Truckin Vol 39 No 13 - 2013 USA

CUSTOM-MOLDED PROTECTION!

HUSKY LINERS WEATHERBEATER CUSTOM FLOOR LINERS

With Husky Liners WeatherBeater Floor Liners standing watch, the wrath of Mother Nature won’t ruin your carpet. These customtailored mats are crafted specifically for your year, make and model vehicle from ultra-durable rubberized thermo-plastic material. Their sleek grooves and sidewalls trap sand, dirt, muck and more. Plus, they withstand tough crud, like battery acid, gasoline and oil. Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

FREE Shipping 85 95/pr.

Choose from front, 2nd and 3rd row, plus cargo liners for cars, SUVs, trucks and vans in black, tan or grey.

PROTECT YOUR INTERIOR WITH CUSTOM FLOOR MATS & LINERS!

TM TM

LLOYD MATS RUBBERTITE FLOOR MATS

HUSKY LINERS CUSTOM FLOOR LINERS

LLOYD MATS CUSTOM CARPET MATS

Thanks to numerous cups in the top surface, RubberTite Floor mats hold high volumes of dirt and moisture with a refined low-profile style. Available in 13 colors to match any interior. 5-year warranty.

Custom-molded Husky Liners form an impenetrable barrier to protect your carpet from mud, muck and spills. Lined with carpet-safe nibs to stop shifting. Front, rear and cargo liners are available in black, tan or grey.

Treat your feet to the plush carpet mats. Custom-cut for a larger and thicker fit than ordinary OEM mats. Custom embroidery available. 70+ factory-match and universal colors. 2-year warranty.

From

From

From

$


$

LARGEST ONLINE SELECTION 1,000s of Parts for Performance, Protection & Style


$

90/pr. Shipping 86 FREE

Call Our Experts 800.509.7298

© 2013. AutoAnything, Inc. All Rights Reserved. AutoAnything is a registered mark of AutoAnything, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. Prices subject to change. Not responsible for typographical errors.

FREE SHIPPING

1

NO MINIMUM PURCHASE _ NO HIDDEN FEES

LIKE A WETSUIT FOR YOUR SEATS! ROOF WATERP

WET OKOLE WATERPROOF SEAT COVERS Wet Okole Seat Covers are designed to keep up with your active outdoor lifestyle. 100% neoprene custom-tailoring wraps your seats like a wet suit to protect your upholstery from the elements and the action. Plus, their nylon-coating makes them waterproof, UV-resistant and stain-repellent. 90-day warranty.

$

From

FREE Shipping 235 95/row

REAR SEAT VIEW

Wet Okole Seat Covers are available in a wide array of colors and patterns. Visit us online now to find the perfect match for your custom interior needs.

THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO LEATHER! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT LEATHER® CUSTOM SEAT COVERS BY CALTREND Seeking the better alternative to leather? Then the choice is simple - It’s“I Can’t Believe It’s Not Leather®”. Wrap your seats in ultra-smooth, ultratough faux leather, sparing you the expense and maintenance of the real thing. Made with premium additives and top coated with urethane using an exclusive coating system for protection against germs, abrasions and stains. Expert tailoring delivers a factory-like fit. 5-year warranty.

$

From

95/row Shipping 299 FREE

COLORS AVAILABLE IN SOLID OR TWO-TONE.

BEIGE

BLK/BEIGE

BLUE

BLK/BLUE

CHARCOAL

BLK/CHARCOAL GRAPHITE BLK/GRAPHITE

or Visit AutoAnything.com

LT. GREY

BLK/LT. GREY

RED

BLK/RED

SANDSTONE BLK/SANDSTONE

BLACK

LOWER PRICE GUARANTEE

2

Up-front low prices with 1-year protection.

1. Free Shipping to Continental US only. No APO/POs. Truck, oversized & select shipments excluded. 2. Find it for less and we’ll refund the difference up to 1 year from purchase. Some restrictions apply. See website for complete details and restrictions.

THE MOST ADVANCED TONNEAU EVER BUILT! BAK ROLL-X TONNEAU COVER Crafted from heavy-duty hinged aluminum panels and covered in premium-grade vinyl, this ingenious tonneau is like nothing else on the road. You get the look of a classic tonneau, the security of a hard cover and the full bed access of a folding top—all in one cover.

$

From

849 00FREE Shipping

The clever design boasts a nearly invisible profile, and it rolls or folds up from both the tailgate and cab side for complete bed access. And, weighing in at 45 lbs, this featherweight rolling tonneau shoulders a hefty 400 lbs with ease.

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

LUND TONNEAU COVERS Save gas and protect cargo when you top your bed with a great-looking, great-performing Lund tonneau cover! Choose from rolling or hinged models, or grab the popular Tri-Fold design.

LET FRESH AIR IN AND KEEP RAIN OUT!

GENESIS ROLL UP (Fastest access to your bed and a quick cover for your cargo) ................ $31495

GENESIS TRI-FOLD (Easy installation and operation, great looks, and a sturdier top)........$36595 GENESIS SEAL & PEEL (Fast opening and closing, bang-for-your-buck bed protection).. $22795

GENESIS SNAP SOFT (Entry-level, reliable coverage that’s easy on the eyes and wallet).. $22795

AVS VENTVISOR WINDOW DEFLECTORS Stuffy, stale or smoky air during nasty weather ruins your ride. AVS acrylic ventvisors let fresh air in while keeping the elements out. Available for nearly any vehicle. Installs easily with preapplied 3M tape. Backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

$

From


“Perfect Fit”

“Received the deflectors promptly and followed the instructions for an easy and perfect job. The quality of the deflectors is superior to others and price was worth the product.” - Russell F. (Glendale, NY)

LARGEST ONLINE SELECTION

1,000s of Parts for Performance, Protection & Style



FREE SHIPPING

1


EASY FOLDING DESIGN, HARD COVER SECURITY! EXTANG ENCORE TONNEAU COVER Get locking payload protection at every fold with the Extang EnCore Tonneau Cover. With the EnCore you get folding cover bed access and hard-cover security. Your Extang EnCore truck cover has separate locks at both the front and rear. So, unlike traditional folding truck bed covers, you get secure access at both ends. Plus, Extang Tonneau covers feature advanced seals and integrated rails to completely block out the elements. Built in the USA and backed by a 3-year warranty.

$

From

899 00FREE Shipping

ULTIMATE PROTECTION!

Now featuring the BOLT® lock; breakthrough one-key technology. Front panel lock codes to match your ignition key (available on most models). Heavy-duty rear latch locks the cover at the tailgate.

THE FASTEST, EASIEST WAY TO TOP YOUR BED!

TRUXEDO TRUXPORT ROLL-UP TONNEAU COVER Want the classiest tonneau in town? Dress your truck with the TruXedo TruXport Roll-Up Tonneau Cover. Installation takes just 20 minutes using clever clamps – no drilling here. Bed access is fast and easy thanks to the heavy-duty Velcro closure system. Straight bows and tension control keep your tarp flat for smooth, sleek style. 5-year warranty.

$

From

00 Shipping 286 FREE

Great American Product! “Love this cover. Did a lot of searching and this is exactly what I wanted. Plus it didn’t cost a fortune. So far it is water tight and looks great.”- Brian S. (Pullman, WA)

SUPERIOR BED PROTECTION!

BEDRUG CUSTOM TRUCK BED LINER BedRug looks like cozy carpeting, but it’s tough as nails. The thick mat cushions your loads and keeps cargo from sliding around. And, it’s custom fit to your exact year, make and model, making for an easy installation. Durable all-plastic material stands up to heavy cargo and nasty weather. Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

413 25FREE Shipping

Only Liner I Will Use! “My 2001 F-150 still has the original in it. Deer blood, fish guts, wood, mulch, you name it and it has withstood the test of time. A quick power wash and it’s as good as new.” - Mike H. (Havre de Grace, MD)



2



SUPERCHARGER KITS Attack the asphalt with the massive increases in horsepower and torque you get by tricking out your ride with a supercharger. These bad boys force-feed your engine with a fierce blast of fuel and air. This gives you a performance boost that outguns any other performance accessory on the market. Plus, these kits don’t leave you jetting between the garage and the parts store: every kit comes fully stocked with everything you need. Plus they ship for free!

$

From

50 Shipping 2,145 FREE

3 STEPS TO AN EASY BREATHING ENGINE!

BBK POWER-PLUS THROTTLE BODIES

$

From

199 FREE Shipping 99

AIRAID POWERAID THROTTLE BODY SPACER

$

From

85 FREE Shipping

MONITOR YOUR MOTOR’S VITALS!

JET POWER-FLOW TBI SPACER

JET POWER-FLOW MASS AIR SENSORS

From

From

$

95

Turbulence in your engine’s air supply results in inefficient combustion, lost power and wasted fuel. Smooth out the air and turn it into a power-packed vortex with an easy-to-install throttle body, spacer and mass airflow sensor.

59 FREE Shipping 95

$

128 95FREE Shipping

Gauges add the ultimate touch to your vehicle’s information center. From monitoring vital statistics like pressure and boost, to functions like temperature and fuel level, quality auto gauges deliver the info you need at a glance.

AUTOMETER COBALT

AUTOMETER Z-SERIES

AUTOMETER ULTRA-LITE

AEM WIDEBAND UEGO AIR FUEL RATIO GAUGE

From

From

From

From

$

64 FREE Shipping 95 ea.

$




$


$

174 95FREEea.Shipping



1

GET DEVILISH PERFORMANCE! DIABLOSPORT TRINITY PROGRAMMER*

Super-charge your engine with a DiabloSport Trinity T-1000 Programmer, a unit like no other. This technological beast monitors, programs and reads diagnostic codes, plus delivers the ride of your life. Gain max hp and monitor your engine’s vitals, all while being seduced by a high-res touch-screen. 2-year warranty.

$

599 99FREE Overnight Shipping

PART # T-1000 CUSTOMIZE YOUR GAUGE!

Design your own gauge layout(s) or use one of the pre-existing gauge layouts designed by DiabloSport’s calibration team GAUGE SAMPLE 1 GAUGE SAMPLE 2

DRAG SCREEN

*Not legal for sale or use on pollution-controlled vehicles in the State of California or states that use the CARB emissions standard.

RACE SCREEN

PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF!

JET PERFORMANCE MODULE* Quick acceleration off the line, faster 0-60 times and more towing torque are yours, instantly! Jet’s world-famous performance chip is 50-state street legal, works for both stock and modified powerplants and installs easily—less than half an hour. Lifetime Warranty.

GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE! CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE. My Jet Performance Module “I could’t be more pleased with my Jet Performance Module. My vehicle now has the power and performance that I had always hoped it would have. The module puts the fun back in driving. Fortunately, I also have a good radar detector.” - Stephen F. (North Andover, MA)

*JET POWER-FLOW MASS AIR SENSOR Replace your limited factory MAF with a smarter unit. The Power-Flow Mass Air Sensor by Jet Performance increases airflow by up to 45% and communicates the increase with the engine’s computer to give you instant gains in low-end torque and horsepower. 1-year warranty.

$

From

128 95FREE Shipping




2



Table of Contents

volume 39, NO. 13

On the Cover Continuing our dual cover theme, this month’s covers include a race-ready Raptor, built to handle the inhospitable terrain in and around Baja California, Mexico, shot by Editor Dan Ward. The second cover features a 2008 GMC Sierra with a new-body Yukon Denali front clip, built by Alamo Customs, in Alvin, Texas. Contributing Tech Editor Harley Camilleri shot this at the Heat Wave Truck Show, in Austin, Texas.

80 Features

Departments

Novakane 50 Blessings and Beatings 16

Lean, Mean, Go-Fast Machine

What’d You Say? 18 Reach For The Sky 58

New Products 20

This Ram brings the Wild West’s undead back to life

Truckin Tough 26

Tuxedo Black 64 Riding in style no matter the occasion

64

50 Twisted 70 Doing what GMC couldn’t

King of the Raptors 80 A race-ready, coldblooded prerunner

26

Black Beauty 86

Tool of the Month 30

Reinventing the classic flatbed Chevy formula

Radical Renderings 32 Busted Knuckles 34

58

Custom Dodge Mini-Features 36 Readers’ Rides 132 Good Trucks Gone Bad 134 MAXimum Exposure 134 You Asked, We Answered 137

- volume 39, no. 13, [10] november 11, 2013 -

Table of Contents

volume 39, NO. 13 Tech

100

Power Pipes 92 Putting the growl in Ford’s Coyote 5.0L V-8 thanks to American Racing Headers

Give Me a Brake 100

92

Wilwood’s big brake kit adds stopping performance & racecar looks

Bringing the Ram to New Heights 110 Prepare your Ram to tackle any terrain

Good Vibrations 120 Our EcoBoost gets an audio overhaul from MTX and Stinger

120

Shows Texas Heat Wave 2013 126 Texas’ largest car and truck show

on facebook/twitter: Polls, contests, behind-thescenes photos, ramblings from the editors. Get some!

126 70

on truckinweb.com: Plenty of web-exclusive content, information on upcoming events, forums, blogs, and much more.

110

ON PLAYGROUND EARTH, THE WEEKEND BEGINS WHEN THE PAVEMENT ENDS.

© 2013 MNA, Inc.

Your weekends just got an upgrade. With BFGoodrich tires, you get toughness that’s proven in the deserts of Baja and capable of taking all the abuse you can dish out. So leaving the blacktop can become the adventure of a lifetime. They’re your ticket to Playground Earth . Find yours at bfgoodrichtires.com. ®

TM

Editorial Editor-in-Chief dan Ward Feature Editor Maxwell Matthewson associate Editor Patrick McCarthy Managing Editor Lorraine Mc Craw Contributing tech Editor Harley Camilleri Contributing Editors & PhotograPhErs Wes Allison, Brandon Burrell, Phil Gordon, Joe Greeves, Richard Holdener, Barry Kluczyk, Peter Linney, Ronnie Yeates II

art dirECtion & dEsign group art director Rob Munoz archivist Thomas Voehringer

thE truCk grouP on thE WEb www.truckinweb.com • www.4wdmag.com www.4wheeloffroad.com • www.dieselpowermag.com www.fourwheeler.com • www.jpmagazine.com www.minitruckinweb.com • www.off-roadweb.com

Advertising group Publisher steve vonseggern [email protected] sales director, enthusiast Media Scott Timberlake Advertising sales Jerome Dziechiasz, representatives David Hamilton, Garrett Harmola Ad Operations Coordinator Richard Senteno Administrative Assistant Glenda Mack to advertise on this magazine’s website, or any of source interlink Media’s other enthusiast sites, please contact us at [email protected].

sAles OffiCes irvine 1733 Alton Parkway, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92606, (949) 705-3100

lOs Angeles 831 S. Douglas St. El Segundo, CA 90245, (310) 531-9900

new YOrk 261 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10016, (212) 915-4000

detrOit 4327 Delemere Court Royal Oak, MI 48073, (248) 594-5999

ChiCAgO (312) 396-0620

Advertising informAtion

Please call TRUCKIN Advertising Department, (949) 705-3179. Related publications: Classic Trucks, European Car, 4Wheel Drive Magazine, High Performance Pontiac, GM High-Tech Performance, Import Tuner, Lowrider, Lowrider Arte, Mini Truckin’, Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, Off-Road, Popular Hot Rodding, Street Rodder, Super Chevy, Surýng, Vette, and other specialty magazines. REPRINTS: Contacts Wright’s Media @ 877.652.5295 (281.419.5725 outside the U.S. and Canada) to purchase quality custom reprints or e-prints of articles appearing in this publication. BACK ISSUES: To order back issues, visit www.simbackissues.com

subscriber services

E-mail to [email protected], or call (800) 777-5182 or (386) 447-6385, or write to truckin, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235. Please include name, address, and phone number on any inquiries. Canada Post: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to IMEX Global Solutions, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Occasionally, our subscriber list is made available to reputable ýrms offering goods and services that we believe would be of interest to our readers. If you prefer to be excluded, please send your current address label and note requesting to be excluded from these promotions to Source Interlink Media, LLC, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245, Attn.: Privacy Coordinator. Copyright © 2013 by Source Interlink Magazines, LLC. All Rights Reserved Printed in the u.s.A. Any submissions or contributions from readers shall be subject to and governed by Source Interlink Media’s User Content Submission Terms and Conditions, which are posted at http://privacy.sourceinterlinkmedia.com/ submissions.html.

tAMPA 9036 Brittany Way Tampa, FL 33619, (813) 675-3500

truCk grOuP evP, group Publisher vP, sales & sales Operations vP, editorial Operations vP, Manufacturing & Advertising Operations senior director, Ad Operations director, Publishing technologies

