Stock '18 2.7 Ecoboost vs Stock '04 Lightning

JasonFC

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I own a stock 2018 f150 2.7, RCSB 2WD 3.73 rear. I've been pretty curious about how quick it is since I bought it, and a couple weeks ago I got my answer.

I was making a beer run to start my evening helping a friend work on his house when I ran into a guy with a stock 04 Lightning. After a little bit of friendly talk we decided to do a couple pulls and see how the little 2.7 stood up.

First one we agreed to a ~2k rpm launch, on the third honk I was off like a shot, the lightning never spun and I put about 4-5 lengths on him until I shut down at 100mph.

Second race we agreed to an off idle launch, third honk and he pulls by a fender, a few moments later and we're nose to nose and by 100mph I'm probably 2-3 lengths ahead.

I couldn't believe it, I thought for sure the L would hand me my ass, but all I heard was the supercharger whine while I pulled away.

We pulled over to talk again and his truck is stock with about 150kmi. I'd like to get a few bolt-ons and a tune and see what she'll run.
 

TerminatoRS

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I've got basically the same truck. That little 2.7 will definitely surprise you when paired with the 10-speed. I wasn't a believer before, but I've been converted. lol All while averaging 23.8mpg.
 

utlong31

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Well the Lightning’s don’t stand a chance against today’s technology. They never were a terminator and really aren’t very fast stock. Hell mine has every bolt on imaginable and 4:11 gears and I wouldn’t say it was fast. But they sure are cool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Makobra

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What's your mpg's with 3.73's? I have 3.31's and still have a hard time hooking up a lot of the time. mine is a 2016 and honestly it puts a smile on my face every day. imo the 2.7TT is the best variant in the ecoboost family.
 

AustinSN

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What's your mpg's with 3.73's? I have 3.31's and still have a hard time hooking up a lot of the time. mine is a 2016 and honestly it puts a smile on my face every day. imo the 2.7TT is the best variant in the ecoboost family.
It really is a top notch engine.
 

JasonFC

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I get a combined 23mpg on average. But I cruise at 75mph and don't go easy. Hand calculated during extended highway trips is around 26.5

What's your mpg's with 3.73's? I have 3.31's and still have a hard time hooking up a lot of the time. mine is a 2016 and honestly it puts a smile on my face every day. imo the 2.7TT is the best variant in the ecoboost family.
 

Makobra

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dang thats about what I get with the stock 3.31's. im gonna strongly consider upgrading gears when i go LSD someday.
 

tistan

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I'm not convinced something isn't wrong with that lightning. Both my 04 lightnings ran 13.2- 13.3 range stock. My buddy just bought an f150 with the 2.7 and I had a chance to beat on it. It isn't as fast as my 2019 ram and my 2019 ram is no where near my lightnings as far as quickness.

My lightning with 4# lower, tune, cold air, bassani catback, and valve body, went 12.48 at 112 on street tires.
 

Makobra

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I'm not convinced something isn't wrong with that lightning. Both my 04 lightnings ran 13.2- 13.3 range stock. My buddy just bought an f150 with the 2.7 and I had a chance to beat on it. It isn't as fast as my 2019 ram and my 2019 ram is no where near my lightnings as far as quickness.

My lightning with 4# lower, tune, cold air, bassani catback, and valve body, went 12.48 at 112 on street tires.

there is a WILD variation in performance with F150's because of the trims. you can get a 4000lb truck or you can get a near 6000lb truck depending on options.
you also have gearing and hookin capability. if I could hook properly it would trim half a second off my quarter, im sure, but ford doesn't do LSD's so there's that.
 

me32

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I own a stock 2018 f150 2.7, RCSB 2WD 3.73 rear. I've been pretty curious about how quick it is since I bought it, and a couple weeks ago I got my answer.

I was making a beer run to start my evening helping a friend work on his house when I ran into a guy with a stock 04 Lightning. After a little bit of friendly talk we decided to do a couple pulls and see how the little 2.7 stood up.

First one we agreed to a ~2k rpm launch, on the third honk I was off like a shot, the lightning never spun and I put about 4-5 lengths on him until I shut down at 100mph.

Second race we agreed to an off idle launch, third honk and he pulls by a fender, a few moments later and we're nose to nose and by 100mph I'm probably 2-3 lengths ahead.

I couldn't believe it, I thought for sure the L would hand me my ass, but all I heard was the supercharger whine while I pulled away.

We pulled over to talk again and his truck is stock with about 150kmi. I'd like to get a few bolt-ons and a tune and see what she'll run.

Those 3.73s and 10 speed auto must make that truck feel so peppy all the time.
 

JasonFC

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I've also beaten RCSB 2WD Hemi Rams in both dig and roll races. You may not believe it, but my bone stock 2.7 beat a bone stock Lightning in multiple drag races.

If you're near middle TN I'd be more than happy to beat your Ram, as well.

I'm not convinced something isn't wrong with that lightning. Both my 04 lightnings ran 13.2- 13.3 range stock. My buddy just bought an f150 with the 2.7 and I had a chance to beat on it. It isn't as fast as my 2019 ram and my 2019 ram is no where near my lightnings as far as quickness.

