Just picked up on 03 Vert this week, LOVE it.

cbehr

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Shocked myself(and my wife I think) by buying one after NOT spending 20,372 hours researching and looking at 37 different terminators Picked it up Monday evening from a guy about 30 minutes from me. It's in really great shape, 03 with 46k miles. Only mods are tint/K&N intake/axle back exhaust. Been kept in a garage since at least 07.

Plan on doing a lot more reading over the fall/winter and then get into a few mods next spring/summer. Lowering it for sure, pulley/tune/exhaust and maybe eventually port the blower and TB.

A couple comments/questions: I never had a big HP rear wheel drive car so I'm still a bit nervous of it...1st and 2nd spin rather easily...I still haven't found a nice flat road for 0-100 run or even a 0-60, mostly 3rd gear pulls on back roads etc. I'm sure the Riken tires don't help... I'll have to do some reading on reducing wheel hop etc, it's not horribly bad but I'm sure it's not good on the car either.

Shifter/clutch are not quite at bad as I expected from reading however I'll get a shifter for sure if it helps. I actually snapped, or they were snapped, the two tabs that hold the plastic shift boot/surrounding plastic in place...guessing that cannot be fixed and needs to be replaced?

My FM transmitter does not turn off with the car when it's in the cigarette lighter, is that normal? I have to physically remove it each time which is kind of annoying.

The guy I bought it from only got it in April from a friends wife who put 2k miles on in 12 years. He has cancer and had a stroke so he decided to get rid of it after only a short summer. Anyway, he said he had a local shot go over it head/toe in April. The shop seems legit but is there anything I should service not knowing when items like tranny fluid coolant etc were replaced and the car is 16 years old?

No crazy pro phot shots but here are a few...forgot an engine shot. I'm REALLY loving the car so far!!


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Goose17

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Congrats on the vert score!

As for the tire spin... how old are the tires? Check the 4 digit date code... first 2 digits are month and last 2 are the year.
 

svtrookie

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Congrats. Good looking vert! I highly recommend you research fulltiltboogie racing for their IRS bushing kit. This FTBR kit, subframe connectors, and some nice tires will eliminate wheel hop almost completely.

http://fulltiltboogieracing.com/images/FT 5001 Kit lg.jpg

If you aren't lowering with coilovers then I suggest checking our H&R for their race springs. Good luck!
 

cbehr

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Thanks everyone! I'll check the date on the tires...I bet they are OLD(10+years).

Sheesh, those bushing kits are $$, didn't expect $700!
 

Bdubbs

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Thanks everyone! I'll check the date on the tires...I bet they are OLD(10+years).

Sheesh, those bushing kits are $$, didn't expect $700!
Congrats! Looks great. Honestly, you can get by without buying the whole bushing kit.

I'm probably in the 700rwhp range and I'm only using FTBR aluminum diff bushings, 9/16 subframe bolts, and a lpw diff cover. I do have different springs and shocks.

A good tire goes along way.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

Goose17

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I always thought the first 2 digits were the week of the year. I just checked my dates, in the front (2912), in the rear (2718).

Ahhh yes, you are correct and prior to 2000 it was only 3 digits with the first 2 for the week and the last for the year.
 

cbehr

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95FB5126-2CC6-4643-A8AD-1DFC07C471FB.jpeg
Thanks everyone?

Assuming this is the date code, they are 14 years old??

Suggestions on new tires for stock rims? See a lot seem to be running Nitto nt555?

275/40/17 all around now. Go wider 315/35/17 and if so stager them?
 

ccq8le

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17" wheels don't have the tire selection they used to 10 years ago or so for performance tires. I am running into this issue for my 95 cobra. I ordered Michelin Pilot 2 from discount tire and they called me a few days later and told me they can no longer get them in the 17" size.

Most 17" now days are all season and just with passenger tire ratings.

I have BF Goodrich Comp 2 on my Terminator. This is maybe what I will get on my 95 as well. I like them and they don't hurt my wallet any.

The real question is how often are you going to drive it and in what conditions? Being a Vert I would think it will be a fair weather car?

Maybe someone who is staggered van chime in but I live in a hilly area and want the same size on all 4 for handling and tire rotations.
 

speedoflife

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Thanks everyone! I'll check the date on the tires...I bet they are OLD(10+years).

Sheesh, those bushing kits are $$, didn't expect $700!
Tires will make a huge difference. So will getting 10.5” rear wheels and 315s (they look sweet too). And thus the modding begins.....

Congrats on the car - looks awesome. If you haven’t yet, make sure you read this ENTIRE website (not kidding):
Home
And check out the obligatory:
Terminator FAQs
Lots of mods are expensive but you can get away with less until you’re ready. For traction, this:
Congrats! Looks great. Honestly, you can get by without buying the whole bushing kit.

I'm probably in the 700rwhp range and I'm only using FTBR aluminum diff bushings, 9/16 subframe bolts, and a lpw diff cover. I do have different springs and shocks.

A good tire goes along way.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

speedoflife

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View attachment 1594551 Thanks everyone?

Assuming this is the date code, they are 14 years old??

Suggestions on new tires for stock rims? See a lot seem to be running Nitto nt555?

275/40/17 all around now. Go wider 315/35/17 and if so stager them?
Definitely go staggered with the 315s...
Tire depends on a lot. It’ll be a street car right? Driven in the rain/cold or no? How about budget? Biggest question is DR vs summer tire.
 

hotcobra03

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I’m on second set of nittos

The 555g2 is a meaty tire for its price

I just went with 10.5 reps

To do 315s

They look wide in hand but on car still to small.

335s I may do next.

I get over 40k on mine but don’t drive like some.

Drag radials are the only tire that will stick but not for long.
 

cbehr

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Definitely go staggered with the 315s...
Tire depends on a lot. It’ll be a street car right? Driven in the rain/cold or no? How about budget? Biggest question is DR vs summer tire.

Yep street sunny day only car mostly just in the summer. Could get caught in the rain but plan on not taking it to work on those days.

Will rock the stock wheels at least for the time being... how wide can I go on stock wheels..probably just the 275 I have now? Not looking to spend $350 a tire but am open to suggestions..I’d thanks no with stock power I wouldn’t need the same level of crazy tires your modded 600-700hp guys are running.

Been reading every thread on the faq section(few broken links I should report to someone?). And going thru a few other sections of the forum, LOTS of good stuff to absorb lol.
 

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