ($27K) for what it was, offered utility that I will defintly use, good looks, comfort and waaaaaay too much power, just the way I like it! Believe me though, its very tempting! I try to resist as best as I can though. I have another project that currently lacks funding that I should finish before I go messing with the Lightning. Then again, Lightnings are like the COPO Camaros or the Yenko Stingers or the Baldwin Motion Cobra, Chevelles, Novas and Camaros of the 60's and 70's. Very limited production vehicles capable of a completely blistering level of performance for a fairly cheap price. They are very exclusive and often go to owners who cherish them for what they are. All the SVT products are like that and in 20-30 years when they are old news and a part of history, my kids will be talking about thier past glory and then they are gonna come to good 'ole dad and say "Hey dad, remember those SVT Lightnings? Weren't they cool?!" Then I can reply "You know what? Your good 'ole dad used to own one. Infact, its under the tarp in the garage!"

These vehicles are a part of history and those of us who own them have a fairly unique chance to own that history and with registries like the SVTOA, your name and my name are plastered all over the books! Thats something that not many other companies right now can claim. It adds to Ford's extensive and extremely successful automotive and racing heritage yet keeps a personality all to its own.

I know this is sappy and cheesy but SVT is the stuff that dreams are made of.

[jimmylightning]

I'm getting ready to take a 600 mile round trip this weekend to visit my son and daughter. This will be the first time to really check mileage on a trip for me. I'll let you all know how I did because I currently have the soft cover and I'm not running any additives just 93 % octane here in Tennessee.

I did remove the rubber boot between the stock box and the fenderwell today. It was real simple, but I have a hard time telling if it made any improvement. I guess 11/13 hp would be something you can see on the dyno, but maybe not sense in the drivers seat. Oh, I did WOT after I removed the boot and along with the magna flow the truck sound was awesome.

Jim

2001 Red Lightning

Magna Flow Stainless Exhaust and Tips

Chrome SVT Wheels

[jimmylightning]

Evidently my truck must be running very poorly. I just took it on it's first trip this weekend, 300 miles or so each way. Almost all interstate driving and I have the soft tonneau and my best was 18 mpg. That was with 93% octane here in Tennessee. I also average around 70 to 75 mph all the way. I did remove the boot from the air filter to the fender well before I left.

Is this my truck and is it running that poorly compared to others out there.

Please reply.

[roger]

Originally posted by jimmylightning
Evidently my truck must be running very poorly. I just took it on it's first trip this weekend, 300 miles or so each way. Almost all interstate driving and I have the soft tonneau and my best was 18 mpg. That was with 93% octane here in Tennessee. I also average around 70 to 75 mph all the way. I did remove the boot from the air filter to the fender well before I left.

Is this my truck and is it running that poorly compared to others out there.

Please reply.

Your truck is running right where it's designed to. If I remember right the sticker on the window quotes 13/17 mpg? A lot of things go into that number. Gas quality, wind speed & direction, altitude and baro pressure, and most importantly, your speed and how much time you spend with your foot in it... :D:D

[jimmylightning]

Originally posted by roger
Your truck is running right where it's designed to. If I remember right the sticker on the window quotes 13/17 mpg? A lot of things go into that number. Gas quality, wind speed & direction, altitude and baro pressure, and most importantly, your speed and how much time you spend with your foot in it... :D:D

Roger,

Thanks for the reply. I looked at my sticker and your right about the mileage. I was on cruise control a good portion of the time, but some of the trip is going over the mountains around here. That makes me feel better, because I thought something was wrong with my truck as compared to others. Of course the reason I bought it wasn't for gas mileage and wouldn't get rid of it even if the mileage were worse...

Jim

2001 Red Lightning

Magna Flow Stainless with Stainless tips catback

Chrome SVT Wheels

The rest is stock.......

[Jstas]

Mountains make a big difference. I have noticed that too.

Don't takle my numbers as gospel for all Lightnings either. When I first got the truck, my milage was a bit above quoted and pretty close to what you saw on your trip. Things I have done to the truck and my driving style have contributed greatly to my mileage realizations.

