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#4182 of 15392 Shocks by ls1bmw0 Aug 09, 2001 (6:45 am)
If you guys want to see what the new shocks that will be installed on the project car look like, here's a link to the picture on Moriss Dampers site. Forgive the ugly mug shot of me. The shocks look way better! http://www.morissdampers.com/news.html
#4183 of 15392 Aftermarket by leadfoot4 Aug 09, 2001 (6:46 am)
Without trying to start a long, drawn out discussion about modifications, I'll toss in my $.02 worth.   Most cars are designed for the masses. Their target might be a specific segment of the masses, but nontheless it's the masses. There are those of us, who, for whatever the reason, want our cars to be a little unique from all of the other similar units of whatever car we have chosen.  This is where the aftermarket lives. I realize that many more people lease their cars today than in the past. Therefore, due to contractual obligation they can't or won't modify a car that will be gone in 12, 24, or 36 months. Those of us such as myself, who purchase rather than lease, tend to work with the aftermarket to either upgrade the performance or alter in some way the appearance of our car to suit our desires.  I agree that Detroit has come a long way in providing a good platform to enjoy some spirited driving with. However, they also have cut back on the number of options that used to allow you to tailor your car to your specific needs and/or wants. The aftermarket has stepped up to the plate with a lot of fairly sophisticated equipment that can fill that gap.  That's the way that I see the situation, and if you don't want to modify your car, that's your choice. This America's a wonderful country, isn't it ??  One more thought in closing. As far back as the mid 1970's, I was making modifications to my cars in order to improve cornering capability, as well as the generally accepted HP increases. Back then, however, the aftermarket was very limited in suspension upgrades. It was definitely "cut and try", or "shadetree engineering" at its finest, but it was also a "character builder".  Once again, over and out......
#4184 of 15392 LS Upgrades by lolaj42 Aug 09, 2001 (6:58 am)
There has been plenty of effort expended on searching out handling improvements for the LS, albiet, they're difficult to come by. It is difficult to really find items that improve the already impressive handling prowess of the LS . . . it was that well engineered from the get go. That said, it IS possible. Increasing wheel size is one (without adding to unsprung weight). Shocks are another area, and Brain/LLSOC has documented this effort in the LLSOC Lincoln Synergy magazine. Modifications in the name of handling improvement come at a greater cost than the performance items discussed thus far, and consequently, they will only appeal to a real enthusiast.   My discussion has completely ignored the effort to enhance the outward appearance of the LS, as there are plenty of body panel and taillight lense kits available. People will always want to customize their ride to suit their personalities. This is not to say that the LS "missed the mark", on the contrary, I think it is still the value leader in the sport sedan segment, maybe just not by as wide a margin as it used to have.
#4185 of 15392 Lolaj42, re/ upgrades by leadfoot4 Aug 09, 2001 (7:35 am)
I completely agree with your comment regarding wheels. When I decided to use the OEM wheels for winter use, I purchased a set of aftermarket rims, and I made sure that they were a litte wider that stock. The change was noticible.  I also wanted to lower the car using a set of Eibach coils. I hesitate, however, to do this, because the rear camber settings are not equal between right and left, and since they're not adjustable (ugghh!!) I don't want to chance exaggerating a questionable situation. If not for this, the coils would have been in a long time ago.
#4186 of 15392 Not Satisfied? by slunar Aug 09, 2001 (7:52 am)
You complacent guys should be happy that a lot of us never seem to be satisfied. I have a saying: If most people were always satisfied with the status quo, we'd still be crapping in outhouses.
