Heavy351
12-12-2002, 02:06 PM
Stay with me and I will get to the point.
I think many of you can relate to the experiences below:
The time was 1993 and I was fresh out of school and I wanted something big, fast, and cheap. So I bought a 1988 Crown Vic
MA state police cruiser. At that time it had 90,000 miles on the clock and a 351W with the truly hateful 7200VV variable
venturi carb. The vinyl interior was full of holes and loose wiring from the equipment that had been recently torn out
and my first month was spent chasing down electrical gremlins. My parents thought I was stupid, my friends thought I had
lost my mind, and my girlfriend at the time was horrified (and frightened) to ride in it. Not long after I realized I
had something really unique. The car handled beautifully, had great power,extremely safe, and got you instant respect.
Within a year I had caught dreaded and incurable speed bug. Much to my dismay, there was nothing easy about hot rodding
a cop car. First of all, nobody understands why you would want to in the first place. Many frustrating conversations
like "why don't you just get a mustang?", "I have no idea if that would fit", and "I have never heard of anyone doing
that before" led me to give up on the aftermarket entirely and learn all I could on my own. Smokey Yunik's Performance
Secrets" was my first book on my never ending research trip. Within a few years through trial an error I had created
something very unusual.
First mods were polyurethane bushings and gas shocks. Then 295/50R15s and 255 60R15s on 9.5" rims (snow in PA is no
problem with 2 sets of cylinder heads in the trunk). Two different intake and carb setups with countless jet, metering
rod, timing changes, and fabricated linkages. I moved on the the ignition ending up with a Jacob's/ Mallory combination.
A pair of 2.5" exhaust systems were custom bent, cats removed and finally Mustang shorty headers and a pair ofsupertrapps
(lots can be done with changes in backpressure). Finally at 200,000 miles the original motor was replaced by the first of
2 engines. Engine one I destroyed at 600 miles after apparently not torquing a connecting rod correctly. The final one
was a 351W with world products heads, stainless 2.02 valves roller rockers, forged pistons. Ceramic coatings on the
chambers, valve faces, and piston tops. Much time was spent with desktop dyno picking out just the right cam. The new
motor destroys the transmission so I added a new valve body and have a tranny shop beef up the rest. There are so many
other things that have been modified and fabricated over the years.
In the end, the car beaks loose the 295's and is an absolute joy to drive. My family and friends now call it "the
beast" and finally they understand. Riding in the car is a unusual experience not soon forgotten. The power is all there
along with the handling that is truly surprising for a car this size. Everyone has a story about being in it, racing it
(losing and winning),nearly killing themselves driving it, and watching me spend countless hours and $ on it. My uncle
liked it so much he went out and bought a new Impala SS. The car itself is a topic of conversation even for those who
don't like cars. The car in some small way is an extension of my personality. People who know me and the car cannot see
it being owned by anyone else. I stopped driving the car 3 years ago with close to 300,000 miles on it. Now looking like
an extra from a Mad Max movie the body is starting to go away and the new emissions laws in PA include a visual emissions
inspection. People I have not seen in years still ask about it.
When I heard about the Marauder coming out I was positively ecstatic! Finally Ford gets it! You guys have convinced me I
need to have one. This summer I hope to have the scratch to finally put one in my driveway and start the saga all over
again...
After lurking on this group for 2 months I can see that many of you really do get the vibe that this car puts out. The
way you defend the Marauder even with the shortcomings that are part of any automobile built for the public. To compare
this car with anything else really misses the point.
The Marauder is faster than most, handles better than many,and is bigger than nearly all. The Marauder should really be
defined by what it is not. It is not a import toy, boy racer, geriatric cruiser, or status symbol for those with money
and no p***ion. The car has something I can relate to, attitude. Owners of this car will note people find your choice
unusual, maybe even contradictory "for that money you could have bought a ------". Personally, I like the controversy.
