madramper

...May 2007 Gen 1 Truck Of The Month – Congratulations Jody (383svt) Wilk! (NLOC #1059)

There are many tried and true methods in how to go fast. Certain combinations have been proven to make good power. However, following the crowd was not something Jody Wilk was looking for. He took his White 1994 Lightning and built something a little more radical. It only takes one look at the huge blower sticking out of the hood to know this truck is unique! Congratulations to Jody for building an awesome First Generation Lightning!




1. What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning?

I liked them since they came out in 1993. I was always into trucks and I liked the way the Lightning looked better than the Chevy 454 SS.


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

Before I got my lightning, I owned a White 1994 Flareside F-150 show truck. I made it into a Lightning clone with the front valance, fog lights, decals, supercharger, etc.. (yeah, I thought I was cool). My Flareside got rolled over in 2001 and the search for my first Lightning began. I found one about 1 hour away and bought it. It had a mass air conversion, heads, intake, Baumann tranmission controller, and a Cervini’s hood.


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

My truck has gone through the whole gamut of modifications. I put a Vortech S-trim supercharger on from my old truck. I soon found out the truck was burning oil. I decided to rebuild the motor as a 383 stroker. My first time to the track I was running low 12’s. I guess that’s when the bug bit me. I soon upgraded to a YS-trim and intercooler. I headed back to the track and couldn’t beat my previous best. Along the way I went through an Eaton rear and a transmission.
For the next rebuild I decided to take it to its current stage. It has a 438ci stroker Dart Block, TFS High port heads, custom intake, BDS 8-71 stage 2 Air-Loc Blower, and 2 King Demon carburetors. Topping the carbs is a bug catcher from Garlits Performance Products. The Engine is built by DGRE, Dave Gagnon Racing Enterprises, in CT. The transmission is a C-6 built by Dynamic Racing in CT with a 4500 stall convertor. The rear end is a Moser 9” with a full spool and 40 spline gun-drilled axles. I have a S&W 10point roll cage and mini tub installed by Bad Co. Customizing. The wheels are Bogart Pro-Star. The hood is a Glass-tek cowl hood extended to the windshield and there is a Checker-Pro tonneau cover.


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

I don't have any interesting stories other than I want to keep the truck streetable…. at least enough to bring it to cruise nights and car shows. I placed 4th in last years Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords “World’s Fastest Street Lightning Shootout”. I ran my current best that day, a 10.33 @ 130mph on stock suspension.
Actually, I just thought of one funny story. At Lightningfest 3, my first time out with the BDS blower, I ran mid 10’s. On Sunday I wrote “Thanks DGRE” in shoe polish on my window to thank my engine builder, and the announcer thought it said “Ogre” and made some sort of reference to the movie Shrek.



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

I own a landscape company. I have a 9 month old daughter whom I already have wearing my NLOC hat. My trucks and NLOC are about my only hobbies.



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 have been a user of NLOC since 2001. John, Run351, found me wandering aimlessly on the Ford Truck Enthusiest forum and guided me here to NLOC. I like NLOC because it has the most first generation info and has much less drama than most of the other forums.



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

I can’t think of any changes to make. I think it works fine how it is.



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

I picked 383svt because I used to have a 383ci stroker. It should probably be 438svt or BDSLightning or something like that but I don’t want to confuse anyone.



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

I am currently refreshing my motor. We are changing the carbs to some boost referenced King Demons. The biggest change will be to my suspension. I am going to be trying out some 53” ladder bars and coil-overs in the rear and some drag shocks up front. Hopefully this will help my ETs a little. My goal is to run consistent low 10’s without breaking parts.



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

I would like to thank my wife for putting up with my obsession to these trucks, Run351 for introducing me to the club, the DelValLo guys, DGRE, and all the members of NLOC for answering my questions along the way.



http://delvallo.net/forum/

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Skritch

Congratulations Jody ! With that "bug catcher" stickin' out of the hood it makes your truck HIGHLY recognizable. It just so happens I favor the color white on the Gen 1s too !

Scott

RhinoRacing

Congrats buddy!

Scuba-Matt

Congratulations Jody!!! Another beautiful Gen 1

NewbRand

YES!!!! Way to GO, Jody!!!!!

Randy

LGHTSPD

Awesome job Jody You really built yourself a BAD AZZ!! truck that stands out in any crowd.

Ray

five0drw

thumbs up... congrats

FASTFORD

Way to go Jody on TOTM

SVT150TIM

lol... i had to go back and look a second time for the white truck...that big shinny thing...WOW !


Congrats Jody... you have built one incredible truck.

lightningDan

A+ jody!!!!

Danny

giddyup

way to go jody....

redlightningssf

It's about time!!!!!

Attached Images

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plum360415

Jody, congrats, nice L, I hope to see it in person sometime, maybe WFC, or L-fest. any way.....very nice.
Kerry

__________________
Former Gen1 owner..... 1994 #1665 5-sp gen 1 L....
Replacment 97 Cobra #799

huffentuff95

Way to Go Jody , I can remember back in the day when you had the 383 stroker and the word got back to the Huff man , You had me a bit nervous there, it's a shame we never lined up, would have been interesting.. Ralph warned me about this Killer Gen I fron CT. and said there's a new sheriff in town. Ralph won't admitt it but he was a little worried too . Ralph kept me busy in our Gen I battle, swapping 100th of a second for top honors. You have just be promoted to Captain Die Hard to say the least, It ain't nothing for Jody to make the 5 1/2 hour trek down to South Jersey to hang out with the DelValLO crew, That my friend is showing a genuine interest in Lightnings.. The North East ROCKS Now lets see that
9, I know you can do it!!! Congrats!!

Brian Baskin

Woo, congrats Jody