Rear suspension currently consists of a basic 4-inch spring and block lift damped with Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks. While this setup offers reasonable performance, the light weight of the rear of the truck does not allow the suspension to flex significantly. A custom four-link suspension with Fox air shocks is in the works.
Motivation comes from a venerable 22R-E engine backed by a five-speed tranny. A Marlin Crawler 4.7:1 transfer case gearset can offer enough low gearing to keep the 37-inch Goodyear MT/Rs wrapped on Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels moving over rough terrain.
 The front suspension system...  The front suspension system consists of All-Pro leaf packs on custom-fabricated mounts. Kong's steering arms were combined with the stock IFS steering box to assemble a crossover steering setup. |  The interior got a custom...  The interior got a custom in-cab cage with front supports that run down through the dash to the floorboard. 3R Racing seats keep occupants firmly in place. |  The truck sports a custom...  The truck sports a custom bed constructed of 1-3/4-inch tubing and aluminum diamond-plate panels. The farthest rear point on the truck is now where the rear shackles mount. |
Creature comforts got some attention throughout the build of this rig as well. Inside is a set of 3R Racing seats and APC steering wheel. Lance at Creative Car Stereo filled the cab with tunes via a Pioneer CD system bellowing 600 watts of acoustical energy. Behind the seats, a custom enclosure houses 10-inch Rockford Fosgate subwoofers.
The project continues on as most projects do. The truck is continually evolving to improve its performance and fun factor. Thanks go to friends Mark Mason, Tony Owens, and Mark Owsiany for all their help. Mike also feels a special bond with his truck since some of the upgrade parts he acquired from the parents of his good friend Steve Custer who died in an untimely auto accident. Now Mike feels that maybe Steve's spirit lives on as his "spotter in the sky."