If you could have both in one model, would you? Taking full advantage of the best of both worlds of utility and performance, pickup trucks don’t just have to be the faithful companions of overlanding fans, worksite warriors, off-roading aficionados, and tow masters, but can be for those of us who love the style, comfort, ruggedness, and utility of a pickup truck but also want the thrill of driving something sporty.
Performance pickup trucks started rearing their snarling heads in the late 1980s, starting with the 1989 Shelby Dakota, and since then, we have been lucky enough to receive a raft of potent models from the likes of GMC, Chevrolet, Dodge, RAM, and Ford. Of some of the most impressive, we have found a performance pickup truck that doubles up perfectly as a utilitarian beast and a sporty number under the guise of the almighty Ford F-150, so we have brought you information about its sporty build, owning one today, its performance specifications, and how it can do everything itself.
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A Supercharged 5.4-Liter V-8 And Smokin’ 0-60 MPH Times
Utilizing the basis of a 10th-gen Ford F-150, the 2004 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning is a special, second-generational build of the much-revered SVT Lightning lineup. After a three-year break, Ford and SVT fired up the truck world again with the release of this awesome performance truck, with model years running from 1999-2004. This is the final year of the legendary lineup before the Raptor took center stage, and it combines all the lessons learned from previous MYs in one potent beast.
The Ford Special Vehicle Team Taking The F-150 To New Heights
SVT are legends of the performance market, and up there with the likes of AMG, Shelby, and the M division of BMW, and what they can do with a supercharger, a V-8, and an F-150 is no one’s business. The Ford F-150 had been a staple of Ford’s truck lineup since the mid-1970s, and by the time the 2004 iteration rolled around, they had got things pretty sussed out with how to produce a decent truck, but, what the Special Vehicle Team did was take it and turn it into a proper performance weapon with the addition of:
- Supercharged 5.4-liter Triton V-8.
- Flareside bed.
- Performance-tuned suspension.
- Distinct styling unique to the SVT Lightning.
- Aerodynamic front fascia.
- Performance exhaust.
This awesome performance truck has relatively large dimensions of 208 inches x 79.1 inches x 70.9 inches with a wheelbase of 119.8 inches. It weighs in at a very healthy 4,670 pounds, but thanks to SVT’s work, that doesn’t seem to have made much of a difference in how it performs.
2004 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning Performance Specifications
Because the SVT Lightning is a performance-bred model, Ford and SVT only designed it with one engine option. The previous generation’s mill kicked out a still-impressive 240-horsepower from the equipped 5.8-liter V-8, but the second-gen’s smaller but supercharged engine tops it by 140 horses.
|
Engine |
5.4-Liter Supercharged V-8 |
|
Transmission |
Four-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
380 Horsepower |
|
Torque |
450 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
Rear-Wheel Drive |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.2 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
142 MPH |
|
Towing Capacity |
5,000 LBS |
|
Payload Capacity |
1,400 LBS |
With 0-60 MPH times of a little over five seconds, the 2004 SVT Lightning can easily take it toe-to-toe with some of the best sports cars of the 2000s, beating the likes of the 2005 Toyota Celica (7.5 seconds), the Acura RSX (6.2 seconds), the Honda S2000 (5.8 seconds), the 2000-2006 BMW M3 (5.4 seconds), and the 2004 Nissan 350Z (5.3 seconds).
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The Performance Features That Set The F-150 SVT Lightning Apart
At the heart of everything is the Triton engine under the hood, but before we get to that, the SVT Lightning is actually still relatively useful as a truck with a decent payload and towing capacity. In comparison, the 2004 Ford F-150 can tow a maximum of 9,900 pounds of stuff around, but because the SVT Lightning is rear-wheel drive only and is meant for speed, it is obviously less.
To save weight, the SVT is only available with a regular cab (which seats you and two passengers) and a short bed, but you still get 40.8 inches of headroom, 40.9 inches of legroom, 63.8 inches of hip room, and 60/40 split bench seats. So far, you’ve got speed, comfort, decent usability, and a unique design, but the icing on the cake is the engine.
The Triton V-8 Under The Hood
The final year of the SVT Lightning has a power-to-weight ratio of 0.076-horsepower-per-pound – not the greatest ever, but thanks to the engine and SVT’s know-how, it gets the job done.
The engine is a torquey SOHV Triton V-8, like the one utilized in the Crown Victoria, but mated with an Eaton IV-Gen supercharger good for 8 PSI. It also boasts a water-to-air intercooler, a forged steel crankshaft, forged steel pistons, a 2.2-inch throttle body, a 3-inch exhaust, a large-capacity air intake with a 3.54-inch air sensor, and a relatively high redline of 5,750 RPM. You get peak power at 4,750 RPM and the maximum amount of torque wound out at 3,250 RPM, so, in essence, the Triton is built for high strain and some serious pull.
To top it off, the ’04 SVT Lightning can dash the quarter mile in around 13.8 seconds at 104 MPH, equaling what the 2004 Nissan 350Z NISMO can do and beating some impressive models like the 2001 Porsche Boxster S (13.9 seconds), the 2007 Porsche Cayman (14.2 seconds), the 2004 Jaguar XJ8 (14.7 seconds), the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 (14 seconds), and the 2008 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro Roadster (14.3 seconds).