Doug Evans Matt Boice Amy Diamond Greg Parnell Pauline Atwood Dale Bryson

OffiCers Of sOurCe interlink COMPAnies, inC. President & Chief executive Offcer evP, Chief financial Offcer evP, Chief Administrative Offcer evP, Chief Procurement Offcer

Michael Sullivan John Bode Stephanie Justice Kevin Mullan

sOurCe interlink MediA, llC President general Manager Chief Creative Offcer svP, finance vP, single Copy sales & Marketing evP, enthusiast Automotive svP, new Product development Chief Content Offcer Chief Analytics Offcer svP, Business development

Chris Argentieri David Algire Alan Alpanian Dan Bednar Chris Butler Doug Evans Howard Lim Angus MacKenzie John Marriott Tyler Schulze

evP, sales & Marketing Eric Schwab

digitAl MediA Chief technology Offcer, digital Media svP, digital Marketing svP, digital Product development vP, Product Management vP, digital Advertising Products & Operations

Raghu Bala Craig Buccola Todd Busby Geoff DeFrance Jung Park

COnsuMer MArketing, enthusiAst MediA suBsCriPtiOn COMPAnY, inC. vP, Consumer Marketing Tom Slater vP, retention & Operations fulfllment Donald T. Robinson III

Blessings and Beatings

W

by Dan WarD PHOTOgraPHy: Dan WarD

e’ve never been afraid to push the traditional truck mag limits with the selection of our cover trucks—and this month’s newsstand cover slams convention on its rearend. Every blue moon, a certain truck comes long that seems to have universal appeal, and in the ever-competitive fullsize truck battle, Ford’s F-150 Raptor is as hot as they come. Beloved by people who know little to nothing about desert racing or off-roading, the Raptor has that “it” factor with enthusiasts and the general public that every manufacturer dreams of. Our cover Raptor is about as extreme as it gets—and that’s why we love it. We know not everyone is in love with a purpose-built off-roader, however one thing we can all appreciate is the amount of engineering, fabrication, and hard work that went into such an incredible rig. That same amount of effort and skill also went into our subscriber’s lowered GMC cover. Not satisfied with what the manufacturer offered, the owner sought to make his own factory-looking custom, and the end result is stunning. Never being satisfied is a terribly wonderful way of modifying your truck. Dodge fanatics are one such group who are diehard enthusiasts and aren’t willing to leave a stock truck alone for long. Starting on page 36, six fortunate Dodge owners get their fifteen minutes of fame by way of mini-features. Each truck was built to the owner’s desire and each are deserving of your attention. We never give up on a creative idea, no matter how extreme, and we hope you don’t give up on your pursuit of the ultimate custom truck either.

What’d you say?

G

ot something to tell us? This is your spot. Tell us you like a feature, want to see more tech stories of your particular truck, or tell us we got a new truck test right or wrong. We’ve dedicated this one page to anything and everything you have to say. Think of it as our Facebook wall, only it goes to print instead of being forgotten in fve seconds. Speaking of which, we’ll be selecting some of the best post on our Facebook wall and printing them here, so be sure to friend us at facebook.com/truckinmag. We can be reached at patrick. [email protected].

Hi Truckin, What are the requirements for getting my truck on the cover? I’m starting a new build and want to create something cover-worthy. Please let me know. Thank you, Pedro Carrillo Fort Worth, Texas

Pedro, There’s no formula or checklist of requirements for building a cover truck. If there was, everyone would do it! However, here are a few tips to get you on the right track. First of all, focus on building a “complete” truck, where every aspect of the build is addressed. Make sure the exterior, interior,

by PaTriCk MCCarTHy

engine bay, and bed are all clean, tidy, and customized. Choose parts carefully, and exercise restraint when appropriate—don’t just throw tons of money at gaudy boltons. Most of all, be a leader, not a follower. Do something unique, and take the finished product to as many shows as possible. If you do this, odds are we’ll recognize it and you’ll end up with a feature— or even a cover—someday. Good luck.

Hello guys, Do you have any idea where I can buy an air lowering kit with rear C-notch for my ’03 2WD ram 2500 diesel? It’s very hard to fnd this kind of kit for a 2500! I tried to fnd a kit but haven’t been able to. Can you help me? Thanks, Jean-Francois Chouinard Quebec, Canada

Jean, That’s a tough one. Unfortunately, no company makes a bolton air suspension kit for that generation of Ram 2500 at this point. However, if you can find a custom truck shop that has a good fabricator, they should be able to make custom ’bag mounts and a C-notch for you. It may be a little more expensive this way, but it’ll help your truck be unique, and that’s always a good thing. Thanks for reading.

Truckin team, I’ve got an ’05 cat-eye Silverado, and a friend recently showed me your “Slickerado” feature truck online. It inspired me to ’bag my truck, and I’d really like to have a hard copy of the issue. Is there any way to get copies of old Truckin issues? Thanks, Dan Christensen San Diego, California

SEMA 2013 Updates

M

any of you know by now that the year’s biggest show, SemA, is coming up in just a few weeks. The bad news is that most of the show is industryonly, meaning you can’t get in without proper credentials. The good news is that we’ll be covering every aspect of the show in daily updates that you can check out at Truckin.com. Check the website or our Facebook page starting Tuesday, november 5th, and get your daily custom truck fix. You won’t want to miss this!

Dan, We’re glad that truck inspired you to take your Silverado to the next level. As far as getting old issues, head to SIMbackissues.com. There, you can buy old Truckin issues, as well as back issues of other Source Interlink publications. Keep in mind that not every issue is available, but in your case, the Slickerado issue is available on the site for $5.99. Thanks for reading!

- volume 39, no.13, [18] november 11, 2013 -

New Products

by Patrick Mccarthy

Stopping Power Who: Hawk What: Talon performance brake system Why: Hawk’s new Talon calipers mount in your truck’s stock location for an easy install and no clearance issues. They also provide up to 55 percent more clamping force than your factory brakes, so you can stop faster and more safely than ever. Where: (909) 342-5200, hawkperformance.com

Invincible Who: Pro Comp What: 6033 Series wheel Why: With a tough eight-spoke design and clean center cap, the 6033 would look great on any lifted truck. Also, Pro Comp’s three-year chrome finish warranty and lifetime structural guarantee ensure it’ll stay strong through years of abuse. Where: (800) 776-0767, procompusa.com

Smart Switches Who: Slam Specialties What: MC.1 air-ride switchbox Why: Microprocessor-controlled for fast, intelligent response, the MC.1 allows precise manual control of your truck’s air suspension at the press of a button. It also has special Coil Saver Technology to prevent valve coils from overheating, ensuring a reliable system. Where: (888) 352-5225, slamspecialties.com


®

AND YOU THOUGHT SHELL ROTELLA COULDN’T BE ANY MORE REWARDING. ®

Presenting the rewarding MyMilesMatter by Shell Rotella program. Look for redemption codes under the caps of specially marked bottles of Shell Rotella®, or on your oil change receipt from a participating installer. They’re redeemable online for gift cards, merchandise and more. Make your Reward Miles count with MyMilesMatter by Shell Rotella®. It’s free to join. For terms and conditions and to sign up today, see www.rotella.com. Join Shell Rotella ® MyMilesMatter free today to enjoy great rewards. Enter Reward Code MMMTRUCKIN2013, get 10 Reward Miles instantly.*

MyMilesMatter

by Shell ROTELLA®

042

4237

*Before October 31, 2013. Limit 1 code per user.

New Products

No More Body Roll Who: Hellwig What: Rear sway bar for ’09-’13 Ford F-150 Why: Hellwig’s 1 1⁄8 -inch heavy-duty sway bar improves traction and reduces body roll. If you want to get the most out of your truck and push it to the limit, a rear sway bar is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to improve handling. Where: (800) 435-5944, hellwigproducts.com

Furious Who: Vision Wheel What: V-TEC Fury Why: Available in either brilliant black with milled accents or phantom chrome finish, the Fury looks truly rugged. The phantom chrome finish also carries an extended three-year cosmetic warranty for complete protection. Where: (866) 645-2664, visionwheel.com

Legalized Who: Hedman Hedders What: 50-state legal shorty headers for ’99-’09 F-150 and F-250 5.4L Why: Now you can give your Ford truck more power and a throaty sound without hassle from the cops. These headers are easy to install, include all hardware and gaskets, and are legal in all 50 states for a worry-free upgrade. Where: (562) 921-0404, hedman.com

The Sound of America Who: Flowmaster What: American Thunder exhaust system for ’67-’72 GM C10 Why: Bring modern exhaust technology to your classic GM truck with Flowmaster’s patented Delta Flow mufler design. And, of course, the American Thunder system gives you that throaty sound Flowmaster has become synonymous with. Where: (707) 544-4761, flowmastermuflers.com


Truck / SUV Parts & Accessories

1947 - 2013 CHEVY & GMC I 1948 - 2013 FORD I 1973 - 2012 DODGE ©/RQJ0RWRU&RUSRUDWLRQ

(800) 562 - 8782

I

www.LMCTRUCK.com

Truckin Tough

by Jacob Jackson PHOTOgraPHy: Patrick Mccarthy

best Mechanic’s cart Under $250 o 1 1. US General Pro 700-Pound Capacity Five-Drawer Tool Cart 95272 $185.00 (with Truckin coupon $164.99) harborfreight.com It’s dificult to overstate the incredible value the US General Pro fivedrawer tool cart, represents in the tool world. You get super-strong 14-gauge steel, five storage drawers of varying depths, and gas struts for the lid, which can support 176 pounds. The bright-red powdercoat was tough yet looked good, and for under $200, you get a legitimate mobile workstation and not just a little cart. It was the clear-cut winner of this shootout.

2 2. US General 580-Pound Capacity Four-Drawer Tool Cart 95659 $153.99 (with Truckin coupon $99.99) harborfreight.com Taking home the Silver Medal in this contest was the little brother to the five-drawer cart the US General four-drawer cart. With the Truckin magazine coupon, we picked up this cart for under $100. That’s an incredible value when you realize it comes with liners for every drawer (including the bottom shelf and top covered area), can hold up to 580 pounds, and it has dedicated storage for extra-long screwdrivers or pry bars. We think it’s one of the best purchases a gearhead can make for less than $100.

ne of the biggest hassles of working on a car or truck is the multiple trips to the toolbox to grab a new wrench, longer screwdriver, extra sockets, or even a magnet to recover the bolt you just dropped into the abyss of the engine compartment. Traveling from shop to shop like we do, a consistent trend is the mechanic’s utility cart. An installer would look over the installation instructions, grab a ton of tools, place them on his cart and then head over to the truck to handle the suspension lift, header install, brake upgrade, or other task at hand. Not only did it save valuable time going back and forth to the main toolbox, it also limited the level of frustration from constantly starting and stopping. Seeing so many different brands and types of mechanic’s carts got us wondering, which one would be best for the home do-it-yourselfer? After a few trips to our local tool retailers and a few clicks online, we ordered five mechanic’s carts topping out at $250*. Major players are battling in this month’s Truckin Tough and with several different styles tested, we’re certain the victor will prove worthy of your hard-earned dollars. Testing included a combination of objective (number of drawers, maximum weight, features, mobility) and subjective (drawer smoothness, overall design, lid functionality) tests, as well as value, ease of assembly, and warranty. Once testing was complete, our winner was clear. If you’re tired of going back and forth from truck to toolbox, or if you simply want a quality toolbox to store your most-used tools, check out the results and make your own decision.

Editor’s Note: Toolboxes constantly go on and of sale, and in an attempt to show a multiple of brands and styles, we took into account the sale price and allowed those tools that were on sale to be evaluated.

Load Up Your Tools & Start Wrenchin’!


Truckin Tough

best Mechanic’s cart Under $250

3. GearWrench XL Two Drawer Tool Cart 83152 $699.99 (on sale at time of purchase for $249.88) at eastwood.com Don’t let the MSRP of nearly $700 scare you; we picked up this GearWrench XL tool cart from Eastwood for $249.88. That’s an awesome sale price for a box loaded with pro-grade features such as lockable thermoplastic rubber casters that can support up to 880 pounds, drawer lock/unlock lid lever, Trigger Lock drawer system for a natural pull operation, and Auto Return, which snaps the drawers closed once it reaches the final few inches. The fullpolished lacquer powdercoat was tops in this test, but despite the high-end appearance, it couldn’t overtake the value proposition of the US General carts.

3

4 4. Craftsman Three Drawer Ball-Bearing Griplatch Utility Cart 59740 $349.99 (on sale at time of purchase for $244.88) craftsman.com Craftsman is notorious for seasonal sales and dropping the prices of its toolboxes and carts way down to home DIYer prices. This cart impressed us with the Grip Latch drawer mechanism, drawer lock/unlock lid lever, and overall storage rating of 750 pounds. What dropped it to 4th Place in this test was damage it received in shipping, dificulty we faced when assembling it, and the lid’s inability to stay closed unless it was locked.

5. Torin Work Cart with Top Toolbox TC311 $219.99 northerntool.com Going into this shootout, we had high hopes for the uniquely designed Torin work cart, but after evaluating it, we had a hard time saying good things about it. Underneath the sliding top compartment are two small drawers that were barely deep enough to hold wrenches. Speaking of the sliding top, the two lower drawers cannot be opened without the top also being opened, which means if you’re using the top as a work bench and need to gain access into the drawers you’re in a world of hurt. Also, at 350 pounds of storage capacity, it was the weakest of the test and the overall dimensions include the small can holders on the side, which misleads you into thinking the box is larger than it is.

5


Tool of the Month

by Jacob Jackson PHOTOgraPHy: Patrick Mccarthy

bosch 18V Lithium-ion cordless Grinder Slicing and Dicing Without Restrictions

Source: Sold as a kit or just as the bare tool, we opted for the complete kit that included two FatPack 18V Lithium-Ion batteries, adjustable spark guard, handle, fast charger, and carrying case.

Bosch (877) 267-2499

boschtools.com

D

uring the late ’90s, the phrase “think outside the box” was adopted by tech companies and small businesses alike and became part of everyday nomenclature. A world without restrictions is an amazing idea, and we agree that doing things against the mainstream is vital to success. Take, for instance, a grinder. It regularly gets treated to high temps, long run times, and the kind of abuse most tools couldn’t handle. However, a grinder has two primary weaknesses: the electronics get extremely hot and its usage is limited to the length of its power cord. Enter the professional-grade Bosch 18V Lithium-Ion 4½-inch small angle grinder. Unlike traditional AC–powered grinders, the Bosch cordless grinder (PN: CAG180-01, $399 at lowes.com) is powered by a heavyduty 18V Lithium-Ion battery. With electronic motor protection and electronic cell protection, both the expensive four-pole motor and Li-Ion batteries won’t melt down and prematurely give out like traditional grinders. The compact, low-profle gear design allows for compact access, and at less than fve pounds, the grinder is easy to handle for long periods of time. During our testing, the Bosch 18V grinder wowed everyone who used it. Powerful, stable, and cool afer extended use, it was hard to fnd a fault. The ability to get into tight engine bay areas, cramped exhaust pipe locations, and awkward suspension confgurations made us appreciate the grinder even more. Bosch includes two Lithium-Ion FatPack batteries for extended run times, a 45-minute fast charger, carrying case, and grinding guard. Everything needed to slice and dice was in the kit and made it more complete than we expected. It’s not cheap, but thinking outside the box never is.

We were amazed at the four-pole motor’s power as it sliced through steel stock with ease. Bosch even included a heavyduty 4 1⁄2 -inch grinder/cutof wheel to make getting to work easier.

Weighing less than five pounds, the cordless grinder is easy to control for extended periods of time, which with two batteries is easy to do.


Radical Renderings

by PatRick MccaRthy RendeRings: RobeRt GaRcia

With candy orange paint, aggressive big brakes, and a tough stance, this ’07 Silverado would be right at home in the Truckin corral at SEMA. Robert even rendered the background, adding to the image’s photorealistic feel.

R

obert Garcia’s passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Growing up in Long Beach, California, his father worked as a mechanic, and his older brothers were constantly tinkering in the garage. Soon, he was rebuilding motors on his own, and eventually went to college to study mechanical engineering. After 12 years of creating CAD drawings and working as an engineer, he noticed that 3D animation was taking off, so he decided to go to school again for traditional and digital animation. This helped him develop strong 3D modeling skills, and led to a job at Disney Animation Studios working on the movie BOLT, as well as jobs creating photorealistic automotive renderings for Audi, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Toyota, and Lexus. However, this wasn’t enough to satisfy Robert’s passion for dreaming up 3D-modeled custom trucks, so he started making some in his spare time. RYECHSS Design Lab (pronounced “righteous”) is his new business venture that combines his love for custom vehicles and his passion for photorealistic 3D renderings. Clients can tell Robert their vision for a project, and he will create a 3D model that can be viewed on a 360-degree virtual turntable. To commission a rendering of your own or see more of Robert’s work, go to ryechssdesignlab.com.

