Ronnie

October 2006 Gen 2 Truck Of The Month - Congratulations to Rob "203" Cree (NLOC #1853)

This month the Gen 2 TOTM goes to another awesome Lightning owner. His truck is just simply beautiful. Rob is also in the military and has fought for our freedom in the ongoing "War on Terrorism". I as well as other members of this forum appreciate what he has done for our country! Take a look at this clean, beautiful truck and meet Rob!



Question #1: What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning?

Well, it all started when I moved to the Kansas City area 2 years ago. At the time, I had a 1991 Sonoma that I had more money in than I care to think about, lol. It had gotten to the point where that truck was no longer practical. I wanted to do a blown smallblock swap on it, along with bags and a body drop. The projects never ended with it, so I decided maybe it was time to sell it and get something new, something that I wouldn't have to tinker with as much.
I came to the decision that whatever I bought, it couldn't be a step down. That kinda narrowed the prospects a little bit, but I wasn't in a huge rush to sell it, so I wasn't really sweating it all that much.

Then, on Thanksgiving day of 04, I was driving up to see my family in Topeka. On the way there, I passed a dealership that had a 2003 HD sitting out front and thought man, that's a sharp lookin truck. I went on my way and told myself I'd stop back by the next day and take a look. When I got to Topeka, I went by another dealership and they had another 2003 HD sitting on the lot. I decided I'd stop and look. When the salesman told me how much they wanted for it, I told him I was gonna walk around a bit. That's when I spotted an 03 Sonic Blue Lightning sitting on the lot, and I knew that moment that I was gonna be driving a Lightning home.

I didn't end up getting that truck, however. They wanted too much for it, so as a bargaining ploy, I told them I was gonna shop around some more. Found another local dealer that had just got a Silver 2001 in on trade that day, so I went and looked at it and bought it that afternoon. I was hooked the moment I test drove it. Something about the blower whine is just too addictive.


Funny enough, one of the motivating factors for buying a Lightning was that it was already pretty much everything I was hoping to build my Sonoma up to be, so I thought that I would just leave it stock so I wouldn't get overwhelmed with projects again. Yeah, that thought lasted about 6 months, lol.




Question #2: Do you have any interesting stories about previously owned vehicles, before becoming a Lightning owner?

My first real car was a 1971 MGB. I completely restored it to the factory "Works" specs between my Junior and Senior years in High School. I used to get into so much trouble with that car.

Probably the memory that sticks out the most is the first time I drove it to school. A buddy of mine wanted a ride home in it, and he lived maybe a 1/2 mile from school, so I figured what the hell, and he hopped in. Well, he asked the inevitable question, "What's she got?" and that was the start of the problems, lol.

I took off towards an intersection just running the snot outta the car. Redline powershifts, scratching 3rd gear, you know, basically just giving the car hell. I think I'd got it up around 85 or so (in a 40 zone) when I pulled 4th gear. We were coming up to an intersection that had a slight rise in the road that prevented you from actually seeing the intersection, and also kept you from seeing any traffic that may have been sitting there. I had just put upgraded brakes on it, so I figured if there wasn't any traffic there, I'd be fine to get stopped without any drama.

Yeah.

We popped over the rise and lo and behold, there's 8 cars in line at the stop sign and I'm still doin the better part of 70 mph.

Not good..

I downshifted into 3rd gear so hard I actually locked the rears up for a second, got on the brakes and the left front instantly locked up. My buddies screaming, there's people watching, and the class hot chick is the last car in line, driving her Daddy's 3000GT that day. No way in hell am I hitting her. I look right, ditching it isn't an option, power pole in the way. Look left, oh hey, oncoming lane is open. So I went left. Ended up sliding past 6 of the 8 cars before coming to a stop, lol. Backed up into a driveway and put my left signal on and acted like nothing happened. That was the topic of the day in my classes for the next couple weeks, how I almost took out 6 cars in a single shot.



Question #3: What modifications have you made to your truck since you have owned it...both show and go?

SHOW:

Belltech 3/5 drop (modified 3/4 kit)
Clear Corners
Harley upper grill
"Grill Mod" lower grill
Shorty antenna
Expy rear door handles
Color matched 01 tail lights
Extang Soft cover
Expy Console
Barefoot gas pedal
03 Steering wheel
Painted interior pieces
Painted wheels
Some under hood blingage


GO:

Metco 4 lb QC lower pulley
Metco 2.8 upper pulley
Billetflow 100mm idler set w/ bracket
MAFia
JLP CAI
C&L intake tube
EGR delete
Diablo flip chip/ Sal tune
Magnaflow Highflow Midpipes/Cats
JDM Silverbullet catback with MAC tips
Lakewoods
Summit Line Lock
RUSlow Driveshaft loop
Strange adjustable rear shocks
RotorPro's Drilled/Slotted Rotors
Hawk HPS pads



Question #4: Do you have any interesting stories about your Lightning?

Oh, plenty, lol.

I've always pushed whatever vehicle I'm driving to the edge and sometimes past it so that I know what it's capabilities are. I don't like surprises..

Anyway, the day I dropped my previous truck off I managed to do a complete 360 on a two lane road coming out of a turn just a little too hard...

With my Mother in the truck with me.

Or maybe the time I was trying to pass a guy and put it sideways at 75 on a slippery day. That wasn't too fun. When I got it all sorted and pointed back the right direction, I went to pass again, this time more carefully, and the guy pulled onto the shoulder and just let me go by.

