How do you view modding?

[loud2004marquis]

With the recent trilogy kits for sale and a few people also asking about rebuilding/replacing engines lately I was wondering what you all think about modding in general.

For example...

Some like to keep their cars stock maybe to try and keep value being original condition. Perhaps even reliability.

While others like to mod with ready to bolt on kits and accessories to compliment the factory specs.

Then some also like to swap engines, piece together and fab up stuff on their own.

Given the few amount of these cars made and limited availability, what's your approach/thoughts?

People seem to have a deep appreciation for the factory qualities of cars in general and seem to identify the car based upon that. But once you start modding, it seems to never want to stop. Just can't leave stuff alone anymore...

I guess what I'm wondering is:

Is there a point in the process of modding/building where you no longer think of a Marauder as still a Marauder? (Also think Fox body with Chevy motor)

[fastblackmerc]

IMHO, a Marauder is still a Marauder as long as it has the same body and drivetrain.

Your right.... once you start modding you can't stop.

[Spectragod]

Mine is mildly modded, I think it makes it "your own" when you make improvements/mods.

[BigM460]

It's a disease that car guys have, usually from a very early age! Some don't start showing symptoms until they get a license though.

Me, been modifying stuff since I was a kid. At 46, my Mom still goes on and on about it! "You never could leave anything alone! " :D

[MM in MN]

Unfortunately I think that not modding your car to help retain collector car value is not going to work. Even as these cars become more scarce, I still continue to see their value going down, and I am not certain they will ever gain enough respect out there to truly become a valuable classic.

On the other hand, modding does seem to usually result in significantly less reliability, again depending on how crazy you go. Especially, supercharging a stock block seems inevitable that it's going to blow sooner or later, where a lot of the guys that leave them stock (or at least mostly) seem to be able to get 250K on them with only minor maintenance issues. Modding certainly makes them more fun, but depending on how far you go in quest of performance can start to cost some serious bucks. that you will likely not get back if you try to sell the car.

In my opinion, they are a fun and reliable car right out of the box. (mine is mostly stock except for gears & a tune)..but each owner should weigh the pros and cons, check your bank account and do whatever you want to do to it to make it your own.

[Anthony84]

Unfortunately I think that not modding your car to help retain collector car value is not going to work. Even as these cars become more scarce, I still continue to see their value going down, and I am not certain they will ever gain enough respect out there to truly become a valuable classic.

In my opinion, they are a fun and reliable car right out of the box. (mine is mostly stock except for gears & a tune)

Agreed on both counts. I fell in love with the Marauder just the way it was, I just wanted to do a few mods that "the factory forgot" :)

[Zack]

I mod cars to combat boredom.

[MOTOWN]

Nothing better than building your vision , ive been modding /building cars since I was 16 , if I cant mod it , I don't want it!

[Pops]

I mod cars to combat boredom.

At last the truth is spoken!;)

[RR|Suki]

I mod cars to combat boredom.

Sounds about right

[blkZooM]

With my love for speed and cars starting with Supercharged Marauders and in my interest for cars in general growing since that day on, If I can't mod I don't want it honestly.

[justbob]

I'm not truly happy unless I'm faced with a challenge and currently work hasn't thrown me many. Plus having summit and Jegs on my contact list doesn't help matters, nor does home delivery curtesy of Advance.

Problem I have lately is I love to buy parts with good intensions but normally they are just ending up still in the box getting dusty on the shelfs.. Kinda burned out.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[8UWITH6]

Unfortunately I think that not modding your car to help retain collector car value is not going to work. Even as these cars become more scarce, I still continue to see their value going down, and I am not certain they will ever gain enough respect out there to truly become a valuable classic.

On the other hand, modding does seem to usually result in significantly less reliability, again depending on how crazy you go. Especially, supercharging a stock block seems inevitable that it's going to blow sooner or later, where a lot of the guys that leave them stock (or at least mostly) seem to be able to get 250K on them with only minor maintenance issues. Modding certainly makes them more fun, but depending on how far you go in quest of performance can start to cost some serious bucks. that you will likely not get back if you try to sell the car.

