READERS’ RIDES

a secondary cooling system for the supercharger. The exhaust has been angled out in a custom setup from behind the rear wheel, coming down in the middle of the back fender. The gas tank has been moved to the rear of the bed rather than behind the seats in the cab.

The friends built an aluminum tank for the Ford, creating different baffles inside and shortening the height of the fuel pump so everything is in sync. The differential is a Ford 9.75 with limited slip and 3.73 gears. The front suspension features TCI Mustang II IFS with sway bar and adjustable coilovers, while the rear boasts a TCI 4-link with adjustable coil overs. Four-wheel disc brakes, with 11-inch front and 13-inch rear, give this Ford mashup stopping power. The truck sits on 18-inch Foose Legends holding 215 front and 255 rear Toyo Proxes.

On the exterior, the bulkier stock F-1 bumpers have been removed or replaced. A custom roll pan with recessed lights now fits the rear, while the front saw bumper brackets chopped on a 1940 Ford bumper that matched the curves of the body, bringing the bumper in closer to the body.

The two opportunities for outsourcing the work on the ’52 come in the form of bodywork and the paint job. To make the rearend fit, Ryan and Carl sent the truck off to Dutchman in Idaho to have the crew shorten it. The new oak bed with stainless steel strips adds to the Ford’s classic style. Lewis Auto Body pulled off the paint job, which Ryan describes as one of the more difficult choices for the build. To round out the build, the interior features Dakota Digital gauges; ididit steering column; modified Lightning seats with custom-made center console; hanging pedal kit; power door locks, windows and antenna; keyless entry; roll control and custom stereo.

No part of this ‘52 was overlooked, and all of the transplants and custom work make this build an instant classic.