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09-01-2007, 03:03 AM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Moderator Paid Member  | September 2007 Gen 2 TOTM - Congrats to Darren "gunman" Pellecchia ! (NLOC #963) September 2007 Gen 2 Truck Of The Month – Congratulations Darren (gunman) Pellecchia ! (NLOC #963) The truck selected for TOTM is a 2002 model hailing from Texas ! Darren has taken a different route than most with his Lightning. Darren started out with a new Lightning to which he and his wife Lynn made the decision to turn into a show truck. First came the bolt ons to the engine then a plan to personalize the truck and the execution of that plan one step at a time. While we all know a hot rod project is never really finished the same applies to a show truck. There is always something to modify or refine. As with any show vehicle Darren has given a name to his: Spectre. Spectre has garnered 18 first place awards and 4 Best of Show awards in 4 years including the first three Lightning Fests, Fun Ford Weekend at Waco, Waco Autorama, Houston Autorama, and World Ford Challenge 8. All this and it is always driven to the events ! Have a close look at Darren’s ride and note the smallest details are not overlooked in the quest for show truck perfection !  1. What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning? It all started with a “drive” home from the track with Chuck “The Wyldman” Shelton. He was having some back problems, and let me drive his Lightning home and that’s all it took to be hooked! I couldn’t wait to call my wife and tell her, “We’ve got to get us one of these!” That was back in 2000. Ever since then, I have been reading up and talking to other lightning owners to see how much they enjoy their trucks. They are just too much fun to drive. I have always owned Ford vehicles from my 1967 Mustang (first car) to my 2002 Lightning. I BLEED FORD BLUE!  2. Do you have any interesting stories about previously owned vehicles, before becoming a Lightning owner? I do have a 1997 F-150 Super Cab that was starting out as a show truck. I lowered it and added chrome wheels, new tires and some under the hood dress up. Once we got the Lightning, my wife said, “Why don’t we make it into a show truck”. I said to her, that we already did so much to the ’97 that I would have to start all over again. So we did!  3. What modifications have you made to your truck since you have owned it...both show and go? Performance: SCT TUNER WITH CUSTOM TUNES PSP +4 LB. BOOST PULLEY PSP BILLET NITROUS PLATE LFP AIR FILTER LFP ELECTRIC FAN LFP TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY COBRA WATER PUMP ACCU-FAB THROTTLE BODY ART-CARR TORQUE CONVERTOR NITROUS EXPRESS SYSTEM with DUAL 15 LB. BOTTLES AUTOMETER PHANTOM GAUGES C&L INTAKE PIPE & MANIFOLD METCO PULLEY SYSTEM BASSANI HEADERS & HIGH FLOW CATS MAGNAFLOW POLISHED S/S CATBACK LARGER INTERCOOLER RADIATOR Suspension: CAL-TRACS TRACTION BARS EIBACH LOWERING SPRINGS BELLTECH LOWERING SHACKLES CHROME LIGHTNING WHEELS NITTO 555 PERFORMANCE TIRES Paint & Body: SHAVED FENDER LOGOS SHAVED TAILGATE HANDLE TAILGATE HANDLE RELOCATED SMOOTH COWL, PAINTED TO MATCH SMOOTH MIRRORS PAINTED TO MATCH GRILLS SNUGTOP TONNEAU LUND ROLL PAN STONE GUARD LENSE COVERS AIRBRUSH ON TONNEAU COVER AIRBRUSH ON FRONT FENDERS & HOOD AIRBRUSHED NITROUS BOTTLES AIRBRUSHED INTAKE MANIFOLD Bling: BILLET & ACRYLIC CAPS & COVERS CUSTOM RADIATOR PLATE WITH BUILD # ALLSALES INTERIOR KNOBS BILLET PEDALS BILLET SVT COAT HANGERS BILLET NITROUS BOTTLE RACK BILLET NITROUS MANIFOLD BILLET LIGHTNING BOLT GRAB HANDLE STAINLESS STEEL KICK PLATES CHROME PLATED STAINLESS WATER LINES POLISHED SUPERSIZE INTERCOOLER RESERVOIR CHROMED TRACTION BARS, REAR END COVER, REAR SWAY BAR POLICE STROBES Audio/Video: ALPINE DVD HEAD UNIT WITH 7” SCREEN ALPINE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ALPINE TELEVISION TUNER CROSSFIRE 700WATT 5 CHANNEL AMP INFINITY KAPPA FRONT SPEAKERS (6X8”) MB QUART REAR SPEAKERS (6-1/2”) JBL 10” SUBS CUSTOM SUB ENCLOSURE ROCKFORD FOSGATE DIGITAL CAP Interior: MODIFIED 60/40 BENCH SEAT INTO 2 CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS REPLACED BLACK LEATHER SEAT WEAVE WITH MYSTIC INSTALLED 2005 FORD FLOOR TRUCK FLOOR SHIFTER CUSTOM CENTER CONSOLE WITH AIRBRUSH SMOOTH & PAINTED DASH WITH AIRBRUSH   4. Do you have any interesting stories about your Lightning? I called up and ordered a Lightning from the dealer. About 2 weeks before it was due to arrive I received a phone call from the salesman. He said your truck is here. I said what do you mean here? It’s not supposed to be in for at least 2 weeks. He told me that someone ordered a silver Lightning and didn’t want it-- could you imagine that! So, we decided to go pick it up. That day, when we pulled into the parking lot, I saw this nice lifted F-150. Then I noticed that it belonged to a good friend of mine, Sean. No one knew we were buying a Lightning. And I didn’t want any one to know. It was getting close to the Heatwave show, and I wanted to surprise everyone in the truck club. I couldn’t let Sean find out. I told the dealer to stall for a while before they bring the Lightning around. Then I got a phone call from Sean. He spotted my F-150 and was asking what I was doing at the dealership. I told him I was meeting a friend and he said he was picking up parts. I kept it a secret for about 2 weeks. Then I told him I just bought a supercharger and rear disc brakes for the ’97 F-150. I wanted to drop by and show it to him. I pulled up in the Lightning and told him that I got the supercharger and disc brakes, but it came with a whole truck! Needless to say, he was very surprised!   