Lincoln LS

badazzls6 · December 2001

I say, if you are skeptical in K&N filters; why not buy one? Find out for your self. Seeing and hearing is believing. If you can afford a Lincoln LS you should easily be able to buy one of these. They are only around $40-$50 dollars; not the whole world. I'm sure you will like it especially in the long run.

Brian,
Do you have any pictures of the Project car you could share with us. I am quite curious on how it's looking under the hood. You probualy already guessed that I have a V6 which has a different zip-hose compared to the V8. I want to replace the stock one with a bigger diameter hose. Would look fantastic if someone made a carbon-fiber hose for the looks.

Einarvikng,
I was intrigued by your speech, I guess thats why your an engineer and I'm not. I should go back to collage and take some more chem. and physics.

Have a good day,
Mike

cdnpinhead · December 2001

I posted on this subject a year or so (more or less) ago, and I'll repeat for those with better things to do than research 15,000 posts to find anything in particular.

If you want low restriction, take the filter out.

If you live in the desert (we have lots of dust), get a filter that removes it.

If you want to try to show/prove that a particular filtration system does or does not lead to premature engine failure, bring me 20 samples of each approach, all 40 of which endured the same environment. Yeah, . . .right.

It's highly unlikely to happen. That's why all this anectodal stuff will continue to be posted. First person to bring actual data wins.

ls1bmw0 · December 2001

I do but it looks like ca-ca right now. The "prototype" was built out of 3 inch black PVC pipe with the corresponding elbows. Looks more like a sewer line than an air intake but sure works well! I will post them on the LLSOC project car site this weekend.

Carbon fiber is definitely being considered once I make sure the prototype really works like I think it does.

Brian

tom12253 · December 2001

I agree with cdnpinhead. I feel comfortable with my choice in using the K&N. I feel as long as you replace or maintain whichever filter you choose, as required for your driving conditions, you're not going to have a problem either way.

Tom

lolaj42 · December 2001

The data the K&N folks put forth does say that their filter DOES NOT filter out small particles as well as OE paper filters. Over time, this can have a detrimental impact on your engine. However, if you happen to live in a low dust environment, the time period may be so long as to not cause a problem for you.

For me, I'll not be using a K&N filter unless it can be shown to achieve at least the same level of filtration than the OE paper filter. How about you Steve?

tom12253 · December 2001

Chris, now since you brought that up I have to respond, I asked Rick Blum the K%N engineer about the difference in the two filters as far a filtration was concerned, this was his response:

"Our filters are tested by 2 outside, independent laboratories.
They have been proven to stop at least 97% of particles on a SAE fine dust test.
This test uses mostly particles in the 0 - 5 micron range but goes up to 20
microns. For comparison, a paper filter stops 98% on the same test and the
OEM minimum standard is 95%. Foam is generally the worst media with a
typical efficiency rating of 75%. To get higher ratings, the foam must be
more dense and therefore way more restrictive. The "tack" characteristic of
a K&N allows for increase filtration without loss of flow as well. As it
get dirty, the effectiveness rises to 99% without a loss of flow. Paper too
hits 99% but with a significant loss of flow."

Now I can't prove these figures are correct but I can't disprove them either. Can we let the dead horse lie?

Tom

stanny1 · December 2001

For the first time in a year and a half, my LS is sleeping away from home. I went into Witt LM here in San Diego for my 20k service and to fix an always-on airbag light. According to the service writer, there is a TSB for a wiring harness with an open that activates the airbag light. Not in stock but a new harness is on order for overnight delivery.
Anyone else have the airbag light on problem?
I told the service writer it was 1G cornering that was simulating a crash so the sensors were activating. Just joking.

einarvikng · December 2001

With all due respect and sincerity to Stanny1, the Carnot formula refered to is the Max theoretical efficiency of a Carnot cycle. Although the formula can be considered for a modern comustion engine, the T1 in the equation refers to the the hot temp, in the case of an internal combustion engine, the temp of combustion. The T2 in the equation refers to the the temperature at which heat is rejected ie at the radiator and in the context of the amount of power delivered by the engine, has nothing to do with the air of combustion.

for example

In the case of mounting the intake low during summer with say 90 degree air temps and the 130 degree near road temp mentioned, these two temperatures have nothing to do with each other. With respect to Carnot that is. The radiator sees 90F, the value that would affect in the formula, (the coolant temp actually dictates here), the combustion chamber sees 130F plus any changes in air temp on the way to the combustion chamber.