In my opinion, they are a fun and reliable car right out of the box. (mine is mostly stock except for gears & a tune)..but each owner should weigh the pros and cons, check your bank account and do whatever you want to do to it to make it your own.

You buy a car like these Marauder's to have fun with them. I have never bought a car for an investment or collector car value. I bought it because I wanted it.

Leaving these cars stock is boring. Go buy a Honda Accord if your into that. Supercharging these cars does NOT make them anymore less reliable than they already are. There are tons of turbo and supercharged factory cars out there with little or no issues. Its all in the programing of the PCM and your particular driving habits. If you cant keep your foot out of the throttle your going to break stuff. Uncommon sense.

Whats Marauder Rick got on his supercharged car? 150k? If I dont get bored first (an entirely different discussion) I plan on putting 100K miles on my blue............

I LOVE getting in my car everyday. LOVE it.

I wish you all the same feeling.

[justbob]

If you cant keep your foot out of the throttle your going to break stuff.

B.S.!

Oh wait. Never mind...

I was never warned. Or maybe I was wasn't listening? Besides, breaking things is like really expensive trophies you get to keep and provides good wall art/conversational pieces. You could say I have a few laying around... [emoji106]




Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[1stMerc]

All of the above.
Just plain Jane gets boring after a while, especially with the shift schedule of a stock Marauder. If you don't do anything else a tune should be mandatory and the first thing you do. Make the car more enjoyable.

Good thread, It bought Andy Capp out of retirement. What up Pops?

[jerrym3]

Depends on the car, the individual, and the definition of what modding is.

You could say I modded my 64 Galaxie from a 500 to a 500XL except that all my modding was done with original 64 500XL parts and pieces, so I don't know if that meets the definition of modding. (Cloning would be a better word.)

As an individual, I never had the real need for speed. As long as my car didn't feel like I was towing a trailer, it was OK for me. As a youth, I won, and lost, a lot of drag races. Now that I'm WAY up there in years, speed has become even less of a factor.

Looking at the subject from an old car show angle, serious modding of my 64 Galaxie was never a priority. There are so few of these cars left that they stand out just because of the rarity.

But, if I had a 55/56/57 BelAir, I might consider some modding to make it stand out from the other BelAirs.

If I owned a Marauder, I'd leave it as is.

[RubberCtyRauder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkhfL0pnMPQ

[1stMerc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkhfL0pnMPQ

One of my favorite songs...

[Gryphonzus]

I bought my first Marauder new and am keeping it stock except for a tune and a dead pedal. Of course both of these are removable so it is back to stock. I purchased a used Marauder to turn into my play toy. So if you want to keep it as a collectable car you probably do not want to do anything that cannot be returned to stock. If you just want it as a driver turn it into whatever you want. Like some of the others said the more you mod it the more chance you have of something breaking. My black toy is running 480 horsepower and is pretty reliable. But the second time down the quarter mile I broke my new alternator. Whatever you decide have fun with it!

[Jeffonebuck]

This Marauder has changed my view. Don't get me wrong but I would love to mod like some of you do but I have got my car back to dependable from the state it was in when I bought it 18 months ago and I can't get past fixing everything back to like new condition, a few clear coat issues, every nut and bolt cleaned and painted or replaced etc etc. I can't stand for it to be dirty or have any mechanical issues,,,,it's getting on my nerves. My view of modding now is to find an older truck or station wagon that I won't obsess over scratching the s,,it out of it with my belt buckle and building a strong motor and nice suspension. Something that I can leave backed up in the driveway ready to go and not worry about sweeping the hickory nuts out of the bed or buffing off treesap. I've learned a lot from this site and others and if I sell my MM in the future I'll still be hanging around and maybe use the old 4.6 block in the garage for my future modding. :beer:


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