man, i didn't realize how fast those things were...or my car isnt running like it should be.. we were doing about 65 when we decided to race, i jumped ahead (i think i just started early), but around 90 i was DEFINITELY getting walked, around 105 we saw a cop turning around in the median ahead so we both slammed on the brakes, but there was no doubt that i was getting passed... has anyone else messed with one of the v-8's? should i be getting beat?

 

oh...btw.. i am a 95' se 5-speed

 

3728 lb and a 252 HP V8 with an automatic tranny.

4th Gen 5spd? I think you should have walked him but I haven't checked out the gearing in those things other than that they're 5spd auto's.

Speaking of which...what gear were you in?

 

i had downshifted to 3rd, so i didn't think she had a chance (i did have two girls with me, and she had only one guy with her so....)

 

they do make a supercharger for those v8's... specialvehicles.com

 

The LS is fairly quick at speed, but a dog off the line.

 

If this is the case, the new Thunderbird might be even tougher. I believe they use the same engine and running gear, but should be lighter cars. Upgrade the suspension in those and they could be a lot of fun! Um, except it's still a Ford product ...

 

if the v8s have the same tranny as the V6s, I think it'd be close b/c we have a V6 and its got the luxury lag between shifts

 

Lincoln LS V8s are dogs. I dont know how you got walked by one. What rpm did you shift into 4th at?

 

i think i shifted from 3rd at about 6500, i think i should have downshifted to 2nd to begin...would 2nd be to short for 65 mph?

 

Here are the stats on the LS V8 5 spd auto taken from Motor Trend Jan.2000;
0-60= 7.2sec
1/4mile= 15.4 sec@90.7 mph!

 

Third is the right gear, but you gotta shift at 6000 rpms i believe. 4th gens lose power above 6k (i believe). Either way, you shouldnt have gotten walked by a LS. Is your car running right?

 

it seems to be running fine...but now im not so sure

 

Umm, how big were the two girls that you had w/ you.

if you had a full tank of gas and alot of passenger weight your talking an extra 600+ pounds to carry. makes a difference.

 

well, the total people weight in my car outweighed those in the lincoln by 110 lbs. i hada full tank, but so did the ls, we had just come from the gas station (at least im assuming they filled up as well)...but i also had 50 lbs + worth of audio equip. and 20 lbs of tools....

 

I sold a 2k Lincoln LS V6 5M in order to buy my Max. A friend of mine has a 2k LS V8. I've driven it many times as my friend has muscular dystrophy and doesn't actually get to drive his own car. Anyway, what I think happened is that you got caught with the LS in a 'sweet shift' meaning that since it's a 5 speed auto, it may have jumped down to it's sweet spot as far as rpm goes. I've never jumped on the throttle at that speed in his car, so I'm not quite sure what it would have been revving or if it would have even gone down to 3rd. The V8 really is a nice motor. Smooth, plenty of torque, just needs a 6 spd manual attached to it.

I just talked to my friend and he says that at 90 mph he thinks he's revving at ~3500 rpm in 5th. Standing on the throttle will shift to 4th and give him ~4200 rpm which is right in the meat of his power. From what I remember, the car actually pulls really well in those sort of downshifts, so it's very possible that he just caught you 'at his best'. The V8 (like my LS V6) really has a hard time reaching redline from about 5500 rpm, though, so if you guys would have stayed in it, you probably would have gained it all back.

On a side note, my friend told me he was reading a thread at the LS forum that warned LS'ers to stay away from the G35 and 2k2 Max, that they'll get owned. The guy said he went against a G35 and lost. Goes on to say that the LS should stay with the Max in the corners easily (which I personally believe as well), but it's a completely different story with the G35. Wait until the G35 shows up with the stick!!!!

Albert

 

Yeah. If you didn't shift until redline in 3rd then you would have been bogging it because the engine is out of the powerband at that point. Remember it's a VQ30DE, not a VQ30DE-K with the variable manifold in the 5th Gen's

CarTest2000 software gives the following optimal shift points:

1-2: Redline (6550) @ 37 mph
2-3: 6210 rpm @ 62 mph
3-4: 6020 rpm @ 88 mph
4-5: 5750 rpm @ 113 mph

So I think you might have just kept it in 3rd too long and bogged it.

 

Thats really good info actually. The only thing standing in between 5 speed owners and perfectly timed shifts is the effect mods have on the power curve and tachometer lag.

 

The LS V8 is a highway beast. I raced one on the highway in my modded Prelude (see sig) and we ran from about 80 to 140. I pulled at first but when I shifted into 5th at 125, he was right by my side and stayed there until we shut down around 140. I was very surprised. I had a 300lb passenger, but still, I was aghast. I wonder how he would fare against my 2K2?

 

My friend works for a rental car company and he had an LS V8 one day, we raced on the highway and it was really no contest, he got whooped on pretty badly. I don't know if there is some particular technique to extract the most performance out of them, but I do know he was getting beaten handily.

 

Not to be an @ss or anything, but have you guys actually test drove a LS V8. I drove a demo version with a broken in engine and the car was slow. All over the powerband it was slow. Highway,standstill, 20 mph roll. They are high 15's cars in the 1/4 and run around 7.5 to 60. A 2k2 Maxima will eat them alive and so with a 4th/5th gen 5 speed.

 

high 15's isnt bad for a 3700 pd. lincoln.. and being it's only their 1st version of this car.. and only the 2nd sports model theyve produced