Many of you here understand the feeling. For the rest of you, it is impossible to explain.
I think many of you can relate to the experiences below:
The time was 1993 and I was fresh out of school and I wanted something big, fast, and cheap. So I bought a 1988 Crown Vic
MA state police cruiser. At that time it had 90,000 miles on the clock and a 351W with the truly hateful 7200VV variable
venturi carb. The vinyl interior was full of holes and loose wiring from the equipment that had been recently torn out
and my first month was spent chasing down electrical gremlins. My parents thought I was stupid, my friends thought I had
lost my mind, and my girlfriend at the time was horrified (and frightened) to ride in it. Not long after I realized I
had something really unique. The car handled beautifully, had great power,extremely safe, and got you instant respect.
Within a year I had caught dreaded and incurable speed bug. Much to my dismay, there was nothing easy about hot rodding
a cop car. First of all, nobody understands why you would want to in the first place. Many frustrating conversations
like "why don't you just get a mustang?", "I have no idea if that would fit", and "I have never heard of anyone doing
that before" led me to give up on the aftermarket entirely and learn all I could on my own. Smokey Yunik's Performance
Secrets" was my first book on my never ending research trip. Within a few years through trial an error I had created
something very unusual.
First mods were polyurethane bushings and gas shocks. Then 295/50R15s and 255 60R15s on 9.5" rims (snow in PA is no
problem with 2 sets of cylinder heads in the trunk). Two different intake and carb setups with countless jet, metering
rod, timing changes, and fabricated linkages. I moved on the the ignition ending up with a Jacob's/ Mallory combination.
A pair of 2.5" exhaust systems were custom bent, cats removed and finally Mustang shorty headers and a pair ofsupertrapps
(lots can be done with changes in backpressure). Finally at 200,000 miles the original motor was replaced by the first of
2 engines. Engine one I destroyed at 600 miles after apparently not torquing a connecting rod correctly. The final one
was a 351W with world products heads, stainless 2.02 valves roller rockers, forged pistons. Ceramic coatings on the
chambers, valve faces, and piston tops. Much time was spent with desktop dyno picking out just the right cam. The new
motor destroys the transmission so I added a new valve body and have a tranny shop beef up the rest. There are so many
other things that have been modified and fabricated over the years.
In the end, the car beaks loose the 295's and is an absolute joy to drive. My family and friends now call it "the
beast" and finally they understand. Riding in the car is a unusual experience not soon forgotten. The power is all there
along with the handling that is truly surprising for a car this size. Everyone has a story about being in it, racing it
(losing and winning),nearly killing themselves driving it, and watching me spend countless hours and $ on it. My uncle
liked it so much he went out and bought a new Impala SS. The car itself is a topic of conversation even for those who
don't like cars. The car in some small way is an extension of my personality. People who know me and the car cannot see
it being owned by anyone else. I stopped driving the car 3 years ago with close to 300,000 miles on it. Now looking like
an extra from a Mad Max movie the body is starting to go away and the new emissions laws in PA include a visual emissions
inspection. People I have not seen in years still ask about it.
When I heard about the Marauder coming out I was positively ecstatic! Finally Ford gets it! You guys have convinced me I
need to have one. This summer I hope to have the scratch to finally put one in my driveway and start the saga all over
again...
After lurking on this group for 2 months I can see that many of you really do get the vibe that this car puts out. The
way you defend the Marauder even with the shortcomings that are part of any automobile built for the public. To compare
this car with anything else really misses the point.
The Marauder is faster than most, handles better than many,and is bigger than nearly all. The Marauder should really be
defined by what it is not. It is not a import toy, boy racer, geriatric cruiser, or status symbol for those with money
and no p***ion. The car has something I can relate to, attitude. Owners of this car will note people find your choice
unusual, maybe even contradictory "for that money you could have bought a ------". Personally, I like the controversy.
Many of you here understand the feeling. For the rest of you, it is impossible to explain.