What is independence? Some people feel the need to deny help from the people who surround them. Self-sufficiency brings a feeling of security when you don't feel the need to rely on anyone else for help. Is that act actually a symptom of insecurity? Where do you draw the lines between codependent, self-sufficient, and dependent? There is a limitation to healthy habits that are credited to this attribute. Even if you could do everything by yourself for yourself, you would still go crazy if you were left completely alone. The truth is that we all need human interaction to live life. Bouncing ideas, sharing beliefs, and trading talents or goods give us all a sense of humanity. A good ground to evaluate yourself and the things around you is necessary to understand where the balance lies. The conclusion points toward the idea that none of us are completely self-sufficient.
Chandler, Arizona, resident Glenn Johnson knows this to be true. When asked how he got his '99 Ford F-350 Super Duty sitting on 44-inch tires, he quickly responded, "I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends and Valley Spring Service in Phoenix." He also had no problem praising Audio by T.J., Interco Tire Corporation, or Weld Wheels for their styling contributions to the heavy hauler. In total, the Blue Oval gained 26 inches of lift from the custom springs manufactured by Valley Spring Service. Dampening the 44x6.5R21 Super Swamper tires is done with a set of Doetsch Enterprise shocks. Weld Mountain Crusher 16.5x14-inch rims fill the big meats and are pushed by the V-10 powerplant through a set of 4.56:1 gears. Of course, a little more was needed for the hauler to spin up the wheel and tire combination, so a Volant air intake replaced the stock unit. A throttle-body spacer and Diablo Sport programmer enhance the inhalation of air and fuel. Flowmaster's 3-inch after-cat exhaust allows the engine to exhale all the waste. Custom driveshafts and a drag link equip the Super Duty with the ability to apply power to the rotation and turn the heavy-hauler tires.
Styling the big rig's nose is done with three billet grille inserts that fill the grille shell. A total of eight dampers equip the truck with an aggressive look. Front wheelwell shock hoops allow a dual shock system to maintain the ride up front. Out back, a differential truss equipped with shock mounts provides the same dual-shock provisions. Of course, a steering damper and flamed mounting bracket tames the lateral deflection of the big meats and makes driving more manageable.
Lee Custom Paint fixed up the outer layer of the project. The fenders, hood, and front doors were prepped, taped, and shot with ghost flames using House of Kolor Purple and Silver pigment. The door handles and rearview mirrors were sanded smooth, prepped, and shot to match the white paint that the rest of the truck sports. No build goes without a stereo, so the techs at Audio by T.J. in Mesa, Arizona, installed video and audio entertainment for the Blue Oval. A Panasonic head unit supplies the low-impedance signals to the amplifiers, while a Memphis Audio 4x400 amp supplies 100 watts to the Memphis Audio 6-inch splits that fill each of the four doors. A 1x1500 MTX amp supplies 750 watts to each of the two tens mounted in a custom enclosure behind the rear seats. A video signal comes out of the head unit to a 7-inch monitor. The rig is also equipped with a PlayStation, just in case watching a DVD isn't enough to keep the passengers entertained.
Yeah, doing things for yourself by yourself may feel good, but everyone wants to feel as though they're important. If you're so enthralled with yourself that you can't allow someone else to share some glory, you'll find yourself by yourself a lot.
SpecificationsOwner/hometown:Glenn Johnson/Chandler, Arizona
Year/make/model:'99 Ford F-350 Super Duty
Engine:V-10 gas 1-ton 4x4
Drivetrain:4.56:1 gear ratio
Suspension:Valley Spring Service leaf springs
Shocks:Doetsch Enterprises remote reservoir
Tires/wheels:44x6.5R21 Super Swampers/Weld Mountain Crusher 16.5x14-inch rims