Intro for a Newb

[HIVOLTAGE]

Great looking site with tons of info. I've met a few of you over the years in affiliation with our Lightning club. I'm pres of the Arizona Lightning Owners club. Kind of feel like I'm cheating on them though right now.:laughing1:

I bought a new 2009 Shelby GT500 about a month ago and loving the car. I've had a few Cobra's over the years and it's good to have one again. I still have an 02 Lightning that I've went waaaaayy over board on modding - it's a sickness and untreatable I know. I also have a 1963 Impala 409, so a gearhead at heart.

Good to be a part of your club and looking to get to know you. Thanks for having me!

[BurnTire]

:welcome:

I have a neighbor with with a red lightning that is in your club.

[TorchedMach1]

Welcome! Now lets see some pics of those nice vehicles!!!

[AZSonicSnake]

welcome aboard! good to see you here! since you are now a stang owner too. this is one of the best stang sites you will come across, with a very good member base. i think you'll enjoy the site.

[HIVOLTAGE]

Here's some pics as requested!

2009 Shelby GT500

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/2009%20Shelby%20GT500/022.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/2009%20Shelby%20GT500/025.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/2009%20Shelby%20GT500/003-1.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/2009%20Shelby%20GT500/015.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/2009%20Shelby%20GT500/005.jpg

2002 Lightning tuned by Devin @ PSR

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/DSC_0141.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/DSC_0146.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/DSC_0128.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/P1010001.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/P1010005.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/DSC_0816.jpg

1963 Impala 409 dual quads w/4sp all

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/1963%20Impala/DSC00557.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/1963%20Impala/DSC00547.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/1963%20Impala/DSC00552.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/1963%20Impala/DSC00565.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/1963%20Impala/1963Impala007.jpg

[AZSonicSnake]

dang. some seriously nice rides man! can't quite beat a garage containing two supercharged ford vehicles. :woot1:

[HIVOLTAGE]

What?!? No love for the Impala Tony? :sticktonge:

J/K man, I know I'm spoiled.:laughing1:

Maybe you'd like this pic better???

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/tab01-1.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/P1010070-1.jpg

[Mr. Austin]

DANG. One day i wanna grow up to be just like you!! hahaha love the garage man. Beautiful!

[AZSonicSnake]

What?!? No love for the Impala Tony? :sticktonge:

J/K man, I know I'm spoiled.:laughing1:

Maybe you'd like this pic better???

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/tab01-1.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i287/strucku/Lightnings/P1010070-1.jpg

haha! you know it. :sticktonge: been workin on re-arranging my garage a little since that beauty really needs to get back in a garage.

and honestly, i was just showing the pics of the impala to the wife, and commenting about how nice it must be to have all them beautys in one place. i just was blinded by my love for fords when i wrote my post. :icon_cool:

[HIVOLTAGE]

DANG. One day i wanna grow up to be just like you!! hahaha love the garage man. Beautiful!


Thanks! The garage was a 2 mth project but it came out okay. The Lightning Club really likes mod parties over here. The last one had 50+ peeps show up. We had both sides of the street for 2blks lined with hot rods plus 3 in the garage and 3 in the driveway. Always a real good time.
Had some cold ones, bbq and some pool time - but mostly hanging out and bench racing. :laughing:

I don't know if any of you would be interested in a mod party like this for the Stangs or not. Maybe we could get something stirred up if you'd like? Maybe have both L's and Stangs together?

[HIVOLTAGE]

Honestly Tony, the sonic L couldn't of gone to a better guy! I'm sure glad you got it and are loving it like we did.:pepper:

[AZSonicSnake]

i'd be all in for a mod meet! Kind of a long haul from north phoenix, but thats why we have cars and trucks that we love to drive. not gonna mod the truck like crazy, but it will have a few things done. Mostly apperance and what not. Only thing planned under the hood thus far is an oil catch can on the pcv line. Ed was showing me a rather nice setup he has on his L, and having put one on my Cobra sometime ago, i really want one on the truck.

And thank you. I know if i was ever to sell one of my babies off, i would sure wanna know that she was in good hands. And i can tell ya, the L does have a good new home. Cannot promise i will be changing the spark plugs as often, but i will be keepin her maintained and lookin good. :icon_cool:

[Lrd Vdr]

Welcome. That's some serious hardware there.