My lightning with 4# lower, tune, cold air, bassani catback, and valve body, went 12.48 at 112 on street tires.
 

TerminatoRS

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Not all the time. I personally have a love-hate relationship with the trans. Awesome when you lay into it from a stop and it actually uses every gear. It likes to skip second and third quite often under normal to light acceleration which would be fine, but it takes a fraction of a second longer. So I tend to subconsciously push the pedal a tad harder when I notice the delay and then it bogs a bit once it gets into fourth. It also take 6 years to go into reverse on occasion which isn't that big of a deal, but when I can stop, physically shift into R, start cranking the wheel and give it a little gas before it engages, it can be a little annoying.

The 2.7 is plenty for the 99.9% of us who drive around with nothing in or behind the truck. It's not a rocket, but it's surprisingly quick for what it is and responds well to simple mods + tune. I'd bet my stock '19 2.7 Supercab with 10-speed is quicker than my intake + tune '14 Tremor was. Plus the '19 came free with my new job and even included a gas card so even if it were slow, it'd still be awesome. lol

If I were buying a truck from the Ford lineup with the intent to modify it for speed, I'd likely choose the 3.5. Bolt-on's, HPFP upgrade, and a tune can equate to 550+rwhp.

I love a Coyote, but dollar for dollar in mods, the 3.5 will outshine it. Now if we're talking Whipple or TT money, the tables would of course turn.
 

Makobra

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I love a Coyote, but dollar for dollar in mods, the 3.5 will outshine it. Now if we're talking Whipple or TT money, the tables would of course turn.

things i don't like about the 3.5 are the timing chain driven water pump and it just doesn't seem to be as durable as the 2.7.
its also not as snappy as the 2.7. I suspect they're about equal if that's all the power you want with the 2.7 having the edge of the better design. all my opinion #obvi but the thing looks to be built like a tank.

Here Is How to Make 540 Wheel Horsepower with a Ford F-150 2.7L Ecoboost V6 Stage 3! (Tuning) - The Fast Lane Truck
 

DSG2003Mach1

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things i don't like about the 3.5 are the timing chain driven water pump and it just doesn't seem to be as durable as the 2.7.
its also not as snappy as the 2.7. I suspect they're about equal if that's all the power you want with the 2.7 having the edge of the better design. all my opinion #obvi but the thing looks to be built like a tank.

Here Is How to Make 540 Wheel Horsepower with a Ford F-150 2.7L Ecoboost V6 Stage 3! (Tuning) - The Fast Lane Truck

the 3.5 in the f150 has a normal external mounted pump (first gen for sure anyway but I thought it stayed that way). In the explorers etc its behind the cover
 

scv8

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Well, any L that's still stock these days will inevitably have a dead I/C pump. A lot of them have fallen into the hands of clueless owners.

I'm not convinced something isn't wrong with that lightning. Both my 04 lightnings ran 13.2- 13.3 range stock. My buddy just bought an f150 with the 2.7 and I had a chance to beat on it. It isn't as fast as my 2019 ram and my 2019 ram is no where near my lightnings as far as quickness.

My lightning with 4# lower, tune, cold air, bassani catback, and valve body, went 12.48 at 112 on street tires.
 

black99lightnin

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Not all the time. I personally have a love-hate relationship with the trans. Awesome when you lay into it from a stop and it actually uses every gear. It likes to skip second and third quite often under normal to light acceleration which would be fine, but it takes a fraction of a second longer. So I tend to subconsciously push the pedal a tad harder when I notice the delay and then it bogs a bit once it gets into fourth. It also take 6 years to go into reverse on occasion which isn't that big of a deal, but when I can stop, physically shift into R, start cranking the wheel and give it a little gas before it engages, it can be a little annoying.

The 2.7 is plenty for the 99.9% of us who drive around with nothing in or behind the truck. It's not a rocket, but it's surprisingly quick for what it is and responds well to simple mods + tune. I'd bet my stock '19 2.7 Supercab with 10-speed is quicker than my intake + tune '14 Tremor was. Plus the '19 came free with my new job and even included a gas card so even if it were slow, it'd still be awesome. lol

If I were buying a truck from the Ford lineup with the intent to modify it for speed, I'd likely choose the 3.5. Bolt-on's, HPFP upgrade, and a tune can equate to 550+rwhp.

I love a Coyote, but dollar for dollar in mods, the 3.5 will outshine it. Now if we're talking Whipple or TT money, the tables would of course turn.

I would rather have had a 3.5 but it's not available RCSB. And that's the body I wanted.

things i don't like about the 3.5 are the timing chain driven water pump and it just doesn't seem to be as durable as the 2.7.
its also not as snappy as the 2.7. I suspect they're about equal if that's all the power you want with the 2.7 having the edge of the better design. all my opinion #obvi but the thing looks to be built like a tank.

Here Is How to Make 540 Wheel Horsepower with a Ford F-150 2.7L Ecoboost V6 Stage 3! (Tuning) - The Fast Lane Truck

They made similar on a 3.5 with stock turbo's and e50.
 

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