The Racing Spec Setup All Over
As any real performance truck should, it is more than just the engine under the hood; it is also relatively streamlined, with a drag coefficient of 0.44, and low to the ground, with a ride height of 8.75 inches. Up front, you can tell it means business with its clear-lens headlights, round SVT fog lights, and unique front bumper and fascia. The side exit exhausts not only look athletic but also save weight due to the reduced amount of piping utilized, and custom rocker extensions give it a low, race-ready stance.
It rides on lightweight 18-inch aluminum five-spoke wheels wrapped in Goodyear tires; the suspension is dialed in for sharp handling, with upper and lower A-arms, SVT-tuned coil springs, Bilstein gas shocks, and a 31-millimeter stabilizer bar up front, while the rear boasts a solid axle with five-leaf springs, staggered Monroe Formula GP shocks to reduce any axle hop, and a 23-millimeter sway bar.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a heavy-duty Ford 4R100 transmission paired with a high-capacity transmission cooler, which was originally developed for the Super Duty lineups, so it can handle the intense power from the mill, while a limited-slip differential and 3.73:1 final drive ratio helps to provide superior traction and aids in its rapid acceleration potential. All in all, it is one hell of a rig.
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Owning A 2004 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning Today
There aren’t any official figures for the SVT Lightning’s combined miles-per-gallon stats, but it has been reported that it can achieve a pretty lowly 14 combined MPG (13 MPG in the city and 16 MPH on the highway), so if you are looking at buying one, don’t expect anything too frugal. We know that wouldn’t be the reason you’d look for one, but it is still something to consider.
But, aside from how much fuel it is likely to drink, the F-150 SVT Lightning is a very well-received performance truck by its owners. According to reviews left on Kelley Blue Book, out of all the ratings, 73 percent of owners gave it a 5-star review, resulting in an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5. Across the board, the 2004 F-150 SVT Lightning flaunts great ratings, according to owners, and includes:
- Performance. 4.6 out of 5.
- Value. 4.6 out of 5.
- Quality. 4.6 out of 5.
- Reliability. 4.7 out of 5.
- Comfort. 4.7 out of 5.
- Styling. 5.7 out of 5.
Best Pickup Ever. Lightning!!! Fast…handles curves like a Vette and reliable to boot. Gas mileage? Who cares when you’re driving the best performance pickup of all time!
– Owner review of their Ford F-150 SVT Lightning on Kelley Blue Book.
A Large Pool And Reasonable Prices For The Pedigree
There were a total of 3,781 2004 F-150 SVT Lightning models rolled out just over 20 years ago, a relatively large number considering its performance kudos and extra work that went into making it, but it is still a popular model today, with 28 sold over the last five years. Considering that you get a heck of a lot of performance guts, unique style, a whopping supercharged mill, and some sleeper credentials, the ’04 SVT Lightning is relatively affordable, with an average auction price standing at $32,312.
The cheapest example in the last five years went under the hammer for $15,000 in September 2024, and the most expensive example, a mint-condition model with just 4,000 miles on the clock, fetched $57,708. In terms of value for money, using the average auction price, it will cost you a mere $85 per horsepower, which can be seen as a bit of a bargain, considering the admittedly rarer 2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, which can churn out 390 horsepower, will set you back $44,238, on average ($113 per horsepower).
What To Look Out For With The F-150 SVT Lightning
Though the Ford F-150 is relatively widely known for its dependability and still stands as America’s favorite pickup truck, the SVT Lightning is slightly more complicated due to its high-performance credentials, so there are a few things that you’ll have to keep an eye on or check before burning away in your new toy.
According to owners, some of the more troubling problems that have been reported include:
- Leaking intake manifold.
- Spark plugs popping out.
- EGR tube leaks.
- Metal particles in the steering fluid.
On average, the Ford F-150 has an average annual repair bill of $788, but it is worth checking with whoever you are buying one from about the maintenance record, what repairs have been done, if they have experienced some of the most common problems, and if they have done anything about them. What you can be sure of, though, is that the slightly diminished practicality that you get from an SVT Lightning compared to what you get from a “regular” F-150 of the same age is made up for in terms of sports-car-like performance.
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Other Performance Pickup Trucks That Tear It Up
Though we think that the F-150 SVT Lightning is one heck of a tire-burning, rapid, muscular, and awesome performance truck, it is far from the only one on the market, and thanks to , we now have a good variety available that all offer some seat-pinning acceleration, unique builds, and that something extra that turns a workhorse into a horsepower-spitting beast.
- GMC Cyclone. Engine: 4.3-Liter V-8. Horsepower: 280-Horsepower. Torque: 350 LB-FT.
- Chevrolet El Camino 545 SS. Engine: 7.4-Liter V-8. Horsepower: 450-Horsepower. Torque: 500 LB-FT.
- Dodge SRT Ram-10. Engine: 8.3-Liter V-8. Horsepower: 500-Horsepower. Torque: 505 LB-FT.
- Ram 1500 TRX. Engine: 6.2-Liter Supercharged V-8. Horsepower: 702-Horsepower. Torque: 650 LB-FT.
- Ford F-150 Raptor R. Engine: 5.2-Liter Supercharged V-8. Horsepower: 720-Horsepower. Torque: 640 LB-FT.
- Shelby F-150 Super Snake. Engine: 5.0-Liter Supercharged V-8. Horsepower: 800-Horsepower. Torque: 800 LB-FT.