Update on the Army *itch Aka Focus

[NorthernStar08]

As some of you know me and my boy have a lil bit of a project car. The Amercan Nightmare Customs Pilot car.


Nightmare Customs is a german based custom shop company. You name it they probly have done it. Well my bf is the owner of the shop and while hes been deployed to iraq i was baby sitting the lil car.


A lot of ppl around town saw and reconized her for the famous tripple black racing strip and a 2005 red Zx4 4 door sedan. Hell even mindboggler knew of the car before he knew of me. When he first saw it he shook his head and said he seen me racing her down in the springs at night.


Well heres an update. Shes in NJ getting some work done and all the parts in but heres a video after day one theres more but I am to lazy to upload them.



http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2032942265

[RevT]

What happened to people souping up real cars....

RevT

[Digger]

What happened to people souping up real cars....

RevT

Edit: Okay I watched video. I agree with RevT, what happened to really building an engine? You know, pistons, rods, crank, high flow heads, new carb or reworked FI?

[Gunner]

Ricer? Yes. And before you argue it is "something different." No...it isn't. I've seen plenty of riced out Focus' which are driven around like a retarded monkey is at the wheel, because somebody thinks "installing" rims and ghetto-rigging an air intake makes it a "race-car." When your cosmetic shiny upgrades outnumber 2-1 your "performance" mods, you have a problem. Its 1 in 1 million, and triple black racing stripes aren't signature or famous, if I had a dollar for every POS I've seen with triple stripes I could buy most of them back and have them destroyed.

There, I said it because it probably needed to be said. I've almost been hit more times than I care to remember by people who drive like morons in cars they think are fast and furious. IMO, the people who die driving like that are just doing everyone else a favor...

[Digger]

My question is "why do those ricer kids want to race me in my 6800lb powerstroke diesel." Is it the noise the engine makes? The really sad part is when I smoke their "high-performance" economy car.

[Gunner]

I guess "racing" pedals and "racing" wheels really don't do anything for performance. Big surprise.

[thesoundmaster]

this goes hand in hand with the little Nissan 240SX i killed off the stoplight tonight AFTER I SPUN MY REAR OFF THE LINE (it was wet and there is no weight in the back of my Ranger)

IMO, if you build up a car, build it like John(Glass) has done... buy an old muscle car (example:chevelle) and build it up. None of this "it has new rims, a coffee can for a muffler, and a tint job, thus making it the fastest damn thing on the face of the planet.

[Glass]

Chuck, i almost bought some 20's with chrome spinners and a umm spoiler and stuff instead of the supercharger...and instead of the forged blower pistons, big shot nitrous kit, and ls6 reproduction solid lift cam i thought about a steerin wheel cover, billet skull shift knob,8" exhaust tip while keeping the 1.5 inch pipes on, and some seat covers.

Hell, different people like different things....If it wasnt for people buying some of the stuff they buy to make thier cars the way they want them to look, not perform, then i wouldnt have extra money i need for my chevelle.

Imports are cop bait anyways, even driving the chevelle around with the scoop sticking out of the hood, or even with no hood doesnt draw as much attention of the smell of folgers coffee to a cop.

You can buy a $500 car, put $4000 worth of performance parts into it, and only get $1200 out of it. Or you can buy a $500 car, put $500 worth of acessories ON IT and sell it for $5000.

Was sure fun 2 weeks ago hauling around 2 454 chevy engines in the back of the truck, and still wompin ricers.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1030730529


Final thought, it is alot easier to install parts than it is to build a car. And seeing as how people are getting lazier and lazier thats what people are doing buying shi---stuff instead of building it.

[mattadams]

Man you guys are HARSH! LOL.

[Richard]

dont you love it though, matt?

I see alot of rice over here (and eat more of it too). The biggest issue I have is that people have it set in their mind the louder it is, the faster it is. My old boss had a 100% stock 92 Skyline GTR (stock being the rare occurance), and it was quiet compared to the other cars on the street, and wasnt as "pretty". But that thing moved better than anything I have ever driven. I get in these cars with the fart pipes and plastic hoods and lights all on the inside and all i can think about is how much money these people have put into cars they wont own in 3 years or less (due to importation laws and such). Tomorrow morning, I will take a picture of the cars behind my building and you will see what I mean.

Now, granted, I am making plans for my new car, but nothing too extreme. Upgraded intercooler, turbo, intake, exhaust, ECU....nothing too big. I have been reading about people spending twice as much on their engine as they did on the car, and keeping the body as stock as possible. Granted, I love the look of a sleeper, knowing that a simple looking car will eat something with a $40 exhuast on the back and some blue lights in the headlights for breakfast, and all the teeny-bopper will say is "my car isnt tuned right". Granted, to each his own, and everyone has to start somewhere. But coming from the land of rice, if i could go the rest of my life without hearing the sound of a ricer exhaust, i would die a happy man. My personal opinion. And Bobby, you should have know you were opening up a can of worms by posting something like this on the truck forums.

[Richard]

And gunner...I cant wait to get some beer with you when i get home. You are brutal. i know the scene in Ft Collins. We will take a ride around when i get home and have some fun. And no you cant drive.

[Richard]

Ok. I am going to tear it apart. I have to. 1. The custom intake that adds 30hp? Looks like a $15 filter from autozone and some plumbing supplies. Not even trully custom and professionally built intakes will bring in that kind of horsepower gains, especially in an engine bay that is so cramped. He would literally need a ram-air style intake for those gains. 2. the custom from "white" carbon fiber strut. Umm. Yea. No. I am not really seeing any true performance gains on this vehicle. Swap out a v-8 and make it rear wheel (can be done) and I will be impressed. Or rebuild the engine. I dont know. I am just not seeing what is so "race" about this car. I see the rice, just no race.

[mattadams]

And my truck did quarter mile in 19.5 seconds. I dont know why anyone would want to go faster than that! LOL.

[Richard]

Was that before or after the custom flame job that added 40hp?

[Gunner]

And just so there isn't any chance I get pounded for having no experience, or not knowing what a project is and what a real car is, here is mine. I bought it when I was 17 and its slow going, but will be done by me. It has less rust than the Bronco, and is completely stripped down ready for media-blasting. Paying for college put a huge stop on it though, all of a sudden I had no money.


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/38gunner/Mustangs/DSC00734.jpg

C9 351w out of a 69 Cougar, to be stroked to 408 with a Novi 1500.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/38gunner/DSC01649.jpg

[Richard]

You know....we could still ride around in it. We could tie a bunch of beers to the hood and tell the local college kids to push it around until they catch the beer. :)

[RayLCC]

This has all been a little harsh. While I agree with the "domestic ricer" stuff, and wouldn't build one myself, I still have to admire the work and time involved in the customizing.
I've seen people proudly show off their "customized" car that amounts to nothing more than simple mods from checker's. But thats the skill level that they are at at the time.
Being a person thats building up a vehicle thats not usually built up I often get the comments. "Thats the worst car ever built." (uhaul salesperson) and comments from various jeepers and other off roaders, including salespeople who should know better.
But it doesn't matter to me. I'm building up the vehicle I want to build. If I decide that my next buildup will be a hotrod Edsel... Well. Why not?
I'm not saying that everyones comments are wrong. I agree with a lot of it. Especially the intakes and such.
All I'm saying is, we aren't picking apart an anonymos webfind that someone found and posted a pic. This is a fellow member who is proud of her vehicle and the accomplishments shes made with it. It may not be what we are into, but lets remember that it is what she is into and show support to a fellow member.
We could all be negative and spend our time picking apart everyones projects, but then we would lose part of what makes this club great. Its the support that we get from each other. We may shake our heads and joke with each other, but there is always a level of support and good heartedness in it.
Ok, I'll get off the soapbox now.

[cory]

nice stang gunner. i like ricers , one look at my truck and they always want to race just cause it looks old and slow. it's fun to watch in the rearveiw mirror

[Digger]

Man you guys are HARSH! LOL.

I guess we have been on pirate4x4 too much, but what do I know, I'm just a Mall Poser.

[thesoundmaster]

And Bobby, you should have know you were opening up a can of worms by posting something like this on the truck forums.

He has a point.

[RevT]

I smoked a ricer once in Cali. I was in my bone stock 2004 Expy. O wait I had a K&N drop in filter in it.

I didnt realize he had pulled up next to me. I had all the kids in the truck, so I punched it off the line to give them a Wheee!!! I let off about 20, then hurd his muffler kick in so I stood on it. I let off at 75 about a qrt mile down the road, and he never got past my B pillar.

RevT

[Warrlord]

There are a few Hondas & Acuras around here where the owners actually built their engines and the car around that engine................That's what I admire...............a little 4 banger or a V6 screaming down the 1/4 in under 13 seconds while remaining street legal. Call 'em Ricers or whatever you wanna call 'em............those guys built those little motors rather that adding some bling & some scare-stickers to the vehicle.

I see alot of those little cars that run the 1/4 at 17-20 seconds while it sounds like a constant 20 second loud fart going down the strip.........those guys need to get some engine work done to backup those scare stickers.

Everyone's opinion differs in vehicles. I can't understand why someone would put $4500.00 worth of dubs on a $700.00 car but evidently the owner understands (I guess). I've heard multiple comments & questions directed at me as to why I'd put money into a Ranger just to go wheeling. Well, it's my choice & there are those that don't agree.

I'm not into the Ricer (for lack of a better word) thing but for those that are & build a fast, quality unit..............way to go. :thumbsup: Good post Ray.

That being said...............................

Now........This is my idea of a kickass Focus (http://youtube.com/watch?v=_2Ms1mkn4QY)

Back in the 80's, I built a little shitbox & got ridiculed from time to time but it was a fun little shitbox for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/Warrlord/Old%20Pics/78351Pinto4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/Warrlord/Old%20Pics/78351Pinto3.jpg

[Walking Eagle]

Holy crap that brings back memories. In the 80's my grandpa had a green Pinto. I was embarrassed every time we went to California and I had to ride around in that thing. It obviously did not have that motor.

[NorthernStar08]

Edit: Okay I watched video. I agree with RevT, what happened to really building an engine? You know, pistons, rods, crank, high flow heads, new carb or reworked FI?

The one that was built was knocking awefull so we a still debating on a crate motor or AGAIN trying to fix the knocking

[NorthernStar08]

Not the greatest pix inthe world but heres ANOTHER nightmare customs.

Like i said do keep in mind Nightmare Customs started in GERMANY.

The owner also has in his shop everything from MOPAR to RICE to even off roading trucks.

The Focus is the Pilot car for colorado and intended to get heads to turn to notice the car and qwestions asked to draw attenion.

Below arent the greatest pix but pix of one of three el camino's the owner owns and race. The blue one (i will post pix later) is actully a track car sololy.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/SUNGOLDSRIDER/l_f4fcd3cf4ea8fb6c918c1dbca88363d8.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/SUNGOLDSRIDER/l_47287ae39b65828680efef72cfc0a35b.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/SUNGOLDSRIDER/l_d4886f70563739535bf86d908ba3c591.jpg

[NorthernStar08]

Man you guys are HARSH! LOL.


I couldn't careless.

NO one saw the focus before she left for NJ cept for chuck, devin and LT.

EVEN then they never truly saw her potential cause I am not used to racing that car. Since its truly not my car.



Everyone is entitled to their opionion.

IF i had the money agai I would LOVE to have another 69 charger rt like my father had when i was growing up or own another 1974 plymoth valiant.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/SUNGOLDSRIDER/thecharger.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/SUNGOLDSRIDER/8358235_l.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/SUNGOLDSRIDER/403537916_l.jpg

The block is sitting in the Right Valiant in the middle pic. Since then a new Eldebrock motor has been dropped in with more ponies.

But i am posting this to once again show TO EACH HIS OWN.

Everyone has their own prefences.


and REMEMBER this is allllll coming from me the dodge lover :rolleyes::D

[NorthernStar08]

Ok. I am going to tear it apart. I have to. 1. The custom intake that adds 30hp? Looks like a $15 filter from autozone and some plumbing supplies. Not even trully custom and professionally built intakes will bring in that kind of horsepower gains, especially in an engine bay that is so cramped. He would literally need a ram-air style intake for those gains. 2. the custom from "white" carbon fiber strut. Umm. Yea. No. I am not really seeing any true performance gains on this vehicle. Swap out a v-8 and make it rear wheel (can be done) and I will be impressed. Or rebuild the engine. I dont know. I am just not seeing what is so "race" about this car. I see the rice, just no race.


Umm ok true points. BUT keep in mind that car has MORE work to needed to be done. A lot of the parts you have listed where just the temp mods till tom came tom on leave to work on it.

More work will be done in the up coming months till the owner come's home and finishes the compleat over haul.

Yes i do relise richard that the car is a focus. I do relise the car is "rice" but after all said and done at the end of the day no matter what it feels good to be able to get under the hood of a car and just WORK on it.

No matter how dumb nor retarded it is.

GRANTED keep in mind I will never EVER in my life own anything NON american except for MAYBE BMW.......

I had my fill of the typical RICER hondas and all that jazz and grew outta it. Sometimes the answer when asked "why a focus" is just a simple "cuase I can"


Nothing more nothing less. Sometimes when I roll up to Sonic off 92 and federal. On the weekends I cant help but laugh or want to cry at the pitifull site of ricers. But mixed in with the ricers are the Crotch rockets Mopar old skool muscle and harleys. No one disses N e one else's rice. If they do they put the gas were their mouth is.

I used to get reallly heated over ppl dissing me over the focus and for driving it, but honestly? I stoped caring. Cuase I learned to each his own.

Hell richard you bought that awesome car. Granted I thought you were going to get something else but in the end I still like your choice. I do like what you are plaining on adding to the car to.


But yes in the end before i am off to go back to bed to deal with this terrable migraine.

I appreaciate all of your points and in the end of the day my answer will always be


"yes its JUST a focus"

[Glass]

If you like old Plymos, you must love a 67' Belvedere?

http://carnut.com/show/00/mpr/mpr237.jpg

[Richard]

*drool*.....i want....

[NorthernStar08]

*drool*.....i want....

OMG tripple drool!!!

I will fight you richard I WANT!!!

[thesoundmaster]

THOSE are the cars you build up, Larry put up a picture of his Pinto, that thing had a bad ass powerplant in it, so it wasn't crap. A focus, sorry, unless you do some sort of major work under the hood (such as drop a 351) is still a Focus. Yeah people make fun of me for buying a Ranger to do my work to, but Rangers are capible vehicles. A focus is cheap, and deserves to be left alone. Stickers don't do justice. My Bronco has Warn stickers and K&N stickers, why, because those are the only aftermarket products on it. None of this "it gives it 40 more horsepower with the sticker" nonsense. Sorry to be so brutal, but I have a hatred towards the "poser" vehicles on the road.

I'll use this one for example, I have a buddy who has a 73 Bronco on 6 inches of lift, Detroit locker on the front, ARB in the rear (or the otherway around). He bought it for wheeling. He has only had it up 2 times in the 2 years he's had it. The rest of the time it's a Pavement Princess. IMO if you build it, use it. Don't pose it. Jesse take note:D:D

Kidding Jesse!

[NorthernStar08]

THOSE are the cars you build up, Larry put up a picture of his Pinto, that thing had a bad ass powerplant in it, so it wasn't crap. A focus, sorry, unless you do some sort of major work under the hood (such as drop a 351) is still a Focus. Yeah people make fun of me for buying a Ranger to do my work to, but Rangers are capible vehicles. A focus is cheap, and deserves to be left alone. Stickers don't do justice. My Bronco has Warn stickers and K&N stickers, why, because those are the only aftermarket products on it. None of this "it gives it 40 more horsepower with the sticker" nonsense. Sorry to be so brutal, but I have a hatred towards the "poser" vehicles on the road.

I'll use this one for example, I have a buddy who has a 73 Bronco on 6 inches of lift, Detroit locker on the front, ARB in the rear (or the otherway around). He bought it for wheeling. He has only had it up 2 times in the 2 years he's had it. The rest of the time it's a Pavement Princess. IMO if you build it, use it. Don't pose it. Jesse take note:D:D

Kidding Jesse!


Um chuck?


HAVE you ever worked on a street racer and owned it sides with eli?

Street racing is what i used to live and breath till i got my dodge and grew outta it.


Yes I do admit I do still have a lead foot.


BUT you know i just admited to it being a focus. She does not bare any sticker other then the sig nightmare customs tripple stripe.

The stickers in the truck the owners daughter put on cause baby girl thought they were funny.

Nightmare customs has done modifactions to my rodster and will be doing modifactions to the green ram to.


I will be posting pics of the nightmare customs mall jeep to. Since the jeep was modded for a teenager then bought by and the owners mother.


SO agian.

I am going to end this day with a TO EACH HIS OWN.

Ray and glass were right. This IS something I am proud of because its the first car that i am proud to tie my name to and even though its a focus. The mustang that is owned by Tom is still at the end of the day his prefered ford.

I dont talk much about the mustange cause I do not have much ties.

but still good night y'all and thank you for your fine points!

[shawns 64 F100]

Dads Cuda
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s318/shawnstang67/Burnout.jpg

[thesoundmaster]

One of these days I'll get around to buying and building a 1970 Chevelle SS 454. My dream muscle car.

[thesoundmaster]

in this color scheme too!

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g269/thesoundmaster/chevrolet-chevelle-1970b.jpg

[shawns 64 F100]

I grew up next to a fella that had 5 SS chevelles and 5 El Caminos, all were excellent cars, each was a different color and all had functional cowl hoods, what I could have bought one of his cars for back then would make you cry.

[Glass]

The Chevelle...2 engines ago...:mad:
http://a793.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/40/l_1b326f09ccb53070eabc2c5c81cccff0.jpg

Shawn, youd be suprised what can make me cry...But id imagine what i used to make in a week wouldda bought 2 of those cars back before frickin barret jackson turned every ones junk into golden dreams.

[thesoundmaster]

what I could have bought one of his cars for back then would make you cry.
Oh I don't doubt that at all. I'm looking for the right deal on one, just waiting patiently.

I have a buddy (he's an older guy) who has all of his original cars. He has a 57 Plymouth Fury in mint condition with i think he said 15,000 original miles, he has 3 Falcons, one being his first new car, a 65 FX Special, the others just Falcons, his wifes 69 Camaro RSS with rare option's, bought new from one of his friends dealers and it was ordered into Chevrolet with the options. He has a few others that I can't think of off the top of my head, but Sil-Terhar Motors calls him on an annual basis asking if he would be willing to sell the FX. Apparently Ford made 100 of them and actually denied making them, until they did their research and Mike has one of them. Valued at a nice 6 digit number.

[Glass]

six digits? Ill give him $1.25109 for it???

Youd be suprised at some of the stuff ive attached myself to over the years as far as projects go...i think i eave a ton in my yahoo photos...

If you have about 10-15 minutes take a look thru my "All Photos" thing.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/glass13war/

[Gunner]

Well hell I mean as long as its not how the owner drives the truck and instead the truck itself, what the hell are we all doing here? I forgot driver ability has no impact on any vehicle...

[Tilt168]

so lost....

except that my gfs mom has her old 6....?5? big block ford something or another sittin in the garage waiting for me to buy and fix up....i'll get more details the next time i go up there, i pretty much walked into the garage and when "OMG WHAT IS THAT!!!" pointing at an ugly green steel beast under a pile of cardboard...gf was like "oh thats my moms old car, hasn't been driven in years" i did some lookin and its a ford all right, the wrong front clip is on it so i don't know what it is but its got a 352 i think! i found my cruiser!

[shawns 64 F100]

The Chevelle...2 engines ago...:mad:
http://a793.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/40/l_1b326f09ccb53070eabc2c5c81cccff0.jpg

Shawn, youd be suprised what can make me cry...But id imagine what i used to make in a week wouldda bought 2 of those cars back before frickin barret jackson turned every ones junk into golden dreams.
back in 1986-87 my buddy bought a 67 malibu velle from a neighbor, it had a corvette 350 engine in it, was faded candy red, we spent about 8 months in auto paint and body (high school) and painted it a nice pearle white then put a couple of black and blue pinstripes down the side, wel lthat summer he was out cruising it around town (this was in hell, Dallas texas) and thought that he could outrun the cops and ran a red light, got hit by another car, totalled it :mad:

[Burg460]

Here is my 70 Chevelle. I have a 454 and a turbo 400 in it, although it is not a true SS but a buddy of mine gave it to me and I gave him my old car. I had to put a motor and tranny in it.
http://a826.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01330/52/87/1330037825_l.jpg

As for cotruckgirl and driving a focus and getting shit..I know about that all too well. I have a *sigh* 4 door Cavalier. Now, I used to have a t3/t4 turbo on it and it would run mid 14's all day on 4-5psi untuned. I took it off due to the fact I couldn't rely on the car anymore and it was problem after problem and got sick of fixing it. Moved on to bigger and better things (see pic above). I have the video of me spanking a WRX at bandi on myspace. I got a lot of shit for having a cavalier but got a lot of respect for what it could do and for being a cavalier and doing something different. I miss getting up next to WS6's and Z28's and they would be laughing until I started pulling on them...Then they didn't laugh no more and would be rather pissed. LOL

[Richard]

I am all about building your own car, no matter what it is. I know we all have to start somewhere. I was just a little in awe of the "30hp" increase. I get sick of the sticker-ricers that i see so much of, and until it is proven to me that something is trully different, I remain skeptical. Dont get me wrong, i love focus', as i know they are a very good platform for modding, and wouldnt mind doing one myself for shits and giggles. I just say if you are going to say something, have at least data to back it up.

[NorthernStar08]

I am all about building your own car, no matter what it is. I know we all have to start somewhere. I was just a little in awe of the "30hp" increase. I get sick of the sticker-ricers that i see so much of, and until it is proven to me that something is trully different, I remain skeptical. Dont get me wrong, i love focus', as i know they are a very good platform for modding, and wouldnt mind doing one myself for shits and giggles. I just say if you are going to say something, have at least data to back it up.


I will look. I do know the focus was dynoed.


Also did you know the focus was orig designed in europe as a drifter? The org modle that Ford released is not what europe released. BUT as the denver auto show this year I did see some focus's that are actully verry close in fact to the orig modle that was relased over seas.


Another reason why Nightmare Customs bout hefty stabalizer bars for the rare end since the car is front wheel drive.

[NorthernStar08]

Here is my 70 Chevelle. I have a 454 and a turbo 400 in it, although it is not a true SS but a buddy of mine gave it to me and I gave him my old car. I had to put a motor and tranny in it.
http://a826.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01330/52/87/1330037825_l.jpg

As for cotruckgirl and driving a focus and getting shit..I know about that all too well. I have a *sigh* 4 door Cavalier. Now, I used to have a t3/t4 turbo on it and it would run mid 14's all day on 4-5psi untuned. I took it off due to the fact I couldn't rely on the car anymore and it was problem after problem and got sick of fixing it. Moved on to bigger and better things (see pic above). I have the video of me spanking a WRX at bandi on myspace. I got a lot of shit for having a cavalier but got a lot of respect for what it could do and for being a cavalier and doing something different. I miss getting up next to WS6's and Z28's and they would be laughing until I started pulling on them...Then they didn't laugh no more and would be rather pissed. LOL


Ok starting off **drools** over your car


Next. I love to stand out. Ever seen some out OUR age race a 1982 22r stock celica gt? No? Thats me! LOL i like to stand out. Either it be OLD or just weird i like to stand out.