Orion231

You mean all the fuss I made earlier inspired you? Well I might just sign up for an interview. I have gigs upon gigs of footage from my helmet camera this trip out. Good and bad, clean and ugly. But I cannot get to Texas until I get back home in a couple of months. So we'll keep in touch. Thanks, for offering this. Might mean alot to some people.

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen. The original rant was not aimed to point fingers at you all back home. I just got really upset about the media this morning. Tired of the crap. When I have been home alot of people do seem to care. And it depends on what states/areas you are in but it feels good. What I was aiming at is how stupid things like I mentioned above with the flags and the border agents can be allowed to happen? That in conjunction with the negative reports just really do not lay out a warm welcome on a daly basis. I just wished we could change it. But I have more important agendas to secure here first being overseas. Well I am going to hit the rack. Again, thanks for the replies, and support. It's not you all at home I am concerned with so much as the few who get the chance to influence you before you hear... "The rest of the story." Oh yeah before I forget. Mister P, thanks for the reply. If you are wondering, I am not SF. I am nothing more than a Sapper or Combat Engineer. I have aspirations, but they will come after I get back in the states and settled in and drive my SS, drink a few cold ones, relax, chase women, and seek some form of minor but entertaining trouble. Perhaps Jaywalking in a rural area? Life on the edge my friend!

Well, I certianly know that there are alot of people out there who do support us and will until we come home. I guess this stuff just wears away at you sometimes. Perhaps I will never understand why people do what they do and say what they say. All I know is that our efforts in one day can seem wasted in a matter of seonds by a few words. In my eyes the real crime is not reporting the whole truth. GOOD or BAD. If we f#$* up here, then tell people! But don't you dare not include the whole story! If we do something really good, like build a school, or a medical fcility. Report it! Tell everyone, even include the comments made by the locals. Yeah maybe one or two were not happy that we had to be there when it was built but hey! It's education! Knowledge is power! So put it all in there! Eh what do I know? Thanks for reading the novella rant guys. And thanks for the thought and support.

If anyone decides to reply to this, please do not instigate a politician bash out contest. This isn't about them, or what they do or have done. It's about getting what you deserve, the truth. I guess we can classify this as a "Rant"...so

To begin with...I really have no political affiliations. I do not much care WHO is elected President, or WHO is my congressman, or WHO is my Senator. As long as they do what they say, and mean what they do and try to do the best they can. I have never liked politicians, and I have never liked politics. Reason being, is that I feel people who run for an office and only care about increasing polls and swaying voters are seeking power. It's those who honestly do not care about polls and voters, and stick to what they say that get things done. Those people in my eyes are not "politicians" they are leaders. Now, I am aware that many people do not agree with what we are doing overseas. Fine, that's your right as an American citizen to disagree. I will proudly do everything in my power to assure you maintain that right. What troubles a lot of us though, is that we spend so much time away from home and we hear things, we see things. Some of us wonder why we even care to do it. It seems like the people at home hate us and don't care about what we do here, what we have seen, and accomplished. And then we are bombarded even HERE with report after report of... "Today 3 Soldiers were killed in a bloody battle....etc" EVERY SINGLE DAY! Put yourself in our shoes... You come in from a long tiring mission. Run over to the dining facility and sit down to relax with a hot plate of food. Then you and your fellow Soldiers begin to discuss what happened that day and you see/hear this on the news. And you all just look at each other in disbelief... Then you begin to wonder how everyone at home feels when they hear it. And the next thing you know, the sirens are blaring and you are dodging rockets on your way to a bunker where you get to spend the next few hours contemplating this. Have you ever seen the news, and been there? Been a part of what is being reported? Have you ever felt enraged because it was reported incorrectly? Have you ever felt rage and anger to the extent that you just don’t care anymore? Have you ever seen a report where you have been in a particular fire fight or ambush and had a battle buddy die and when you do get in the ONLY THING AMERICA HEARS is.... "One Soldier died today and...Oh this just in from Al Jazeera....*cuts to scene of Soldiers getting shot at*" Not one, not a single word mentioned of what else happened, just what they wanted to happen? Does it matter that that one Soldier died to save a buddies life? And through the entire fight over 40 insurgents were killed? No, they want you to hear the dark side. For the last few years I have sat over here and watched this crap. Watched the media report things that "Are true". But let me ask you this... What is truth? Can the truth be defined as a fragment of the whole? How would you like to go to the movie theatre and pay for a full length film and be show only 15 minutes of the plot? Well maybe the reel operator didn't like those other scenes and decided to edit them to his liking. Is that what the Director and the cast and crew wanted? No...They filmed a movie for its whole, for its integrity, its truth. We get so angry, so upset because we see what America is spoon fed everyday and there isn't a damned thing I can do about it. I will fight and uphold freedom of the press, but I will not support freedom of the press to liable. Is it wrong? They are telling you the truth. But what is truth without integrity? If we are going to start listing body counts, let’s have the other sides lay there hands down. Just this past year in Afghanistan over 4000 insurgents were killed. 4 , 0 0 0 ... Did you hear that on the news? Probably not, you most likely heard that we incited riots, caused accidental deaths, and are ruining these people's lives. But who cares! Right? It's the truth. Or at least part of it. We do missions here everyday and we see the improvements. Children can now play sports, and even listen to music without fear of being killed by Koran toting Talibs who were raised in hardcore madrassas to believe in different "versions" or "interpretations" of Islam. We see the schools being built, the supplies and medical care being handed out. We even stop to help locals get their vehicles out of the mud when we can! Does anyone hear about it? Nope, all you heard was how many of my friends died today. And I don't blame you for being angry. Not one bit. But instead of protesting and denouncing our leadership why don't you take a good look at the media... If it were up to me... And I saw one more report about "# Soldiers died today." without anything else attached to it... I'd protest, I'd march, I'd let them know that you want the WHOLE truth. They get away it while we sit here helpless to do anything about it. That is why I am afraid to come home. All I see on television are the terrible things people say about each other and us. What they do in public *protests*. a condominium up north is trying to have one of its tenets take down an American flag she flies for her son overseas... They said it was too big, so she got a smaller one. Now they want it down. Border Agents in prison and being sued by people who are not even citizens and were trying to immigrate illegally to begin with! Why should I come home? I am afraid of the people I am trying to protect and cannot help but feel lost. The only people that I know here, that have been with me through thick and thin, they are my family. I'd do anything for them, at any cost. Same goes for you, sitting at home reading this. Anything you needed to ensure your safety and freedom. Is that what I am about to come home too? People who have forgotten what it is like to be American? To love one another and stand proud side by side each other. To work toward a common goal? This is quiet possibly the longest post I have ever made, but I was disgusted today, and I cannot help but try and get it off my chest. If you are upset by this post I am sorry. I am not looking for answers; just don't understand how people can get so upset over politics and stupid games. That's all it is. Games. Love it or leave it. I'm coming home, and so are my brothers.

