madramper

...February 2007 Gen 1 Truck Of The Month – Congratulations Tim (SVT150TIM) Berg! (NLOC #124)

February's TOTM goes to a super clean Southern Califonia Red 94! Tim has made his modifications count. This truck has a simple design that resulted in a fun reliable truck with plenty of power and attitude to spare! This is yet another truck I would love to call my own!



1. What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning?


Actually a divorce…I was building a 71 Chevy short box hot rod pickup. My wife spilt and I had 2 daughters to raise. I needed some dependable transportation, but it had to have some attitude. The SS454 is what I went after. I came across a Lightning and remembered hearing about a high performance pickup from Ford but didn’t pay much attention. I decided to have a look at this 94 Lightning that was for sale. One test drive and that was all she wrote. That was almost 10 years ago.


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

3-Hours. That is all it took me to buy a 67 Bronco, install a new steering wheel, pickup my best friend, find the tallest hill, then flip and roll it all the way down. This was literally only a few months after I rolled the same friends Baja Bug. I rebuilt that Bronco and his Baja Bug but decided I had a better chance of keeping it off the roof if I went to street vehicles.


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

I started off with a full Bassani system a month after I bought the truck. I was quite happy with the truck until Ford came out with the Gen 2 (blower equipped). So I installed a Powerdyne-BD11, Level 10 shift kit, Rancho bars, and ET streets. This combination ran a best of 13.90. It was now time for a bigger blower. Dave Pickrel was looking for someone that wanted to run a Procharger so he could design a kit. We hooked up and now I run his complete intercooled kit with the P1SC head unit. I installed a Gale Banks intercooler, Art Carr converter, race gas, sstock 2-pump trick, and sstock old Johnson chip. This new combination has run a best of 12.52 and I have yet to remove a valve cover.
The truck has been lowered with Belltech I-beams, lowering springs, shackles, and AIM hangers. A Sir Michaels roll pan smoothes out the back along with a snug lid bed cover. The wheels are Raceline Torque Stars with 325/50/15 drag radials.



4. Do you have any interesting stories about your Lightning?

One night at the drag strip I was making my second or third full pass when I let off the go pedal at the ¼ mile traps and nothing happened, the truck kept accelerating at full speed, like I was running for a ½ mile timeslip. Mind you this track has a ¼ mile shut down. The K-rails & hay bales were coming up fast running at 100mph+ and still accelerating. I started pounding on the gas pedal with my right foot…zero results…the pedal was laying on the floor and not coming up. At this point I was considering my options, turn off ignition or reach down with my hand and pull the pedal up. I then moved my left foot and BAM! the motor was shutting down. I grabbed all of the brake pedal and got her off the track. My heart was still racing faster than my truck has ever ran and then I saw it. My floor mat was still laying over the gas pedal. It seems I have a habit (I discovered) of pushing down with both feet as hard as I can trying to get everything out of the truck. I was literally holding down the gas pedal with my left foot. No more floor mat racing for me!


5. Tell us about yourself, your hobbies, business or work, sports, family, etc.

I’m 46 and have been married to Kim (my biggest supporter) for almost 5 years. I have 2 daughters ages 25 and 21. The 21 year old still lives at home. My oldest daughter has given me 2 grand daughters (they are the best of the best). I have worked in the plumbing industry since high school. I currently design, estimate, project manage commercial, industrial and mech/process projects. I have just started a ground up Hospital in Loma Linda, CA. Playtime consists of the lightning - racing (watching and participating). My best friend builds stock cars for ½ mile clay tracks and I have been fortunate enough to drive one of his stock cars when his #1 driver can’t make the race. I enjoy golfing, camping at the beach, and running around and hanging out with the wife.



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 found the NLOC in 97 when I bought my truck and became a member in January 98, NLOC #124. I became a member of the NLOC to try and help insure that this site, for all it brings to all of us, will always continue.


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

The site is great. Big thanks to everybody that busts their butts to keep this site up and running.




8. Why did you pick your board user name (screen name)?

Special Vehicle Team/ ½ ton truck/ name = SVT150TIM


9. What are your plans for future changes to your truck?

#1 – Bear down (or beer down) and learn this dang TwEECer. Follow that up with a Pickrel Performance exhaust, and electric fans. My goal is to run elevens before removing a valve cover and then the game will change.



10. This is where you link favorite websites, your website, family pictures and add any other comments.

First of all a big thanks to my wife for putting up with me. I also want to thank all those here on the NLOC for all their contributions to the NLOC site. I look forward to checking out what’s going on everyday. The friendships that have been created are the best.
The local guys like Buckley, George, Nat, Dave, Bob, Mike and others have all been there for me and I do my best to be there for them. The far away friends (by distance only) that this site has created for me are also highly treasured, like Alex(redlightningssf), Joe (LETSRCE), Jeff (FMOS Racing), Steve(sstock), Dave(Icepick) and so many others.
Also a really big thumbs up to all the SoCal Lightning Crew for all the great get togethers we’ve had over the years.

Dave London

Congrats !! Awesome truck and a Mark Martin fan !!

Skritch

CONGRATULATIONS Tim ! A beautiful, well detailed and potent street truck !

Scott

Blue Oval Forever

Congrats Tim

huffentuff95

Nice story TIM ,makes for great reading . Just got in from AC, came in 4th in a poker tournament. I just knew the February TOTM was up and had to see it congrats man

Ron's Bolt

Congrats on TOTM. That's one great looking machine you have there.

Lightning Ralph

Great Looking Lightning Tim! Mark Martin & John Force are also my favorite race car drivers!

svtjay

Congrats... Beautiful truck!!!

Hilander

Very clean and fast Gen 1.

383svt

Congrats! Clean ride!!!

wd13

Congratulations and Beautiful truck!

redlightningssf

You deserve it buddy, see you in April.

e9tac

Congrats...nice clean truck!!!!

Scuba-Matt

Congrats you have a beautiful Lightning. It looks show room new.

RhinoRacing

Congrats!