White's Knight

In our search for the clean and shiny that's also functional, we were pleased to chance upon the F-150 that graces this month's cover. The big Ford represents a new generation of 1/2-ton Blue Ovals, and the customization represents the culmination of Russell White's enthusiasm for all things fast. A short six-year trip back in time found Russell White and Brian Barron wrenching as coworkers at Advantage Performance and racing as NASCAR Super Late Model competitors on the high-speed asphalt of Irwindale Speedway. The competition and camaraderie grew into a business venture. Today, Russell and Brian still race, but Russell turns the steering wheel while Brian's expert hands turn the wrenches.

In finest born-in-the-USA tradition, Brian and the crew at White Motorsports Shop (WMS) build all their products in-house. WMS is usually busy installing lifts and high-quality bolt-on accessories, but is fully capable of race-prep and rollcage fabrication. Speed on the street means proper steering geometry and components that hold up under the pressure of competition. Dirt duty demands the same ingredients. "We wanted to build a truck that was tall, but not stupidly high," Brian commented. With a new '04 F-150 as a canvas, White Motorsports transformed the truck in a shockingly short single week. The result is a dirt-capable truck that doubles as a clean calling card. White's knight is more than just shining armor.

Now you see it, now you don't....        read full caption Now you see it, now you don't. AMP Research's Power-Step is a great idea whose time has come. The full running boards are generously sized, yet conceal themselves behind the rocker panels as soon as the doors shut. AMP's founder, Horst Leitner, is a mad scientist whose inventions also include full-suspension mountain bikes and ATK motorcycles.	See ya! White's roostin' F-150...        read full caption See ya! White's roostin' F-150 is a perfect example of a truck that can drive to work, haul tools and toys, and do duty in the dirt. A Tuffliner protects the cargo bay. Riverside, California's VGI Graphics was responsible for the graphics that take this truck from plain white to just right.	The front suspension was crafted...        read full caption The front suspension was crafted entirely in-house by Brian Barron and the crew at White Motorsports. Beefy brackets drop the stock lower control arms and OEM steering rack 1 full foot. Heim joints were added to the steering links for extra beef. To compensate for the drop, the knuckles were lengthened to meet custom upper control arms in the stock location. Custom upper arms offer the dual benefits of greater-than-stock strength and added wheel travel. The uniball design can tolerate greater angles than the stock ball joint before binding. The WMS lift is coilover-specific and lets users choose from the latest crop of racing dampers to smooth the ride. Russell White's '04 F-150 is a two-wheel-drive, but Ford's front suspension design means that the WMS kit is also compatible with four-wheel-drive models. Compression struts span the gap between the transmission crossmember and WMS cradle, adding to the overall strength of the kit.
		To make the most of the stock...        read full caption To make the most of the stock rear suspension design, a 5-inch Atlas spring pack was bolted into the factory hangers. The leaf springs are controlled by custom bypass shocks that maximize control and cush. To leave the bed as a fully functional unit, the shocks were mounted beneath the sheetmetal. Despite the stock mounting locations, the ride is long on comfort.
˙ Toyo's Open-Country...        read full caption ˙ Toyo's Open-Country Mud-Terrain tires are coming on strong as tough tires that offer plenty of traction off-road and have a fairly quiet ride on the pavement. Long tread life is another plus offered by the Toyos. The 38-inch meats encircle Weld Dakar 20x10-inch wheels - a tough combo, with looks to match.	Ford's newest Triton V-8 has...        read full caption Ford's newest Triton V-8 has enough muscle to fly in stock trim for the time being. Sensible bolt-on hop-ups include a Volant air intake and a Super Chips power programmer. Spent gasses exit the F-150 through a stainless-steel Borla muffler.