5. Tell us about yourself, your hobbies, business or work, sports, family, etc. My wife and I have been married for about 22 years. We have lived in Texas for just as long. We have 1 daughter and 2 cats. Besides trucks, the only other hobby I could have here in Texas is guns! Guns and trucks seem to go hand in hand. In 1993 I started a home study program on gunsmithing. Then I started a small side business. That’s were I got the nickname “The Gunman”. I love to go out shooting, especially long distance. My regular job is as a senior maintenance mechanic at a hospital products company. I work the night shift and have been doing so for about 7 years. The gunsmithing and firearms sales are done on the side.    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 joined up around the end of 2002. NLOC seems to be the best website with forums on the Lightning. If anyone had the right info on the Lightning, NLOC should have it. NLOC even had my build number before I knew it! I have been to 4 out of 5 Lightning Fests. Missed the one in 2006 due to my mother being ill.  7. What suggestions do you have to make the NLOC.net website easier to use and navigate? I like the new navigation/layout. The only improvement may be on how to organize the photos in my gallery in what order I would prefer to see them.  8. Why did you pick your board user name (screen name)? My board name goes with my nickname/ business name. I used it when I joined the old F150 online website back in 1998 or 1999. And since I like guns, everyone just calls me “Gunman”.  9. What are your plans for future changes to your truck? My wife and I want to finish out the interior. I would like to add a large screen TV in the bed along with other speakers. New spindles and better brakes will also be in the future. Since we drive the truck to all shows & get togethers, I am seriously considering a Gear Vendors overdrive unit.     10. Whom would you like to thank for help\donations\support for putting the truck together? First off, I would like to thank my wife Lynn for her support and The Wyldman. If it weren’t for meeting him, I probably would never own this truck. The great friends from HALO and AUSTINSVT have shown a terrific amount of support as well as a great knowledge base. Without NLOC, none of this would have come together. My first, 1st place award came from the first Lightning Fest, and it’s been uphill ever since! I would also like to thank NX Nitrous, Meguiar’s, riverrats1.com, & my painter--Von Otto for their sponsorship & help.  Congratulations to Darren Pellecchia and his 2002 silver Ford Lightning for Gen 2 Truck of the Month, September 2007 ! |
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09-01-2007, 10:47 AM
| #3 (permalink) |
| I Yem Sofa King Wetadid Paid Member  | Congrats Darren, that is one sweet L. Love the custom floor shifter 
__________________ 2002 Lightning Silver #2315 of 4726 TOTALED RIP 69 Coronet Superbee (project car) 2005 Mustang GT (wifes) 13.78@ 103 stock  |
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09-01-2007, 11:02 AM
| #5 (permalink) |
| Moderator  Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Washington State
Posts: 2,455
View this user's gallery iTrader: 4 / 100% | Congrats Darren and Lynn . Your truck looks awesome and I can't wait to see it at L-Fest this year. |
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09-01-2007, 02:39 PM
| #6 (permalink) |
| Boosted by Whipple Paid Member  | Congrats Darren, Great looking Lightning.
__________________ ...........04 DSG, Built 9/02/03 #53/3781........... ............Tuned by JDM, 10.42 @129.72............. ......2007 Moroso Truck Series Champion......  |
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09-02-2007, 06:24 AM
| #12 (permalink) |
| Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Windsor, CT
Posts: 749
View this user's gallery iTrader: 2 / 100% | + 1 on the custom paint job! Beautiful! Congratulations. Randy |
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09-02-2007, 07:52 PM
| #13 (permalink) |
| S. STOCK Tuned by Tweecer  Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rosenhayn N.J.
Posts: 6,640
View this user's gallery iTrader: 5 / 100%  | Wild set up you have there, the airbrush work is killer, Tell me what made you decide on that graphix. it's not a B-17 or 24 , I think they have twin rudders but looks like a 40's or 50 military plane. One cool ride ... The custom console it the best!! congrats man
__________________ 10.77@119.43 1.45 60' |
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