Monday, 12 November, 2007, 09:49
So, aside from work, school, friends, family, work, girlfriend, work...yeah, I've been working a little project. Here it is:
Pre-Aftermarket Parts:
1996 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
Engine: SN-95 4.6-liter Modular Windsor DOHC V-8
Horsepower/Torque: 305 @ 5,800rpm / 300 @ 4,800rpm
Transmission: 5-speed T-45 manual
Post-Aftermarket Parts:
Horsepower: 350hp (crank) / 330 (rwhp)
Aftermarket Parts:
MGW short-throw shifter (Completed)
Flowmaster exhaust system (Completed)
MM subframe connectors (Pending)
JLT True Cold Air Intake (Completed)
Ford Racing 4.10 Gears (Pending)
8-inch antennae (Completed) - because the 2-foot stock one was ANNOYING
Falken Street Tires (Completed)
The car hasn't been dynoed, as there is still a lot of work left to be done. I plan on getting the engine bored out to 5.4L, at least, and a turbo kit may be in the works. Most cars run 14 second 1/4-miles, I'll be running in the 9s. :P
Pictures (I'll try to get more current ones up, maybe a pic of a time slip...or a video or something):
Pre-CAI and removal of black strut brace:
October 2007:
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Monday, 26 February, 2007, 11:51
Wow...its been awhile. I'm not too sure what to say. There's so much I can say, but I don't know where to start. A lot has happened since last October. Some things I'm proud of, some...not so much. I'll try to sum it up quickly, though.
On January 20th, my girlfriend of 2 years, 5 months and 14 days broke up with me, saying she needed to think if we should even be together anymore. I spent the next month and 5 days fighting tooth and nail to get her back. I put myself into a serious depression, I accepted all the blame she was putting on me (even though the majority of it wasn't my fault), and yesterday I got to the point of doing something that I'm almost embarrassed to admit. She just ripped me a new one yesterday afternoon, changed her MySpace completely to bash me...And...I lost it. I nearly killed myself. I had dropped that low in life that I was ready to take my own life to take the pain away from everyone else in the world. Had it not have been for the timely intervention of a girl I'd known since middle school, I wouldn't be here today to write this blog.
She saw the desperation in my away message and immediately called me and told that she was coming over to pick me up and go bowling. So, I got ready, and we went bowling. After 2 games, we went back to her house and just hung out all night...like 7 hours. When she took me home, we just sat in her car and talked for an hour or longer. And I broke down and cried in front of her. I mean, I've never really done that in front of anyone except mom and my ex-girlfriend. And it turns out, she had gone through something almost exactly like what I had. We just listened to music, too. And then we just talked...about friends committing suicide...and friends leaving...and we ended up on the subject of the percussion symphony group we were in in high school.
And from there on, the entire night got better. I stopped crying, albeit if I looked down and breathed out, I'd cramp up right below my breastbone. And...she became one of the best friends I have around here...because no one would have done that for me except her...well, no one within 100 miles of me.
And...I changed. In that instant, I changed. Nothing could get me down. I'm the guy I was 2.5 years ago again! I mean...NOTHING could get me down. After my ex had ripped me a new one, I had blocked her. I took her off the block long enough to see she had had a terrible night...and I don't think I really cared. I just smiled and put her back on block. I had gone from being ready to completely kill myself to getting a second chance at life.
I miss my grandfather. He died when I was around 12 of heart failure. I was ready to be with him again in Heaven, but I think God wasn't ready to take me home yet. I've had some rough times in my life. I've nearly died a few times, but only two of those were going to be by my own hands. I was stopped both times, and I'm glad I was. Believe me when I say it: no matter how bad things get, and I can assure you I've seen some pretty bad moments in life, nothing...NOTHING is worth taking your own life.
Now, I hear that my ex is jumping into a relationship with someone. I'm not surprised. She's been chasing after my now ex-"best" friend since we broke up. But, hey, that's her choice. I don't consider myself to be the best looking guy, nor the best person, nor the kindest person around, but I'm constantly told by my friends that I'm a great guy, and she will realize what she's done sooner or later, but by that time, it will be too late.
I now believe that God has better plans for me than to waste more of my life on a girl who squandered 2.5 years of a relationship for some cheap thrills. She has changed a lot from the girl I fell in love with, and now, I don't even want her in my life. I'm ready to find a girl who will make me happy, a girl better than her. That won't be hard, I'm pretty sure I can find a girl anywhere that's better than her...and more mature than she's been acting. I'm ready to be happy again. I deserve to be.
Thanks for reading this, and sorry for my disappearance lately. Now you know why.
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Monday, 02 October, 2006, 11:22
Alright, let's see if I can get through this because I think I'm going to lose it.
My brother is a Cav Scout in the US Army. He's stationed down at Fort Hood in Texas. While he's not my actual blood brother, he's been the closest thing I've had to a brother. Tomorrow night he leaves for Iraq. Let me give you all a little history lesson.
Back in high school during my senior year, we were the closest of friends. I had lost my best friend to the biggest lying, cheating whore in the school, and Tyler was there to just be the best friend he could ever be. We went through so much stuff together that year, from dodging Mack trucks in his Cavalier (and almost dying once) to almost getting arrested together...at least three times, but we were always having fun, and we were always enjoying our time together. If people didn't know any better, they would have sworn we were actually brothers because we pretty much considered ourselves to be. Straight out of high school he enlisted in the Army with the dream of becoming a Delta Force Operator. I guess he came close. I wouldn't know. I went the Navy ROTC route.