#4187 of 15392 Mods by stanny1 Aug 09, 2001 (9:17 am)
Wow - so many topics! Going back to the post about the Buick GN and Impala SS and the popularity of the cars, GM really blew it when they closed their Arlington, TX RWD plant and lost all their fun cars. They gave up the police market and the true enthusiast market in one stroke. No wonder their market share is dropping in cars - they are all FWD appliances. In the automotive spectrum, GM is on one end and BMW is on the other. GM engineers must be on Prozac and saltpeter. How frustrating now that bean counters are actually designing cars. Or is it robots! NO PASSION. Yes, the factories are really distant from the 60's when you could order your GTO with the sound deadening deleted for weight saving. Assembly line customization is gone, and that's where the least expensive and best mods can be had. In the press is an article about how Nissan is developing a system that will let you order a car and have it in three weeks if it's a U.S. made model. Probably no aftermarket items but it could be possible in the future. I don't see why manufacturers could not stock, for example, a Borla system that could be factory installed at an additional "option" price. It's been done before. The assembly process is the same as the stock system so I don't think it would be a big deal. To get custom "options" now, we let the dealer choose what's available and their choices are sometimes in poor taste and tremendously overpriced. LM could always publish a "Performance Catalog" like Nissan and others do. My idea of LS aftermarket mods aim squarely at performance. The 2002 LS, especially the V-6, is a rolling admission that first year development time restraints resulted in less than optimum intake and exhaust parameters. So the Borla and intake mods are really recommended. In the case of the Borla, it's actually better than just replacing the mufflers with 2002 models. Borla addressed not only the need for lower restriction mufflers, but increased the pipe diameter, bends, lack of X-box, and finally made the tips chrome and visible. I can't wait to put mine on. Other mods at the top of the list include an LSD pumpkin. What good is power if you can't put it on the ground, especially in slolom type power slides. Right now I'm afraid to power out of sharp hard turns for fear of losing rear traction as one wheel inevitably starts its independent spin. I'm not hot on suspension mods as I can't utilize the handling potential of the car yet, especially without LSD. I'm only interested in wheels if the offset is dialed in for the LS and there is a significant weight savings. An inch wider or larger in diameter does not make IMHO a significant performance improvement for the huge investment required. Finally, I am on a 3 year Red Carpet so I don't want to modify the car so much I can't trade it in for a 2003 or order a 2004 if it has "the right stuff" (praying for VVT, six-speed and LSD). I just need a little more power. Yesterday a 60 year old guy in a newer Avalon tangled with me at a series of stoplights and while I got off the line faster, he was doing better as I went into third. Of course, we were both exceeding the 45 mph limit but it was fun. Too bad there were no corners as part of the run. Oh, I had my 10 and 12 year old sons as ballast and he was alone. That was hurting my power to weight ratio. I think this guy read my license plate frame that reads "Not Your Father's Lincoln" on top and "LS Five Speed Manual" on the bottom and took offense.
#4188 of 15392 value and modifications by thomas_l Aug 09, 2001 (11:19 am)
akirby (4063): It's all in the details - maybe with a few of us the honeymoon is over? Maybe the difference between some that were pumped at first and have had less than desireable experience over time versus the few that found the Car Of Their Dreams in the LS? My apologies for highlighting some negatives lately.   giowa (4062): I think it's just personal preference. Some people just enjoy tinkering and personalizing their cars. It happens that exhaust and intake mods are the easiest to do in many cases. Ditto with the sound system and appearance upgrades. With the lack of mechanical aftermarket stuff, there isn't much more to change outside of totally fabricating your mods.   slunar (4071): Actually I look at ROI. Time + dollars related to actual benefit. I won't waste time or money on something that will pick up 10 hp or add 0.1 G at the skid pad. It's incremental. On the other hand, when the 2.8L V6 in my Fiero sneezes, I will either go with a 3.8L S/C or Northstar. Big time and money investment with a proportional big payback in performance. Using your analogy, many of these minor upgrades are more like sawing an extra hole in the outhouse bench to double it's intake, not moving to indoor plumbing and flush toilets.
#4189 of 15392 Thomas1 -I agree by stanny1 Aug 09, 2001 (11:36 am)
The Borla is probably not "cost effective" but I'll let you know if it and the airbox yields any improvement. That will probably be it, as I have already put in the K&N and Polk DX7's. Unless there is some "magic bullet" coming, I will stop there. Spoilers, wheels, window tinting is not on the menu right now. I would jump on the LSD though.
#4190 of 15392 value/mods/Avalons by brucelinc Aug 09, 2001 (12:59 pm)
At the time I bought my LS, I had considered an A6 2.8, a 528i, a 300M, a Continental(blush)and even a used Seville. After trying them all, I concluded that the LS was a heckuva value - and the best car for me. The competition has gotten tougher but I do not regret my choice one bit.   The minor mods I have done (wud and tires) have enhanced my enjoyment of the car. Lincoln's offer to retrofit the wood wheel and shifter was appreciated. The ability to upgrade the transmission software to the latest version is a huge plus.   Overall, I enjoy the car more now than ever. Having said that, I will be expecting major improvements in the next product cycle. Slunar's outhouse analogy is right on.   Now, I would like to find that 60 year old in the Avalon and show him some LS tail lights.
#4191 of 15392 Stanny by airwolf1000 Aug 09, 2001 (12:59 pm)
Sorry to hear the Avalon was tangling with you. The LS should have with a little more oomph kicked him to the curb. Now regarding those curbs, remember those curbs in the twisties will actually hurt LS unlike the cones;) Just remembering the good old time we all had in January. How about one a parking lot event like the one in LA in Texas? Central to everyone?   Airwolf1000

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