[WildBill]

Welcome!

I don't think I've seen ya out and about since your run in with Firebird's "Tech Nazis" last year.

Dunno which of your toys I like best. I like that "Beach Boys Chevy" a lot.:yes:

[HIVOLTAGE]

Thanks for the comps guys. The Impala is quite the sleeper and probably one of the more fun cars I've had. No matter where I take it, it always gets compliments. But the best part is hearing all the stories from people about how they used to own one, or their parents did etc. It's in good condition for being 46yrs old. Hell, I'm not in near as good shape and I'm 3 yrs older! :biggrin:

Hey Bill! Long time no talk to. Yeah, the tech nazis pretty well ruined my desire to race for a long time. The last time was at Firechicken a year ago July. I'm thinking around the end of October I'll brave another round with them. It has always amazed me that I raced out there for 5yrs and never had a problem until that night. Makes me wonder what exactly went on to have it come up like it did. Oh well, this next time out they're going to tech it for whatever, and I'll go bust out some passes until they kick me out. :yes:

[silvrsvt]

wow, nice rides! whats that lightning run??

[AZSonicSnake]

wow, nice rides! whats that lightning run??

from what i understand that bad boy makes my junk look rather slow. and its a big ol pick em up truck! it certainly is an impressive machine. :icon_cool:

[Jacostang]

Welcome! Some serious American Hot Rods and yes I was brought home from the hospital in a 64 SS Impala...

[HIVOLTAGE]

wow, nice rides! whats that lightning run??

Thanks.

I've only ran the L on the street program and 91 octane so far on this set up. Last July with 109* temps and a DA of 3400' it ran an 11.09et. It was pretty traction challenged and was spinning the tires past the 60' mark. It's past it's break in period now on the new running gear and I have a friend doing some work to it now to prepare for this years race season. It should be interesting to see what it can do. Of course, it's limited to what the driver can do too.:woot2::laughing:

Devin at PSR did the original tunes and it's going to need some tweaking before I take it back out. His current race tune puts 686hp/767tq to the wheels. He should be able to step up quite a bit this next time around.

[HIVOLTAGE]

from what i understand that bad boy makes my junk look rather slow. and its a big ol pick em up truck! it certainly is an impressive machine. :icon_cool:

Thanks Tony, but your Stang still has the quicker ET slip. :twothumbsup:

The truck weighs in at 4760 so it's a lot of mass to get down the track. But I sure like it, it is a lot of fun. It still amazes me that so few guys know what a Lightning is. I think most just think it's a farm truck with loud exhaust. :dunno:

[HIVOLTAGE]

Welcome! Some serious American Hot Rods and yes I was brought home from the hospital in a 64 SS Impala...

Yup, that's what I'm talking about. Everyone seems to have a cool story about these cars.

It is a sleeper. Unless someone notices the small 409 emblem on the fender they would never know what lurks under the hood. I guess there's not many original 409 dual quad cars around anymore. It sure was the shiznits in it's day though. I leaned into the throttle one time and found out rather quickly that the bias ply tires really don't hook up very well. :laughing:

[AZSonicSnake]

Thanks Tony, but your Stang still has the quicker ET slip. :twothumbsup:

The truck weighs in at 4760 so it's a lot of mass to get down the track. But I sure like it, it is a lot of fun. It still amazes me that so few guys know what a Lightning is. I think most just think it's a farm truck with loud exhaust. :dunno:

yeah, but we both know which one is faster. :yes: you'll have the slip soon enough. keep us posted to when you head out, would love to watch it. maybe even line up with ya and check out your taillights. :sticktonge:

and agreed, most don't really know what they are. which is fine in my book. leaves them for us crazy folks to enjoy. also makes it a little more affordable for us broke folks like me. haha..

[HIVOLTAGE]

You're waaaayyyyy to modest and humble Tony. The truck hasn't run a number yet and I really have no idea what it will do. You on the other hand, have a badazz car and matching truck. I'm sure glad you ended up with the Lightning, does my heart good to know it went to such a good home.

I'll keep you posted on when I take the truck out again. I've got to get it dyno'd before much else can happen with it. And then only after Shane gives it the approval.

I'm going to take the Shelby out to run the road course either in October or November. I'm just as anxious to do that as make some 1320 passes with the truck.

