My preference...

[deerejoe]

regarding 'after-market' mods to my MM; specifically, engine performance mods has me preferring a factory designed/assembled/warranted Marauder with SVT enhancements...including a supercharger and all upgraded power train components IF that type Marauder ever comes to be a reality.

Why?
1. An SVT dealer is located within 250 miles from my location.
2. Local (60 miles) L/M dealer will assist me in any dilemma
3. Ford warranty.

Because I live (my preference) in the *'boondocks' where NO reliable wrenches or speed shops exist within a days drive; I would feel more comfortable with the factory set up. The nearest dyno is either Kansas City or St. Louis!!

I love this MM.
The mods many have done to their MMs on this site is nagging the hell out of me!!
I salivate to think of the driving pleasure 400+ RWHP would provide.
However, knowing that I am NOT capable of performing the wrench work myself to most of the requirements of such equipment, it keeps me away from any but the most basic after-market stuff.

Audio systems/options (hopefully) from Ford would still be better than what can be found around here.

*Boondocks= No traffic...great scenic roads and nothing but pick-ups and the occasional Camaro, Trans-Am and ricers to run with...when they finally decide I'm NOT an LEO.
With the equipment some of you have, I might even run with the 'vettes!!

But for now, I can only dream...and hope that D/C will force the Ford folks to play catch-up on large, high performance cars.

[BillyGman]

As a fellow Marauder owner, I can relate to some of your concerns. As far as the warantee issue, there's no argumant there. The bottom line w/that is simply that we all have the choice of leaving our warantee intact, and being content w/the way these cars move in the factory stock configuration, or modifying them to move like true muscle cars, but having to be content w/out a warantee for the drivetrain. It can be a tough choice, but it's one that we're all faced with.


However, as far as the installation of some of the major modifications goes, I guess that will depend on which mods you were to choose. I'll speak for the one that I've chosen which has made the most difference in the performance of this car. And that is the Trilogy S/Cer kit. I just want to point out to you, that most any garage or mechanic can perform the installation of the Trilogy S/Cer. I know that because I did it myself on my Marauder. It doesn't take any special tools, nor highly technicle skills at all. I've used many repair manuals over the last coup[le decades to perform repairs on foreign cars as well as domestic cars. But I've never used a manual that was so specific, and easy to follow as the Trilogy installation manual is. And I've never used one w/even half as many pictires as the Trilogy one has.

Besides the installation manual being so Marauder specific as well as concise, another thing is that the S/Cer kit comes w/a chip burned by Lidio, so it isn't neccessary to get the car dyno tuned once the Trilogy S/Cer is installed. many Trilogy customers have chosen to have Lidio perform a dyno tune on their cars for some extra power, but that isn't neccessary, and I happen to one of those who didn't have that done to my Marauder, and it's making 400 HP to the wheels. So whatever choice you make for your Marauder is ofcourse up to you, but I simply wanted to point these things out to you.

[hitchhiker]

regarding 'after-market' mods to my MM; specifically, engine performance mods has me preferring a factory designed/assembled/warranted Marauder with SVT enhancements...including a supercharger and all upgraded power train components IF that type Marauder ever comes to be a reality.

Why?
1. An SVT dealer is located within 250 miles from my location.
2. Local (60 miles) L/M dealer will assist me in any dilemma
3. Ford warranty.

Because I live (my preference) in the *'boondocks' where NO reliable wrenches or speed shops exist within a days drive; I would feel more comfortable with the factory set up. The nearest dyno is either Kansas City or St. Louis!!

I love this MM.
The mods many have done to their MMs on this site is nagging the hell out of me!!
I salivate to think of the driving pleasure 400+ RWHP would provide.
However, knowing that I am NOT capable of performing the wrench work myself to most of the requirements of such equipment, it keeps me away from any but the most basic after-market stuff.

Audio systems/options (hopefully) from Ford would still be better than what can be found around here.

*Boondocks= No traffic...great scenic roads and nothing but pick-ups and the occasional Camaro, Trans-Am and ricers to run with...when they finally decide I'm NOT an LEO.
With the equipment some of you have, I might even run with the 'vettes!!

But for now, I can only dream...and hope that D/C will force the Ford folks to play catch-up on large, high performance cars.

Nice to hear from the Ozarks!

I have three lots bought for my retirement there someday.

Best Regards,

David

[deerejoe]

Nice to hear from the Ozarks!

I have three lots bought for my retirement there someday.

Best Regards,

David

Be sure to keep the location a secret...we don't want TOO many 'big city' folks coming down and cluttering up the S P A C E...of course a GOOD speed shop would be WELCOME!!

I'm sure you're looking forward to retirement.....

[deerejoe]

[QUOTE=BillyGman
However, as far as the installation of some of the major modifications goes, I guess that will depend on which mods you were to choose. I'll speak for the one that I've chosen which has made the most difference in the performance of this car. And that is the Trilogy S/Cer kit. I just want to point out to you, that most any garage or mechanic can perform the installation of the Trilogy S/Cer. I know that because I did it myself on my Marauder. It doesn't take any special tools, nor highly technicle skills at all.

Besides the installation manual being so Marauder specific as well as concise, another thing is that the S/Cer kit comes w/a chip burned by Lidio, so it isn't neccessary to get the car dyno tuned once the Trilogy S/Cer is installed.[Quote edited]

Billy,
All good information. Thanks.
Warranty work WILL be provided by my dealer regardless of any mods. That's assured.
What he (dealer) will not do is any work related to the mods which go broke.
I don't have a problem with that. Further, his mechanics will not do any mods which aren't authorized by Ford. That's OK too...which brings us back to my original thread.

You may as well know that I'm also VERY particular as to 'who does what' to my Marauder.
I really do not wish to assail any person that earns a living doing the best they can working on cars. Lets just say that Marauder's and superchargers are rare as hen's teeth down here...I've never seen another after it left the dealer's lot.

Additionally, aside from the occasional truck/tractor pulls at the local rodeo arenas, the only modified vehicles are those pick ups with straight pipes and gun racks!! This IS hill country. 'Mod' money is spent on beer, likker and chew. If it ain't got it from the dealer...it don't get it!!

My lament (thread) was not meant to be a desparate statement without recourse. With money (I have) all material things are possible.
I just want the work done right and within a reasonable distance in case of problems.
Things do change...

Thanks again for your input.