[BlownSVT]

LOL.......you guys kill me.........I put approximately 500 miles on my L a week (not for long......s-10 will make the commute) and It is virtually all highway to and from work, albeit I do find myself running in excess of the posted speed limit for any state, of course not in germany, and i can get 350 miles to the tank on a great week. I too have a hard tonneau (snugtop snuglid) and I noticed absolutely NO improvement in mpg. I have even taken my truck on a 3000 mile trek from the foothills of the smokies, where i live in the upstate of SC to the flat lands of central OK and back.......best mpg........18.......no a/c or defroster on cruise control 75 mph.........worst mpg......roughly 7.......on I-40 in traffic, totally abusing the ego of a Firebird SLP Firehawk owner........my opinion is that I love my hard lid and it looks dang sweet.........if you want good mileage.......buy a Honda. If you don't like to worry about you stuff being jacked from you while you buy yourself a drink or fall asleep in a rest area........I recommend a hard tonneau.

ALSO, I have a 97 S-10 SS 4.3 sportside (boys toy) that i have logged all of the 116,000 miles on myself..........mostly all highway added an "in the rails" hard lid and noticed no maybe 1 mpg difference and that is after the truck was broke in that it was installed. And the debate goes on...........

[roger]

Originally posted by jimmylightning
Roger,
Thanks for the reply. I looked at my sticker and your right about the mileage. I was on cruise control a good portion of the time, but some of the trip is going over the mountains around here. That makes me feel better, because I thought something was wrong with my truck as compared to others. Of course the reason I bought it wasn't for gas mileage and wouldn't get rid of it even if the mileage were worse...

Jim
2001 Red Lightning
Magna Flow Stainless with Stainless tips catback
Chrome SVT Wheels
The rest is stock.......
Nah, there's nothing wrong with your truck. Jstas is quoting the best mpg numbers I've ever seen, and I'm happy for him. The rest of us are in the 12-24 mpg range depending upon driving style, mods, and atmospheric conditions. Let's face it, if gas mileage were a major concern, we wouldn't have bought these trucks. Big aerodynamic footprint, heavy weight, and high horsepower aren't things you plug into the calculator for high gas mileage :D Remember the truck runs 2 fuel pumps 100% of the time (into 42lb per hour injectors no less!)...

The fact that mine's a daily driver and gets 15-18 hwy mpg, has won its class in autocross, and does 12's in the 1/4 mile in 90 degree heat, dyno 408/504 in almost 100 degree heat, not to mention haul bigscreens, dirt, tires and what have you is beyond my wildest dreams. I've always wanted a 12 second daily driver--I just never dreamed it would be a truck :D

I see you have a magnaflow muffler? Is it the 2in-2out stainless one? I've got my longtubes running into one of those and it sounds pretty stout, I gotta admit.

[jimmylightning]

Originally posted by roger
Nah, there's nothing wrong with your truck. Jstas is quoting the best mpg numbers I've ever seen, and I'm happy for him. The rest of us are in the 12-24 mpg range depending upon driving style, mods, and atmospheric conditions. Let's face it, if gas mileage were a major concern, we wouldn't have bought these trucks. Big aerodynamic footprint, heavy weight, and high horsepower aren't things you plug into the calculator for high gas mileage :D Remember the truck runs 2 fuel pumps 100% of the time (into 42lb per hour injectors no less!)...

The fact that mine's a daily driver and gets 15-18 hwy mpg, has won its class in autocross, and does 12's in the 1/4 mile in 90 degree heat, dyno 408/504 in almost 100 degree heat, not to mention haul bigscreens, dirt, tires and what have you is beyond my wildest dreams. I've always wanted a 12 second daily driver--I just never dreamed it would be a truck :D

I see you have a magnaflow muffler? Is it the 2in-2out stainless one? I've got my longtubes running into one of those and it sounds pretty stout, I gotta admit.


Roger,

Yeh, that's the setup I've got on my magna flows. I really like the sound. I think the truck now sounds like a Lightning should have sounded when Ford sent them from the factory. It sounds even better when you wind it out and you hear the s/c whine...................