Well I am all about having freedom on/over the internet. But I do not think it is right for websites to FORCE users to view ads... Someday, people will learn. Are there any developments being made to counter all this crap? Oh, I have used Yahoo for years. Since 1998. And back in the days I could get on and enjoy chat with people about cars, military, whatever. Now it's dead. It's filled with bots advertising to...NO ONE! Ridiculous...Yahoo seems not to mind it at all.

Is it just me, or should advertising like this be illegal? I mean it's no different than someone throwing ad wraped bricks into your home while you are watching television. All it does is congest the internet and pollute it. And frankly I had no idea why the google ads were all over everything I looked at. They are very much gone now though... Thanks Mister P. Anything else we can do like this? Any god websites to look at?

Well I hit search, type in Spark Plugs, and got bout 8-9 results for this Forced Induction forum. I started going through them, and only one had NGK in it. Did not mention gap however. But anyways, thanks for the help Chase. I shot him an email.

Well I tried searching for this, no luck. I hear alot of guys are running NGK spark plugs. But I need to know what number and what to gap them at. My Father will go pick some up *I am deployed overseas so I can't do it myself.* and install them so he can finish this install up before I get home in April. GT 67 Turbo, FMIC, Methanol Injection, all with an STS kit. NGK - ???? Gap - ??? Thanks for your help guys!

Ok, well Dad found the jug out in the garage... http://www.victaulic.com/content/ That is the company who makes it. It is used to lubricate and keep seals on oil field pipe fittings and o-rings fresh and soft. Like I said it works well on WS too. But after looking at their website I am clueless as to ordering more. He picked up a jug during his Oil Field days with Texaco. So we might be SOL for getting more. But there has to be more out there somewhere... google time. One thing is for sure it says "Victaulic" right on the jug. Sorry this isn't much help guys.

I will send my Father an email, see if he can get the details off the jug and maybe a picture. *I am still overseas until April* All I know is that the stuff works wonders, and it makes the WS seal better and is easy to use. His jug is a small white tub of brown looking semi coagulated gunk, so you have to stir it a little before applying. Will send him an email.

