JDM Engineering Marauder

[Constable]

While at work tonight patrolling the mean-streets of my hick town (where men are men and sheep are scared) I met yet another invaluable person to add to my rolodex. The first was obviously the stranger I met who got me an "A-Plan" for the Marauder.

This guy I met tonight is a wrench at JDM Engineering --- which I had no idea is only 3 minutes down the road from my house. He clued me in that JDM has just finished up their first Marauder project and they are hoping to develop a plethora of parts and services for the MM.

From what I gather, their project car received custom built one-off Kooks full length headers, high flow cats, magnaflows, a custom burned Superchip, gears, torque converter and throttle body/MAF improvements. (at least this is what I was told...)

I'm headed over to the shop tomorrow AM so I can have a look around. I'll report back whatever info I can dig up for you guys/gals.:coolman:

[ghost]

Sounds like a potent package, might give me a run for my money on the street, should one come my way. :)

Looking forward to your report.

Eric

[RCSignals]

Tell them about this site. Maybe they'll become a sponsor

[Logan]

Why am I not surprised? Jim's got his hands into anything with a mod motor in it... :)

[BlackHole]

Since I frequent SVTperformance.com I'll ask him. If he wants to sponsor or not.

[Constable]

OK... i went down to the shop around 1 in the afternoon... there had to be 15-20 Lightnings sitting in the parking lot waiting to be worked over. The shop is amazing.

Anyway... they did a one-off cold air intake for the Marauder that they tricked out. They had Kooks build the full-length headers (which Jim holds the rights to). The headers are running around $750.00. They installed 3.90 gears in the car. Highflow Cats, Magnaflow mufflers, stock tips. JDM tuned chip. ETC, ETC, ETC....

Apparently the car was pulling low 13's, high 12's ---- from what they say.

I was priveledged enough to get a peak at Jims new '03 Cobra. The thing is sick. With only BOLT-ON parts, the Coba has run an amazing 10.90 eta! And thats without spraying the bottle that sits in the trunk!

[prchrman]

quote: Apparently the car was pulling low 13's, high 12's ---- from what they say.

wo/turbo or super c...? or am I missing something...:confused:

[mensrea]

OK, call me a sceptic but I don't think there's any way a marauder could run 12s without a blower or the juice.... if they can knock two seconds off with headers I want a set.

[prchrman]

That's what I was getting at mensrea...???? if it sounds to good to be true....

[ghost]

Originally posted by Constable

{edit}

Anyway... they did a one-off cold air intake for the Marauder that they tricked out. They had Kooks build the full-length headers (which Jim holds the rights to). The headers are running around $750.00. They installed 3.90 gears in the car. Highflow Cats, Magnaflow mufflers, stock tips. JDM tuned chip. ETC, ETC, ETC....

Apparently the car was pulling low 13's, high 12's ---- from what they say.

{edit}


Okay, what I'm reading is headers, gears, exhaust and a performance chip = high 12's/low 13's.

We all know that isn't going to happen. ;)

I'm curious about the ETC, ETC, ETC.......therein lies the balance of the power to move 2+ tons at that rate. We need more info when it's available.

Eric

[amedd50]

I think Constable was referring to the 03 Cobra.

[ghost]

Originally posted by amedd50
I think Constable was referring to the 03 Cobra.

You sure? He's mentioning mods about the MM, then gives reported ET's.

Besides the Cobra is running 10's.

Eric

[mensrea]

The best cobra I have seen on street tires is 11.87... if they're running tens I am gonna hide!

Here's the link that talks about the 11.87

http://www.kennybrown.com/News/Dragracer.html

[gonzo50]

Originally posted by Constable
They installed 3.90 gears in the car.
I didn't know that they make 3.90 gears for the 8.8 rear end housing.:confused: Correct me if I'm wrong but don't they come in:2.73, 3.08, 3.27, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10.

[LincMercLover]

For some reason I want to say 3.91:1's, but...

[area51]

LML is right it is either 3.73 then 4.10 nothing in between on the 8.8

[Constable]

ok, i just got in from work and read all the replies... WOW.