We were separated by at least 6 states, but we always kept in touch. He changed a little in the following 2 years. He became more...unhindered in what he said, and he pretty much said anything that came to mind...very honestly. He became more of a dick to my girlfriend of 2 years, and I wasn't about to have that. The last time he was home, I berated him pretty harshly in public...and in front of mutual friends. I didn't want to do it, but he left me no choice. Since then, we haven't spoken as much. However, since my day is organized so that I'm awake at night and sleep during the day, we haven't been able to talk as much. High-Speed internet has enabled me to leave AIM up so folks can leave me a message, though, and that's just what he did. Here's a copy of the message I got:
"Hey if you are getting this message, then it s because you mean a lot to me. I will miss everyone. I leave tomorrow (tuesday) night for Iraq. I'll be praying for everyone back home and have a great time. I LOVE YOU. - Love ALWAYS, Tyler"
I was in shock at first, but now it has settled in. I'm on the verge of losing my brother for the next year without any sort of way to correspond. I know he's been a complete jerk to just about everyone in this world, but he's still my brother. I miss the old him, but this is really...really hard for me. I'm not about to adopt the whole "Oh, he can't die. That won't happen to him." mind-set, because it can, and if I do, it will.
I'm surprised that I actually got through it all. The memories that have been flooding back are pretty hard to sit through. All I can do is pray and wait. He's dumb enough to take some risks but smart enough to get the hell out of Dodge.
I'm not asking for your sympathy, while it would still be appreciated, but I want to open this thread as a place for people to get stuff off their chest. If you've got family or friends in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other overseas post and you want to talk about it, go for it. Heck, even if they're veterans or posted here, go ahead and post.
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Thursday, 28 September, 2006, 01:01
I'm sick. Don't you hate being sick? Sometimes you get that damn illness that sticks with you for a month or two. You just want it to go away, but it keeps coming back like a bad date. Anyway, I'm sick. I've been sick since probably two weeks ago. It started off as a fever, then came the coughing...and the shakes...and the stomach ache...and the annoying girlfriend. Oh, wait...that wasn't caused by the illness. Oops. Anyway, this is day...12. I beat the fever about 3 days ago. Now I just have to get rid of the rest of this crap and I'll be able to go back to being the laid-back, but sometimes a dick when he has to be, drum tech that I've been for the past month.
Oh, yes...Folks, keep Linds in your prayers. She's had an episode that sent her to the emergency room. I won't disclose details because...well, I don't know any. I'll leave that up to Linds. Anyway, Linds, stay safe.
I'll try to write more later.
Peace and God Bless,
Spec
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Tuesday, 26 September, 2006, 11:28
Alright folks. I just hit the "big" 2-0. Here's how my day has gone so far:
Woke up at 2. (Normal, seeing as how I usually end up ending my day at 4 am.) Got a b-day card. Got invited to a hog roast. Have to go out to eat with family. Have to go to work shortly thereafter to yell at...I mean, tech my drumline.
So...it's a normal day.
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Sunday, 24 September, 2006, 12:02
Alright, folks. I haven't posted in awhile. So, here's an update...if anyone actually reads these rantings.
Saturday, 16 September 2006:
My drumline went into a contest after having to do TWO parades in two days (Friday and Saturday). Their score dropped 10 points. I was LIVID. I had to tell one of the drummers to get take the drumline and get them as far away from me as possible because I didn't even want to talk to them at that time. From a 48 to a 38...man, was I pissed. The following week of practice was NOT fun for them.
Saturday, 23 September 2006 (so, yesterday):
The drumline headed into the contest at Greenwood High School with having done no parades this week. During warm-up, they NAILED the drum break...they NAILED their hardest parts...and they NAILED the door on the way back inside. I wasn't too happy about that, but, hey, they played their parts right. Anyway, we got into the gym (because it had been pouring down rain and the idiots at Greenwood had played a football game on the field) and they just smoked everything. I'm pretty sure the percussion judge that wandered around talking into his little taperecorder wet himself during the drum break. A long story short, they scored a 58. That's a 20 point jump! I've never seen anything like that. So, I wasn't so pissed at them this week. However, I do expect 5 more points out of them this week. I can go to bed without the use of sleeping aids tonight. ;P
Oh, and my birthday is TUESDAY!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! Wait..........why am I so excited? I feel old... :P
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Monday, 11 September, 2006, 11:37
So, this marks the fourth week that I've been employed at "The Grove" as one of three drum techs. Week Four...I swear these kids are going to turn me into an alcoholic. Cucy-cuce can vouche for me when I say that being a drum tech is one of the most stressing jobs when you work for a lower class band. I can't tell you how many times I've told these guys to learn their music...and they don't. We had our first contest this past Saturday at my Alma Mater, Franklin Central. Good news or bad news?
Good News: We beat two Class D (lowest class) drumlines.
Bad News: Everyone else in Class D and Class C kicked our collective butts. They got a 48/100 in percussion. 48. How do you f... that up?! Seriously?! They only beat those two class D drumlines by 4 points. 4. They're lucky that my buddy Jeff and I actually tuned their drums and changed what heads we had. Otherwise, they would have come in dead last.
::sighs:: I need a beer.
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Thursday, 07 September, 2006, 10:59
Woohoo! I guess...
I should probably do this, if not to win points, then to at least attract the attention of the general simming public to the FSF Blogs. I think Shuni might like that. Me? Wouldn't benefit me, but I don't care about that. I'm here for YOU!
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