just a newbie non-ford guy saying hello!

[gator's 99TA]

well i am going to buy a 2003 2nd Gen L and have been introduced to this site by lil' zeus. i am on the "other side" LOL. i absolutely love these trucks and live in topeka, KS so i see all you guys at HPT. i just want to learn about these beasts before i plunk down the money for one this coming year! thanks guys. hopefully i am welcomed around here. :tu:

 

[MO351]

Sweet car. Welcome aboard.

 

[roger]

Ditto on the welcome! This is a pretty laid-back bunch that can appreciate many types of hotrods. As much as you love your firechicken, you'll love your truck just as much--two different approaches at performance, both done very well.

BTW, I couldn't help but notice all the suspension mods...ever play in any parking lots (Auto-x)?

 

[lil'Zeus]

John~
Whats up man, I'm glad you registered!

Guys, that TA is one bad mo'fo'!

I think I got all of my stanger buddies from around here that want to hang out with everyone that is coming to town sat!

I'll call you tomorrow night around 6:30 or 7:00!

 

[gator's 99TA]

na, my TA is not bad, just a mild bolt on and baby cam. heck i can barely spin the tires! LOL

as for autocross, i do want to get into that, but i love going in straight lines too! i have nearly every suspension part on my car. that is untill i break the TQ arm soon off of a big launch.

 

[lil'Zeus]

I doubt you'll break that new rearend on a 5000rpm launch, but a 6000............Nah, I still doubt it! I just can't wait to see if it'll pull the front end up a tad!

I wish my truck would! I think I'm going to get a custom set of wheels made, in hopes of lightening it up some more! But I got to wait a while!

 

[roger]

...as for autocross, i do want to get into that, but i love going in straight lines too! i have nearly every suspension part on my car. that is untill i break the TQ arm soon off of a big launch.

That car would be a natural and you could be whipping some serious German butt if you catch the drift.

There are many events in your back yard so-to-speak (Wichita, Salina, Topeka (including Heartland Park)), not to mention the KC area. Heres a link to the schedules; http://nloc.net/vbforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10060

Or, better yet; get it straight from the horses mouth at:

http://www.kcrscca.org/schedule.htm

or:

http://www.crownautocross.org/schedule.asp

Note that there is a school on Saturday 3/23, with a Solo II event on Sunday 3/24 to try out what you just learned the day before. This one will be held at the GSA bldg at 95 & Troost (old 'Bendix' bldg). If you're just getting started this is invaluable and will bring your heat times down faster than any other thing you'll ever do. Prices are cheap at around $15-$25.00 for the school and about the same for the event.

Once you get your 'sea legs' so-to-speak, there will be 3, count 'em 3 FASSST events in June at Arrowhead (read 15 acre parking lots!) to put to use what you learned.

 

[gator's 99TA]

thanks i am going to check this out! the only thing is that i am scared of burning up the brakes. the factory units are 12" but still i need to learn not to destroy them. then again, that will give me an excuse to put on big ole' brakes!

 

[roger]

thanks i am going to check this out! the only thing is that i am scared of burning up the brakes. the factory units are 12" but still i need to learn not to destroy them. then again, that will give me an excuse to put on big ole' brakes!

While you most likely would want more brake for open track events, they'll be fine for autocrossing. Solo II events are designed to never get above freeway speeds. That's not too fast until you remember you're in a parking lot <g>. What you'll find you'll need more than brakes are (seat) belts. You'll be absolutely amazed at the lateral g's you'll pull. A stock factory seatbelt/shoulder harness setup isn't upto snuff for this stuff...very little time with the wheel pointed straight. That's easily fixed tho, you can buy a helper belt for about $15.00 that will keep you in the seat. With a car such as yours, you'll find you spend some time steering with your right foot to help turn the car.

Anyway, at most you may decide to go with a bit more agressive pad. You can get Carbon Metallics at AutoZone and they have a <cough> lifetime warranty (read one season). Several people get a new set every season <g>. I wouldn't recommend going above a semi-metallic (no race pads on the street!), because in street driving you don't always have the luxury of anticipation of braking when some knucklehead pulls in front of you and decides to turn off--you know the drill; the brakes won't have the time to heat up...

 

[lil'Zeus]

Don't let him fool you on being slow! I went for a ride last night, and even with John short shifting, it was haulin balz!

 

[roger]

Shawn, I guess he'll need to spot me about 10 cars in a drag race, but autocross is about 70% driver and 30% car...

 

[lil'Zeus]

Shawn????????????????????????? LOL

 

[Mike Gager]

lol

damn shane sounds like i missed a pretty good time at martin last saturday! what did you guys do after the cops ran everybody off at 10:45?

 

[lil'Zeus]

Uh............went back at 11:15 and then got bored about 1:00 or so and left!

It was packed, like 200 cars or so!

 

[roger]

Shawn????????????????????????? LOL

DUUUHH...damn, now I've done it to both of you in about a week...that's what happens when you only have 3 brain cells and 2 of them are frozen <g>.

...torry bout dat guys!

 

[efouroh]

Don't worry about it, Roger. We all call him Shawn anyway. That's his name, I thought???

 

[lil'Zeus]

<me raises middle finger>

 

[MO351]

Hey Erik, nice last name.

Adam Blankenship here.:tu:

 

[Gabbies 97]

LOL!!!! "Shawn" That is a good one. Who ever did start that?

 

[lil'Zeus]

Oh shut up Gary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!