I do agree with the statement of the bigger the difference in temperatures, the bigger the bang...for the reasons stated in the previous post...greater expansion due to the change in the T in the PV=mRT formula. ie larger delta T greater delta V therefore grater power(actually torque)but who's counting?

With regard to the project car, there is NO ram effect at low speeds. The increase in power is due to decreased friction, read restrictions, in the system. The next time you take the car to the dyno, try sticking an 100 mph high cfm fan infront of the intake. You will see a great increase in power. That is the RAM effect. That has quite bit to do with Bernuelli's equation(s), minus non-linearities due to the compressability of air. In the case of this, some carefully designed restrictions would be helpful by producing greater static pressure, ie denser air.

But anyway, let's not go there for fear of more non-LS discussion.

to Stanny1, I hope I have not offended you in any way, that was not the intent.

With regard to K&N, I have one. There is well documented trade off here too. The fact is in this case you trade off engine protection with reduced maintenance freaquency and increased power/efficiency. That is a fact. The question really is how much power do you gain for how much engine wear is increased due to increased particulate infestation. That is debatable.

Have fun.................

Scott

ls1bmw0 · December 2001

You're correct. I did forget to state that the ram air effect would only be evident at speeds above 60 mph. At anything below that there isn't enough of a "push" of the air to do much of anything. I did experiment with the effect by closing off the lower grille duct and doing some runs from 60-100mph and there was a slight difference from having the duct closed or open. The major downside with this setup, as I stated, is that even with the bigger mass air flow sensor calibrated for factory settings, there is enough air flowing through the system to overwhelm the factory setting range and put the engine into a lean-run condition.

I'm experimenting with a re-calibrator that will allow adjustment of the voltages coming out of the sensor which will allow a richer or leaner air fuel mixture compared to stock.

stanny1 · December 2001

Hey, I'm a real estate broker, not an engineer. I read books on heat engines 30 years ago. Carnot was just one thing I don't remember well. I guess the cooler you can get the air the better, as long as the fuel will vaporize. I had a homemade cool air system on my 1974 Corolla Toyota SR-5 Coupe which worked well until I ran up to Seattle in winter and I got latent heat icing and the carb choked up. I knew what to do. So I took all three hoses from the front ducts and stuck them into the exhaust tubing. That xtra heat solved the problem. As long as it's warm and dry, those cool air ducts helped. I also blocked the power valve in the carb and made an electronic circuit with pump that injected a fine mist of methanol into the carb throat. Saved gas, made power in the days of the phony gas drought of 1974. Oh, the old, simple days.
Looks like Brian is really getting into "electronic hot rodding".

badazzls6 · December 2001

How will the re-calibrator work for the PCM? Would it just hook on to the ECM? You did bring up a good point on how the greater air-flow will internaly lean out the fuel but, how too increase it without going with a bigger fuel pump? I wish this had a four-barrel Holly on it; it would be real simple to richen or lean it out with the screw. Also, you said that you used 3" PVC pipe for the zip hose; my question is, how did you make the fittings for the sensor hoses to hook up? One more thing, I know I asked you awile ago about the exhaust system. I just want to replace the mufflers and leave everythig else the same. I looked under the car throughley when I had my recent oil-change done and saw that Ford put on some decent tubing under there; plus I don't want it to be that raspy sounding either. I heard alot of talk about Borla's and Magnaflow's mufflers; which one is quiter and alot less restrictive than the factory mufflers? Has anybody tried or experimented with Flowmaster or Dynomax? I just want a little more rumble in the exhaust tone at WOT and nice and sleeper sounding while at idle.

Mike

ls1bmw0 · December 2001

The recalibrator sandwiches in between the mass air flow sensor and the connector. It looks like it adjusts the voltage of the sensor which is how the sensor indicates rich or lean. Seems to me to be a pair of rheostats, one for the idle mixture and one for the high-speed mixture.

Geez, I REALLY miss the days of just jetting the Holley double-pumpers and changing the springs in the distributor. Life was SOOOOO much simpler then and you didn't need a degree in electronics to bump up the power

On the other note, both Magnaflow and Borla will be less restrictive than the stock mufflers. If you are going to custom-fit them you probably should go with the biggest (longest) mufflers that you can fit under there. The straight-through muffler types such as these don't lose performance like the baffle types. If you switch them out without switching out the stock pipes you won't see much of a performance increase, which is relatively small anyway. There is at least one club member who has put on Flowmasters and is also happy with the sound. Personally the Flowmasters and Dynomax have a bit too raspy sound for me. The Borlas and Magnaflows have a deeper sound. Whatever you do don't remove the resonators unless you want a giant headache from the very loud resonance that will occur.