I noticed the same wind noise coming from the rear passenger window right before I deployed overseas. What I have used for years to help keep weatherstriping on vehicles soft and moist is a small white bucket of silicone lubricant my dad has. I wash the vehicle and take a rag and smear some on the seals real thick, and let it soak for a few minutes. After a bit I come back and wipe the excess off and the WS and seals feels soft and *new*. It really helps around window molding when it gets beat in with the sun. But I do plan on getting the aftermarket latches or see if there is an adjustment for the passenger doors. What gets me... maybe the window and seal is just not beveled in enough? Maybe if it were sunk in more they wouldn't leak at all...??? I hate Ebay, any direct website for the latches?

The use of magnets on oil pans and oil filters is not a bad idea. It certainly will not hurt anything and has been in use for years and years. But it can make you paranoid easily. Here's why... The oil sump has an oil pick up tube that is screened and sits well below the reccomended oil fill level for a cold engine. It is screened so if any metal fragments or shavings get down there from say *Cam, pistons, crank, bearings , etc...* then they certainly will not make it to the oil filter itself because of the screen on the oil pick up tube. The oil filter is really designed to catch deposits that build up in your engine oil and help to keep the oil system free of very very tiny debris and carbon. Carbon, heat and friction is what turns oil back. So the filter aides to extend the life of the oil. Like our livers filter our blood to keep it screened and clean. Now, like I said, if you are easily paranoid then you probably don't want to do this. Your SS drain plug should have a magnetic tip, when you change the oil grab the plug and examine it. It should have some very very small greyish metal shavings. *THIS IS NORMAL... bearing wear and tear will produce this* So small that when you smear them between your fingers you wouldn't know or be able to tell they are metal at all. If we had a magnet freindly oil pan then you could attach one to the outside near the oil pickup tube or the drain plug. It never hurts to do this but I have had some friends who get very upset everytime they change their oil and think because they see tiny graphite looking shavings that their engine is in danger. There is however; a problem when you see chunks of metal or pieces of shiny aluminum floating around. These chunks will be easily discernable from the normal *Etch-A-Sketch* like grey shavings. When you frag a piston, shave a lobe off a cam, or bust a crank, you will see various chunks of metal debris in the oil pan. The only time you will see them in the oil filter is if the problem is serious enough to have made it into a pre-oil filter oiling passage. Generally the oil pick up tube screen will stop most chunks from making it into the oil filter. But I have seen cracked blocks and all sorts of terrible carnage take place that has caused an oil filter to fill with chunks of metal. At this point the damage is obvious and most likey the vehicle is not moving anyways. I have also seen an oil pickup screen with small holes in it. SO, to recap... It doesn't hurt to put magnets on your oil filter or oil pan. But if you get paranoid easily then I wouldn't reccomend you doing it. Use the basic guidelines I provided above and make your own choice. Sorry for the long post, hope this helps shed some light on this. Also, oiling passages and lines vary between engines but the basics is what I wanted to cover. This is not an all inclusive guide. Just a basic reference.

Heh, you are from Odessa too? My dad is putting my STS kit on as we speak. He lives in West Odessa, you should swing by and check it out. *** I am a Soldier deployed overseas, I ordered the kit and he is putting it together for me. I should be back home in a couple of months. Hopefully after all is said and done maybe we can take the SS's out and cruise when I get back... turbo twins. lol

You know, KB used to make alot of GN parts. I was always waved away from his parts and kits by older/experienced owners because of the high price that comes with them. There is a fine line between making horsepower/torque and retaining horsepower/torque. He makes good stuff, but some of his kits are more of the "Slam it and Jam it" style kits. As in, ok here's a massive turbocharger, and a some fuel injectors... have fun. I never really paid much attention to his kits. However; he did make some good Front Mounted ICs for GNs. But his ECM chips and tuning were never hailed as "Almighty". KB for me plays a risky game that my wallet cannot afford.

Erik, congrats on the project man! If there is anyone around who will make it happen I think your it. My STS kit is sitting in my garage. My Dad is installing it while I am deployed so hopefully when I get home in a couple of months I can tune the truck and have Zippy send me some tranny parts. You will need to keep us updated with some install pictures as the project progresses. While on the STS Subject... is there anyone here that would be willing to give me a little advice that I can relay home. I have been reading here and there that I may need some minor engine work with the STS Kit. I get very paranoid when it comes to stuff like that and even worse considering I am 9,000 miles away from the truck at the moment and it is in the hands of my very capable and retired father. If anyone has any time to swap emails or chat please send me a PM. I have a few questions. You too Erik, but I understand if you are too busy with the new twins. On already Truck Mods... K&N FPIK Magnaflow Mufflers STS Kit: GT-67 Turbocharger Front Mount IC Injectors, Boost-a-Pump Methanol Injection Kit 0-5 PSI Electronic oost Controller Waiting to Order: EFI Live 160* Thermo Zippy's Tranny Goods (Stall/Shift Kit, Servos, etc) Truck has not been driven yet, just sitting in the garage waiting to get welded *STS*. Thanks for the look guys and good luck Erik! "May the Forced Induction be with you!"