Robert considers his designs successful if he makes people question if it’s a real photo or not. This slammed 2014 Sierra looks more like a skillful studio photo than a 3D model, so we’d say he succeeded.

One of Robert’s latest projects, this custom Ford F-100 is dubbed the F-1. Slick graphics and a clean two-tone make this classic stand out from the crowd.


by Patrick mccarthy PHOTOgraPHy: Patrick mccarthy

Steel Busted Knuckles

Slammin’

a

s truck guys, we ofen have a hard time staying satisfed with the status quo. In our minds, if something is worth doing, it’s worth overdoing, and we frequently obsess over the details of our project trucks. matt Hodgins, a student at California maritime Academy in vallejo, California, shares this philosophy. never able to leave things alone, he started gradually modifying his ’64 Chevy C10 in his garage, and the result is the killer blend of classic and custom seen here. Afer picking up the Chevy in 2010 with a Stepside bed and a mere 83,000 miles on the clock, matt decided this old truck needed a new stance. With this in mind, he bolted a new set of six-lug CPP drop spindles to the front end,

including disc brakes for extra stopping power. Then, the factory coil springs were replaced by Firestone 2600 ’bags and CPP shocks. Initially, the rear was C-notched, but matt soon decided to switch to a fully boxed back half, which he fabricated from 2x4x3/16-inch tubing. A custom four-link with ¾-inch chromoly heim joints stabilizes the rearend, and Firestone 3000 ’bags and CPP shocks fnish of the rear suspension. Finally, matt wanted a unique wheel setup, so he hunted down four 20inch Infniti QX56 spare steel wheels, giving the C10 a tough look when laid out. The remainder of this build is still in progress, and it currently retains the factory 283ci v-8 and original vinyl interior. However, matt has made a few changes to the powertrain,

adding a modern 700-r4 automatic in place of the original four-speed manual transmission, upgrading the ignition system, and welding up a new Flowmaster exhaust that exits through the bedside. A custom double-cardan driveshaf runs to a six-lug Gm 12-bolt rear axle, which houses shorter 4.10 gears for quicker acceleration. Finally, matt focused his attention on the C10’s body, swapping the Stepside bed for a sectioned and shortened Fleetside longbed. An lmC Truck steel roll pan was welded on, and then the truck was sprayed in black and grey primer by matt’s neighbor Gary. Although the truck turns plenty of heads as-is, matt tells us he’s nowhere near fnished. First


This ’64 C10 Looks Tough Tucking 20-Inch Steelies on the itinerary is a Z in the front framerails for a bigger drop, and then he plans to add a big back window to the cab. Further in the future, he’s planning on a fresh coat of teal paint, and a 454ci big-block to replace the tired factory motor. We can’t wait to see how this clean classic Chevy turns out. matt would like to send a big thanks to bill at Dynasty Coachworks for supplying him with parts, as well as his friends and family for their support.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 1964 Chevrolet C10 Owner and City/State: Matthew Hodgins • Vallejo, California

Under the hood resides the original 283ci V-8, which is upgraded with a 700-R4 automatic transmission and Flowmaster exhaust. In the future, Matt plans to install a 454ci big-block for some serious power.

EngInE Type: 283ci small-block V-8 Induction: Stock Exhaust: Flowmaster Fuel System: Factory two-barrel carburetor Ignition: MSD distributor, HEI coils, Mallory plug wires

DrIvEtraIn Transmission: 700-R4 automatic, custom double-cardan driveshaft Rearend: GM 12-bolt with 4.10 gears

ChassIs Front suspension: Six-lug drop spindles, Firestone 2600 ’bags, CPP shocks Rear suspension: Back-halved and boxed framerails, custom four-link with ¾-inch chromoly heim joints, Firestone 3000 ’bags, CPP shocks Brakes: Six-lug front disc brake conversion, factory rear drums

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: 20x8-inch Infiniti QX56 steel spares Tires: 245/35R20 Capitol Sport UHP

With the Firestone ’bags fully aired out, Matt’s C10 lays hard, and he plans to Z the framerails soon for even more drop. We can’t wait to see that front bumper hit the asphalt.


by Dan WarD PHoTograPHy: Dan WarD

a Touch of Class An Elegant ’13 Ram HD Built to the Extreme

I

t’s a predicament so many of us wish we were stuck in—how to make the most capable, most comfortable, and the most powerful Ram ever, better. For Mario Williams of the Bufalo Bills, his answer was simple—take it to the extreme. As the owner of several custom cars and trucks, Mario wanted a truck that was blacked-out and borderline stealth. To achieve this lofy goal, the crew at Extreme Ofroad, in Katy, Texas, added a black-powdercoated 10-inch Full Throttle Suspension lif kit with black FTS 2.0 shocks, The rear view showcases the quad FTS black shocks and MagHytec dif cover.

24x12 American Force Alpha SF8 wheels, and 38-inch-tall Nitto Trail Grappler mudExtreme Ofroad, in terrain tires. The Ram was Katy, Texas, looking mean as all get out, had the 8-inch Full Throttle but to help it ft Mario’s stealth Suspension lift request, the team at Extreme powdercoated blacked-out the grille, added black to match the menacing black Recon projector lights, exterior. and smoked the Recon LED taillights. A giant black exhaust tip keeps the theme rolling. Inside the Mega Cab, the Longhorn’s Western-themed interior was lef alone. A classy of-road brawler is hard to achieve, but this all-black Ram HD is simply elegant. Inside the Build Year Make Model:

ChassIs

2013 Ram HD Mega Cab

Front suspension: Full Throttle

Owner and City/State:

Suspension 10-inch with FTS 2.0

Mario Williams • Houston, Texas

shocks

EngInE

Suspension 8-inch with FTS 2.0 shocks

Type: 6.7L I-6 turbodiesel Induction: K&N cold-air intake

Rear suspension: Full Throttle

WhEEls & tIrEs

Exhaust: Magnaflow cat-back

Wheels: 24x14 American Force

DrIvEtraIn

Tires: 38x13.50R24 Nitto Trail

Transmission: Six-speed automatic - volume 39, no. 13, [36] november 11, 2013 -

Alpha SF8 Grappler M/T

by PaTrICk MCCarThy PHoTograPHy: John Wargo

Double-D Durango The Custom Shop crew applied Brilliant Aluminum Silver paint to the roof, grille, bumper, running boards, hood scoop, and fender stripes for an aircraftstyle bare-metal look. Airbrushed rivets and Candy Blue accents top it all of.

A Slammed AWD Family Hauler on 22s

W

hen it comes to family vehicles, many parents are content rolling around in minivans or station wagons. This was unacceptable to John Wargo of Flanagan, Illinois, so he built this aggressive SUV at his shop, The Custom Shop, also in Flanagan. This 2011 Durango was custom-ft with a set of Firestone Ride Rite ’bags, allowing it to lay out on 22-inch Lexani wheels. John’s shop then painted the Dodge in Prospray Ecstasy White Pearl with Brilliant Aluminum Silver and Candy Blue airbrushed graphics, a scheme which is echoed by the black and white two-tone leather interior. We certainly wouldn’t mind cruising with the kids in this killer family-hauler.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2011 Dodge Durango Owner and City/State: John Wargo • Flanagan, Illinois

EngInE Type: 3.6L Pentastar V-6 Induction: K&N cold-air intake Exhaust: Magnaflow cat-back

DrIvEtraIn Transmission: Five-speed automatic

ChassIs Front suspension: Firestone Ride Rite ’bags, Monroe shocks Rear suspension: Firestone A custom sub box behind the rear seats houses dual 12-inch Sony subwoofers and an amp under a plexiglass window. The box was also intricately airbrushed with seams and rivets.

Ride Rite ’bags with custom mounts, Monroe shocks

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: 22x10-inch Lexani R-Six with custom-painted accents Tires: 305/40R22 Atturo AZ800


by PaTrICk MCCarThy PHoTograPHy: PaTrICk MCCarThy

This Daily Driven Ram Lays Frame With Ease

Robert’s truck was sprayed in BASF black, red, and silver hues, with a bright yellow pinstripe accentuating the transition. A sport bumper, billet grille, and shaved doors also add to the Ram’s sleek look.

Descended W

e’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—one of our favorite parts about the custom truck scene is the people. Friendly, ordinary guys with nine-to-fve jobs that roll out to shows on weekends in their project trucks. Robert Roberts, an aircraf mechanic from San Antonio, Texas, is a great example of this group. We met Robert at Scrapin’ the Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi, and were immediately impressed by his clean 2004 Dodge Ram. With a tri-tone paint job, slammed suspension, and slick interior, this quad cab makes for the perfect daily driven show truck.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner and City/State:

Robert Roberts • San Antonio, Texas

EngInE Type: 5.7L HEMI V-8 Induction: Volant cold-air intake Exhaust: Custom with Flowmaster muţlers

DrIvEtraIn Transmission: Four-speed automatic Rearend: Narrowed three inches with Moser axles

ChassIs Front suspension: Dominator 2600 ’bags, Monroe shocks, McGaughys drop spindles, raised upper control arms, 3/8-inch A custom alligatorwrapped center console houses a JVC touchscreen head unit, as well as two Alpine 12inch subwoofers. The dash and door panels were smoothed and painted silver, tying in the exterior theme.

copper hard line, GC valves Rear suspension: C-notch, Texas two-link with track bar, Dominator 2500 ’bags, Monroe shocks, 3/8-inch copper hard line, GC valves Brakes: Drilled and slotted rotors

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: Bonspeed Tsunami 22x8 front and 22x10 rear Tires: Nexen 265/35R22 front and 285/35R22 rear


by SCoTTy LaChenauer anD PaTrICk MCCarThy PHoTograPHy: SCoTTy LaChenauer

This Drop-Top Dakota is a Little-Known Factory Experiment

going Topless T

he 1989 Dakota Sport convertible was built through a contract Chrysler signed with the American Conversion Shop, making it the frst American convertible pickup since the Ford Model A. Roughly 2,500 were sold that frst year, but sales faded away by 1991, and Chrysler ended production of this unique model. This particular Dakota convertible is owned by Andrew Simione, an experienced hot rodder from New Jersey. Even though his drop-top Dakota was already one of the most unique trucks in Jersey, Drew still wasn’t satisfed, so the modifcations began. Afer refreshing the 3.9L V-6 with added power, lowering the suspension, and adding a stylish set of 18-inch KMC wheels, he was satisfed, since his rare truck had become truly one-of-a-kind. Drew freshened up the 3.9L V-6 with headers, intake, exhaust, and some chrome goodies.

The vinyl top can be raised into position, providing muchneeded shelter from the harsh New Jersey winters.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 1989 Dodge Dakota SE convertible Owner and City/State: Andrew Simione • Jersey City, New Jersey

EngInE Type: 3.9L V-6 Induction: K&N air filter Exhaust: Custom stainless dual with Magnaflow muţler and high-flow cat Cooling: Shelby Dakota electric fan, low-temp thermostat Engine Management: Jet performance chip - volume 39, no. 13, [42] november 11, 2013 -

DrIvEtraIn Transmission: Five-speed manual Rearend: 8.25 Sure Grip with 3.91 gears

ChassIs Front suspension: Drop spindles, aftermarket shocks, cut springs Rear suspension: Drop shackles, aftermarket shocks Brakes: Drilled and slotted rotors

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: KMC Nova 18x9 Tires: Cooper Zeon 2XS 245/45R18

by MaxWell MattHeWson PHoTograPHy: Brad stillWell

Hearty Hauler

A Custom Dodge to Tow a Custom Chevy

Joel isn’t afraid to cruise less than an inch of the pavement with an 8,500-pound load behind him.

W

hen we have a custom-built show truck that we haul from show to show, we want a cool tow rig for it. At least that is what Joel Jurado of Lovington, New Mexico, believes. Hauling his ’bagged ’88-’98 Chevy dualie from show to show with a standard daily just wouldn’t do. Joel went ahead and took a perfectly good 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 and made it even better. Adding Michigan Metal Works arms, Slam Specialties RE-8 ’bags, and an Nfamous wishboned two-link brought the dualie down to kiss the ground. A full array of H&S performance parts and a straight pipe exhaust ensure the 6.7L Cummins has enough power to haul his double-axle hauler and Chevy 3500 to any show he wants. Joel could fnally haul his show truck all over the Southwest in style.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner and City/State: Joel Jurado • Lovington, New Mexico

EngInE Type: 6.7L Cummins Induction: H&S FlowMax intake with K&N filter Exhaust: Custom straight pipe Fuel System: Aluminum fuel cell Engine Management: H&S Mini Maxx tuner

DrIvEtraIn Rearend: Narrowed 12 inches with turned and machined axles The narrowed MMW arms help the fenders swallow up the 24-inch wheels with ease.

ChassIs Front suspension: Michigan Metal Works arms, raised upper control arm mounts, Slam Specialties RE-8 ’bags, KYB shocks Rear suspension: Narrowed frame, Nfamous wishboned two-link, Contitech ’bags, KYB shocks

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: 24x10-inch Slice 323 Duallysportz wheels Tires: 305/45R24 Lionhart tires


by MaxWeLL MaTTheWSon PHoTograPHy: PhIL gorDon

With 53-inch-tall tires, massive bumpers front and rear, and 5-inch stacks coming out of the bed, Nick’s Ram is one of the most imposing trucks we have seen in a while.

optimus o

A Giant Amongst Giants

fentimes when we build something really cool, the next thing we build is totally diferent. Nick Ellis of Tarboro, North Carolina, did the same thing. Afer selling his ’bagged 1998 Camaro, he wanted to build something outrageous. Looking at his Ram, we can confdently say that he accomplished his goal. Sitting on 20 inches of lif and 53-inch tires, this Ram rides high above the North Carolina asphalt. Combine that with massive bumpers, custom bodywork, and more than 1,000 lb-f of torque and you have a monster that anybody would love to drive.

Inside the Build Year Make Model:

five-speed auto

2006 Dodge Ram

Rearend: Stock

2500 Mega Cab

with Yukon 4.56 gears

Owner and City/State: Nick Ellis • Tarboro,

ChassIs

North Carolina

Front suspension: Custom 20-inch lift from Johnnie’s Jacked

EngInE Nick didn’t skimp anywhere, even the interior received a dose of custom with painted plastics, custom leather seats, and an indash Pioneer head unit.

DrIvEtraIn Transmission: BD Diesel

Type: 5.9L Cummins

up in Stantonsburg, North Carolina, Fabtech shocks

Induction: aFe Stage 2 intake,

Rear suspension: Custom 20-

CFM+ carbon-fiber intake manifold

inch lift from Johnnie’s Jacked up

Exhaust: 5-inch Grand Rocks

in Stantonsburg, North Carolina,

exhaust with stacks

Fabtech shocks

Engine Management:

Brakes: Power Slot rotors

DiabloSport Output: 850 hp, 1,000 lb-ft

WhEEls & tIrEs

of torque

Wheels: 20x12-inch Fuel Octane

Built by: Nichols Automotive

Tires: Michelin XZL 16.00R20

Tarboro, North Carolina

(53 inches tall)



NovakaNe Lean, Mean, Go-Fast Machine


I

was about nine years old riding in the back of my buddy’s older bother’s ’65 Mustang when I became acquainted with speed. Coming back from a little league game, he opened up the 289ci V-8 down a Georgia back road and I remember laughing like only a little boy can when I saw the old speedo needle creep past 100 mph. From that moment, I’ve been fascinated with going fast. Fast forward some 25 years and I’m the proud owner of one of the fastest trucks I’ve ever been in—our very own Project Novakane. Admittedly, it’s not the fastest pickup in a straight line, and it doesn’t have Texas Mile top speed, but what it does have is a rowdy attitude that never apologizes for smoky donuts, insane full-throttle drifts, and the occasional backward entrance into the speed stop cones. It’s everything I loved about going fast when I was a kid, and no passenger has ever gotten out of it after a couple of burnouts that wasn’t either smiling or ready to puke. During my 10-plus years at the magazine, I’ve seen trends trickle down to the truck scene from street rods and muscle cars, whether it’s clean and simple paint styles, high-end interiors, or detailed high-tech engines. I also saw all of these muscle car owners flinging their cars around the track at local autocross and race events. Rather than let the car guys have all of fun, I set out to design and build a truck that would rival the performance of these high-dollar machines—but in a pickup. The formula was simple, find a light regular-cab truck (if 4,200 pounds can be called light), add as much power as I could afford, and try to make the whole thing handle. It had to look menacing, it had to sound rowdy, and it needed to back all of that up with legit power. Once the donor truck was purchased at a used car lot in Phoenix for $3,900, Project Novakane was born. Built in stages within these pages over the last two years, I’ll give you a quick overview of how the entire package came together. After enjoying the truck with a traditional lowering kit for a few months, I reached out to fabricator extraordinaire Aaron Iha, of Chassis by Aaron Iha, in Covina, California. A plan was devised to give those six-figure muscle cars a genuine run for their money by way of a race-inspired suspension with maximum wheel travel at each corner to achieve extreme levels of grip. Boxed CNC-cut upper and lower A-arms work in conjunction with McGaughy’s 2-inch drop spindles and QA1 coilovers to drop the front a total of seven inches. The rear frame was back-halved with a C-notch, matching QA1 coilovers, and Chassis by Aaron Iha’s own triangulated four-link with adjustable aluminum upper links. Hotchkis front and rear sway bars ensure the body stays flat when being pushed hard around corners. AP Racing big brakes from Stillen bring race-winning technology to each corner and are force-fed by a Hydratech hydra-boost setup. Influencing the project’s name, 20-inch BMF Novakane wheels are wrapped in ultra high-performance Nitto NT05 rubber front and rear. Off-road wheels on a lowered muscle truck was a definite gamble, but we all think the look fits the theme much like Frank Castle wearing a Punisher T-shirt. Thanks to a solid and slammed foundation, the Sierra was now ready to make the most of the high-powered LS3 engine.

novakane

Sourcing an LSX376 crate engine from Chevrolet Performance, I topped it of with a Magnacharger TVS2300 supercharger stufng 12psi of atmosphere into the LS3’s aluminum heads. Strapped onto Westech Performance Group’s engine dyno, the combo made 694 hp and 673 lb-f of torque. With an ear-to-ear smile on everyone’s faces, the mighty LS small-block was bolted onto the framerails with American Racing Headers long-tube ceramiccoated headers for maximum fow, an ATI eight-rib serpentine belt conversion to prevent belt slippage, and the entire combination is controlled by Holley’s Dominator ECU, Holley LS engine harness, and Holley’s drive-by-wire system. No chrome or anything shiny is found under the hood. Keeping it old-school hot-roddish, most everything in the engine compartment is semi-gloss black including the 12-point ARP fasteners throughout the engine. Three pedals are found inside the truck because I wanted to row my own gears and the thought of fourth gear smoky donuts was too enticing. Backed to the LSX376 is a Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed with a Ram twin-disc clutch and Hurst short-throw shifer from Hurst Driveline Conversions. Unbridled joy is felt every time a new gear is selected and the tidal wave of torque thrusts the GMC forward like it was launched from a slingshot.

Chassis By Aaron Iha completely fabricated a new dash, door panels, and center console from sheet aluminum. Corbeau seats with four-point harnesses keep driver and passenger secure during high-g maneuvers. Autoloc billet push-buttons handle engine starting and lights. Autometer gauges provide engine vitals and a Grant steering wheel is mounted to an ididit steering column.


More sheet aluminum from Chassis by Aaron Iha surrounds the Chevrolet Performance LSX376. On Westech’s engine dyno, the Magnacharger-equipped LSX made 694 hp and 673 lb-ft.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2004 GMC Sierra Owner and City/State: Dan Ward • Foothill Ranch, California

eNGINe Type: Chevrolet Performance Parts LSX376 6.2L with 12-point ARP fasteners Induction: Magnacharger TVS2300 supercharger (12 psi), Banks air intake, LS7 90mm throttle body Exhaust: American Racing Headers 1⅞-inch long-tube headers, Chassis by Aaron Iha 3-inch TIGwelded exhaust, 3-inch Banks Monster muţler Fuel System: Aeromotive 20-gallon fuel cell with A1000 fuel pump, Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, 60-psi injectors, Holley A350 fuel hose (-8AN) Ignition: MSD truck coils, Moroso 8mm plug

Bullet Liner protects the bed and provides the black backdrop to the aluminum wheel tubs and 20-gallon aluminum Aeromotive fuel cell with Holley hoses.

wires, DEI heat loom, NGK TR6 plugs Cooling: Flex-a-Lite dual electric fans, BeCool aluminum radiator, BeCool antifreeze Tune: Holley Dominator ECU, Holley LS wiring harness with drive-by-wire tuned by Eric Rhee at Westech Performance Group Built by: Dan Ward Output: 694 hp and 673 lb-ft (engine dyno) 596 rwhp and 585 lb-ft (chassis dyno)

DrIvetraIN Transmission: Tremec T-56 Magnum with Ram 10.5 twin-disc clutch, Hurst billet shifter, McLeod release bearing, Quick Time SFI bellhousing Rearend: GM 10-bolt with welded and narrowed axle tubes, 3.73 G2 gears, Eaton TrueTrac, Dutchman alloy axles, Mag Hytec diŇ cover, Royal Purple synthetic gear oil

ChassIs Front suspension: Lowered 8 inches with Chassis by Aaron Iha CNC-cut upper and lower A-arms, McGaughy’s 2-inch drop spindles, QA1 double-adjustable coilovers, Hotchkis 1½-inch sway bar Rear suspension: Lowered 9 inches with Chassis by Aaron Iha back-half with C-notch, triangulated four-link with adjustable aluminum upper links, QA1 double-adjustable coilovers, Hotchkis 1-inch sway bar Brakes: AP Racing/Stillen 14.25-inch disc with six-piston calipers (F) and 14-inch disc with fourpiston (R), Hydratech Braking hydraboost, Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve

Wheels & tIres Wheels: BMF Novakane 20x9-inch (F) and 20x10 (R) Tires: Nitto NT-05 275/40R20 (F) and 315/35R20 (R)

The view seen by most muscle cars is nice and clean thanks to a shaved tailgate handle and welded-in roll pan by L&G Enterprises. Recon LED taillights alert other racers when the truck is braking for the turns.

novakane With these modifications, the truck was fast and handled better than any truck I had piloted, however if you look at the “before” photo, then you’ll understand the body of the Sierra didn’t have a straight panel on it. The paint and body pros at l&g enterprises in San Dimas, California, worked their magic and transformed the body into an arrow-straight metal sculpture covered in PPg’s envirobase black with flat clear and stripes unlike any other muscle truck. Theresa Contreras, l&g’s resident paint artist, masked off Camaro-style bare metal stripes complete with grinder marks before applying the black on the hood and tailgate. The look is incredibly sinister and custom-truck cool. other body mods include a Sir michael’s rear roll pan, bodyworked Chevy HD hood to fit the gmC, recon leD lights, shaved tailgate handle, and T-rex X-metal grille inside an lmC Truck grille shell and lmC bumper. From head-on, the truck looks so pissed off most motorists look in

their rearview mirrors and engage their blinkers to get out of the way. For those that don’t move over, I let them hear the fury of a 3-inch TIg-welded exhaust flowing from a banks’ monster muffler and Stylin’ Trucks’ through-the-body exhaust tip. It’s an unforgettable sound. rather than just covering the bed with a tonneau cover, 714 motorsports sprayed the bed in protective bullet liner, and the team at Chassis by aaron Iha created aluminum wheel tubs to clear the 315/35r20 nitto tires and narrowed axle. a large hole was cut into the bed behind the axle for the 20-gallon aeromotive fuel cell, while Pro Precision billet battery brackets fitted with red Top optima batteries flank the fuel cell and help add some much-needed weight in the bed. Contrasting against the black backdrop, the aluminum wheels tubs, fuel cell trim ring, and billet brackets perfectly complement the bare metal racing stripes and bare aluminum found on the bmF wheels.

Before I even purchased the truck I had a rendering created by Nate Shrum. This helped put my vision of a muscle truck into 2-D life.

After a few bolt-ons, the Sierra was handling its own on the autocross course. Unfortunately the tired 4.8L couldn’t keep up with the big dogs, but we had a remedy for that.


The interior of Project novakane is all business. once strapped into the Corbeau lg1 seats and Corbeau four-point harness, the first thing you see is the fabricated aluminum dash, autometer gauges working in conjunction with a Stack race data logger, and grant steering wheel bolted to an ididit steering column. all of the factory plastic (dash, door panels, steering wheel, etc.) was ditched in favor of aluminum panels expertly shaped and welded by Chassis by aaron Iha. rojelio’s upholstery wrapped the headliner, back cab panel, kick panels, and a-pillars in black leather for a clean and finished look. no need for a radio in this ride with the sweet sound of the lSX engine under your right foot. Slick custom billet switches from Keep it Clean Wiring control the lights, eCu power, and engine starter. With the starter push-button depressed, all that is needed to rock and roll is to select first gear and ease the clutch out—it’s a rush that never gets old.

Cutting straight to the point, novakane is a dream come true. behind the wheel on public roads I feel like Ken block ready to unleash some youTube shenanigans at a moment’s notice, and out on the track I feel like an assassin ready to infict my will on the competition. We’ve raced the truck in California, Texas, and Kentucky, and won several events. It’s been the source of headaches, late nights without sleep, maxed-out credit cards, and unadulterated excitement. From the start, this project has been a team efort, and I’d like to personally thank the following in no particular order: Harley, aaron, ben, Chris, Dale, Theresa, luis, Kyle, Sammy, Dr. Jamie, ernie, eric, Steve, bob, blake, brock, Tim, alan, Kevin, bill, Jesse, nate, Kris, Drew, butch, Justin, max, Jacob, and matthew. Finally, I’d like to dedicate this truck build to eddie orozco, a super-talented welder at Chassis by aaron Iha’s shop who spent many late hours working by my side on the truck and was seriously injured afer a skateboarding accident. Twelve psi of boost from a Magnacharger TVS2300 is force-fed into a Chevrolet Performance LSX376 engine. The end result is 694 hp and 673 lb-ft of torque.

L&G Enterprises spent countless hours making the body straight and then applied the PPG Black with satin clear with bare metal racing stripes.

Reach for by HaRley CamilleRi PHoTograPHy: HaRley CamilleRi and Dan WaRD

This Ram Brings the Wild West’s Undead Back to Life


the Sky m

any a Wild West town owes its reputation for violence to the discovery of gold. Miners stormed into any territory where the precious mineral could be found, and established roughand-tumble mining camps on the fringes of society. Dozens of saloons, gambling parlors, and brothels competed for the men’s dollars. Legendary characters sprouted up across the land with names like Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holiday. As the towns grew, so did the legendary gunfghts we’ve come to know in our history books.


Reach For The Sky By the looks of this 2012 Ram, owner Andrew Lowe must have been touched in some way by those tall tales of prospector claims and gunmen facing off at the OK Corral. His Western–themed rig sports the hollow eyes of the undead gunslingers, poised against the brutal and desolate desert they once called home. Extreme Customs, in Houston, Texas, claims the credit for the artistic application of the DuPont Hot Hues paint that gives the truck its personality. Road Armor bumpers and Prestige fender flares give the truck a commanding look in case the creative airbrushing doesn’t turn heads fast enough. However, the paint is only the beginning of this truck’s imposing attitude. It rides tall on a Top Gun Customz 8-inch suspension lift that was installed and detailed by the capable Naivar brothers at ShowTime Metal Works. Under the 3/4-ton Ram are three-piece RBP Revolver wheels that spec out at 24x12 inches. Equally oversized 38x13.50R24 Nitto Trail Grappler tires provide traction to get Andrew across any harsh Texas terrain he may encounter. For added tow and go capability, the 6.7L Cummins was augmented with an array of performance upgrades. A CryO2 injection system, plumbed after the K&N air intake, brings the inlet air temperature way down to allow the Holset turbo to make big boost numbers. MBRP boost tubes do their best to contain the 38 psi of pressure. An Edge Juice programmer with Attitude controls it all, with the waste gases routed through a 4-inch stainless MagnaFlow exhaust with dual outlets. A full Alpine sound system stands out as the only interior modification Andrew felt necessary. The creative embossing and stitch work integrated into the factory Longhorn package left Andrew little need to make any additional interior alterations, and it already meshes perfectly with the wary eyes of the fallen cowboys along for the ride. If you ever feel the ominous approach of a dry wind over your shoulder, and a sudden silence settling in, it could very well be Andrew and his clan of undead outlaws.

Detailing the inner fender liners with color-matched material works surprisingly well to bring life to an otherwise boring portion of the truck.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2012 Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 Owner and City/State: Andrew Lowe • Kingwood, Texas

EngInE Type: 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel Induction: K&N intake, CryO2 injection Exhaust: MagnaFlow 4-inch, dual outlet Forced Induction: Holset turbo Engine Management: Edge Juice with Attitude Output: 475 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque Built by: Diesel Innovations

DrIvEtraIn Ram’s Longhorn interior is a major success as far as factory interiors go. The earthy tones and organic designs blend perfectly with this truck’s Western motif.

Transmission: Six-speed 68RFE Rearend: Factory with Yukon 4.10 gears

ChassIs Front Suspension: Top Gun Customz 8-inch Pro 1 Rear Suspension: Top Gun Customz 5½-inch Pro 1 Brakes: EBC rotors

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: 24x12-inch RBP Revolver Tires: 38x13.50R24 Nitto Trail Grappler



Tuxedo Black Riding in Style No Matter the Occasion


a

coin has two sides—heads and tails. Make a bet, fip it high in the air, and receive your fate. Whether the coin’s heads requires driving to a fne-dining restaurant or tails is going of-roading in a Oklahoma mud hole, Sean Gallagher is prepared to make the most out of either occasion when

piloting his 2011 Super Duty. Featuring a big custom-plated suspension and the interior elegance typically found on an exotic European sports car, Sean’s Ford is the perfect dual threat vehicle. As a professional baseball player for the Colorado Rockies, Sean knew what he wanted when he picked up his Super Duty, but he wasn’t sure how to get there. That’s when he made a call to Jim Lewis, of Pro Motorsports, in Scottsdale, Arizona. With the Ford in their temporary possession, the

team at Pro Motorsports got to work creating a rig that matched Sean’s vision. A stone cold fact is Super Duty trucks look incredible lifed. Rather than follow the mainstream, Jim and the Pro Motorsports team ordered a 10-inch kit from Rize Industries, and upon delivery, promptly sent it out for a one-of specialty coating. Typically associated with a new penny, shiny copper plating now adorns all of the Rize lif kit components. Against the tuxedo black paint, the contrast is stunning. Choosing


the right options for a lif is vital to a quality ride, and Pro Motorsports added only the best on Sean’s Ford including single coilover buckets up front with chrome-plated King coilovers and bypass shocks, dual steering stabilizer with King shocks, Rize rear traction bars, and dual King bypass shocks out back. The extralarge lif easily provides the clearance for 38-inch Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires mounted to equally large 24-inch BMF M-80 wheels. Now that the ¾-ton was sky-high, it was time to make the rest of the body match the intimidating stance.

Tuxedo Black Copper plating adorns the 10-inch Rize Industries lift kit and helps separate this F-250 from other lifted 4WDs.

Extra-large King coilovers with bypass shocks help damp the bumps during the drive to the baseball stadium.

To complement the killer BMF wheels, Pro Motorsports swapped out the factory plastic grille in favor of a full billet aluminum mesh grille, also from BMF. Massive solid-steel Trail Ready bumpers replace the factory units up front and out back. Rigid LED light bars were stufed in the front bumper, a 52-inch LED light bar was mounted to the roof, and Anzo USA projector lights were added to max out the Ford’s rugged looks. Helping the 6.7L turbo-diesel propel the F-250 down the road is a full barrage of diesel power parts including a Bully Dog GT tuner, K&N intake, and Gibson Metal Mulisha exhaust. Aiding in the everyday drivability, the Super Duty’s bed now houses a Bedslide and is protected by a Pace Edwards Bedlocker electric tonneau cover. Inside the crew cab, Sean has no worries of his truck not impressing the lucky occupants. Pro Motorsports removed the original cloth seat covers and coated the seats in black leather and suede with copper diamond stitching reminiscent of a Bentley. The headliner also received the same treatment, and the factory audio was upgraded with Kicker amps and speakers. A large blowthrough was cut into the back cab wall and two Kicker 12-inch subs provide eardrum-busting bass from the enclosure located in the bed. Several key plastic pieces throughout the interior were painted copper, and a new leather and copper-painted Alliance Tech steering wheel replaces the factory vinyl unit. Front to back, top to bottom, Sean’s Super Duty is a perfect example of customizing with class. With high-end luxury found inside and an of-road-capable suspension underneath, Mr. Gallagher should never have to worry about being unprepared no matter the occasion.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty Owner and City/State: Sean Gallagher • Tulsa, Oklahoma

ENGINE Type: 6.7L turbodiesel V-8 Induction: K&N cool-air intake Exhaust: Gibson Metal Mulisha exhaust Tune: Bully Dog GT tuner Built by: Pro Motorsports

DRIVETRAIN Transmission: TorqShift six-speed auto Rearend: 3.55 gears Nothing flashy just a classy interior with leather, suede, copper-colored diamond stitching, and a few painted accents including the Alliance Tech steering wheel.

CHASSIS Front suspension: Rize 10-inch lift kit with single coilover mount and King coilovers Rear suspension: Rize 10-inch lift with optional traction bars, King bypass shocks Brakes: Factory Ford hydra-boost

WHEELS & TIRES Wheels: 24x10.5 BMF M-80 in Death Metal finish Tires: 38x13.50R24LT Nitto Trail Grappler M/T


bY MaxwEll MaTThEwson PHoToGrAPHY: harlEy CaMillEri AnD ronniE yEaTEs ii

Doing What GMC Couldn’t

Twis - volume 39, no. 13, [70] november 11, 2013 -

E

verybody wants to change certain parts of oem trucks to better ft their style or needs. This is why the afermarket industry is so successful. Danny vera of Houston had this exact thought when he bought his 2008 GmC Sierra. He loved the look of the Yukon Denali, but wanted a truck instead. To solve this, he enlisted the help of a few select shops to give him everything he wanted in one vehicle. After picking his truck up at the dealer, Danny wasted no time getting it closer to the Texas pavement. He took the

truck to medicated metalworks, in Alvin, Texas, to get the suspension handled. This consisted of belltech 2-inch drop spindles up front along with relocated control arm mounts. The ever-popular Texas two-link brings the back half down to match the front. A quartet of Slam Specialties ’bags gives Danny the option of cruising his Sierra around the lone Star state or laying it out on terra firma. rounding out the chassis is a set of 24x9-inch and 24x15-inch Intro Twisted rally wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber.

sted - volume 39, no. 13, [71] november 11, 2013 -

Twisted

The custom sheetmetal bumper sitting just below the glassy smooth tailgate shows what Robert Meza of Alamo Customs is capable of.


Danny made sure that no stone was left unturned, which included having much of the underhood plastic painted as well as having a sheetmetal cover built for the battery and radiator overflow tank.

The next stop was Alamo Customs, also in Alvin, where paint and body expert Robert Meza took over. Opting for a refreshed front end, Danny had Robert install a new-body–style GMC Yukon Denali front clip on the Extended Cab. Moving around back, the tailgate handle and taillights were shaved, and a pair of LED strips was installed under the tailgate to notify following drivers of Danny’s intentions. A one-off sheetmetal bumper replaced the factory version and shows exactly what Alamo Customs is capable of. After shaving a few more nonessentials, the entire truck was coated in a custom-mixed emerald green paint followed by a tricolor graphic. After multiple coats of clear, the attention was turned toward the interior.

Before leaving Alamo, the dash and door panels were smoothed and painted. That’s right, the door panels look leather-wrapped, but that was a trick Robert had up his sleeve. He painted the door panels to match the future upholstery then sprayed flat clear over them so they look covered in leather. The seats were wrapped in adobe brown Ultra Leather by Miguel’s Upholstery in Houston. Miguel also wrapped the headliner in brown suede and laid brown carpet over the floor. Before finishing up the interior, Custom Car and Audio, in Richmond, Texas, came in and installed a pair of Massive Audio amplifiers, two Alpine 12-inch subwoofers in a large fiberglass enclosure, and eight JBL 6½-inch component speakers.


Twisted

Looking at the front of the truck, you wouldn’t know that you were in fact staring head on at a Sierra.

Danny absolutely loves his truck and loves that it turns heads everywhere it goes. Afer all the work that went into his truck, it’s no wonder that it has won an award at every show it has been to. Danny wanted to send a special thanks to Robert and the guys at Alamo Customs, Medicated Metalworks, Miguel’s Upholstery, and Custom Car and Audio for all their help on the build.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2008 GMC Sierra Owner and City/State: Daniel Vera • Houston, Texas

ChassIs Front suspension: 2-inch Belltech drop spindles, relocated control arm mounts, Slam Specialties RE-8 ’bags, Belltech shocks Rear suspension: Texas two-link with Panhard bar, Slam Specialties RE-8 ’bags, Belltech shocks Brakes: Stock

Wheels & TIres Wheels: 24x9-inch and 24x15-inch Intro Twisted Rally Tires: 295/30R24 and 405/25R24 Pirelli Pzero Nero Best Interior is one of the awards that Danny routinely wins at the shows he attends. - volume 39, no. 13, [74] november 11, 2013 -

Ionic Roll-Up Tonneau Cover

$3290000 MSRP -$50 Truckin 00 $279 + FREE SHIPPING

LOW PROFILE ROLL UP TONNEAU

tLIFETIME WARRANTY t SHIPS IN 24 HOURS t LOW PROFILE t FULL BED ACCESS

From$39627

+ FREE SHIPPING

CALL THE EXPERTS AT

855-583-5351

King by Maxwell Matthewson PHoTograPHy: Boyd Jaynes, Maxwell Matthewson, and dan ward

of the RAPtoRs - volume 39, no. 13, [80] november 11, 2013 -

A Race-Ready, Cold-Blooded Prerunner

i

n the ongoing pursuit to build better vehicles, we find ourselves always trying to outdo one another. Whether it’s lifted or lowered, truck owners and builders will find a way to be different. In the lowered scene, the goal is to tuck more wheel than the next guy. For lifted guys, they want to be able to go anywhere and do anything in their trucks. One of these lifted truck guys is Chris Ross of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. You may remember Chris from the Issue 13 cover of 2012. His flat-black F-150 Raptor was featured alongside another equally impressive Raptor on the beaches of Baja California. After a year of tinkering, tuning, and testing, Chris found the solution to the suspension and frame flex problems Raptor owners have been facing. With a long list of upgrades planned, Chris dropped the truck off with the talented team at Stewart’s Raceworks, in Santee, California, for a full rebuild. That may sound extreme, but once you see what Chris has done and what the truck is capable of, you may change your mind. Craig Stewart started the build by ridding it of all of the bolt-ons that it originally had. The front suspension was replaced with Raptor Performance Group (RPG) spindles, custom upper J-arms, and lower control arms that accept dual Fox shocks. Retaining the factory width, 300M halfshafts from RCV keep the Raptor’s four-wheel-drive fully functional. The back of the truck is another story. The Stewart’s Raceworks’ team started by chopping off the frame from the cab back. A whole new back half was created with trusses and a full cage for strength and rigidity. Giving the custom Foddrill Motorsports rearend over 20 inches of travel is a one-off Raceworks four-link. Fox triple-bypass coilovers and shocks provide a smooth, comfortable ride in even the roughest of roads, while 39-inch BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires wrapped around 17-inch Vorsprung wheels give the Fox shocks added support. All of that suspension is useless without a powerplant that can push the 6,300-pound truck down the road. Boosted engine performance came by way of a Roush Phase 2 supercharger to give the factory 6.2L motor a healthy shot in the arm. Add to this a set of Stainless Works long-tube headers and a Magnaflow exhaust and you’ve got over 600 ponies coursing through the Foddrill full floater rear. Helping to plant this power is a pair of Wavetrac limited slip differentials front and rear. These offer maximum traction without compromising turning performance. The ever-thirsty engine is fed from a massive 75-gallon fuel cell, which is large enough for Chris to go deep into the Baja landscape and still get home safely.

Now Chris had a race-ready prerunner Raptor, but there was one problem, it was naked. To remedy this, Chris made a call to Racecar Prototypes, in Hawaii. They sent out a full fiberglass front clip and bedsides. These were then sent to Kirk Shanoian of raptoraddict.com, to receive a coating of BASF Blood Candy red paint. After the panels were attached to the truck, a set of custom bumpers were bolted on along with Raptor Retrofit HID headlights, 12 Baja Designs lights, and a 51-inch Onyx light bar mounted to an actuated light bar that will turn the darkest of nights into day. To make the truck as safe as it is capable, Craig Stewart built a full rollcage in the cab. He integrated this cage into the bed cage and underhood cage for maximum structural integrity. Keeping Chris planted in the seat during high speed passes are a set of Schroth five-point harnesses. Finally, a full Stilo race communications system was installed giving Chris the ability to keep in contact with someone no matter where he is.

Don’t let the exterior fool you. The interior is full of the requisite creature comforts: leather and suede seats, brushed aluminum and suede accents, My Ford Touch with SYNC, Lowrance race GPS, and many other features.


In the unfortunate event of a rollover, the passengers are kept safe by five-point race harnesses and a full rollcage built by Stewart’s Raceworks.

Giving the Raptor enough travel to swallow up the 39-inch BFGs is a custom back half with triple bypass Fox shocks, hydraulic bumpstops, and splined racestyle sway bar.


Inside the Build Year Make Model: 2011 Ford F-150 Raptor Owner and City/State: Chris Ross • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

ENGINE Type: 6.2L V-8 Heads: Cast aluminum Cam: Single overhead Induction: Roush Phase 2 2300 supercharger Exhaust: Stainless Works long-tube headers, Magnaflow 3-inch exhaust Engine Management: Custom Roush tune Output: 500 rwhp and 530 lb-ft Built by: Hennessey Motorsports

DRIVETRAIN Transmission: Ford 6R80 Rearend: Foddrill Motorsports full floater with 5.13 gears

Upon receiving his truck, the first thing Chris did was romp on it to see just what it was capable of— he was not disappointed. Now he has a truck that can handle just about anything thrown at it. Chris wanted to send a shout out to all of those who helped on the build, and he looks forward to working with everyone again in the future. For more pictures and videos of Chris’ Raptor, visit truckin.com.

CHASSIS Front suspension: RPG upper J-arms, and dual-shock lower control arms, RPG spindles, Fox triple bypass coilovers, Fox bumpstops Rear suspension: Custom Stewart’s Raceworks four-link, Fox triple bypass shocks Brakes: EBC rotors and pads

WHEELS & TIRES Wheels: Vorsprung by RPG 17x8.5-inch Tires: BFGoodrich Baja T/A 39x12.50R17

Somewhere under the burly engine cage is a supercharged 6.2L. Hopefully Chris never needs to replace his spark plugs.

Hidden under the spare tire and aluminum race jack is a massive 75-gallon fuel cell that feeds the blown 6.2L engine.

by Patrick Mccarthy PHoTograPHy: isaac Mion

Black Beauty - volume 39, no. 13, [86] november 11, 2013 -

Reinventing the Classic Flatbed Chevy Formula

t

he moment someone utters the word flatbed, images of a tired, dented work truck sputtering down the highway spring to mind. Sure, flatbeds may be functional, but they’re nowhere near as sexy as a smooth metal fleetside or stepside, right? Dick Hoffman of Denver would disagree, and after seeing his gorgeous take on the classic flatbed Chevy design, we’re right there with him. This ’48 pickup proves once and for all that a flatbed can be sleek, sensuous, and absolutely stunning. This truck started life drastically different from what you see here, since it was originally a 1½-ton flatbed model. owner Dick Hoffman entrusted Denver–based shop Color on Wheels with the build, and they quickly got to work converting it into half-ton configuration. The process began by fabricating an all-new custom frame from steel plate, complete with a Heidts Superide independent front suspension and polished coilovers on all four corners. Heidts tubular control arms hold new drop spindles and 14-inch Wilwood big brakes up front. out back a triangulated four-link suspends the new 9-inch Ford rearend, which is outfitted with moser axles, 3.73 gears, and 13-inch Wilwood discs. Completing the rolling chassis is a set of 18- and 20-inch staggered billet Specialties wheels wrapped in bFg rubber. before dropping a cab and bed onto the new chassis, a 350ci v-8 was heavily massaged to power the classic Chevy. With a forged 383ci stroker rotating assembly, ported and polished aluminum heads, an aggressive cam, FaST fuel injection system, and Sanderson long-tube headers, this small-block pumps out more than 500 hp at the crank. bolted to a built 700-r4 transmission, this setup provides more than enough power to smoke the 10-inch-wide rear tires at will. Finally, the cab was dropped back in place. The decision was made to keep the ’48 cab with its split window design, but newer ’54 frontend parts were installed for a sleeker look. In the rear, custom fenders and a roll pan were formed to accommodate the flatbed configuration. leD taillights and a wide center-exit exhaust tip were added for modern styling, and it was all topped off by a stunning brazilian cherry wood bed. brushed aluminum accents and a matching cherry wood toolbox finish off the bed, leaving an ideal mix of classic and custom styling cues. Inside the cab, black wool carpet, leather headliner, and a glide leather bench seat was installed by auto Weave upholstery, in Denver. vintage air a/C and a lecarra leather-wrapped steering wheel make the driver’s seat a nicer place to be, while an alpine stereo system with custom under-seat sub box handles audio playback. after countless hours of hard work and fabrication, this classic Chevy was finally complete, and it looks truly stunning cruising the Colorado highways. The owner wants to thank the build team at Color on Wheels, as well as everyone else that had a hand in seeing this project through to completion.


Black Beauty

“This ’48 pickup proves once and for all that a fatbed can be sleek, sensuous, and absolutely stunning.” Combining a ’48 split-window cab with the more modern ’54 frontend creates a subtle new look. You’d never know this sleek Chevy was originally a 1½-ton work truck.

Under the Chevy’s hood resides a heavily reworked 383ci V-8. Producing more than 500 hp, this fuel-injected small-block provides plenty of modern thrust for this vintage pickup.

A polished Lecarra steering wheel and Classic Instruments gauges ofset the otherwise subtle interior styling.

Inside the Build Year Make Model: 1948 Chevy Pickup Owner and City/State: Dick HoŇman • Denver, Colorado

ENGINE Type: 350ci V-8 with forged 383ci stroker rotating assembly Heads: Ported and polished aluminum Cam: Comp Cams Induction: FAST four-barrel throttle body Exhaust: Sanderson headers, Color on Wheels custom exhaust Fuel System: FAST EFI system, 36-pound injectors, Walbro fuel pump, 27-gallon aluminum tank Ignition: Moroso plug wires Engine Management: FAST Output: 525 hp, 525 lb-ft of torque Built by: DC Racing Engines • Denver, Colorado

DrIvEtraIN Transmission: Built 700-R4 Rearend: 9-inch Ford with narrowed Moser axles, 3.73 gears

ChassIs Front suspension: Custom-fabricated frame, Heidts Superide IFS with polished stainless coilovers, Heidts drop spindles, Heidts tubular control arms Matte grey Billet Specialties wheels with polished accents provide just the right amount of contrast for the truck’s clean black paint scheme.

Rear suspension: Custom back half, Heidts Superide polished stainless coilovers, triangulated four-link Brakes: Wilwood 14-inch front disc and 13-inch rear disc, braided stainless lines

WhEEls & tIrEs Wheels: Billet Specialties Bonneville G, 18x8-inch front and 20x10-inch rear Tires: BFG Traction T/A, 245/45R18 front and 295/35R20 rear

by Maxwell Matthewson PHOTOgraPHy: Maxwell Matthewson and patrick Mccarthy

Power Pipes

w

hen Ford announced the new Coyote engine would be inserted under the hood of F-150s, the forums were buzzing with speculation. now that it has been out for a few years it’s time for us to see how the aftermarket has responded with tried-andtrue bolt-ons. Hunting for power, we tracked down new long-tube headers and stainless exhaust kit from American racing Headers. The headers (Pn F150l34W/C, $1,665) feature 1¾-inch diameter primary tubes, a 3-inch Y-pipe with high-flow catalytic converters, and new bolts to replace the factory manifold studs. The after-cat exhaust (Pn F150CTbK11, $1,295) is a 3-inch design with resonator and highflow muffler. It also has all of the

Source: AmericAn rAcing HeAders (631) 608-1986

americanracingheaders.com

necessary clamps and hardware. To do the install, we set aside a lift in our Irvine tech center, and a solid eight hours. The installation of the headers was fairly straightforward on paper, but given the fact that the Coyote motor is a lot wider than previous truck v-8s, it was more difficult than anticipated. All said and done, the new exhaust added nine rear-wheelhorsepower and six lb-ft of torque. This isn’t a monster number, but as with all longtubes, the eCu needs to be tuned to handle the better breathing and at press time we didn’t have a chance to put a custom tune in the computer. once we’ve got the truck tuned and back on the dyno, you’ll be able to see the new results, as well as be able to hear the exhaust system in action at truckin.com. If your new F-150 is equipped with the 5.0l v-8, give American racing Headers a call to give it an aggressive truck growl and reap the reward of more power while you’re at it.

Putting the Growl in Ford’s Coyote 5.0L V-8 Thanks to American Racing Headers 1.

1. The first step, as always, was to remove the inferior factory parts. While they worked just fine on the truck, to get the power we wanted, they had to go. Using a 13mm ratcheting wrench, we loosened all of the clamps holding the exhaust in place.


power pipes 2.