On the V-6 the pipe diameters get ridiculously small at some of the crush bends that are in the system, I think 1 5/8 inside diameter is what I measured. The Borla system starts with 2 1/4 pipe and keeps that constant. Several people have the system on the V-6 and it sounds very Continental (as in European, not Lincoln ). It also seems to free the V-6 up more to rev.

desertguy · December 2001

I put MagnaFlows on my V6 and as ls1bmw0 says, they have a nice deep tone. Not to intrusive but still you know there is a serious engine running in there. I left the factory resonators alone. I have installed a Flowmaster on my Toyota. It was supposed to be middle of the line street sound. It came out way to loud for me. It was hard to hear the radio at cruising speed. So, I went back and they added two resonators in line and it is now perfect. I would choose the MagnaFlows.

stanny1 · December 2001

I measured 1.5" on the V-6 pipes versus about 2" for the V-8. I still can't understand why they taper down the V-6 pipes to 1.5" when the cat output diameter is the same for V-6 and V-8. It's just that the V-8 pipes stay the same diameter as the cats but the V-6 gets sleeved down. So the Borla on the V-6 looks like sewer pipes compared to stock. Got to make a BIG difference on the V-6. But the factory got probably 5 hp increase on the V-6 just by changing mufflers. I'm sure my stock airbox is like sucking through a straw with the Borla on. Can't wait for the new air box. Maybe the old one will collapse with all the suction! Ha!

badazzls6 · December 2001

So, how does the Borla system sound like; since you and I both have the V6? How does it sound at idle, cruising, passing, and WOT? Does the Borla sys. have any resonators to it? I'm just curious what it really sounds like so I don't spend the money on them then regret it latter on. Do you know what the full increase in hp and tq is with the full cat-back? Hope it aint too many ques.

Brian,
Where do I get one of these re-calibrators and how much do they cost? Does it adjust itself automaticley for future mods?

Thanks for all the help guys,
Mike

leadfoot4 · December 2001

I have the Continentals on my LS8 for summer use. They perform very well, so don't hesitate to use them.

mtnh · December 2001

re: do they make WInterfires in 215/60-16? Yes, they do. They are T-rated. I opted out of studs
for the first time in 7 winters, since the noise is horrendous on a car with 4 studded snows.
The tire rack sells that size winterfire at $62. I bought mine locally at $75 complete. I nabbed
4 16" LS rims on Ebay for $212.50 inclusing shipping from San Diego to New Hampshire.
They supposedly had only 300 miles on them when removed from the car, but the actual
condition was way more than that, as evidenced by the build-up of brake dust on the insides, even melted asphalt chunks on them, as well as moved (rebalanced) wheel weights. Regardless of that, they cleaned up nicely with wheel cleaner and $3.00 in a coin-op car wash. Now I'm set. Thanks for the reassurance on the fit of 16" wheels on sport suspension/front calipers.

If only we could upgrade 2000 LS 6M to electronic traction control...how hard could that be with 4-channel ABS already installed?

Mike in balmy (65 degree) New Hampshire

ezaircon4jc · December 2001

I've got the Borla on my 6. It has a crossover/resonator right behind the cats. It is definitly louder. If you want quiet, you WON'T like the Borla. However it is a very classy sounding "loud". There is a resonance at a steady 50mph, 1700(ish)RPM's. It isn't anoying, just there. At crusing speeds (65-90) you don't even know it's there. You start noticing it again above 90, but then again it is pleasant. It isn't raspy at all. It is moderatly loud at around 3800RPM's. It isn't at all 60's muscle car loud. My 65 Mustang with 18" glaspacs was MUCH louder. My then girlfriend (now wife) could hear me coming up her street. That was at 25mph. This system is pretty quiet at 25, not like stock, but unobtrusive. If you want power, stares when you get on it and a quiet freeway ride, you'll probably be happy. If you want stock quiet, you won't IMHO. My wife, who thinks the car should make NO noises whatsoever, didn't complain. Personally, I'm very happy with the Borla. I just love seeing heads turn with the "That couldn't be a Lincoln" or "What was that?" look on their faces!