I can wait. Just in case I get busy over here, send me an email when the deal is ready. [email protected] Thanks.

Ok here's the deal... I am overseas right now and ordered an STS kit with GT-67 Turbo, Front Mount IC, methanol injection, injectors, fuel pump booster, exhaust, electronic boost controller, etc... I have been researching for a tuner that gives me plenty of options and flexibility and I thik EFI Live is the right choice. My question for you guys is simple. My father is installing the STS kit at home - minus welding, will be done at a shop - and no transmission modifications have been done yet. I plan to order EFI Live soon and he will attempt to do a basic tune himself. With the new, larger injectors, and lack of transmission modifications, what do you reccomend for him to do first off? I told him to compensate for additional fuel, and see if there is any way to basicly detune the truck so that we do not harm the tranny until I can have it beefed up when I return in March. I am not concerned about performance just yet. Just do not want the STS kit to frag the transmission. Anyone ever been in this position before have any advice? Also, after tryng to negoatiate EFI Live's website, I have decided that it may be cheaper and better to purchase it from a dealer. Any preferences? Thanks for your time...

I found FTLs site... Anyone have any other reccomendations? Finish Line Transmissions http://www.finishlinetrans.com

Well, before I get too crazy... I realize the transmission needs to be tended to first. I was trying to find some info about FTL *Do they have a website* as I was reccommended to them from a friend for our SSSs. I am deployed overseas so the only real way to do this from 9000 miles away is to either ship the transmission to the shop, or ship the parts home and have my father take it in for installation. But I don't trust too many of our local transmission "experts". Here's what I am looking to have done... Harded Parts all around Billet servos Shift Kit Torque Converter *Turbo Stator* And any extra goodies I can throw in there to get it up to the 500 FWHP mark saefly and reliably. Any suggestions guys? Thanks for the time and help. *Also how much am I roughly looking at cost wise for the parts alone?*

Snapping the factory input shaft? Do they make an aftermarket hardened one? Mmm about time to head over to the Transmission Tech forum and research.

No links... I just don't know about this anymore lol. So many choices... If I was back in the states I could have more time to reasearch but over here...yikes. I really don't feel like attempting a new boost record on the factory rotating assembly. I have the money to spend, but I want it done right. Argh! I will keep reasearching, if anyone comes up with anything please chime in.

I agree with you Chase, however from what I read above ^ a few people are pulling 16 PSI. The only way I know that to be possible is a really fat tune and really cool FI. But I dunno. Chase who does transmissions on the site? I tried PMing zippy but looks like he and Erick are AFK for a bit. -Plan is to order the STS kit, and hold it until I return from overseas. I can install it myself and order some parts to aide the process, as in....transmission goodies. Also need to snatch up a thermostat.

Alrighty, knowing the cube can support over 1000hp is relaxing. Pistons, cam, heads, I can tweak that stuff later if I ever get the urge too. Now, what about the drivetrain. I would figure my tranny will need a TC and probably some servos and/or shift kit. Any reccomendations? SO there are people running 16 PSI on facotry internals? Hmmmm my thinking was to run the kit FMICd along with Alcohol injection. In my experience the cooler the air, the more boost. Common sense stuff, but I wonder what the 16 pound guys are doing differently. STS reccomended I pickup their 60-1 turbo, that way I can have some room to grow if ever need be. But they reccomended it only with the FMIC and alky.

Alright, bone stock 2005 SSS... I want to purchase a STS kit. Make it simple, I am not for sure how much this factory block will take. What can I get away with guys? And what am I going to need to keep it driveable. Basicly what I want to do is maximize the factory block. If I have to do some tranny work, so be it. But I am considering the STS turbo kit, with FMIC, and alky kit. I have tons of hours working on turbocharged vehicles, I really want to add one to my SS. I know I will need a 160* thermostat in there lol. So lemme hear what ya think. Also, are there any other kits out there for sale? I like the STS but comming from the Turbo Buick family I would like to have a front mounted Turbo. Seems like the STS kit is a little bare as well. Alrighty thanks for the help. Once again: 2005 SSS stock. Looking to turbocharge the truck and get the best bang for the buck and max the factory block. *When I say max, I do not mean pushing the very limits, I just want to know how far I can go. IE: Should I go ahead and get the larger turbo and throw on some injectors and a fuel pump. That kind of stuff. V/R -Cory