The interior remains largely...
The interior remains largely untouched, save for a few gauges so that Sue can keep an eye on the boost and fuel pressure. The Harley-edition trucks feature plush leather seating and luxurious amenities, such as a beverage cooler in the center console in the backseat. Since this is a daily driver, a rollbar was never installed. Johnny and Sue just turn down the power at most national events. When things heat up, however, a new tune-up and a shot of nitrous are called into action.
Just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill,...
Just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill, 685-rwhp, 840 lb-ft rear-wheel-torque-producing engine under the hood. The 335ci engine gets pumped up with a Kenne Bell twin-screw blower, and an extra hit comes from a 125hp shot of nitrous from Zex. Other mods include Dynatech headers, Bassani x pipe system, and Bassani 2.5-inch exhaust. The sheetmetal intake manifold relieves a major restriction in the inlet system on Lightning/Harley engines. JLP spent considerable time testing different designs. The Summer '05 issue of Ford Truck Performance featured a tech story on this piece, and our test vehicle picked up almost 30 hp and 35 lb-ft of torque over the stock blower inlet elbow.
The power under the hood was the easy part of the equation-it was something the Johnny Lightning Performance crew did on a daily basis. It was the extra-long wheelbase that garnered the most questions and doubt. You can have all the horsepower and torque in the world, but if it is hampered by poor traction, then your e.t. will be slow on the dragstrip. The suspension is fairly straightforward and compensates for the extra-long wheelbase. JLP traction bars (in chrome finish) act as long levers to help bring up the front end and plant the Hoosier radial slicks. JLP/Bilstein shocks handle the hard launches and the potholes on the local Pennsylvania streets. Two JLP driveshaft loops surround the OEM driveshafts. The rear end is stock save for a Detroit Locker True-Trac differential and a set of 3.73 gears. Bogart wheels sit at all four corners when Sue's truck is on the racetrack. While on the street and going shopping, the Harley rolls around on the factory wheels.
Under the hood is pretty much standard JLP insanity, as the stock mill has been replaced with a mild 335. The factory block was bored to 3.57 inches and filled with Manley pistons and H-beam rods that swing off a factory crankshaft. A pair of JLP Stage 3 cylinder heads rests atop the engine and features a pair of JLP Stage 1 camshafts. Both Sue and Johnny were dead silent about the cam specs. It is a daily driver, so the idle is tame and throttle response is crisp.
The boost maker comes courtesy of Kenne Bell superchargers and is of the twin-screw variety. The air is efficiently supplied to the supercharger through a complete JLP induction system. The outside air is sucked into a high-flow conical air filter and makes its way through a JLP cold air kit. The air then runs through a custom inlet tube and stock MAF sensor with DiabloSport MAFia add-on. An Accufab throttle body opens up wide (133mm single blade) and lets the air into the JLP sheetmetal intake manifold. The Kenne Bell blower then crushes the air to 20 pounds per square inch. The factory air-to-water intercooler is aided by the JLP Ultra Cooler setup. This keeps the boosted air at power-making temperatures, no matter what the ambient temperature is outside of the truck. If that is not enough, then a Zex 125hp shot of nitrous oxide gets this pickup to giddy-up.
A surprisingly stock transmission backs the horsepower and massive amount of torque. It has been beefed up with a JLP/Level 10 valvebody and shift kit. But everything else is from the factory-including the torque converter! Transmission controls are handled through the computer. Johnny uses DiabloSport Chip Master Revolution software for all tuning.
When everything was said and done, it was time to take a shot at the coveted 10-second zone. It wasn't about power, it was about the long wheelbase. With tried and true modifications, Johnny was confident he could turn a 10 with his wife's grocery-getter. The deed happened in early 2005 at the NMRA-Reynolds event, where Johnny was racing in the Truck and Lightning category. He flipped on the nitrous and held on tight as the Harley truck pierced the 10-second barrier and ran 10.90 at 126 mph.
Primary use of this truck is everyday driving, so its days as a race vehicle are limited. Also, given the fact that Sue fills up the truck with groceries and people, there isn't a rollbar. When Johnny isn't messing with his new twin-turbo Gen 2 Lightning, you can be sure he will be asking his wife for the keys to her Harley truck and clicking off 10-second runs at will.