Mike
Charter Member, LLSOC

stanny1 · December 2001

I have the Manual, so Mike's advice is better if you have the Auto. Alex Borla replaces the two separate resonators and crossover pipe with what's called an "X-Box". Unlike the Microsoft product, this is like a big muffler sitting right under your butt. It is tuned at about 1700 rpm for what I call the "little boom" and from 3500 to 4000 (peaks at 3750) which is the "big boom". The X-Box is where the two pipes meet in an "X" and the juncture is open enough to aid scavenging as one side helps to "pull" the other side's flow much as a collector on a set of headers works. It is primarily tuned by Alex to work at the torque peak of the engine. A secondary resonance is at the 1700-1800 rpm range, which I don't hear very often as I rev through that range quickly in my Manual, while the Auto may choose to cruise in one gear at that rpm. Having the Manual, I can choose when to boom and who to boom to (when and where to rev at 3800 rpm). Example: On double lane freeway onramp. Civic, Acura, or Eclipse in right lane (always in the right lane because they are lowered by cutting the springs, and they have body kits that will fall off if they hit a 1/2" dia rock so they have to go slow. Also have 5" diameter exhaust tip). As I pass said turd, I drop the gear to third (3800 rpm), drop the hammer and deliver the bomb. There are always two guys with backward ball caps in the car, and the windows are always open, and at my exhaust tip height. I'm sure they can't figure out what my car is because to them all cool cars have FWD, two doors and cost under 20k new. And they all go low and slow and bob up and down and have to take drainage swales in mall parking lots sideways to avoid destroying the tacky bodywork they just hocked away their life for (and is still unpainted). So I call my Borla "the Adjustable Boom Box", because I can drive nice and the whiner who has never driven my car that sits in the right seat occasionally will rarely hear the system if I drive sanely. Alex Borla tuned the X-Box so that at about 3000 rpm (75mph in fifth), there is very little, if any resonance (maybe you can hear it outside the car). That means I can cruise with the CD playing Abba's Greatest Hits, Genesis or some other 60's-80's stuff on the CD at reasonable volumes (thru the Polk DX-7's of course) and also enjoy the quietness of the LS via double thick glass and super door seals.
With the Borla, you have the perfect gentleman's car when polite and the right amount of raunchiness when cruising the boulevard staulking the lower class appliances. Mike and I agree that the sanitized stock exhaust leaves the LS without aural personality. Oh, the idle. It "burrbles". I don't know what the Auto sounds like under torque converter load but I have two distinct idles. One is with the clutch engaged in neutral and one is with the clutch pedal in,in any gear. The unloading of the trans load makes the Borla "burble" more. Also of note is the downshifting mode. Coming off 5th down to third and reducing speed to 60 for the 25mph corner causes the Borla go into "orgasmic" mode or "Super Burble". I actually expected a real raspy/boomy when doing forced downshifts but the Borla is like a one way noise device. I credit the lack of stupendous downshift raspies to the computer which cuts off air and fuel flow at idle. So I have to introduce some throttle opening on the corner to maintain proper sound to match the tire sliding sounds as the car does a four wheel drift on the off ramp turn. And of course even larger throttle openings if you want to really break traction and slide more.
It really depends on your personality. When I take clients out in a coat and tie to look at houses I shift early and slowly. The Borla is fairly transparent. Then I take off my tie and make sure I don't get more than 20k on the Firestones. At $69 each, I can afford to have a little fun. I didn't buy my LS to drive straight all the time. But I'm only 53. You younger guys should use caution when driving as I get an AARP discount on insurance and have taken a "Mature Driver" course (although the lobotomy didn't work). For inspiration I regularly review proper driving technique by watching "Bullitt" and my all-time champeen instructional video "Vanishing Point". So, to make this real short, this is how "The Borla" sounds to me.
Stanny1 - Certified Cone Killer-Mania 1.

mtnh · December 2001

Stanny, did you use too much herbal butter on your toast today? That was an essay!

:^)

Mike in "Bone Dry" New Hampshire

stanny1 · December 2001

Probably the result of my Hormone Replacement Therapy. Sorry.

ls1bmw0 · December 2001

Both the 75mm mass air flow sensor and the re-calibrator can be had from Pro-Flow at www.pro-flow.com. The re-calibrator is $125 and the meter is, I think, $250.

