Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Street Trucks

I’M NO NEWCOMER TO TRUCKS, AND THROUGHOUT MY TRAVELS IN THE SCENE I’VE LEARNED QUITE A FEW LESSONS THAT WILL STAY WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. When I started my career as an automotive photojournalist, I was on a single-minded quest to seek out the sickest trucks in the world. Travelling around the country to locate and shoot the absolute best trucks in their home settings was (and still is) an exciting adventure. The thing was, I got so caught up in the trucks that I wasn’t able to see past them. Because I was mesmerized by their appearance, I lost touch with the most important component in the scene, the people. Though it’s awesome to have the opportunity to shoot amazing trucks, they’re really just the…

“WHAT WE WERE REALLY AFTER HERE WAS TO EXPERIENCE A MORE RESPONSIVE SUSPENSION SETUP TO CAPITALIZE ON THE TRUCK’S LIGHTER BODY WEIGHT. ” Right off the bat, the newer F-150’s aluminum body has made a huge difference in performance handling due to its reduced weight and subsequent lower center of gravity. That’s one point on the scoreboard right away, but there are always enhancements to be made on top of the factory’s improvements, and Belltech has formulated a kit to take better advantage of the F-150’s lighter step. Starting at the front of the F-150, Belltech utilizes a strut that can be configured to either lift the front 1 inch or lower it a maximum of 3 inches. The height is adjusted using a ring…

“HE KNEW HE WANTED TO GIVE THE TRUCK A RESTOMOD LOOK, MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS BUT KEEP THE ORIGINAL LOOK OF THE TRUCK INTACT.” THINGS HAVE CERTAINLY CHANGED FOR CUSTOM TRUCKS. It used to be that in order to call your truck custom, you had to take it to the extreme limit, including wild body mods and painted graphics. Though there are people who still go all out like that, it’s not for everyone. For instance, although C-10s have emerged as one of the hottest segments in the truck scene, not everyone is driven to change their looks dramatically. The trend with C-10s is to improve upon them rather than change their original form. Though it’s a must to modify the suspension and drivetrain, it’s…

“WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CHOOSE WHEELS, JOE DIDN’T HESITATE. THE THREE-PIECE 26X10 NUTEKS WERE EXACTLY WHAT HE HAD ENVISIONED.” NOT EVERY BEAUTIFUL TRUCK YOU SEE AT SHOWS WAS BUILT TO BE A BARELY DRIVEN TRAILER QUEEN. When Joe Nasworthy of Jacksonville, Florida, decided he wanted to build a fully functional and reliable version of a brand-new ’14 GMC Sierra, he knew no one could do it better than Little Shop MFG. “We wanted to keep the look of what GM would build if they were building an air-ride-equipped sport truck,” Joe said. So after he decided which vehicle features he did and did not want, he purchased a brand-new Sierra and drove it from his home in Florida directly to Little Shop headquarters in Tennessee. Originally, Joe…

In one of the latest segments of the Project Wingman series, custom-painted flames and pinstriping were added over the factory paint to give the truck an exterior upgrade. In this final segment, I’m going to replace the boring factory lights and grille. I turned to the folks at T-Rex and Anzo USA for replacement parts. Each company received good word of mouth from truck owners I talked to at shows and at feature photo shoots, so for me, the choice was clear. After I received all of the gear, I checked out the craftsmanship of each item before installing it. I was very pleased and confident that I’d made the right choice with T-Rex and Anzo USA. T-REX BILLET GRILLE 01 We removed the old grille and drilled mounting holes…

WE’RE REALLY digging the styling of the new RAM Power Wagon, which has an old school flair thanks to its 1978-80 macho Power Wagon-esque styling cues. The ’17 RAM Power Wagon gets all-new exterior and interior enhancements to match its off-road prowess. Based on the RAM 2500 heavy duty 4x4 crew cab, the Power Wagon still features myriad off-road-tackling features, including a link suspension with more than 2 inches of lift, locking diffs and a 12,000-pound winch, which give it quite an advantage over other trucks in its class. Engineering efforts include a best-in-class 410-hp, 6.4L Hemi V-8 engine. Shifting duties are handled effortlessly by the 66RFE six-speed automatic transmission, which connects to a part-time manual Borg Warner BW 44-47 transfer case. Hill-Descent Control gives drivers the ability to control…

MAX FUEL DELIVERY HOLLEY has announced the release of the new VR series of fuel pumps, fuel pressure regulators and fuel filters. Its VR1 and VR2 fuel pumps promise to provide enough fuel for almost any application. To support the level of fuel flow maintained by the VR series pumps, Holley’s matching VR series fuel pressure regulators are precision machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminum for strength and durability and anodized for corrosion resistance. To complete the fuel system, Holley’s VR series billet fuel filters are rated to flow up to 460 gph and are available with 10, 40 and 100-micron elements for use as pre- and post-pump filtration. Holley Performance Products • 866.464.6553 Holley.com DIGITALLY MASTERED JL AUDIO has introduced its TwK 88 and TwK D8 digital signal processors…

“THEY PERFORMED A FULL RESTORATION ON THE TRUCK, BREAKING IT DOWN TO ITS SIMPLEST FORM, AND THEN BUILDING IT BACK UP USING THE BEST COMPONENTS AVAILABLE.” WHETHER IT’S CUSTOM OR STOCK, OLD OR NEW, EVERY TRUCK HAS A HISTORY. And when we spend time with our vehicles, we grow attached to them, until it’s finally time for our custodianship to end. When that point comes, it’s important to most of us that it goes to a good home, to someone who will take care of the truck just as well as we did, if not better. That way, the legacy we’ve built into the rolling piece of art will continue on in some way, and hopefully, be respected. Recently, Dale Hinson from Midland, North Carolina, purchased this ’59…

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE HONDA RIDGELINE IS NOT A REAL TRUCK. How could it be? It’s a front-wheel-drive unibody vehicle based on Honda’s Pilot mid-size crossover SUV. The Ridgeline is completely unlike any other truck currently on the market. In the history of attempts at unibody trucks, only the Chevy El Camino of the early-’60s has stood the test of time. But let’s not waste time talking about what the Ridgeline isn’t. Let’s talk about what it is. UNIBODY CHASSIS AND INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION The Ridgeline is built on a unibody platform. That fact drives every other difference between the Ridgeline and its body-on-frame competitors. Those differences start with an independent multi-link rear suspension instead of a solid rear axle. That feature allows the Ridgeline to give you a smooth…

ONCE A YEAR, F-100 enthusiasts from around the eastern U.S. assemble for one of their favorite events. The F-100 Supernationals is one of the largest shows of its kind, and it has been going strong for the past 38 years. Held at the Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, the get-together is open to all Ford-powered machines, although the flavor of choice is always the classic F-100. This year, more than 550 enthusiasts arrived to enjoy the Thursday-through-Saturday show. Everyone looks forward to the opening ceremonies when never-before-seen trucks are unveiled to an appreciative crowd. Show promoter Charlie Cobble explained the details of each of the fresh builds as owners removed their trucks’ covers. With nine new vehicles, including two former authentic moonshine runners that had been meticulously restored,…

“CHEAP WHEELS AND TIRES SUGGEST THE OWNER CUT CORNERS EVERYWHERE ELSE. WHERE THE TRUCK MEETS THE ROAD, IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO SCRIMP.” FOR TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS, DREAMS START WITH A KEY. Standing at the dealership, surrounded by a sea of identical trucks—factory stock and bland—your imagination begins to wander as you dream of how your truck will be different, how it will stand out from the crowd. Twenty-two-year-old Hamburg, Arkansas, resident Michael Kilcrease felt this way in November 2014 when he was handed the keys to his brand-new ’15 F-350 Super Duty 4x4. But, this wasn’t his first rodeo. Thanks to his father, Kilcrease has been involved with customizing trucks for almost six years and has a number of previous builds under his belt, such as an F-150, both…

ACCORDING TO THE OLD SAYING, DEATH AND TAXES ARE THE ONLY THINGS YOU CAN REALLY COUNT ON. Although that might generally be true, there are some positive—highly likely— things to look forward to as well. Owning one’s dream vehicle is a good example, but now more than ever, getting it requires pulling more strings. The ability to transform any given make/model into a truly one-off custom version takes way more effort than just walking into a dealer’s showroom and pointing at the prettiest vehicle on the lot. For anyone whose heart is set on an old, rusted pickup, there’s quite a bit of dirty work involved in transforming it into a running, driving, customized vehicle. The only sure thing you can expect from such a scenario, however, is that a…

IT USUALLY TAKES MORE THAN ONE TRY TO GET THE BEST OUT OF ANYTHING, AND THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. In fact, having to take a few swings before knocking it out of the park can make success that much sweeter. That’s why a homerun hit with a full count at the bottom of the ninth is so exciting. The same applies to our beloved custom truck builds. More often than not, getting a project to the level you’ve long imagined takes a few tries, and each attempt is worth it because all the while you’re building skill, perseverance and a network of associates that will help you throughout your life. Longtime mini-trucker Jorge “Beast” Rivera of Bakersfield, California, experienced this and has the hard-won custom truck to prove…

AUGUST AUGUST 5-7 CARLISLE, PA—CARLISLE TRUCK NATIONALS—At the Carlisle Fairgrounds. A little bit of everything: lowered minis, lifted 4x4s, chromed big rigs, SUVs, custom vans and restored classics. Kids under 12 get in free. There will be tons of activities for kids, shopping, manufacturers’ midway, burnout contests, beauty contests and more. Log on to Carlisleevents.com for details. AUGUST 6 JENNINGS, FL—4 TH  ANNUAL PLAYLOUD CAR AND TRUCK SHOW—Held at Jennings City Park, 1118 Bee St. Top 10 show with class awards, food, raffles, door prizes fun and games for kids and adults. Proceeds from the show will purchase school supplies for underprivileged local children. For more info, call Kenneth at 850.251.7441 or email Playloudshow@gmail.com. AUGUST 19-21 FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS—SLAMILY REUNION—Held at Kay Rogers Park, 4400 Midland Blvd. Live DJ,…