This month’s winner has been with the NHTOC since 2007 and is a regular contributor to the site. An entrepreneur who has started his own business, a recent college graduate who will be furthering his education after a short break, and of course is as car crazy as the rest of us. A real family oriented person and loving son, who over the years has taken on more and more "do-it-yourself" projects around his mom's house so that she won't have to spend the money to hire someone or have to worry about having someone unfamiliar inside her house.
Watch out for this one and be careful handing him your keys if your ever in his home town at his place of work, rumor has it that there is a certain you tube video showing his escapades and skills at being a valet…maybe that is where he got all those pictures of wrecked cars for us to guess at what they used to be?!?!
Just like myself, it took some time for him to get his truck, but once the purchase was made it was all over before it began. From the utter joy of hearing that supercharger wine to the depletion of funds from the wallet, it is safe to say that the “sickness” has definitely taken over.
So with that being said, let me be the first to congratulate this month’s TOTM winner and I give you April 2010’s TOTM winner, member #528, John “JOEDPL” Plewes and his 2002 HD F150 #8658.
Question # 1: What sparked your interests in the Harley trucks?
Specifically your HD Truck?
Whenever I was searching for my first car back in 2001 I really wanted an F-150. I went to several Ford dealerships to look at a couple of trucks they had. I was mainly looking at 97-98 4x4 lariats but something in the showroom caught my eye. I walked in on a brand spanking new 2001 F-150 Harley Davidson. I loved the way the truck looked and the interior was even more incredible, then i looked at the sticker price and YIKES!!! As much as I wanted that truck it was about 4 times what my budget was so I walked out of the showroom and proceeded to look at more cars. I never did get an F-150 and we ended up finding a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder that was right on the money, it was a very nice first car but it wasn't my dream F-150. As time progressed I started seeing 2002 and 2003 F-150 Harley's on the road and I knew that I wanted one but the sticker price was the only problem (and the fact that insurance for a 17 year old kid driving one was outrageous) In 2006 one of my friends bought a 2001 Lightning and he had it for a couple of months and let me drive it for a week right before he sold it. I was sold, I was addicted to the supercharger and the look of the truck was just damn sexy. I knew I wouldn't want a regular cab truck because I couldn't haul anyone around with me, so I started keeping my eye out at the local car dealerships since these trucks were starting to get into a range that I could afford. On August 24, 2007 the CarMax dealership got a 2002 F-150 Harley Davidson with 85,xxx miles in stock that I fell in love with. It was grey, which I liked, since IMO black is a PITA to keep clean. I took it out on a test drive and I could tell that whoever had the truck before me had taken really good care of it, the only mod to the truck was a pair of 2" drop shackles. On August 28, 2007 I drove off the lot in my "new to me" dream F-150 Harley Davidson.
Question # 2: Any interesting stories behind the history of vehicles
you've owned leading up to the HD truck or how you got it?
When I bought my Pathfinder it was really, really slow. It was rated at 168 flywheel horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. I had throw every mod at it that was available in the aftermarket, Stillen Intake, Jim Wolf Stage 1 Cams, Ported and Polished Heads w/ stainless steel valves, Stillen Headers, Flowmaster Exhaust, Airaid Throttle Body Spacer and a Limited Slip Diff. The next mod on my list was installing the supercharger off of a 2003 Nissan Frontier, but after getting everything bolted in I saw just how much work would be involved in converting it (and especially for only 210 flywheel horsepower). The guy that was helping my install the supercharger said that I should get a Lightning or a Harley Davidson F-150 since they came supercharged and had way more power than my little pathfinder ever would.
Question # 3: Give me a rough list of the mods that have been done to your truck. I know you've got a lot done, so you can just list your favorites if you'd like!
Steigmeyer Stg 3 Ported S/C, Weapon-X COP's, JLP Forced Air Induction, SVO Throttle Body, Oil Seperator, Ported C&L Plenum, True Forged Icey Res, EGR Delete, JDM E-Fan, Slotted Brake Rotors, Tuned by Amazon. Favorite Mod: Power Passenger Seat conversion, the only reason it's my favorite is because no one else seems to have this done to their truck, I love being unique!!
Question # 4: Tell us a little about yourself. Your other hobbies, your job, your favorite past time, whatever!
I am 24 years old and I have lived in Edmond, Oklahoma my whole life. I find it very fitting to be the April TOTM since my birthday is on April 4th. I graduated from college in December 2009 with my Bachelor of Business Administration Degree and I am currently taking the semester off of school before I go back in August to get my MBA (Master's of Business Administration) I have worked at Oak Tree Country Club since my Junior year of high school as a Valet which co-insides with my main hobby which is pretty much anything automotive related.
Question # 5: You've been a member on the site for a while now, what is one of the best things you like about the site that keeps you around?
I like that you get a wide array of opinions from people all across the planet. If you have a problem with your truck, odds are in your favor that someone has experienced it before and can help you to fix it. It also nice to have mod advice since, once again, odds are in your favor that someone has done it before. They can help you with installation tips and tricks the make the process much smoother
Question # 6: What is one suggestion to help make the site a better place?
I can't think of anything, I like it just the way it is!!
Question # 7:
This is where I normally ask about where you decided on your screen name and any specific reason for choosing it?
This one is simple! My full name is John Edward Plewes, so whenever I have to create an online screen name I just take the first 2 letters of my first, middle and last name. So far I have not run into anyone else that has a duplicate screen name.
Question # 8: Almost at the end, what is in the future for your truck?, so what’s the next plan of attack for your trucks future?
My goal for the truck is 500rwhp or a 12.5 1/4 mile time slip, whichever comes first. So I will continue modding until one of those goals is reached. The next mod for the truck is a Magnum Powers Supercharger.
Question 9: Last and final question, just an open end question for you if you had anything else you wanted to mention that I didn't have a question for...here's the place to go at it! Your web site link, a plug for something, etc. etc. whatever you want to throw in!
There are 2 things, I know that there are a lot of misconceptions about Oklahoma so if anyone is going to be in the OKC area, or simply driving through, I would be more than happy to host you and take you around town and show you that it's way more than what you have heard. Secondly, I have an at-home business in which I repair and sell Dyson Vacuum Cleaners, if anyone ever needs a good vacuum I am the guy to call. I would also like to thank Kenny (00blackbolt) and Rob (Black Molly) for helping me get my truck to where it is today, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you guys!!