It doesn't automatically adjust itself for mods. It has two tiny plastic adjustment screws that you have to manipulate while using a voltmeter. The biggest hassle is that with such a short lead, you can't move it into the car and adjust it on the fly. You have to adjust it, do a test run, and re-adjust it.

Brian
LLSOC Prez

ls1bmw0 · December 2001

Okay all you snowbirds and everyone on the left coast! Pencil in the date!

The next Mania event is being tentatively scheduled for Feb. 15-17 (Fri-Sun). The Friday may change to Monday depending on some scheduling issues that have to be worked out.

The Friday or Monday events will be held at Lincoln World Headquarters in Irvine, CA and will probably occupy a goodly portion of the day.

The Saturday event will be an autocross run by the SCCA at either Hollywood Park or at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium. This will be a public autocross run under SCCA rules. That means we'll be able to run against the other rif-raf that look down their noses at the LS.

I don't have more information at this time, but as usual with Mania events, there will be a few surprises thrown in to keep everything interesting!

As usual this will be a LLSOC members-only event with membership cards being verified at the door of Lincoln HQ. So if you're not a member yet and want to go, click over to www.llsoc.com and follow the Membership link to sign up.

I'll keep you posted as we get things finalized.

Brian
LLSOC Prez

lolaj42 · December 2001

Hey Artie, start making your plans for that low-level flying experience through the desert we spoke about in Dearborn! The weekend of Feb 15-18 is now officially booked in my calander.

drolds1 · December 2001

OK, Chris,you're on! Shall I book the flight to Phoenix now?

BTW-I just checked weather.com.
Phoenix-59º
Outside my building-69º

December in NY?

This will be the latest I've had to go into winter car washing mode (insulated rubber gloves, warm water, long underwear, etc). Not to be consrued as a complaint.

Artie. Charter Member LLSOC- with moonroof open in Dec.

gregwo · December 2001

Nice essay;-) Looks like a Borla system is going to be on my Christmas list. I too love blowing by those backward baseball hat wearin, chopped up Civics with there lame sewer pipe spitting FWD hunk 'o crap attempting to keep up at 80mph, but fast disappearing in my rear view mirror....or better is blowing by them at WOT on a 20mph turn... I scared my wife so bad once that she refused to ride with me for weeks ;-)

ahhh the simple things in life....

lolaj42 · December 2001

Artie, who'd a thunk that NY would be warmer than Phoenix in December. Go figure!

We had frost on the ground this morning when I let the dogs out, although last night's low was only 41 degrees. We're supposed to get to 70 today, but I dont think so . . . only 61 right now (not that I'm complaining, today's high temp is 55 degrees LOWER than what we had in August, so it feels kind of chilly to us desert dwellers!)

I'll put in an order for balmy temps for your arrival!

badazzls6 · December 2001

Does your Borla systems have the tips coming out of the lower valance or do you have downpipes? If you do have the tips petruding out, how did you get the valance to accept it? Did cut the lower body valance or did you a get a new lower body kit with holes already cut-out?
Also, thank you for the anology on passing up those rice-boys with thier ugly as hell pocket-rockets and those hidious-looking rear spoilers. I hope for God-sake that no one ever puts on one of those mufflers with the 5" exhaust tips coming out of the back of an LS. Thats IMNSHO.

It's right around 78 degrees right now in Sunny Florida. I'm complaing; this is too much for this time of year. I would like to see it get cooler like eg. 40-60 degree weather(I'm origianly from Chicago) where I can use the heater in my car to test it out,hehehe.

Mike

lateralg · December 2001

Stan,

I can get you a good deal on a keyboard that has an key.

chartrand · December 2001

I'm weekending in Dearborn after a meeting with Visteon (Ford Electronics) tomorrow. Drove past the test track today kinda hoping to see the bad [non-permissible content removed] black LS that had us pinned back in the seat at Mania II. I don't think any kind of snow tire would work on it!
Weather is funky. I'm from Montreal originally and a week ago it was colder (28) in Dallas than it was in Montreal. Spent the week in the Cleveland area where it was 70 yesterday and drove over to Dearborn today.
Every LS I saw in the 3 hour drive was driven by a woman.(I'm not out to start a sexist war) but just looking at them, my feeling is they bought a mini town car. I don't care who buys it, they just don't realize what they have under them. Hope marketing doesn't discover this and try and dumb down the car to this market segment.
Now who do I call for another ride in the black LS tomorrow?
Ray
Charter LS member

stanny1 · December 2001

I will try to take a breath and space and indent for you. I guess I have diarrhea of the keyboard.

stanny1 · December 2001

Unless you have a body kit or talent with a jig saw, I recommend the regular (downward pointing) tips. With proper adjustment of the rear pipes, it will be quite obvious you have an exhaust. The stock system assumes you are embarrassed by exposed plumbing. Of course, it's only inevitable that someone will put on a couple of those $50.00 chromed 5" diameter tips normally found on Civics whose owners have obvious inadequacy problems. Of course, if you have to talk about it, then you probably have the same....

lateralg · December 2001

Has anyone tried NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway?

It's a VERY realistic simulator that scared the bejeebers out of my wife and best friend. They each emerged from their 6-minute ride literally (accurate usage of the word) sweating. Wife said "Never again". Best friend declined the opportunity to drive; said his clothes were sticking to him.

There are only a few in the country, I found one at Opryland Mills in Nashville, and another near Grand Rapids, MI.

Details on www.SMSonline.com

I highly recommend this for any leadfoot or gearhead. Try the Richmond track & let us know your times.

ezaircon4jc · December 2001

I have the downturned pipes. They fit in the stock cut-outs.

I agree with what stanny1 said. The burble when you let off the gas is worth the price of admission :~).

ls1bmw0 · December 2001

The tips come out under the valance with the regular Borla system. There is an option that has quad tips coming out through the valance. This has a different part number since it was meant to go along with the Classic Design Concepts body kit.

Personally I like the tips that exit in the stock location. They stick out about an inch or so and just enough to let people who know notice that it's not a stock exhaust.

Brian
LLSOC Prez

desertguy · December 2001

My muffler installer drew the proper arc on the valance and used tin snips to cut the half circle.
Looks great. I personally prefer to have my tips coming straight out with chrome tips. My tips are 2". They must be brought out to just the right length and aligned perfectly to look good.
BTW, I have scrapped the tips more than once on steep drives etc.

fantom · December 2001

I got the Borla on my V6 automatic right after Mania II in Wixom because I didn't see anything that would induce me to trade in my '01 anytime soon.

Long story short...I could not be happier with the Borla. The sound descriptions above are right on. My 78 year old mother in law does not like noise and she was worried when I got it. Her only comment has been that "it sounds rich and powerful". The tone is really pleasant without being obtrusive.

I was all set to cut through the rear valance and put on a set of 3.5 inch rolled stainless tips. No need...the chrome Borla tips look great and protrude just enough to let people see that this ain't no ordinary Lincoln. While I have no dyno data, the LS feels faster, especially at 30 to 50 MPH, and if I wasn't punching it so much I would be getting better mileage. As it is, my MPG stayed constant at about 21 MPG. A great add on!

Gary
LLSOC member

desertguy · December 2001

My muffler installer drew the proper arc on the valance and used tin snips to cut the half circle.
Looks great. I personally prefer to have my tips coming straight out with chrome tips. My tips are 2". They must be brought out to just the right length and aligned perfectly to look good.
BTW, I have scrapped the tips more than once on steep drives etc.

drolds1 · December 2001

First, Coneinator. Now, LS poet laureate.

rgnmstr · December 2001

<<<<<<<Every LS I saw in the 3 hour drive was driven by a woman.(I'm not out to start a sexist war) but just looking at them, my feeling is they bought a mini town car. I don't care who buys it, they just don't realize what they have under them. >>>>>>>>

I let my wife drive ours every day. She spends part of her day on the road. I bought the LS because it's a rear wheel drive V8 and it's not a tank. I wanted the performance. I wanted her to be safe. :-) I drive a putzy company car. But after she goes to bed......... Best damn "family" car I've ever driven.

chartrand · December 2001

I bought our LS but my wife is also the principal driver. This as I posted earlier is the only car we've ever owned where we fight to see who gets to drive it. Then again, maybe it's to keep me out from behind the wheel while she's in the car as the 140 mph blasts aren't her favorite part of the trip.
Ray
Charter llsoc member

charliemike · December 2001

For those who do not have to face winter weather, Kumho Ecsta 712s (at TireRack.com) are simply amazing tires. Great treadlife, quiet, and good traction.

They are all-season, but I don't think they'd do great in a foot of snow (what all-season would?).

I bought 17s for $89 each for my ZX2.

tom12253 · December 2001

Ray,

I have the same situation as you, only my wife scares the bejesus out of me with her aggressive driving. When we travel together she usually drives and I hold on to the grab handle and chew on my nails. She has made her 50 mile trip home from work in 45 minutes. If youre ever on the Jersey Turnpike and see a blond in an aqua blue 2002 LS in your rearview mirror, just get out of the way. There are a lot of old folks in my area with LSs and I also wonder if they understand the high performance aspects of their car. Even if they dont, these performance qualities make them and everyone around them safer in a panic situation. I also would rather they pull into a parking space next to me in their LS rather then a Town Car.

Tom
Charter LLSOC Member

ronniepooh · December 2001

All factors being equal, which is better for an automatic transmission? Sitting at a stoplight or in traffic with the car in gear, foot on brake, or shifting to neutral? Is there more wear shifting in an out of gear, or more wear sitting with foot on brake.

Just wondering..

alphanstein · December 2001

I seem to recall that shifting in and out of neutral was worse than having the car in gear. Something about more wear occurring during the transition into gear. Don't remember where I picked it up though.

lolaj42 · December 2001

I purchased my LS8 sport to replace my beloved 1990 Nissan 300ZX (2-seat, non-turbo, 5-speed manual). I chose the V-8 because I've always wanted one, and the power/weight ratio was similar to my Z-car. Because my wife NEVER, EVER drove my Z because it had a manual transmission (99K miles at trade in), I didn't mind that LS8 was an automatic (although the availability of the SST was a huge factor) because that meant that my wife would be able to drive both of our vehicles for a change. However, after nearly 2-years of LS ownership, I think my wife has driven all of 20 miles in the LS. She knows that I love this car, and she's afraid that I would have a cow if she ever put a scratch in it!

I have peace of mind knowing that, if need be, she could actually drive this car because it's not a manual. However, if she doesn't eventually put more miles on it, or feel compelled to drive it more, I may re-evaluate my transimssion selection for my next vehicle. If a LS8 manual happens to hit the market in a few years, I just might sign up for one!

chartrand · December 2001

Tom, if I'm ever in New Jersey, lets swap wives ( for driving purposes only)You and my wife can compare notes while your wife and I fine the the art of a perfect 4 wheel drift.
Ray

riez · December 2001

Anyone have any success in getting their spouse to learn how to drive a manual transmission? If so, how did you do it? Or did you pay someone else? My wife can't and that is after her father, I, and past boyfriends have all tried. I keep offering to pay some of her female friends who have sticks to teach her to.

airwolf1000 · December 2001

Well I am not married so I have no wife to swap, but I have to admit the thought of me telling a girl, even if for driving purposes-- "Lets hop in the LS, so we can both experience a 4-wheel drift" and her giving me a wink and a little smile well... hmmm Mastercard Priceless! I would marry that girl on the spot.

Now, Teaching I have a cousin like that and we all have tried, she just doesn't want to learn to drive a manual, can but won't.

Now on to the Kumhos, my friend just ordered some for there amazingly low price, but I don't think I would get any sounds like they really bite in the winter and while they grip good in the wet and dry, from the REVIEWS it sounded like they were a bit unrefined... Serious Out of Round issues, very temperamental Stiff when cold, actually a little bit noisy, and uneven wear (even though this might have been from alignment but the guy sounded like he really kept the alignment up etc.)

My friend ordered his for a Civic, and you for a ZX2, I don't know if that would be a good Idea for the LS. Besides NO snow traction, Maybe o.k. on FWD cars but add that to a RWD LS and Laters... See you at the next ditch! Unless of course you switch to Blizz's in the winter.

Regards,
Airwolf
Rolling in the LSO (Get it like BENZO) That is the slang way I refer to my LS as a fly ride.. Now that being said No Vinyl Tops or Daytons on the ride.

chartrand · December 2001

It sure is frustrating to have someone learn the in with the gas and out with clutch bit but I taught both my wife and daughter to drive a stick.
I cheated and made life a bit easier by always having them start on a downhill slope. Once they gain confidence in letting out the clutch without stalling the rest comes easy. My wife learned to drive a stick on my 69 Chevelle with a 350/350. It had enough torque you could roll off in 4th. It could also coast a quarter of a mile while she fiddled to get it into the next gear.
Come to think of it, rent something to have them grind the gears on rather than your LS.

Lincoln LS

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles