random questions

[the fat bastid]

is sticking a manual trans in the mm at all feesable?

i remeber reading something about placement of the firewall(or something) making that pretty hard and thats what stopped them for trying further.

what could be done to reduce wieght without compromising the quality of the interior? (how much does those light wieght driveshafts save?)

all my f-body friends keep pestering me that the mm is too slow because of its power to weight ratio and that autos suck.

i love the looks of the marauder but how can i shut them the hell up?

ya i know i've been here awhile but not having the car yet and hearing things like this begin to break the ol' back after awhile.

help the marauder win!

[modular46]

I understand one of the problems with building a manual trans panther, is that underdash bracing interferes with the clutch pedal assemly. The bracing is a necessary part of the 5 star crash rating system. I think Roush ran into that issue when the Bondurant "CobraVics" were built. I'm sure 5 star crash wasn't an issue with Bondurant.

[LincMercLover]

Buy a super charger, duh...

I heard they put a 6-speed in a CV as a driving course vehicle, but that car was destroyed after it's use.

If you take out the back seats, you see how much weight can be saved by an interior strip. Yah, not much huh? These days interior pieces are so light, it's pointless to strip a car down like that unless you're serious about racing.

[the fat bastid]

re: supercharger

this all started when i was talking to my ws-6 pal and mentioned mensra's time (low 12s). he responded by say that a stock ls1 f-body does 12.9-13.7 depending on driver, etc..

and he said 'you dont still want one of those do you?'

its just...arghaghagrra!!!!
it just pisses me off, no respect i tell ya!

i know, i know...obviosuly there are things i cant change. 302hp/4200lbs vs 325hp/3444lbs. but i'm just trying to get something to shut them up...

[LincMercLover]

You'll find the f-body crowd is a hard to reach crowd... Trust me, I have a friend with a 2000 SS. We're like night and day.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by the fat bastid
he responded by say that a stock ls1 f-body does 12.9-13.7 depending on driver, etc..


Yes, it certainly does perform that way. My loaded-to-the-tits 1998 WS6 has consistently pulled 13.4s at 107.6 mph back in 2000 (before I lost the racing bug due to the arrival of the little one). And this was bone stock, NO mods whatsoever (stock AC Delco air filter and all). And the 1998 LS1s are the SLOW ones!

The 325 hp rating, by the way, is bogus. I dynoed my bone stock WS6 in 2000 and saw 310 hp at the rear wheels... that works out to about 340-350 hp at the crank! Factor in the net vs. gross adjustment and you'll get the equivalent of 425 gross circa-1970 horsepower! (In fact, the late 1971 Hemi originally rated at 425hp was re-rated 'net' at 350 hp, same compression ratio and all).


That being said, it's not all about being fast. The Viper is much faster than either the Vette or the old F-cars, but is it a better car? By the same token, what defines a better car? I would think the definition of a 'better car' differs among each and every one of us.

[SaxGuy]

I'm a previous owner of a 99 TransAm, and I can say that the car is very quick, and with a few mods can run low 12's but you have to ask yourself this....Is it a comfortable car? Can it seat four large adults comfortably? Is it as safe as the Marauder? The Marauder for a 4200 pound car, is fast stock. You add some after-market equipent, and you can scare the pants off of an F-Body owner. I know that when I had my TA, any 4200 car that could beat me would definetely send me back to the dealer to trade her in...LOL

[nomad]

If you want a faster car, buy a faster car. If you want a 5 or 6
passenger,reasonably powerful,nice riding,nice handling,rear wheel drive, full frame car, BUY THE MARAUDER!
My .02 P.S. Yes, you can buy a quicker,faster car but, what do YOU want?

[beemer]

I wouldn't let the F body crowd rain on your parade. Two totally different cars.....like apples and oranges. Put yourself and three friends in a F-body and take a nice cruise.........what.....they can't fit in the back? LOL the cooler wouldn't fit under the hatch........

Now take the same three friends and yourself in the Marauder....much better now, room for the cooler, you didn't have to put your seat all the way forward so your bud could fit in the back........

I had an '85 Mustang GT I stuffed a 351 Motorsport Crate motor in, plus many other mods. Had great fun with the F-body crowd showing them taillights. I have nothing but respect for F cars straight from the factory, however I have more fun now with the Marauder and my '97 CV PI daily driver. Much less attention from the police, and a better driving experience. Now I'm an old fart, but my still bone-stock Marauder puts a grin on my face.

Looks like decent superchargers are coming real quick now from some reputable people. I've been seriously considering this option once my warrantee is up. If you feel the need to open the eyes of the F body crowd supercharging would be the best way to do it. Or.....hang with us! We'll be glad to have ya just the way you are.

Best,

Paul:D

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by SaxGuy
Is it a comfortable car?


For the driver, my answer is yes... although this applies to my 5'8" frame and may not be applicable to all. As for the passenger, my wife has always felt intimidated by that floor hump due to the placement of the pass-side cat converter. I've asked her to try extending her legs into the footwell, this may help her get over that feeling.

I've driven many 10+ hour stints behind the wheel of my 1998 WS6 and in all cases, I've reached my destination feeling as if I could jump right back into the car, and resume the journey.

BUT... the MM is a full-frame 4 door muscle machine... not the same thing as a 2 door sports coupe. Comparisons between either is an exercise in futility, and proves why I just can't give one up over the other.

I know I'll never be 'king of the hill' with my MM unless I delve into supercharging packages, but it doesn't bother me... I have nothing to prove.

[beemer]

I know I'll never be 'king of the hill' with my MM unless I delve into supercharging packages, but it doesn't bother me... I have nothing to prove.

I hear you there TTA! Although the late model F-body cars are not to be taken lightly by anyone performance wise. My 'stang was fast, but there were plenty of faster cars out there.

Problem with speed is it can eat up your common sense. You build a car to a certain performance level and it's street manners start to go downhill fast on a sliding scale as the performance increases. Even with a supercharger, we still will be far from king of the hill, although the thrill will definately be there.

Maybe it's because I'm older, and don't care to tinker weekly anymore on some high-strung performance machine. The Marauder satisfies my vicarious need for speed, and does it with a lot of class.

Best,

Paul:D

[SaxGuy]

For me at 6'6'' and 300 pounds behind me, it was not the most comfortable car. I realized this when I got into my accident in her, and had knee damage due to the fact that my knees were on the dash to begin with. I did love that car, but I was just to big for her. (I hate saying that)

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by beemer

Problem with speed is it can eat up your common sense. You build a car to a certain performance level and it's street manners start to go downhill fast on a sliding scale as the performance increases.


No truer words have ever been spoken...

Certainly the one and only reason I've given when asked why I never modded my F-cars. I've seen too many fellow F-owners reach the point of having to seek alternate forms of transportation once their rides became too heavy for daily street use. Disinterest sets in soon afterwards, and inevitably the cars are sold.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by SaxGuy
but I was just to big for her. (I hate saying that)


Bull$#!t... I bet you love saying that to the guys when 'boasting' about certain physical traits... ;)

*nudge nudge wink wink*

[jefferson-mo]

well fat bastid, looks like a no-brainer to me....................


Hey beemer,nice front plate on the Crown Vic!!!:uzi:


arrrrrgh! avast ye mateys! :uzi:

[beemer]

Hey beemer,nice front plate on the Crown Vic!!!

LOL I've been flying a skull and crossbones on the front of my cars for quite a while. I have another for the Marauder, however the dealer didn't put the front plate bracket on. I have it but I can't decide with or without.

Best,

Paul:D

[SaxGuy]

Talk about me being to go big for her.....lol You should see the pictures that my G/F took of me trying to get into the Mini Cooper at the Chicago Auto Show.

[LincMercLover]

Originally posted by SaxGuy
but I was just to big for her. (I hate saying that)

Man, if I had a dime every time a girl told me that! :lol:

At 5'10" my friends 2000 SS just didn't do it for me in the passenger seat. It was "ok" when I extended my legs into the whole well, but me always riding in cars with seats that sat up high than these and truck benches, I wasn't used to this. In the driver seat, I felt to close to the wheel for my comfort level at the pedals.

I will say this though, for a bone stock car, they scare the living :censor: outta me! I have yet to drive something comperable in the Ford department simply because I know no one who owns a nice Stang that isn't a V6 or a GT auto. I can say the few times he let me drive the SS, I never had so much fun "bangin'" (damn, on a roll here! :D ) the gears. They are terrors of the road, but they just aren't my style. I like the "WTF?!?!" looks. Just sets me that far apart from the crowd.

[bchapman]

I drive 10 hours straight on Fridays and then on Sundays, every other weekend. Before I got my MM, I could hardly get out of the car at the end of the day. Now I go in comfort AND style as well as safety. I wasn't looking for a race car, but something with enough power and great suspension to perform with agility. It's a head-turner that leaves 'em in the dust.

This car is everything I ever wanted -- it's a serious driving machine. Figure out your own objectives and go from there.

[MAD-3R]

back to the topis, Check out a Hydralic Clutch set up. I saw it used on "Trucks", and it comes up through the floor, not down from th dash.

[Billatpro]

If your trying to win approval from Chevy owners, you in for a rough life! Be content with your own decision, buy what YOU want not what some else wants. If your want your decision endorsed, look in the mirror!

[jefferson-mo]

I think the biggest obstacle in our cars(for the clutch setup) is the adjustable pedals........it's a pretty big unit and not much room under there.................

[prchrman]

If you are looking at that much transition and money why not get a AOD with lowered 1st and 2nd gear...or you can even go to 4.56 or lower gears for bottom end...lots of my buds run autos in super fast cars...you do lose a little HP with a auto but drivability is a issue with me...and also if you are going for changing that much just to get speed get a older CV or GM...drop a 460 crate and have a instant rocket...also the drastic changes could devalue the MM...

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by the fat bastid
he responded by say that a stock ls1 f-body does 12.9-13.7 depending on driver, etc..

but i'm just trying to get something to shut them up...

Fat:

I got something that usually shuts them up; I tell them: "Who gives a *****?!"

Seriously, a Lamborghini Countach or a Ferrari F357 will make ANY F-body look like a Yugo, so who gives a good ******* if their F-body is faster than my Panther? My Panther and I have WAY more class...(sorry, 3TA, no offence...). I didn't buy my car to street-race, I bought it because I LIKED it...

Sorry if this sounded like a tirade, I'm just tired of hearing people say "My car's faster than yours!"...whoop-de-do...now go race a ricer and stop bothering me...

Edited by LincMercLover because he doesn't like that word.

[jefferson-mo]

:uzi: :uzi:



:uzi: :uzi:

:rock:

Edited by LincMercLover to look right.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by RF Overlord
My Panther and I have WAY more class...(sorry, 3TA, no offence...).


Well, I'm not going to get offended over that comment because everyone has their own preference and everyone's got their own definition of class. (I'll even go so far as to say that there can exist several 'branches' or variations of class...)

As for GM F-bodies and class, I think it depends on the whole package. F-bodies are saddled with a bad stigma... appealing to the brash youth, perhaps even some of the 'backwards baseball-cap' crowd. Not being one to like being stereotyped, I constantly strived to behave in a way as to distance myself from that scene.

My '87:
http://firebird.freeservers.com/wedding/gtawed_2.JPG

On to the '98, most images of that car are of snarling "the musclecar is back" type poses... there is also this approach:
http://firebird.freeservers.com/ws6/ws6_wed.jpg

I won't even bother trying to post a picture attempting to tie the word 'class' with my '78 T/A!!! YEEHAA! Cowboy hats and bell bottoms for everyone!!! :flamer:

And now I think I've struck another winner in the 'class' department with my MM. And I will drive it as safely and as respectably (within reason ;) ) as I have my T/As, otherwise I risk tarnishing the image that this great 4 door muscle machine will project.