There's more, a LOT more, but I don't wanna bore people, and more importantly, I don't wanna remind myself of how dumb I can be at times, lol.


Question #5: Tell us about your self, your hobbies, business or work, sports, family, etc.

I grew up in a small town. I mean SMALL. There was maybe a 100 people in our community. My dad had his own shop, so I started in on cars at a very early age. One of my earliest memories is scraping gaskets off a SBC at the age of 7. I put my first motor together when I was 13.

I've been involved with Okinawan Goju Ryu (Karate) since I was 13. I got my Black Belt when I was 16 (the youngest anyone had ever gotten it in our organization) and started teaching at 17. Did that till I was 21, had my own club and Dojo and all that happy stuff.

I have a Private Pilots license. Started flying when I was 14, solo'd at 10 hrs, which is the bare minium, and got my license at 18. There was about a year where I didn't fly due to the aircraft I was training in being broke.

I joined the Army Reserves right out of HS and became a Chinook helicopter mechanic. I got deployed to Iraq in Jan. of 2003. I was boots in sand for 14 months, mobilized a total of 17 months, 5 days. One weekend a month my azz.

When I got home in May of 2004, I applied for a job working for the Department of the Army as a Military Technician. I got the job in June of 2004 and have been working for DA ever since as a Chinook mechanic.

I got my Sergeant in Aug 2005 and have held a couple different leadership positions since then.

Pretty much my hobbies are everything I've listed, plus my truck, lol. I also play guitar. I used to be in a band (Stand Under Nothing) until I left for Iraq, at which point they brought in a new guitar player.



Question #6: How long have you been a user of the NLOC.net, when did you become an NLOC member, and why did you choose to become a member of NLOC?

I've been on here since Feb. of 2005. That's when I spotted the local club section. That was the main reason I signed up.

Question #7: What suggestions do you have to make the NLOC.net website easier to use and navigate?

None now that the upgrade is up and running well.

Question #8: Why did you pick your board user name (screen name)?

I was a M203 gunner during my time in Iraq. Being the only one in a platoon of 85, and seeing that my last name just happened to rhyme with the weapon that I was carrying, people took to calling me "203 Cree". Kinda stuck, and that's what I went with.



Question #9: What are your plans for future changes to your truck?

I just want it to be done for awhile. Maybe when it's paid off, I'll do some more to it, but for now, I think it's pretty much done. Just bought a new house, so the truck fund is kinda low as it is, and beyond maybe a built motor and a twin screw, there isn't much more I'd really wanna do anyway.

Question 10: Whom would you like to thank for help\donations\support for putting the truck together?

Scott Dunn first and foremost. I can't express how much he's helped me with this truck. If it wasn't for him, I'd probably have blown it up by now. All the local guys for their friendship. All the guys that have given me hookups on used parts, couldn't have done it with out them. All the guys that have given me good advise and feedback on mods. Basically, everyone that's helped me in some way, thanks a bunch. If it wasn't for them, I'd still be stock (which I guess would've been cheaper, but less fun. ).








Congratulations to Rob Cree and his 2001 Ford Lightning for Gen 2 Truck of the Month, October 2006

EZ SPEED

Congrats Rob !!!

It was nice to meet you at Lightning Fest !!!

__________________
SOLD - 2003 Lightning # 1180
SOLD - 1993 Lightning # 5173

2005 Pontiac GTO
2004 Mustang Mach1
2004 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 CrewCab Diesel

madramper

Awesome truck!

And thanks for serving your country protecting those of us that can't!

AlanSVT

Congrats man. Nice truck.

Andre

CONGRATS ROB !!!!!

That´s great to see you are the TOTM ! Thank you for collecting all my parts till i came to LF !
And specially for giving me your keys to get that... come true !

Your Lightnings looks, sounds and rides great !

ROB you ROCK !

André

Tenacfan

Congrats Rob,

Today is my first day of retirement after wearing the uniform for 27 years, hang in there your time will come.

jj

Skritch

Rob, CONGRATULATIONS on a great example of the Gen 2 Lightning ! Your truck looks great and runs great as well ! Your write ups to the questions are entertaining too !! And from one veteran to another, thank you for your service...

Scott

firemanlightnin

congrats man......keep up the good work!!!!!!!

wd13

Congratulations! Sweet truck!

RUthLEss03

Congrats, Rob! So, what ever happened to that 03 Sonic Blue L you test drove? Hmm... .I wonder.....

__________________

Ron's Bolt

Congrats buddy!

GTPvsSVT

congrats Cree...you've definately helped me out along the way!

kent

203Cree

Thanks guys! :

Eric - Like I said, yours and Scott's Gen 2's played no small part in how mine came together. It was great meeting you too.

Scott - Great meeting you and thanks for your service! Much respect for those that came before me.

Andre - It was great meeting you bro! I'm glad you enjoyed the drive to the gas station and back. It was my pleasure, and hope to see you next year!

Dan - Hmmm, I wonder.

Ron - Thanks buddy. One of these days, I will own some wheels like yours, if the money tree ever sprouts again.

Kent - No problem man, glad to help. That's what these boards are all about, right? Did you get yours hooked up yet?

five0drw

kick butt way to go

GTPvsSVT

wednesday its goin on!! I feel sorry for the tires when i get it workin!

kent