[WildBill]

Thanks for the comps guys. The Impala is quite the sleeper and probably one of the more fun cars I've had. No matter where I take it, it always gets compliments. But the best part is hearing all the stories from people about how they used to own one, or their parents did etc. It's in good condition for being 46yrs old. Hell, I'm not in near as good shape and I'm 3 yrs older! :biggrin:

Hey Bill! Long time no talk to. Yeah, the tech nazis pretty well ruined my desire to race for a long time. The last time was at Firechicken a year ago July. I'm thinking around the end of October I'll brave another round with them. It has always amazed me that I raced out there for 5yrs and never had a problem until that night. Makes me wonder what exactly went on to have it come up like it did. Oh well, this next time out they're going to tech it for whatever, and I'll go bust out some passes until they kick me out. :yes:

I've been blindsided by them at at firechicken before and that's after racing there at several national events with the exact same combo! That's why I like Speed World. They are consistent and they are willing to work with people on putting on race events. Let me know when you're ready to go back out for TnT in either vehicle and I can go out with ya to help, observe the run and make suggestions for any changes if needed.

[HIVOLTAGE]

Heck of a nice offer Bill, thank you.

Good to run into you on the site here. I'm guessing October for the truck at Speedworld and November for the twisties in the Shelby. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again!

[BurnTire]

I have never had a single issue with a 10.0 tech at firebird.

[WildBill]

I have never had a single issue with a 10.0 tech at firebird.

I'm happy fer ya!:hi:......See.........:pepper:

[HIVOLTAGE]

I have never had a single issue with a 10.0 tech at firebird.

Well I did unfortunately and it ruined the whole damn night. After 3 1/2hrs of screwing around with them I finally just loaded up and went home. I went to Speedworld the following week and had no problems.

Funny thing is, is that I've raced at Firebird tons of times over a 5yr period and never a problem from normal open racing to national events.

[BurnTire]

So what was the tech issue you ran into?

[WildBill]

So what was the tech issue you ran into?

First it was one thing.....corrected that............went back to tech......the found another perceived problem....then the one he couldn't overcome as they wanted.


MY impressions were that someone just didn't want him to run that day.........PERIOD.........NO NAMES!

[BurnTire]

I am curious about the specifics.

[HIVOLTAGE]

MY impressions were that someone just didn't want him to run that day.........PERIOD.........NO NAMES!

Yup, I think you're right Bill. If that's the case, it sure would be nice to know who it was and why they did it?

[HIVOLTAGE]

I am curious about the specifics.

Wow, well that's quite a long story. I'm not sure I want to relive it by typing it all out here and I'm not sure you really want to hear it. Let's just say that from the very get go it was obvious that the tech had it out for the truck. I've been to the track a lot and I've never seen two tech guys point at a vehicle (definitely selecting it out of the group) walk past 2 other vehicles that were in line for tech ahead of it and start to go over it with the perverbile fine tooth comb. (literally)

After dicking around with them for 3 1/2 hrs I had enough and packed up and went home. So they won.....at whatever game they were playing.

IF, I go back to Firebird, they can tech it for whatever they want. I'll go make my runs until they throw me out. But I'm not going through that crap again.

[WildBill]

Yup, I think you're right Bill. If that's the case, it sure would be nice to know who it was and why they did it?

I had my suspicions at the time. I sure as hell didn't want to talk about it at the track with as much pure hell they put you thru...........you might have killed someone!:yes:..........but the main tech guy that was giving you hell was the same one that tagged me the year before. I went over his head the next day when the FunFord guys rolled in the next day!:laughing::laughing1::laughing1::laughing1:

[HIVOLTAGE]

hahahaahaaaa, good job Bill. Yeah, I wasn't in the best of moods that night.:yes: It generally takes quite a bit to get me going and after that fiasco, I was at the brink of saying or doing something stupid. Better to walk away clean and not have anything to apologize for the next day.

[AZSonicSnake]

firebird pissin someone off? haha... naaaah. that neeeever happens. lol...

[HIVOLTAGE]

Hard to imagine isn't it Tony? I can't imagine why many of us prefer Speedworld these days.

[WildBill]

Hard to imagine isn't it Tony? I can't imagine why many of us prefer Speedworld these days.

:icon_cool::pinkthumb: