Preface: Grab some coffee if you plan on reading this.
Loud - not sure why you are jumping down my throat here, didn't mean to poke the bear. You might be overlooking the simplicity of my post. I wasn't asking anyone to agree me with, just saying that to
ME the road less traveled is more interesting. Just a matter of opinion, its is obvious that you appreciate the LS but also put a heavier emphasis on the cost/benefit aspect of a project car. Or the opportunity cost of a different platform. Which is totally fine because its how you feel about it. And for the most part, I agree with you - most people will not get the experience they want out of modding this car beyond some bolt-ons. Please read the next quotes/replies
without negative tone, as it is not my intention to start a keyboard war - but elaborate on my position.
the problem with robs build, is the same thing alex is going through right now... $6k-$8k is a lot of money to spend for such little power output gain,
This sounds like your problem with their builds. Not Rob's, or Alex's, or the forum/communities, or the next guy who chooses an LS . I am merely being a devil's advocate to the general negative groupthink mentality of the OP's (and somewhat my own future project) goals. Not every project has to exceed 400hp to be worth it to the owner. To some people its not about being the fastest, cheapest, most practical and most cost effective. Its their hobby, their money pit. I did not say or deny that the relative cost/potential of a CTS, Vette, Camaro/Stang, diesel made any less sense for most people to pursue it elsewhere. Any car that gets attention makes me happy. All extensive car modification is technically a poor investment regardless of what car, so to apply the down the drain logic to the LS and then lobby it for another product is mute. It just shows us your preference is greater towards the hp/$ mindset. And yes, 95% of the car guy world agrees with you. "why spend 10k for 350hp when I can spend $7k for 450?" Because different people want different things, and that's what makes this culture so great.
anything more than a few PSI and the motor pops... the bigger problem is that you cant just go out and buy a new rotating assemble that you can just throw in to either be able to crank the power up before it blows, or fix the problem after the motor blows... instead you need to go out and have rather expensive custom parts made to fit... then your tearing out the trans to beef it up and keep it from grenadine, then your working on the rear end to even be able to put down a fraction of the power...
These are all valid problems to the LS's chassis/design and means of a starting point. But they are
relative. So again, my opinion on the matter is that you are correct - but a quick LS is more interesting, to me. That was my opinion and it differs from yours. Does not make any one of us more right or wrong, we just place a different value on what appeals to us. Input vs output. Differentiate vs tried and true platforms.
its just silly to waste $20k
For you, maybe. I see dozens of lifted trucks that never leave asphalt each day. But if it makes the owner happy, its not a waste to them. It is not for any of us to say what is silly for one guy, is silly for all.
hate on a G8 all you want. at least after you throw some serious boost to it, you can then stroke it bigger, build it as strong as you'll even need it, not to mention you wont have to keep calling
every shop in the book just to have someone take a look and tell you how big of a waste of money it is...
I love G8's, i wasn't hating? You are making the same point again, so I will defend mine, again. I find it more interesting for a Lincoln LS to compete in the more common LSX GM playground. Does not mean I hate G8's. As a matter of fact I would love a new SS. (or a 6.0 fleet caprice.)
remembered by who? the 20 dudes that frequent this site?!?
1, 20 or 200 - Rob's interest is all that matters, doesn't make the next person who likes it or hates it any more significant.
Remember that as uneducated in appearance and post ethic the OP may be regarding his new LS, he comes from a blue oval family and told us he likes to think outside of the box. he is aware of a mustang's potential, and apparently has friends who just drop off superchargers like its apple pie. So I am doing my best to contribute positively to his request.
I get it - we all have seen this a thousand times, and have a bad taste in our mouths from the failures of others, or even worse, the success that didn't meet our expectations or individual desires. If we all offered this guy the best advice for HIM, then we can hope that 20 members who stick around for the obvious LOVE of this car, will continue to grow and support one another. For all we know this guy could be #21.
the problem is that your still all excited for a project done for years ago
Again, to you this is a problem. If you have all these problems with this car then abandon yours and go somewhere else, or dont be one of the 20 guys who frequent if you feel the need to talk the LS down for its lack of potential. Obviously you like the LS, because you do post a lot, and provide great info to this forum - so like I said in my original post, its great that we know what we know, so we can at least warn the OP what he is getting into. Whether he decides to pursue it is not our job to warrant, unless he asks us to.
So what if I am excited about a dead project. I met Rob in person at his home, met his wife, played in his garage, and the passion he had for developing his LS was a great thing to learn from and be around. So maybe that's why my excitement/appreciation has lasted longer than yours. The point I attempted to make (and I apologize if it was a poor delivery, I was at work at the time and was trying to be concise, which as you can see I am not good at) was that even though it is basically each leap year, when someone on here does actually do something note-worthy to an LS, the response is generally enthusiastic and positive. And from that point on we use these cars as benchmarks and stepping stones. So THANK GOD Alex, Rob, Ken, and many others are doing these things because it keeps the blood flowing and learning curve gets higher.
other than one post here, it wasn't an Lincoln so it didn't get talked about here much at all
Yes - obviously we dont come on here to talk about G8's, but we do talk about Rob/ILLS, because he made a difference in the community.
as a testament as to how big of a waste it was, it has really only been done again/better once
Subjective and your opinion. Which you are more than entitled to. The evidence suggests it, but does not define IT. Not trying to split hairs, but everything on this forum is not 100% of the population of LS's out there. and what comes on here after one project or not, does not define the effectiveness or act as a "testament" to that project. I bet Alex does not call Rob's project a waste.
This forum or the internet in general, is not the end all be all for LS achievements. For instance:
Alex mentioned that Level 10 said they recently built another bulletproof trans for an LS owner. When I had my gen1 I met an older gentleman at the dragstrip who told me he had a dark cherry '06, with ported heads, and a custom cam grind and suspension for the strip. I am willing to bet that 65 year old gearhead wasn't lying to me based on what else he had in his trailer that day. What we see on here, and the opinions of the twenty frequents does not represent 100% of the LS community.
lets face it, I doubt well ever see anyone again drop tens and tens and tens of thousands of dollars building another "Badd LS"
Especially not when one of the few places they can go for good info (LVC) is met with a response like this thread.
and for the money, a 700hp+ G8* is way cooler than a 400 hp LS
The Op didn't ask us for a cost benefit and achievable HP comparison. You are simply repeating something that is your personal opinion on what car makes more sense in your mind to derive a project from. Or what is more cool to you. I did not question your opinion, just defend my own.
To the orignal poster:
1) At this point you have a better idea of what the LS can do, and especially what it cannot do - without an incredible investment
2) If you still have questions, search first, ask later.
3) After careful consideration of 1&2, and perhaps a stronger effort on your part of beginning your porject - then come on here and ask specifics, because someone on here should know enough to get you headed in the right direction.