The guys I was talking with said it was running 13's. Could be capable of 12's. Maybe they were meaning, "with a supercharger it'll be capable of 12's". That's why i wrote, "that's what they SAID".

There were a bunch more little tweaks and mods that they did to the car that I didnt get into... i was late for work and had to leave the shop.

And yes... the Cobra is reported to be low tens with only bolt on parts ---- no motor work. They're hoping for mid 9's when they hit the juice.

[Constable]

P.S. --- they did in fact say 3.90's. If that is truth or not... i dunno. Plus, the car could've run 13.99 and that counts as 13's.

[Logan]

Actually, yes there is. Motive gear makes a 3.90:1 ring/pinion for the 8.8...

Here's a link to a place that sells em.

http://nationaldrivetrain.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page30.html

[amedd50]

Sorry I miss read. Just paint me :stupid: :lol:

[ap2003]

In addition to: 2.73, 3.08, 3.27, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10...

My 2003 Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog adds"
4.3, 4.56, 4.88, and 5.13...

... for the 8.8"

[ghost]

Originally posted by apanella
In addition to: 2.73, 3.08, 3.27, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10...

My 2003 Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog adds"
4.3, 4.56, 4.88, and 5.13...

... for the 8.8"

WOW! 5.13's!

Jeez, I had 4.56s in my Caprice a few months ago and THAT was WAY too much, I got no traction. Hell, it was grabbing 3rd gear at 6x mph! Forget about the 1-2 shift - up in smoke.

If you guys have the opportunity to do a mod, make the next one a gear change to 4.10s. The feeling of improvement is so worthwhile....I know some of you guys have already done so, and I've read the glowing reports. Good for you! :)

Couple that with the chip and you'll really be hooked on modding the MM. Break out the cash!

http://www.doersch.info/ghost/_money.gif

Eric

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by Logan
Actually, yes there is. Motive gear makes a 3.90:1 ring/pinion for the 8.8...



I thought I had seen 3.90s listed before.

But what would the advantage of 3.90:1 be over 4.10:1?

[Logan]

None in my opinion. 3.90's are still not enough gear for the motor's powerband. 4.10's minimum in my opinion, 4.30's would be the ****zle.

[LincMercLover]

Originally posted by Logan
None in my opinion. 3.90's are still not enough gear for the motor's powerband. 4.10's minimum in my opinion, 4.30's would be the ****zle.

Dude, CRUZ give you some kinda wack gansta' attitude while he was down there? :lol:

[WolfeBros]

I agree with Logan. 3.90's is not enough for this car.
And a 10 sec Cobra with just bolt on's ?
I am staying tuned by the channel. As Sarge would say......give me the 411.

[Constable]

Fa ****zle Ma Nizzle

[Constable]

I need pics of u'r 99 PI!! if u have a few send 'em this way, bud

[jgc61sr2002]

4.10 seems to be the way to go especially if you plan to do a lot of freeway driving. IMHO. John

[JerseyVics]

Jim's got some very good tuning on most of the things he does, at this time he's got the fastest Lightning in the world if Sal @ PSP or Johnny Lightning @ JLP didn't beat him yet, but the problem with JDM is waiting time. The man is mobbed by customers from every direction and those that he chooses to take care are super happy with what they get, the rest are mad that they're ignored....

I'm sure once he starts mass producing stuff you'll all experience either one of the two.

--Russ :)

[rurumon]

Originally posted by gonzo50
I didn't know that they make 3.90 gears for the 8.8 rear end housing.:confused: Correct me if I'm wrong but don't they come in:2.73, 3.08, 3.27, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10.

I had some pro 5.0 390's on my old GT, things were a nice compromise between the meager 373's and going with the risky 410s. I did alot of highway driving, and on a 5spd you can really notice the difference between the 390s and 410s on the highway. I think with the 410s I would have been pushing 3k and a decent clip (70mph)

[Tom Kuznicki]

To everyone who doubts the performance of any JDM tuned car or truck, just purchase a Muscle Mustans and Fast Fords magazine and see for yourself how much ungodly power Jim has been able to pull out of a Mod Motor. I myself have a 99 Lightning with nothing but minor bolt on pieces from JDM, our truck has gone 12.80's with original exhaust, tires and absolutely no type of lightening , with a full tank of gas. looks like there may be a new sheriff in Marauderville..........