2. Even though the truck is brand new, the hangers still had to be persuaded to free their grip with a little application of WD-40, pliers, and a prybar.

3.

3. Again using the 13mm ratcheting wrench, we unbolted the ball flange at the end of the Y-pipe.

4.

5. Moving on to the Y-pipe, the oxygen sensors were disconnected from the wiring harnesses.

5.

4. On the new Ford trucks, the mufler is connected to the head-pipe via a notch and key-style fastener. There is a clamp as well, but you must twist the pipe to get it of. - volume 39, no. 13, [94] november 11, 2013 -

power pipes 7.

6. 6. Next, the Y-pipe was disconnected from the exhaust manifolds with a 13mm deep socket on an 8-inch extension.

7. In order to drop the Y-pipe from the truck, the transmission crossmember had to first be removed. After supporting the transmission with a jack, four 18mm nuts that held the crossmember to the frame were loosened and the two 15mm nuts that held the crossmember to the transmission support were unbolted.

8.

8. With the transmission crossmember out of the way, the Y-pipe came straight down out of the truck. With more room to work, we used a 7/8-inch wrench to remove the oxygen sensors from their bungs.

9.

9. Finally, we were able to remove the exhaust manifolds. This sounds easy, but first we had to remove the starter. Next, we removed all of the bolts from the header studs with a 15mm deep socket. With mere millimeters to spare, there just wasn’t enough room to remove the manifolds. To get the manifolds out of the truck, the manifold studs had to be carefully removed from the block using a Torx socket on a universal joint.

11.

10. 10. The new stainless headers ofer a streamlined design to give the hot exhaust air a free path to exit the truck. They also feature 3/8-inch flanges, merge collectors, and a true two-intoone design.

12.

12. We immediately filled the new void on either side of the engine with the new ARH headers. Again, this was easier said than done. Plenty of wiggling and prodding was needed to get them into place.

13.

13. With even less room than before, we slowly and carefully threaded each stud into its hole in the block. With them all in, we tightened the bolts down from the center out, in a zig-zag pattern to ensure even torque. We did say that the kit came with new bolts to replace the studs, but we decided that to keep as much factory parts as possible.

11. After almost two hours of knuckle busting, the studs were removed and the manifolds were out of the truck. Here you can see how big of a diference there is between the factory manifolds and the American Racing Headers long-tubes. It’s truly a night and day diference.

power pipes 14.

14. As with the headers, the American Racing exhaust provides an unobstructed exit for the air leaving the engine. The resonator and mufler work together to deliver an appealing rumble, without the in-cabin drone that other exhaust systems cause.

15. To begin the install of the stainless exhaust system, the new, two-piece Y-pipe with catalytic converters was lifted up into place. Using the supplied 14mm nuts and bolts, the ball joint exhaust flange was tightened down.

17. The last piece to go on was the over the axle pipe with the tips welded to it. This was afixed with a standard exhaust clamp.

16.

17.

15.

16. The new head pipe with resonator was then bolted to the Y-pipe.

18. To finish the install, we screwed the oxygen sensors into place and reattached them to the wiring harness in the truck.

19.

18.

19. After: The polished dual exhaust tips looked great and the rumble sounded even better. it is important to note that with long-tube headers, the factory ecU needs to be tuned to achieve proper performance. - volume 39, no. 13, [98] november 11, 2013 -

by Maxwell Matthewson PHOTOgraPHy: Maxwell Matthewson

Give Me a Brake Wilwood’s Big Brake Kit Adds Stopping Performance & Racecar Looks

C

ustomizing a truck is a multistep process. The first step is usually the inexpensive, easy bolt-ons like intakes, grilles, and even a tuner. Next comes the lift or lowering kit and big wheels and tires. Adding these oversized wheels and tires looks good, but the OEM brakes were never meant to be able to handle the extra unsprung weight. Too many people forego upgrading the brakes because of fear of the unknown, cost, or any number of reasons. Upgrading your brakes shouldn’t be a daunting process. That is exactly what Wilwood thought when they came out with their big brake kit for the 1999-tocurrent GM 1500 pickups and SUVs. The kit is simple to install, returns factory-like stopping performance to big-wheelequipped trucks, and looks far better than stock. We took a trip to the Wilwood headquarters in Camarillo, California, to catch the install of this kit on a 2011 Chevy Silverado, check it out.

1.

1. The factory brakes seem miniscule behind the large 24-inch American Racing wheels.

2.

2. Starting up front, the removal of the factory calipers was simple and accomplished by unbolting them from the spindle.

3.

Source: WilWood EnginEEring (805) 388-1188

wilwood.com - volume 39, no. 13, [100] november 11, 2013 -

3. The front kit (PN: 140-8992, $2486.39) comes with everything needed for install including: six-piston calipers, caliper mounting brackets, massive 16-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors with hats, pads, and all of the nuts, bolts, washers, and spacers. Not shown in the photo, but included in the kit, are stainless steel replacement brake lines.

Give Me a Brake 4.

5.

4. With the factory caliper supported out of the way and the rotor removed, our tech installed the bolts through the caliper mounting ears on the spindle. The instructions suggested starting out with one thin shim washer during initial fitment testing.

6.

5. The caliper-mounting bracket was then attached to these bolts. The bracket wasn’t tightened all the way down until all the clearances were checked.

7.

6. To assemble the rotor and the hat, 12 bolts were installed from the back with red Loctite to guarantee a long lasting hold. Here you can get a feel for the size diference between the stock rotor and the huge 16-inch Wilwood two-piece rotor.

8.

7. Before sliding the caliper onto the mounting bracket, two spacers and one shim washer were used for proper clearance between the rotor and caliper.

9.

8. Once all of the clearances were checked and rechecked, the caliper mounting bracket and caliper were tightened to the appropriate torque specifications.

9. After inserting the pads into the caliper, the center bridge pad was bolted into place.


PARAMOUNT PACKAGE GRILLES OFFER GREAT RE-STYLING WITH NO CUTTING OF YOUR FACTORY GRILLE. GRAB ONE & BOLT ON SOME TRUCK ATTITUDE! Check out the full like of Products from Paramount Automotive!

FACEBOOK.COM/PARAMOUNTAUTOMOTIVE

Give Me a Brake 10.

11.

10. The final step for the front was to install the stainless steel braided brake lines in the factory location.

11. Moving to the rear, the caliper was unbolted from the axlehousing.

13.

12.

12. Included in the rear kit (PN: 140-9838, $2038.39) are all of the necessities for completing the install: four-piston calipers, caliper mounting brackets, 14¼-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors with hats, pads, and all of the nuts, bolts, washers, and spacers. Also included are braided stainless brake lines. As you can see, this photo shows black calipers. Wilwood ofers a variety of powdercoat options.

14.

14. A small piece of the brake dust shield needed to be trimmed prior to installing the caliper mounting bracket or rotor.

13. Just like up front, the rear hat and caliper were bolted together using the included nuts and bolts and red Loctite.

15.

15. Installing the new pieces is as simple as bolting the bracket to the axlehousing using the included shims and sliding the rotor over the lug nuts.


Give Me a Brake

PIN P I H S E E FR TO

G

16.

ATES 48 ST

FRONT DISC BRAKE CONVERSION KITS

front end kits

16. With all of the clearances checked, all of the bolts were tightened.

leveling kits

sway bar kits

17. 17. As with the front, the final step was installing the brake pads and the braided brake lines. The brake calipers were then bled, starting with the passenger-side rear and working our way around.

HIGH PERFORMANCE SHOCKS and much more...

18.

ORDER TOLL FREE OR ONLINE

877-224-1699 www.p-s-t.com call for a free catalog

LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

S813-TN1S

18. The new brakes decreased stopping distance while improving the overall look of the truck. Before the upgrade, the truck was definitely struggling to bring the big 24-inch wheels and tires to a halt, whereas after the install, the stopping distance was decreased by 73 feet and there was no brake fade after repeated panic stops.

by Harley Camilleri PHOTOgraPHy: Harley Camilleri

Bringing the ram to New Heights

F

or many of you, what we’re about to tell you isn’t really a secret. For others, it may come as a shock, so please don’t go rioting in the streets. Having looked back over this year’s issues, it’s easy to see that we really like the ‘09-’14 Ram 1500s. With their fresh skin, coil-sprung rear suspension, and three cab choices, there isn’t a lot of room to find fault. Our main complaint stems more from our addiction to customization, for which there seems to be no cure. To

calm our nerves and make us feel better, we keep on the path to sanity by continually turning out cool trucks to show you what’s available for your rig. With a 2012 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4X4 at our disposal, we decided to upgrade it via a mild suspension lift, knobby rubber, and a set of slick wheels. The goal was to create something that rode nice during the daily grind, and was able to whisk us away to far off destinations yet could still maintain the utilitarian nature of the truck.

Thanks to the folks at Rough Country suspension and Dick Cepek tires and wheels, we accomplished exactly that. Ram trucks just seem to sit higher and have better fender clearance by design, so it didn’t require much lift to clear some decent tires. As a matter of fact, making room for the 35x12.50R20LT Dick Cepek Mud Country tires enveloping Dick Cepek Gun Metal 7 wheels only required a 4-inch suspension lift from Rough Country. Not too tall, but just right for normal usage.


Prepare Your Ram to Tackle Any Terrain

Handling the installation of this Rough Country kit on our Ram was Industrial Motoring in Anaheim, California. The crew at Industrial have what it takes to get any job done right. Depending on the day, Industrial’s guys can be found pumping up the power on a long-travel Raptor, lifting a 3⁄4ton turbo-diesel truck, adding glitzy wheels to a new BMW, or getting a Ferrari 458 to hug the ground over a set of racing coilover shocks. Now that’s a shop we can enjoy ourselves at!

Bringing the ram to New Heights 1. From the factory, our Ram came coated in Mineral Gray paint, and rode on silver-painted 20-inch wheels. It was clean, but definitely needed a shot of adrenaline.

2.

2. The remedy was this 4-inch suspension kit designed by Rough Country. It consisted of two front crossmembers, matching diferential brackets, taller steering knuckles, longer sway bar endlinks, performance rear shocks, and plenty more.

1.

3.

4. Longer sway bar endlinks were included from Rough Country, so the stock ones were tossed into the spare parts bin.

5.

4.

3. With the truck in the air at Industrial Motoring, the front brakes were removed to gain access to the front drive axle nuts.

5. Once the steering and ball joints were disconnected, the factory knuckles were removed from the Ram.

6.

7. Industrial zipped the hardware of and pulled the lower control arms from the Ram’s chassis.

7.

8.

8. The Rough Country kit relocated the front axle to maintain proper geometry. To prepare for this, the cross-brace under the diferential had to go.

6. Both front strut assemblies followed suit.

9.

10. We know that most people wouldn’t choose to cut their new truck’s frame, but it was a necessity and it was only a few small pieces. Rough Country even included templates to make the cuts exact.

11.

10.

9. After unbolting the front driveshaft, the front axle was supported on a jack so the attaching hardware could be removed, and the axle was lowered out of the way.


11. Industrial chose to slice of the ofending axle mount using a reciprocating saw.

Bringing the ram to New Heights 12.

13. The front axle slid right into the new Rough Country mounting brackets.

13.

12. With the included alignment blocks and fresh hardware, we slipped the rear crossmember into its new home.

15.

14.

14. Compensating for the driveshaft diference was this aluminum spacer. It was sandwiched between the front driveshaft and axle flange with longer bolts. 16. Each of the lower control arms was located into the mounting pockets on the new crossmembers. Factory hardware and alignment cams will ensure anybody can get the frontend into spec.

17.

16.

15. To ensure that other drivers know where your new lift kit came from, the front crossmember was adorned with a laser-cut RCX logo.

17. A fabricated 4-inch spacer was cinched to the top of each front strut before they could be reinstalled.

18. Even with the added height of the spacers, mounting the struts back on the Ram was a breeze.

18.

19. 19. Thankfully all the new trucks have gone to the sealed unit bearings for the front hubs. Three bolts per side made easy work of swapping the stock knuckles for the taller knuckle in the lift kit.

20.

20. Once the front CV axles were aligned into the unit bearings, the knuckles were set between the control arms, and the ball joint nuts tightened up. - volume 39, no. 13, [114] november 11, 2013 -


22. Rough Country’s 4-inch lift kit left the sway bar in its original mounts on the frame. Instead of changing the mounts, longer endlinks spanned the increased distance.

23.

22.

21. Instead of longer brake lines that would have required more work, the original brake hoses were easily relocated with simple brackets.

24.

23. Completing the front was this skidplate to save the front diferential from of-road obstacles.

25. The compression struts required drilling one hole in each side of the transmission crossmember to create a mounting point.

26.

25.

24. Compression struts were an option for the suspension system that we couldn’t live without. They stifen the new, taller crossmembers rearward in case of hard front suspension impacts.

27.

29.

26. It was a really tight fit, but thankfully a custom hardware tab was made especially for these mounts.

27. Industrial Motoring wasted no time in tearing into the rear suspension. The shocks were tossed aside, as new ones would be replacing them. 28. After the removal of the sway bar endlinks, the rear axle was lowered a bit to release the rear coil springs.

28.

30.

29. It couldn’t get any easier than these new upper coil spring spacers. 30. Raising the axle back up set the factory coils right into position.



32.

31. To match the front, longer sway bar endlinks made installation a snap.

33.

32. We were impressed with Rough Country’s rear Performance 2.2 shock absorbers with the integrated jounce bumper.

34.

33. Spacers were bolted to the axle to act as taller bumpstop pads.

Sources: Dick cepek (330) 928-9092

35.

dickcepek.com inDustrial Motoring (877) 724-5538

industrialmotoring.com rough country suspension systeMs (800) 222-7023

roughcountry.com

35. Dick Cepek’s Mud Country is one tough tire. With its extra wide footprint and “DC” Sidebiters tread pattern, of-road excursions are nothing to be feared. - volume 39, no. 13, [118] november 11, 2013 -

34. The distinctive seven-spoke design of the Dick Cepek Gun Metal 7 was what caught our eye. The fact that the inner gray color was nearly a perfect match for the Ram was icing on the cake.

by Patrick Mccarthy PHOTOgraPHy: Patrick Mccarthy

Good Vibrations Our EcoBoost Gets An Audio Overhaul From MTX and Stinger

a

lthough it’s true that factory sound systems have significantly improved in the last decade, they still leave much to be desired, especially for those of us who are used to high-dollar audio gear. This was also the case with our EcoBoost project truck, as its factory Ford speakers left much to be desired. However, we didn’t want to tear up our dash to install a new head unit, so we called up the experts at MTX. They provided us with two sets of Thunder Axe component speakers, a TH90.4 fourchannel amp, and a ThunderForm 10-inch underseat subwoofer. For wiring, we turned to Stinger, who supplied high-quality RCA cables, amp wiring, a power distribution box, and Stealth Roadkill sound-damping mat. We also chose this time to upgrade our battery to an Interstate MT7 AGM battery with 48-month free replacement. With all of our new goodies in the bed, we drove out to Audio Innovations, in Glendora, California, where their experienced techs put it all together. To see how these simple upgrades drastically improved our F-150’s sound without changing the OEM head unit, read on.

1.

1. MTX sent us two complete sets of Thunder Axe component speakers (P/N: TX6, $229.95), each of which included two 6.5-inch woofers, two 25mm tweeters, and two adjustable crossovers. Our stock Ford speakers never stood a chance.

2.

Sources: Audio innovAtions (626) 335-8691

audioinno.com interstAte BAtteries (866) 842-5368 interstatebatteries.com MtX Audio (800) 225-5689

mtx.com

2. To access the factory speakers, we began by removing all four door panels from our Super Cab F-150, and then set them aside.

stinger electronics (800) 477-2267

stingerelectronics.com - volume 39, no. 13, [120] november 11, 2013 -

where

STYLE meets FUNCTION

20"

VAPOR

NEW

8180

PHANTOM

NEW

ADRENALINE

w w w. P r o C o m p U S A . c o m

5182

5183

17", 20"

17", 20"

800.776.0767

Share

Good Vibrations 4.

3.

3. With the door panels of, the factory speakers could be unscrewed from the doors and disconnected.

5.

4. Before applying our Stealth Roadkill sound damping, we needed to peel the black rubber insulation of each door and throw it away.

6.

5. The Stealth Roadkill sheets were trimmed to size and applied to the bare metal door panels. Holes were cut to reveal the speaker openings and window switch wiring.

7.

6. The crossovers were mounted to the doors using perforated steel strips and self-tapping screws. Then, they were connected to new wiring that was run through each door to the rear of the cab.

8.

7. For the rear doors, the crossovers had to be mounted facing outward to provide enough clearance for the door panels.

8. Next, the new 6.5-inch MTX speakers were wired to the crossovers and secured to the doors with more self-tapping screws.


BLACK MILLED FINISH

LRG STYLE NUMBER

ALSO AVAILABLE IN CHROME

COMING UP BIG

www.lrgrims.com

Good Vibrations 9.

9. An adjustable high-to-low converter was wired in-line to reduce the signal level from the Ford head unit before it gets to the MTX amp. This prevents clipping and distortion caused by sending too loud of a signal to the amplifier.

10.

10. With the speakers and crossovers handled, it was time to mount the tweeters. We chose this spot on the door panel, drilled holes for the wires, and screwed the tweeters in place. 11. To add some thump to our system, we picked up this MTX ThunderForm vehicle-specific sub box (P/N: F150EX09FB10A-TN, $649.95). With a built-in 200W RMS mono amp and 10-inch Terminator woofer, it’s designed to fit snugly under our truck’s rear bench seat.

12. Setting the box in place under the seat, we simply plugged in the included power wire and two Stinger RCA cables from the factory head unit.

12.

11. 13. The MTX subwoofer enclosure has its own mono amp, but we still needed an amp for our component speakers. This MTX 360W RMS four-channel unit (P/N: TH90.4, $349.95) fit the bill perfectly.

14. We placed the amp under the rear bench seat across from the sub box, and then screwed it securely to the floor. We had no loss of seating space.

14.

13.

15. This Stinger power distribution block was connected to the sub box and amplifier, and fuses were installed for each. Then, a Stinger power wire was run along the doorsill and into the engine bay.

16.

15.

17. Wiring was run under the carpet to all four crossovers, RCA cables were run to the head unit, and a ground wire was soldered to the floor. Black zip ties secured everything neatly in place, and the install was complete.

17.

16. The Stinger power wire was attached to the new Interstate MT7 AGM positive battery terminal, and the in-line fuse was zip-tied out of the way. - volume 39, no. 13, [124] november 11, 2013 -

Enthusiasts United to Advance Automotive Freedoms enlist now!

semaSAN.com

What’s Your Passion?

Check Out the One-Stop Hub for Everything Enthusiast

Visit: simappstore.com

by MaxWell MaTTHeWsOn PHoTograPHy: Harley CaMilleri, MaxWell MaTTHeWsOn, and rOnnie yeaTes ii

Texas Heat Wave 2013 O

ver the last 20 years numerous truck shows have come and gone. There are big ones, small ones, good ones, and bad ones. But year afer year there is a show that continues to bring out quality trucks—Texas Heat Wave. Held at the Travis County Expo Center, in Austin, Texas, this year marked the 24th anniversary of the show. The show saw a record number of preregistries, proving that the truck scene is alive and well in the Lone Star state. This year’s show was held on July 27th and 28th, and it lived up to its name as the mercury reached triple digits, but that didn’t keep spectators from attending. According to the ever-reliable Facebook, some people waited up to two hours in line to get into the show on Saturday. Besides the multitudes of custom cars, trucks, bikes, and boats on display, there was a burnout contest, helicopter rides, monster truck stunts and rides, bikini contest, live music from Texas–based rapper Trampia, a hydraulic contest, and USACI sound of. If you missed this year’s event, you are going to want to start saving up to attend the 2014 show.

We have seen really bad airbrushing and we have seen really good airbrushing. It’s safe to say, this falls into the latter category.

Texas’ Largest Car and Truck Show


Texas Heat Wave 2013

Even though they just came out, there were already 2013 Ram HD trucks on display. This one was in the Nitto tire booth and was built by the Naivar Brothers from Showtime Metal Works in Austin, Texas.

A lot of guys have turned to modifying ¾- and 1-ton trucks, but there are still guys lifting ½-ton trucks. Check out the feature on this F-150 coming soon.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, Bill Carlton of Ekstensive Metalworks built himself a new-body– style two-door Tahoe out of a Suburban. There isn’t anything this man can’t do.


Texas Heat Wave 2013

This insane Ram 2500 from Extreme Ofroad and Performance, in Katy, Texas, took home the Best of Show 4x4 award.

Alamo Customs came out with the truck from the cover of Issue 1 of this year on display.

Texas is the land of V-8s. Or at least it was until the EcoBoost showed up. At the burnout contest, this EcoBoost–powered 2013 F-150 showed us how it is done.


New! VHX Series

800.593.9721 dakotadigital.com/TR

Car Audio Experts • Huge selection of top brands • Free install gear for most cars • Free shipping on most orders

To find what fits your car, call

1-800-313-5451

Win free gear Arrowcraft Products 5022 Leafdale Blvd. Royal Oak, MI 48073 (248) 280-0210 www.arrowcraft.com

For a chance to win Crutchfield’s Great Gear Giveaway go to

crutchfield.com/tkn

Readers’ Rides

by Patrick Mccarthy

Go Big Who: Andrew Daniel What: 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 WheRe: Tantallon, Saskatchewan, Canada Mods: AIRAID cold-air intake, Bully Dog GT tuner, illuminated doorsills, LED interior lighting, Alpine M50 amp, Alpine S10 subwoofer in custom box, custom spiderweb headache rack, six IPF 6-inch lights on a removable lightbar, Tough Country Legend front bumper with four PIAA 520 lights, Iron Bull rear bumper with taillight guards and PIAA lights, Recon smoked third brake light, Warn VR12000 winch and wireless remote, Superlift dual steering stabilizers, Zone Ofroad 5-inch lift kit with Fox shocks, 20x9inch Fuel Boost wheels with 35x12.50 Nitto Mud Grappler tires

t

o get your truck featured in Readers’ Rides, email a high-resolution photo of your truck to [email protected]. Send in a front 3⁄4 or profle shot of your truck, and make sure it’s big enough. For a digital fle, try to make it at least 1MB. Don’t use your cell phone! We print at a much higher resolution than a website, which means that sending links to photos posted online won’t work. Also, please make sure that the whole truck is in the frame, don’t cut of the front or back of the truck. Remember, this is your pride and joy. Do your best to make your truck look its best. Also, make sure to include plenty of information about you and your truck. The more information, the better the article. If you want to get your ride noticed by posting it on our website, go to rides. truckinweb.com. Upload up to 20 photos of your vehicle, along with detailed descriptions.

Get Low Who: Jose Avila What: 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 WheRe: Walla Walla, Washington Mods: AccuAir e-Level air suspension, tubular lower control arms, frontend narrowed 4 inches, rearend narrowed 5 inches, custom four-link, fenders rolled and reinforced with steel rod, custom Lowboy Motorsports rear tubs, bridge, and roll pan, relocated fuse box and battery, Lowboy Motorsports custom fuel cell, 24-inch chrome wheels, Kenwood stereo


MAXimum Exposure

By Maxwell Matthewson PHOTOgraPHy: courtesy oF chrysler

i

am a huge supporter of customizing vehicles. When I bought my newest truck, the first thing I did was de-badge it and tint the windows. Shortly after, it received a lowering kit and custom wheels. This was all while it still had paper license plates from the dealer on it. I love owning a vehicle that makes people turn their heads and stare. Pulling up to a light and having the guy next to me look over, admire my vehicle, and give me a thumbs up is an amazing feeling. A couple months back, we showed you the new Ford F-150 Tremor, an Ecoboost-powered, regular cab, street shredder with 4.10 gears. Ford knows that the sport truck scene is still alive and kicking. Just after Ford announced the Tremor, Ram announced a “sportier” version of their popular Ram 1500 Hemi Express. This new version, called the Black Express, comes de-badged, with projector headlights, black exterior trim, and black chrome wheels. I am glad that the automakers are realizing the potential of sport trucks and hopefully they continue this trend. What are your thoughts on this? Send them over to me at [email protected].

Parting Shot

By julio garcia vargas

w

e’ve all seen them: terrible, horrendous, obnoxious bumper stickers on trucks. We have compiled a list of the worst bumper stickers around. We have also included some of the best bumper stickers we have seen, just in case you want to replace your honor student sticker with something better. Think we forgot one, or want to give us a piece of your mind, send an email to [email protected].

WorSt Calvin peeing This one has got to be the most played-out bumper sticker ever. Enough already. presidential Campaign stiCker The election is over. Take it of! Family stiCkers No one cares about your family. Honor student stiCker Congrats on creating smart ofspring, you still suck at driving. My dog is smarter than your honor student. He’s also smarter than you…ditch this sticker.

BESt one less prius Because Priuses suck! truCkin deCal Obviously this should be the first sticker on your truck. Coexist witH guns A cool recreation of the coexist sticker. anti stiCk Figure Family Again, no one cares about your family. - volume 39, no.13, [134] november 11, 2013 -

COOL & QUIET CONTROL HEAT & SOUND IMPROVE DRIVER COMFORT

THE SUPPRESSOR™ Acoustical Mat

MAT ROLLER

THERMO GUARD FR™ HEAVY DUTY SPRAY ADHESIVE

Call 800-274-8437 or visit www.thermotec.com for a free catalog, technical support or a distributor near you.

Truckin magazine, continuing to be the world’s best.

You Asked, We Answered

by JuliO Garcia VarGas PHOTOgraPHy: Team Truckin

Hey guys,

You Wanted to Know:

I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 that I want to ’bag on 22-inch wheels. Is there a company that makes the front control arms for this application? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, mike choate abilene, Texas

A couple months back, Ram unveiled a new concept truck, the Rumble Bee Ram. We posted this picture and asked you what you thought. Here are some of the responses:

Mike, That is a great question. These trucks are becoming increasingly popular as their price comes down. The answer to your question is yes, there are companies that make control arms for your truck. One we would recommend is the ’04-’08 Ram front kit from Ekstensive Metal Works (ekstensive.com). The kit uses the factory ball joints and comes with everything else you need. It is part number #F2001 and costs $800.

Truckin, I have been a long time reader and I have a question that I hope you have the answer to. I recently bought an ’08 Silverado and am having trouble finding a cat-eye billet grille shell. I had an ’06 Sierra and bought one through one of the companies in your magazine about 11 years ago. If there were any way that you could help me find one for my new project it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and keep up the awesome work.

anthony Hyatt ashford, alabama Anthony, I think I know why you are having trouble. The 2008 Silverado trucks did not have a “cat-eye” front end, they have the NBS front end. If in fact you do have a Silverado that has the slanted headlights, it is a 2003-2007. Either way, there are many companies that make billet grilles for either of those trucks.

Marshall Muse I hope they do unveil a Rumble Bee, and I hope that it prompts Ford to release a new Lightning, and let the Horsepower Arms Race ensue!

2013 Show Calendar

Michael Roa It better have a supercharged 6.1L Hemi.

October 5-6 Off Road Expo • Pomona, California October 18-20 Last Resort • Jennings, Texas November 5-8 SEMA • Las Vegas, Nevada

Austin Munro A Rumble Bee truck shouldn’t have an electronic shifter!

Coming Next Month Issue 1, on sale November 12th

More power is a goal for many truck owners and builders. The problem is once your engine makes more power, something else always breaks. One of those pieces is far too often the transmission. Next month we show you how we solved this predicament on our 2011 Chevy Silverado project “Blue Bomber.” Check back to make sure that once you have fulfilled your power goals, your trans can handle it.

TRUCKIN (ISSN 0277-5743), Volume 39, Number 13, is published every four weeks by Source Interlink Media, LLC, 261 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York NY 10016. Copyright © 2013 by Source Interlink Magazines, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY and additional mailing ofces. SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. AND U.S. possessions $36.00 for one year (13 issues). Canadian $49.00 and all other countries $62.00 (including surface mail postage). Payment in advance, U.S. funds only. Single copy price is $5.99. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to: TRUCKIN, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235.

DON’T GET LEFT IN THE DARK!

HE NEWR! T G N I R U FEAT NTED” U-BA “PATE

U-BAR PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS

Illuminate your driving experience with the power of Anzo USA Headlights. These powerful beams are engineered using the state-of-the-art CAD technology that ensures impressive style and fit. Featuring the new U-Bar halo for a truly unique look that’s sure to turn heads. Availabile in black or chrome. 1-year warranty. $ 95/pr. From

510 FREE Shipping

AVAILABLE FOR 2013 FORD, CHEVY & DODGE TRUCKS

ANZO USA UNIVERSAL LIGHTS ARE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL & STYLISH! LED HITCH LIGHT $ 99 48 FREE Shipping MAGNETIC LED LIGHTS $ 99/pr. 48 FREE Shipping

"Great Illumination!"

LED TRUCK BED LIGHTS $6599 Set of 8 FREE Shipping

"I decided to use only 6 of the 8 LED light units on my pickup bed rails, and separated the other two for use as underhood lights. That worked out great! It’s now a lot easier to find things in my well-lit truck bed (beneath my fiberglass tonneau cover) and to check on things in the engine compartment as well. This is a great product. I would recommend these to anyone." - William C. (Chesapeake, VA)

LED TAILGATE LIGHT BAR From $4699 FREE Shipping

CONQUER THE TRAIL WITH ANZO USA OFF-ROAD LIGHTS!

RUGGED VISION LED FOG LIGHTS From $20095/pr. FREE Shipping

Available in 3"x5" rectangle or 4.5" round. Powered by 6 bright white LEDs



6” HID OFF ROAD LIGHTS W/ LENS PROTECTOR $ 14995/pr. FREE Shipping

RUGGED VISION LED OFF ROAD LIGHTS From $14495 ea. FREE Shipping

3W lights ranging from 6” to 52”



FREE SHIPPING

1


ADD SOLID STYLE AND PROTECTION!

CUSTOM NERF BARS

AVAILABLE IN POLISHED, CHROME OR BLACK

Westin has gone to great lengths to create the best all-around cab-length step bars on the road. Custom-designed to fit your specific truck or SUV, Westin Nerf Bars are sure to give a boost to tired legs and your vehicle’s looks, too. Installing your new bars is easy. Westin includes a custom mounting kit and everything you need for a painless installation. PLATINUM OVAL (Pictured) E-SERIES BLACK ......From $22595/pr. FREE Shipping BLACK ...........From $23395 /pr. FREE Shipping POLISHED From $37695/pr. FREE Shipping STAINLESS ..From $33895/pr. FREE Shipping

HDX GRILLE GUARD Put a barrier between you and some of the road's bigger mishaps with the Westin HDX Grille Guard installed on your front end. Custom made for your specific vehicle, this brush guard packs a powerful punch with features like a 2" tubular design and a Full Punch Plate Center Grille. BLACK .................... From $65395 FREE Shipping POLISHED...........From $1,10795 FREE Shipping

ALSO AVAILABLE IN POLISHED

QUALITY PROTECTION & RUGGED GOOD LOOKS! STEELCRAFT GRILLE GUARD The Steelcraft Grille Guard is forged from rugged T304 stainless steel for premium strength. The one-piece construction and integrated removable brush guards shields your front end from damage on or off road. 5-year warranty on black. Limited Lifetime Warranty on Polished Stainless. BLACK ..... From $39995 FREE Shipping STAINLESS From $61995 FREE Shipping

STEELCRAFT BULL BAR Reinforce your front end with the rugged protection of the Steelcraft Bull Bar. Built from 3” T304 stainless steel tubing, this beefy bull bar boasts a removable skid plate and comes in a black powder coat or polished stainless finish. 5-year warranty on the black and a lifetime on polished stainless steel. BLACK .............................From $19999 FREE Shipping STAINLESS ....................From $23995 FREE Shipping


SIDE VIEW


2



FREE SHIPPING

1


RECEIVER HITCHES CURT hitches provide more than just versatile good looks; the smart design prevents rust by sealing the main body to keep out the elements. An open back-end design provides easy cleaning. Robotic welding produces a precision fit and strong construction to ensure that your hitch stands up to the job for years to come.

YOUR TOWING HEADQUARTERS!

95 Shipping 90FREE

$

From

5TH WHEEL HITCHES Outfit your truck for all of your heavy-duty hauling needs. Easy single-handle operation. 5-year warranty.

$

From


T-CONNECTORS Discover how much easier and safer your towing experience could be with a CURT brake controller.

$

From

TRAILER BALLS & BALL MOUNTS Built strong with CNC forming and machine welding. Available in classes I-V to fit all of your towing jobs.

95 Shipping 14 FREE

$

From

14 95FREE Shipping

YOUR SOURCE FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES! TRUCK TENTS

You don’t have to completely rough it to enjoy the great outdoors. Clearing the campsite and pitching that complicated tent are so last season. Truck tents from AutoAnything are an easy way to transform your truck into your own 5-star hotel at the campsite. Designed to fit almost every year, make and model vehicle. AutoAnything carries everything to make your adventure out in Mother Nature comfortable. Plus, thanks to our top-quality brands, like AirBedz and CampRight, you know you’re always getting the best in the industry.

$

From

189 95FREE Shipping

“Great Product!”

“This tent is well built and very easy to assemble it can be setup by one person in less than thirty minutes. I haved used mine several times for weekend hunting trips and am very happy with its performance.” - Kevin S (Fenton, MO) ‘10 Chevy Silverado

AIRBEDZ TRUCK BED AIR MATTRESS

TRUCK BEDZ AIR MATTRESS

Crafted from puncture-resistant cloth with support coils and optional wheel well inserts. 1-year warranty.

Truck Bedz air mattresses are designed to fit directly into your truck bed. 12-volt pump included.

$

From

99 FREE Shipping 95

59 FREE Shipping

$

From

95


ADVANTAGE SPORTS RACK TRUCK BED BIKE RACK Haul up to 4 bikes in your pickup’s bed.

$


THULE BED RIDER TRUCK BIKE RACK The Bed Rider comes with 2 Thule Low-Rider fork blocks for loading-up your bikes fast. Lifetime Warranty.

$

95 Shipping 179FREE


2



GET YOUR RIG ON THE LEVEL! READYLIFT LEVELING KITS When you want the gnarly look of 33” tall tires without the expense of a lift kit, a ReadyLIFT Leveling Kit is exactly what you need. Using either torsion keys or shock extensions, this simple kit sends your rig up to 3” high—enough room for that trick wheel package without wrecking your smooth ride. Limited Lifetime Warranty. BEFORE

AFTER

$

From

THEREÕS NO FASTER OR MORE ECONOMICAL WAY TO RAISE YOUR RIG THAN A READYLIFT LEVELING KIT.

139 95FREE Shipping

TRAXDA LEVELING KITS Hoist your truck’s snout and eliminate that awkward front rake with a Traxda Leveling Kit. Custom designed for a perfect fit on your rig, this kit boasts simple bolt-on installation with no drilling or modification necessary. It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to get the lift you need for your new big wheels. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

72 95FREE Shipping

DAYSTAR COMFORT RIDE LEVELING KITS When it comes to off-road style, those pencil-pushing egg-heads at the factory don’t know squat. So, trust the Daystar Comfort Ride Leveling Kit to eliminate the rake, level your rig’s profile and deliver the aggressive off-road style you’re looking for. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

49 95FREE Shipping

FIRESTONE AIR BAG SUSPENSION KIT

FIRESTONE IN-CAB SYSTEM

Firestone Air Suspension gives you the power to fine-tune your suspension’s firmness. Custom made for your vehicle, this air suspension kit is designed to keep your load level, improve steering control and braking, level headlight beams and even reduce tire wear.

Take your air suspension to the next level with a Firestone In-Cab Air System. By adjusting your air shocks from the comfort of your cab, Firestone lets you handle any load and any road on the fly. Depending on your needs, Firestone offers Level Command and Dual Command kits.

From

From

$

67 Shipping 96 FREE

$


DROP YOUR RIG FOR SUPERIOR CONTROL & RACE-READY STYLE! BELTECH LOWER KITS

GROUND FORCE LOWER KITS

For a complete stem-to-stern drop, slam your ride with Belltech. Custom configured for your soon-to-be lowrider, this kit includes everything you need to shave a few off your rig’s front and rear ride height. Available withour without shocks.

Drop what you’re driving and get your roll on! This complete performance kit is fine-tuned to drop your truck’s latitude for a serious boost in attitude. Ground Force precision designs all components to ensure a perfect fit to your rig’s undercarriage. Available with our without shocks.

$

From



$

From

121 95FREE Shipping



FREE SHIPPING

1


UPGRADE YOUR TRUCKÕS COMFORT, HANDLING AND SAFETY! Dump your stock shocks and take your suspension to new levels of comfort, handling and safety with our performance shocks. From Rancho to Skyjacker, we have the shocks you want. Whether you’re planning to hit the trails or hot-lap the track, our wide range delivers the stability you demand without destabilizing your savings.

Call or visit us online for our complete selection of performance off-road shocks. SKYJACKER SHOCKS

BILSTEIN SHOCKS

RANCHO SHOCKS

PRO COMP SHOCKS

Whether you’re heading down to the jobsite or racing across the desert in the Baja 500, Skyjacker shocks dish up the support your rig’s suspension needs. Entry-level Skyjacker shocks boast velocitysensitive valving that senses your speed and adjusts for the best results, and their pro shocks use cutting edge wafer valving for the ultimate performance. Lifetime Warranty.

Bring precision German engineering to your stateside ride with a set of Bilstein shock absorbers. Delivering the stability you need to conquer the Autobahn, paired with the comfort you crave for your morning commute. By perfecting the mono-tube gas pressure shock absorber, Bilstein revolutionized the shock absorber industry. Lifetime Warranty.

Outfit your rig for any road, track or trail with top-ofthe-line Rancho shocks. With 50+ years of engineering experience under their belt, Rancho has mastered the art of fine-tuning shocks to handle the roughest terrain with ease. Pick from multiple performance levels with varying stiffness to handle harsh impacts and improve handling. Lifetime Warranty.

There’s only one way to face the badlands like a real man— that’s mano-a-mano. And, with a set of Pro Comp Shocks absorbing the punches, you and your off-road machine are guaranteed the spoils of every backcountry battle. Precision engineered and custom valved for truck Pro Comp shocks dramatically improve on- and off-road performance. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

30 ea. Shipping 37FREE

$

From


$

From

56 95FREEea.Shipping

$

From


PUSH GROUND CLEARANCE TO NEW HEIGHTS! SKYJACKER LIFT KITS Complete with all the top-quality parts and accessories you need to get up to a 9” lift (depends on vehicle), Skyjacker delivers the clearance it takes to conquer any on- or off-road obstacle with ease. The sky’s the limit when you take your truck or SUV to a higher profile with Skyjacker! Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

159 11FREE Shipping

Kit Shown From $1,79135 FREE Shipping

Contents may vary

READYLIFT LIFT KITS

DAYSTAR LIFT KITS

Get the extra boost you need to clear those monster meats with a ReadyLIFT Lift Kit. Designed to make room for large wheels and tires without compromising your rig’s drivability or the need for permanent modifications—so you can return to stock anytime. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

The Daystar Comfort Ride Lift Kit lifts your truck without lifting your wallet. Delivering up to 4” of lift and engineered to work with stock components, this budget-friendly kit improves on- and off-road performance without affecting ride quality. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$

From


Kit Shown 58995 FREE Shipping Contents may vary

$


$

From

159 95FREE Shipping

Kit Shown 44995 FREE Shipping Contents may vary

$


2



PERFORMANCE BRAKING FOR LESS!

STOPTECH PERFORMANCE ROTORS The unique slotting design helps to vent the layer of gas, dust and debris that forms between the rotor’s surface and the brake pad. This provides a cooler and cleaner brake rotor to help provide better bite and less chance of brake fade. Power Alloy Casting design provides superior resistance to cracking caused by thermal stress, extends reliability, and maximizes strength. Call or visit us online for our huge selection.

$

From

88 ea. Shipping 50 FREE

POSI-QUIET PERFORMANCE PADS Posi-Quiet brake pads are 100% scorched at the factory, eliminating the need for extensive break-in procedures that many aftermarket brake pad suppliers require. All pads have precision-cut backing plates and noise shims to virtually eliminate noise caused by vibration.

CERAMIC PADS Great all-around performance with low dust and noise. Applications to cover almost any vehicle.

$

From

EXTENDED WEAR PADS Recommended for towing and/or hauling heavy loads. Low noise.

95/pr. Shipping 26 FREE

$

From


COMPLETE PERFORMANCE BRAKE KITS POWER STOP TRUCK & TOW BRAKE KITS Hills, heavy loads and towing can make any factory brake system weak in the knees. Put some power back in your pedal with the Power Stop Truck & Tow Brake Kit. A set of custom matched rotors and pads gives you command over any terrain.

POWER STOP BRAKE KITS Don’t just stop—Power Stop! Engineered for serious performance, aggressive style and simple installation, this kit includes drilled & slotted rotors and a set of performance pads, all custom matched for you by the braking brains at Power Stop.

$

From

FREE Shipping 121 95/kit

$

From

FREE Shipping 177 95/kit

SWAP FACTORY FLOP FOR SERIOUS STOP!

High-performance brake rotors pick up where your stock brake rotors leave off. Utilizing the same cutting-edge designs found on racecars–drilled, slotted and even drilled and slotted–performance rotors turn factory brakes into lean, mean stopping machines. And, with the biggest names at the lowest prices, AutoAnything makes sure you stop on a dime and get nine cents change! CENTRIC PREMIUM ROTORS .......................From $4390/pr. FREE Shipping EBC ULTIMAX ROTORS (Slotted) ................... From

100 FREE Shipping EBC SPORT ROTORS (Slotted w/Dimples) ...........From $7419/pr. FREE Shipping BAER DECELA ROTORS (Drilled & Slotted) ...... From $13499/pr. FREE Shipping POWER STOP ROTORS (Cross-Drilled & Slotted) .. From $9390/pr. FREE Shipping STOPTECH ROTORS (Slotted)...........................From $8176/pr. FREE Shipping $

42/pr.



ROTO-TECH ROTORS (Drilled & Slotted).............From $11190/pr. FREE Shipping STOPTECH CRYO ROTORS (Slotted) ..............From $14376/pr. FREE Shipping BREMBO SPORT ROTORS (Drilled) ................ From $11995/pr. FREE Shipping

BREMBO SPORT ROTORS (Slotted) ............... From $11995/pr. FREE Shipping

DBA 4000XS SERIES ROTORS (Drilled & Slotted) PRICE TOO LOW TO PRINT

VISIT US ONLINE FOR OUR COMPLETE SELECTION!



FREE SHIPPING

1


EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE PIPES! Shop AutoAnything for the Perfect Exhaust System! Ditch your restrictive stock pipes and move up to a powerful performance exhaust system. Big power gains, a throaty growl and improved fuel economy— that’s what a performance exhaust system delivers. And, each performance exhaust system is custom-bent for your vehicle.

Make a hefty deposit into your power and tone account with a Banks performance exhaust system. Backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

$

From


Bolt up Borla’s Performance Cat-Back exhaust system and take aim for the winner’s circle. Increase horsepower, torque and even fuel economy.

$

From

274 88FREE Shipping

Engineered for unrestricted flow and a throaty growl, Magnaflow Cat-Back Exhaust Systems are all wrought from prime 409 stainless steel for lasting durability.

$

From


Feel, see and hear the amazing difference a custom-designed Flowmaster performance exhaust makes. Backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

274 88FREE Shipping

PLUG-IN POWER & FUEL SAVINGS! Ever feel like your engine can do more? Your vehicle is stronger, faster and fiercer than you might imagine, and a programmer is the key to throwing open the floodgates to full-throttle power. Tap into secret horsepower, torque and MPG in less than 10 minutes. And there’s no worry about voiding your manufacturer’s warranty, because all of our power programmers return your engine to the factory settings once unplugged

®

Want your truck to drive faster, shift better, pull stronger and save fuel? Stick with Superchips— the #1 seller of programmers—and go from stock to squealin’ with a simple plug-in tuner.

$

From

*

*

Beefed-up power, crystal-clear display and a personal driving coach—the Bully Dog Triple Dog GT Tuner has it all. Easy installation. 1-year warranty. Now available for HEMI & JEEP!

Witness the evolution of performance. Aside from substantial power and torque gains, the Edge Evolution CTS provides a wealth of information about your vehicle’s performance. 2-year warranty.

Flatten the hills and lighten your load with the only programmer brand that’s tuned to tow in any power level! Hypertech gives you horsepower and fuel savings without cranking-up EGTs. Checks trouble codes, adjusts for tire size and more.

From

From

*


$

From

37499FREE Shipping

$

*

00 Overnight Shipping 589 FREE

$





2



FORCE-FEED YOUR ENGINE A FRESH BLAST OF OXYGEN! POWER YOU CAN FEEL!

Replace engine-asphyxiating OEM parts with high-flow cold air intake kits, performance filters and helix-bore spacers. They're like a breath of fresh air that'll get your engine pumping. You'll discover gains in horsepower, torque and even fuel economy.

Nothing produces power like cold blasts of clean, cool air flowing through an Injen Air Intake. Every Injen intake is custom engineered to deliver real performance. Lifetime Warranty.

Tap into pure speed with a fast-flowing AEM intake. Designed to blast power-boosting air right into your engine for greater combustion efficiency. Lifetime Warranty.

aFe Cold Air Intakes use custom-designed packages to fit your specific needs—power-enhancing filters, tubes and steel heat shields. 1-year warranty.

$

GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE

From

FREE Shipping

15888FREE Shipping

GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE FREE Shipping

In place of your restrictive stock parts, Airaid intakes release instant gains in power, torque and fuel economy. Lifetime Warranty.

$

From

181 95FREE Shipping

INCREASE YOUR TORQUE AND HORSEPOWER! †

Ford Power Stroke 6.4L (‘08-’10) Part#57-2576

$

COLD AIR INTAKES*

PERFORMANCE AIR FILTERS The washable and reusable pleated and oiled cotton gauze filtration medium runs up to 50,000 miles between cleanings, depending on highway conditions. 10-year / 1,000,000 Mile Warranty. Installs in minutes.

$

From

6499FREE Shipping

30395 FREE Shipping

F-150 5.4L ('09-'11) .......................Part# 33-2385 F-150 5.4L (‘04-’08) .......................Part# 33-2287 Tundra 4.7L ('07-'12) .....................Part# 33-2387 Ram 5.7L ('03-'12) .........................Part# 33-2247 Silverado 5.3L ('99-'12)..................Part# 33-2129

Boost power and torque† with a K&N Cold Air Intake. Custom engineered with a famous K&N Filtercharger cone filter and crosslink nylon intake tract. 10-year / 1,000,000 Mile Warranty. Easy installation.

...Plus 100s More! Call or Visit Us Online.

From

$


F-150 5.4L (‘09-’11) .......................Part# 57-2575 F-150 5.4L (‘04-’08) .......................Part# 57-2556 Tundra 4.7L (‘07-’11) ..................Part# 63-9031-1 Ram 5.7L (‘09-’12) .........................Part# 63-1561 Silverado 5.3L (‘09-’12)..................Part# 63-3070

...Plus 100s More! Call or Visit Us Online.

†

Estimated horsepower and torque gains based on specific or similar vehicle dynamometer tests. Results will vary. For more information, look up vehicle and/or testing protocols at knfilters.com. *57 Series Intakes are 50-State Legal. Intake systems beginning with 63/69/77/RK are street legal in most states. Some of these parts are not legal for use on certain vehicles in California, or other states adopting CA emission standards. Visit us online for CARB status on each part for a specific vehicle.




FREE SHIPPING

1


VOLANT COLD AIR INTAKES Increase horsepower, add torque, even improve your fuel economy with the Volant Cold Air Intake System! The rocket scientists at Volant have truly outdone themselves with this one. The Volant intake breathes in oodles of performanceenhancing air. What's more, it takes less than an hour to install using standard household tools to replace the old, suffocating factory air box.

F-150 3.5L Eco Boost (’11) Part#195356 Overflow bottle included

$

43736 FREE Shipping

Tundra/Sequoia 5.7L including FlexFuel (‘07-’13) Part#18857

$

35726 FREE Shipping

New Volant-HV Filters with Donaldson PowerCore® Filtration Technology provides an additional 15-20% increase in CFM over the original.

Great Looks and Performance! “This is a great intake system. I’ve owned other brands and this was by far the easiest to install and looks amazing. Overall I’m very happy with the intake!” - Michael I. (Davie, FL)

Ram 1500 5.7L (‘08-’12) Part#160576

$

35726 FREE Shipping


GM/Chevy/Cadillac 4.8/5.3/6.0/6.2L (‘09-’13) Part#154536

$

35726 FREE Shipping

MORE POPULAR VOLANT AIR INTAKES Chevy/GMC/Cadillac 4.8/5.3/6.0L (‘99-’06).........Part# 151536 $31046 Chevy/GMC 4.8/5.3/6.0L (‘07-’08)..........................Part# 152536 $31046 Titan/Armada 5.6L (‘04-’13) .................................. Part# 128566 $28706 Tacoma 4.0L (‘12-’13) .............................................. Part# 185406 $32842 Ford F-150 5.4L (‘09-’11) ......................................... Part# 191546 $35726 Jeep Wrangler JK 3.6L (‘12-’13)............................. Part# 176366 $32842

See Site for Complete Selection of Intakes & Filters


2



Truckin Vol 39 No 13 - 2013 USA

Recommend Documents