Ronnie

February 2008 Gen 2 Truck Of The Month – Congratulations Bob (Fade 2 Black) Browning ! (NLOC #2011) 2003 Ford Lightning

This month's Truck of the Month comes from the state of Georgia. A beautiful 2003 model in black. You know the saying out there, black is the fastest!! Bob is a stand up guy that is all about Lightnings. He contributes all the time to the Lightning community from providing advice on the forums to wrenching under the hood of fellow Lightning owners. His truck is unbelieveable in both the show and go departments. You can picture Fade's ride being symbolized as beauty and the beast all wrapped up into one machine. Read on and learn more about Fade 2 Black and his 2003 Lightning!



1. What sparked your interest in the Ford Lightning?

I remember reading the original article in one of the performance magazines one night at work about how awesome the 99-00 Lightning performed. I saw a white 2000 at a local Car Max not long after and was impressed by the looks. In March of 2001 I was out riding my motorcycle and stopped by my local Ford dealership to look at one of the three Lightnings they had, two were red and the other silver and it was already sold. I sat in it and started it up, that was all it took, I didn’t even drive it! I came back the next day and drove it home.

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

The only “performance” vehicle I owned prior to a Lightning was a 1985 Mustang GT-last year carbureted. It was slightly tweaked and sounded great and my insurance was more per month than the car note, lol! I only kept it about a year and then sold it when I started A&P school. Otherwise I’ve owned several sportbikes and other type motorcycles since ’92 and that was where I got my speed fix.

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

The red 2001 I had was bone stock the entire time I owned it. I had to let it go in February of 2003 due to divorce. I got my 2003 January 12, 2004 and modding began quickly. I’ve run the gamut pretty much, starting with the usual bolt ons and progressing from there.








GO:

3.4 liter Whipple
Accufab SBTB
Metco aux idler and twin 100mm pulleys
Metco interchangeable lower pulley system with 6.5, 8, 8.5, 9 and 9.75” rings.
S197 Maf in 4” housing.
Mafia.
Flex A Lite 270 dual efan kit.
Navigator aluminum water pump.
Relocated power steering reservoir.
Icey Res intercooler fluid chiller box.
Fluidyne heat exchanger.
Moroso line lock.
Aeromotive fuel rail kit & regulator.
Siemens deka 60# injectors.
Walbro twin 255 lph pumps.
Navigator fuel filter.
Gasket port matched lower intake.
Coolant crossover mod v2.0
EGR delete.
PCV delete/dual breather mod.
Summit battery relocate kit, battery moved to bed.
Team Breed personalized cam covers.
JLP Racing stage III custom grind Crower cams.
Fox Lake stage II ported/polished cylinder heads with oversize stainless valves, bronze guides and Manley Nextek 95# springs with titanium retainers.
Cometic MLS head gaskets.
Core 5.4 block bored .020” over with JLP spec -14cc Manley forged pistons, rings and H beam rods, Speed Pro bearings and ARP rod bolts.
New Ford Racing forged L crank with double keyed snout.
Double keyed stock harmonic balancer with ARP retainer bolt.
ARP 2000 head studs.
ARP main studs.
Canton Racing oversize truck oil pan, windage tray and pickup tube.
JLP Bassani R full exhaust system, catless with Bassani 3.5” baffles in the tips.
Stage 8 locking header bolts.
ARP flexplate bolts.
Hughes billet triple disc 2600 stall torque converter.
FTVB w/4x4 pan.
Superduty trans cooler with Summit Racing remote filter mount kit.
Detroit Tru Trac differential.
TA Performance diff cover, ARP cap studs and stainless cover bolts
Lotek dual pod A pillar.
Dynojet Wide Band Commander a/f gauge.
Autometer lunar vacuum/boost gauge.
Autometer column mount pod.
Autometer Phantom fuel pressure gauge.
Automter Phantom trans temp gauge mounted under a/c vent.
GM 3 BAR Map sensor for datalogging boost.
Spare tire, winch and hitch removed.
Tuned by me with SCT PRP Advantage 3.0 software and Livelink.





SHOW:

Clear corner lenses with Stealth bulbs
Chrome grille mod upper and lower
Lebra LoPro Tonneau cover
Bedrug
Lightning badge paint mod
Euro antenna
Sporza D5 20x9.5” wheels shod with Nitto 404 305/40 20 tires in a Mustang bolt pattern with billet adapters.
Rockford Fosgate amp powering four 5x8 dual range speakers
Rockford Fosgate amp powering two 10” Fosgate subs in a ported box behind the seats.
Stock 6 disc head unit
XM satellite radio







SUSPENSION:

DJM upper and lower control arms
Stock L coils with one Mr. Gasket spring rubber and 3/8” coil spacer
QA1 drag spec adjustable shocks
Energy Suspesnsion sway bar links.
NAPA cam bolts

DMR panhard bar
JLP Racing 54” long bars
Flex A Form fiberglass leafs
JLP Racing 4” shackles
Strange Engineering adjustable rear shocks
SoCal shock extenders and adj. sway bar links.









SLOW:

TCE 15.3” BBK w/ Wilwood 6 pot binders and braided lines.



I also run the stock calipers with Russell braided lines during track season.

Stock rear calipers that have been ground down for clearance, Russell braided center line with new hard lines I fabbed going to braided lines that were for an IS300.