[Constable]

couldn't have said it better myself... the rides sitting in his shop were "off the hook" --- dare i say?

[Tom Kuznicki]

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention. I just recieved my chip from JDM for the Marauder. I wont get to test it until WFC in St. Louis next week but I'm quite sure that the car will run better than the 15.28 it ran last fall. Aah, the wonders of technology.

[Constable]

if u dont mind me askin.... how much did jim's chip run u, Tom??

[Constable]

As I was picking up my MM from the dealer this afternoon, one of the shop hands stopped me and asked if I was "gonna do anything with it". So I explained that I'd be going with Dennis' Stage 1 when I finally turn 1,000 miles and then WHO KNOWS. So he points out his '01 Lightning and starts telling me about his high 11's and such.

Turns out, he got all his work done at JDM and they just got finished building ANOTHER Marauder. This one got an '03 Cobra heart transplant. Supposedly, everything was a simple bolt up operation. A few changes had to be mde here and there... but nothing of consequence. I'm going to stop down there again tomorrow morning to speak with Jim and see if I can get the scoop on the MM's he's been tinkering with. I really need to find the owners and get them on here though!

[RCSignals]

"This one got an '03 Cobra heart transplant"

Just the parts, or the whole engine?

[amigauser]

JDM web link for those interested.

http://www.teamjdm.com/index.htm

[Accufab Racing]

JDM Engineering is the Class Sponsor for the "Tough Truck"
class at the Fun Ford Weekend events and is usually at every event with many of his customers. Jim D'amor races what he sells and runs his own Lightning in the class. This past weekend at the FFW event in Richmond, VA, JDM also sponsored a new class called the "Cobra Confrontation",exclusively for the 2003 Cobra's. Jim knows his stuff and is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Jim and JDM Engineering will be at Ennis, TX for the big event down there in September. That event is going to be huge, with a sea of black sedans (and a few silver and blue ones thrown in for color).

[Constable]

I heard it was an entire motor - throttle body down to the drain plug - but i dont know how accurate my source was. I wasn't thinking that today is July 4th and everyplace is closed... so i'll do my snooping early next week.

BTW, the website offers no info on any of the latest cars coming out of their shop. If any of you have been religiously readin MM&FF mags, like me, you'll know all about Project Frightning. The whee lil stang with a 5.4L SC Lightning Motor. I've seen this car many times being trailered around on the back of a JDM Lightning. It is one bad MUTHA.

[JerseyVics]

Ryan,

I'll be at JDM Monday morning checking out one of my buddy's old PI getting tuned, stop by if you get a chance...

--Russ:)

[Constable]

Name a time and I'll be there... I was looking at your exhaust pics... looks great, where'd you have the pipe bent (or welded for that matter)?

[B-26]

Take off a 1000 lbs and off a cliff we might see 12's. Otherwise i think 13's are all we can hope for in the beast.

[JerseyVics]

B-26... mensrea's car can run low 12's all day... reconsider.

Ryan,

I'll be there tomorrow after 11am.

--Russ :)

[TAF]

Originally posted by JerseyVics
mensrea's car can run low 12's all day... reconsider.


You mean Sarge's car...now. :)

[JerseyVics]

I'm a week behind on reading this forum and everyone seemed to switch their cars on me... great! lol

Congrats to Sarge, seems like a great home for the first KB Marauder S

--Russ :)

[Constable]

Cool... I'll be there about 11:30... I need to leave for work at 12:30, though. Hopefully I'll be able to get some Q & A time with Jim prior to my departure.

[JerseyVics]

2 Marauders - 2 Vics - 1 Town Car

not bad

--Russ ;)

[Logan]

Alrighty... This is turning into one big ad for JDM. Advertising around here isn't free.

Closed.