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2004 F350 6.0 Crew cab short bed Lariat
This truck started as a work truck. This was the first build I did from top to bottom where I actually documented from start to finish. To start was of course a full bulletproof including what all of our bulletproofs comprise of. ARP head studs, gaskets, oil cooler, egr delete (my way), oil rail plugs and standpipes (no high pressure oil pump fitting kit as this is a 04 model and not applicable), fuel pressure regulator upgrade (blue spring kit), thermostat and reconditioned turbocharger vanes. Before the cab went down the easy start to a MBRP 5" exhaust got started and once set down a S&B intake was added. A SCT 5015 running Eric's from Innovative Diesel's tunes. I never ran more than the Extreme street tune (C'mon people this was my kid hauler!) but of course I had the Extreme X on tap.
Next in line was of course to make it my style. I headed into this one wanting to make it scream on the street and keep it low and not so slow. Once I got into shoe shopping and had the BMF Novakane's picked out I simply couldn't bring myself to wrap it in 420's so instead I went with their big brother the Trail Grappler M/T's. Still in a quest to keep it squatting the 35x12.50's told me what I already knew in that the shackle and hanger kit wasn't going to cut it so I threw Skyjacker 4" leafs along with the shackle and hangers and a ProRyde adjustable block kit (No I am not going to replace springs for 2" of lift). ES9000 shocks got chucked (they came with the shackle and hanger kit) for non other than Bilstein 5100's. Skyjacker kept the alignment right with the pitman arm and dropped drag link bracket. Who want wheels that fit flush with fenders? Yep 2" spacers were in need.
Now that she was sitting right it was off to paint. Brian Hall at Carolina Collision kept up with his great reputation and served me up a complete transformation. Although sticking to the original color the pictures don't even do justice for what this truck does to your eyes in person. Needless to say I had people calling and texting me complimenting this truck in about 4 different colors! Of course those who know Super duty's know this doesn't resemble a 2004 model. I truly believe the 05-07 models are a short 2nd to the 08-10 models as far as aesthetics are concerned. So obviously I went with a 07 front end and 08 mirrors and back end. Paint to match? Chrome had no place on this truck and neither did black besides the rims and the aftermarket steps. A Recon tailgate LED light bar and HID headlights wrapped up the "Hey look at me".
The interior shockingly enough was as clean as could be. A Pioneer touchscreen backed by a Clarion behind the dash amplifier pushing 4 Polk 6x8's blasted enough for me. I didn't get around to adding more bass before someone hustled me out of this build. Lucky him. I kind of was in the need of a Excursion so here we go...
2005 Excursion 6.0 Limited
So this one got thrown in my lap. It came to me from Rami at All City Auto Sales like ALL of his purchases (when he purchases a Ford diesel they come directly to me usually before him because he has a thriving business of selling reliable vehicles). So this one started off needing a oil cooler, so it of course got a Top end Bulletproof. This consisted of a oil cooler, egr delete (my way), fuel pressure regulator upgrade (blue spring kit), thermostat and reconditioned turbo vanes.
I decided I had to have this truck. It was clean beyond belief (most Excursions are maintained well). It already sat on 6" lift and custom drilled 16.5" rims wearing Goodyear HMMWV tires (I know this because 4 years in the Marines... I know these tires). Although it rode well this just wasn't my style. Because of the color of the truck and the fact that no one around my neck of the woods is sporting black rims on a Excursion I had to go that way and bigger seemed better. 22x14 Moto Metal 962's are just enough of "Those 20x12's are cute" BUT I wanted to break the cycle. The sad thing I see in this current time of "What's cool" is people strapping big boy rims with not so big boy tires. We ALL see that truck rocking 12-14" rims with 305's on 12" rims or maybe 12.50-13.50's on 14's. NEWS FLASH to all of those I haven't yet had the luxury of schooling... Stretch sidewalls are for Euro cars. SOOOOOoooooo Unless you shoved a pile of BMW gas crap under the hood of your fine piece of "Didn't need a Bailout" then you should realize that tires should protect those rims. Besides... Who doesn't like jumping a median divider that shouldn't be there?
Lets just say that Nitto 375/45"s set this bad ass kid/woman/dog/gym bag hauler off! Oh... a bump to 8" lift was in need. -76 degree offsets... You'll have that. 08+ mirrors with smoked lenses were added at this time as well.
Next was a S&B intake and a Diamond Eye 4" (Aft axle fuel tanks prevent 5" exhausts on the Excursions) coupled to a SCT 5015 with Eric at Innovative Diesel's custom tunes make my bus keep up (or embarrass) the best of them. Needless to say when I could actually fit it into my schedule we strapped the heads down with ARP's.
Amp Research power steps lets the family hop into this grocery getter with ease. Even my 4 year old daughter treats it like a jungle gym but gets it done! Although the pictures don't show I changed the headlights to smoked Harley's and added HID's. This was a somewhat conservative build because it is our family vehicle. At least it isn't a van.... OR a Tahoe!
1999 F350 7.3 Lariat
So this one fell into my lap as a good customer decided to change his business plan to his employees using their own trucks and supplementing them via a truck allowance. That being said the pictures don't do justice to how rough this truck was. On the good note... Its a Southern raised Ford and there is ZERO rust and there was absolutely no frame or major damage at all. This was a custom builders dream truck!.
It is a 7.3. Yes it has 298k on it. Not even broke in. How did I get so lucky?
I had to start at the interior. It was worse off than a Xl model swept through a firefight with aliens trapped in a hornets nest breeding facility. A Lariat interior from a 06 fit the bill and some wiring for the passenger front seat made it all a newer truck. I always said since I began working at Ford in 2003 that if I ever had the luxury of ordering a brand new truck I would get a lariat with rubber flooring and that is exactly what this truck began as so I kept the rubber floor in place. Next up was a shackle and hanger kit with ES9000 shocks front and rear by Pro Comp. Moto Metal 951's in 20x10 strapped with 35x12.50 Falken Wildpeak AT3's that not only look good, but they ride as good as a stock sized tire. 55k mile warranty isn't too bad either...
Before it got more than a few trips around the block it had a 5" MBRP exhaust letting go the fresh breath of the S&B intake with Eric at Innovative diesel's custom tuning.
Off to paint means it needs the right furniture before decoration. A 07 front end with a Harley Davidson grill (I ride a Victory Magnum X1 Stealth. Shut up) mated with 08+ mirrors and back end, ALL paint to match was the right timing to go to paint and let this white truck bring back what HAS BEEN MISSED! So I like to build trucks to what I like and express myself. We ALL see just about EVERY white truck these days rocking black rims. Most EPIC fail and have chrome bumpers ect. My twist on this truck was to bring back what looked good, before what was "Cool" was cool. Clean is of the upmost importance to me. This was NOT an expensive build BUT quality outweighs quantity to the right mind.
I found myself driving my new work truck more than my Excusrion. Obviously a 8ft bed comes in handy. I DID miss the music so a Pioneer touchscreen coupled with a Clarion amplified and 4 6x8 Polks keep Rob Bailey reminding me "This is not my F**king theme song"....