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

I got the idea to use adapters from Sloetruk (Brian) from his use of them at track events. I couldn’t find any affordable wheels I liked in our bolt pattern so I decided to go with the Bullit wheels and adapters. Many doubted their strength and safety but I did my homework before taking the plunge. I was VERY happy with the outcome and still use them today, even at the strip. Since then many others have gone the same route and opened up another world of wheels to use in order to be unique, I don’t take any credit for it but it’s kinda cool that I helped pave the way for others.





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

I am 36 and have lived in Georgia my entire life. While I am not currently active in them all my hobbies include: Hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, motorcycles, weightlifting, electronics, carpentry, anything mechanical, tuning, racing (my truck and motorcycles), cooking and fixing things in general.

For the past ten years I’ve worked for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. as an aircraft maintenance technician. The last two years of which have been spent in the engineering department where I do fleet technical support, identifying problematic aircraft and providing suggestions and guidance to others in order to finally correct the issue.

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 originally logged on in January of ’04 right after I got my current L. I’ve been a paid member for the past two years to take full advantage of the gallery available as well as to support the site.

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

No suggestions, this site is trouble free.

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

Everyone in my immediate family owns a red vehicle and when I got rid of my ’01 red L it was time for a change. I knew the next L I bought would be black or nothing, so it went with motorcycles as well. I am a huge Metallica fan also so with my newfound passion for the color black I took a slight cue from their album Ride The Lightning and chose Fade 2 Black.

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

My next and most pressing goal is to finally achieve a 10.xx pass in the ¼ mile, my last outting netted a to date best of 11.09 @ 125 mph with a poor 60' time of 1.725. My inexperience as a drag racer and overall lack of seat time have been working against me in getting my 60’ times down where they could and should be and that is what I have been trying to focus on most lately.



Next on my mod list is to finish upgrading the fuel system. I’m going to do new lines, filter and fittings from the tank up to the engine bay to feed the Aeromotive rails. A fuel injector upgrade may be necessary also, but only track visits will tell that tale.

I would like to do the Expy console mod and install some higher quality seats as well. A built transmission will go in eventually but as long as my stocker holds up it will stay put. Removal of unneeded parts and components to shed weight will ensue shortly and maybe a rack & pinion kit from JJ@WMS will go on as well. At this point I don’t plan to install a cage since 95% of my driving is on the street with just the occasional T&T outing.

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

I thank God for all he’s blessed me with, without him I’d be lost. My AWESOME and wonderful wife for her tolerance of my full blown addiction, without her love and support most of what I’ve done would have never been possible. The entire online community of truly passionate and helpful enthusiasts to which we all belong. If it weren’t for places such as NLOC, our trucks would all be much slower and uglier and I’d be wealthier, lol.

JJ@WMS has helped me more than any other one single person, he answers his phone every time, at night, on weekends and always takes as much time as needed to speak with me about questions/concerns I may have. He also answers emails promptly and provides feedback. He has helped me with some of my tuning issues over the past year as well. JJ does all this for a fellow enthusiast who has never bought a single thing from him and despite repeatedly asking him to, will not accept any payment from me for said help. We are all fortunate to have a person like JJ in our group.

Ronnie, Casey02L, Frank5L, SWThomas, Danoid, James@RWTD, Screaming01L, FlaHp, BruceWRS, Tim Skelton, FordFanStan, Todd@TCE, JLPRacing, Rick, Linn & Derek @ Amazon, Dustin Whipple, Jared @ Lethal, Chris Nelson and Summit Racing.

There are so many of you that have helped me out on many occasions that I can’t remember them all, you know who you are and if I neglected to mention your name please forgive me.



Congratulations to Bob Browning and his 2003 Black Ford Lightning for Gen 2 Truck of the Month, February 2008!!

Scuba-Matt

Congrats Bob, Your Lightning is awesome inside and out.

jdiggy

Congrats Fade!!! One of my favorite L's without question.

chrisheltra

Congrats Bob representing the South. Cant wait to meet you and see your truck one day.

Screaming01L

Stunning Truck!! Looks spectacular!!

five0drw

sweet. nice set up with all the right parts.. congrates

KCBOLT

Congrats!! Very Nice!!!

BigMac

Congrats! Well deserved!

Shawn

Fade 2 Black

MUCH appreciated everyone! Of course some of the pics aren't working, gotta love imageshack.

I should have some updated track numbers tomorrow.

__________________
1.63---7.06@99.08---11.05@123.07 <> Rebuilt/Tuned by ME

jlee7765

grats!!!!!!!!!

young bill

Inspiration mate. As a noob with a Lightning, from Scotland where we find it hard to get knowledge.
You guys keep it real...

WickedSVT

Congrats Bob!! One of the top, well put together trucks around. I've gotten alot of use out of your how to's. Well deserved

__________________
2002 Lightning Silver #2315 of 4726 TOTALED RIP
69 Coronet Superbee (project car)
2005 Mustang GT (wifes)
13.78@ 103 stock

97GT

Congrats Bob

__________________
http://www.geocities.com/tysonchappu...?1197847758774

Lightningbob02

Congratulations Bob, You and your Lightning are a asset to NLOC!

RhinoRacing

Sweet Truck!