1994 Ford F150 Marriage Proposal

Pulling the hood off of its Autofab pins reveals there's a lot going on underneath. The engine is encased in a maze of 1.75-inch DOM tubing that's triangulated and gusseted at key locations. The stock 351 Windsor received mild port work, a set of Mac Performance equal-length headers, and a Clay Smith camshaft to wring out some extra ponies. The fuel management system was converted to fire sequentially, which produces more power, wastes less fuel, and produces fewer emissions (win, win, win).

Pulling the hood off of its Autofab pins reveals there's a lot going on underneath. The en

Anyone who's been through a wedding engagement can tell you it's not a relaxing process. There are decisions to make, appointments to keep, and most of all, expenses. Keith Sato of Brea, California, found himself in that very situation a few years ago. "I was getting stressed out about all the stuff we had to pay for," Keith related. "I was happy to be getting married, and I wanted Tricia to enjoy our engagement and our wedding. I decided I needed to do something that would make both of us happy." He came up with a quid-pro-quo deal and ran it by his fiancée. "I'll quit complaining about what this is costing," he offered. "But as soon as we're back from our honeymoon, I'm gonna build a truck." Tricia agreed, and the plans for the wedding and the truck moved forward.

The wedding and honeymoon were pulled off smoothly in a matter of months. Building Keith's newly-purchased '94 F-150, on the other hand, took a few years. The first parts of the build were done outdoors, and the record-setting rainfall of the '04-to-'05 winter hampered progress. Eventually the truck was moved into Keith's garage, which made it easier to work on.

1994 Ford F 150 Supercab 2Wd Fire Extinguisher

Cleverly bent and routed tubes make ingress and egress quick and easy. For a dual-purpose prerunner that needs to be street-able and family friendly, this is an excellent layout. The fire extinguisher is within easy reach if it's needed.

Cleverly bent and routed tubes make ingress and egress quick and easy. For a dual-purpose

Keith didn't build the truck alone. As one-half of Sato Bros. Racing, he had, his brother, Tony's talents available, as well. Matt Helton and other friends from the "Mojave Mafia" also lent their time and skills.

The resulting truck is amazingly street-able considering its off-road prowess. The headliner, carpet, and A/C are all in place and fully functional. The engine mods were kept mild so that street-legal status could be retained.

The roof tubes tuck high and tight and out of the way. The headliner was kept in place and is part of the reason this cab is a comfortable place to be.

The roof tubes tuck high and tight and out of the way. The headliner was kept in place and

Once in the dirt, this F-1 bares its teeth. Custom equal-length I-beams, swing-set steering, Deaver leaf springs, a Blitzkrieg Motorsports axle housing, and a full arsenal of Sway-A-Way dampers see to it that bumps get swallowed whole in rapid succession. Chassis reinforcement and personal protection come courtesy of a full 'cage that was built using 1.75-inch, 0.120-wall DOM tubing.

Trucks must fit more than your off-road aspirations. They must also fit your life. For some, that means a mild build using bolt-on parts. For others, high-end, custom-fabricated everything is the norm. Wherever you are along this spectrum, take some inspiration from Keith: If you're planning to build a truck, you'll get much further if you first master the art of negotiation.

Specs
Vehicle: '94 Ford F-150 SuperCab 2WD
Owner/Hometown: Keith Sato / Brea, CA
Engine: Ford 351 Windsor with sequential fuel management, Clay Smith camshaft, Mac Performance equal-length headers, mild head porting
Induction: stock intake equipped with a UNI filter
Transmission: Ford C-6 with Art Carr shifter and manual valve body, Kevlar internal bands
Front end: Custom J-Beam built by Keith using kingpin beam ends and 4130 chromoly tubing, Autofab hubs, and Wilwood brakes.
Rear end: Blitzkrieg Motorsports fabricated 9-inch housing, Currie axle shafts, and Strange Race Case third member.
Suspension: Sway-A-Way 2.0 coilovers in front, Sway-A-Way 3.0 bypass shocks front and rear, and Sway-A-Way 2.5 bump stops at each corner. Deaver rear spring packs
Tires: 37-inch Goodyear MT/R
Wheels: BTR beadlocks

This is the "outrigger" style of 'cage building, a technique that works well for the narrow-set frame rails that are common on Ford trucks. A pair of "outrigger" tubes are set wide underneath the rocker panels, curving back into the frame on both ends. The cab cage tubes then land on the outrigger tubes. During the build, the cab cage tubing was tacked in place and then the tacked-together tubing was dropped down where it could be welded all the way around. Once the welding was completed, the cage was lifted back in place and the outrigger tubes were then welded solidly to the frame.
This is the "outrigger" style of 'cage building, a technique that works well for the narro
Clean lines and a nonchalant exterior belie the weaponry beneath. Check out the custom valance below the grille.
Clean lines and a nonchalant exterior belie the weaponry beneath. Check out the custom val
DPG built this center console which houses the Art Carr shifter, Lowrance GPS and Maxon race radio, placing them all within easy reach.
DPG built this center console which houses the Art Carr shifter, Lowrance GPS and Maxon ra

Since bigger tires effectively make the bumps smaller, Keith's F-150 rolls on 37-inch rubber. He prefers the old-style Goodyear MT/R, seen here, to the new version. The beadlock wheels are by BTR.
Since bigger tires effectively make the bumps smaller, Keith's F-150 rolls on 37-inch rubb
Autofab hubs are stronger and lighter than the stock units and boast the strength of 5/8-inch studs. Wilwood rotors and calipers stop this truck with authority.
Autofab hubs are stronger and lighter than the stock units and boast the strength of 5/8-i
How's this for a reinforced spring hanger? A pair of Deaver leaf packs ensure a smooth, progressive spring rate thanks to their multi-leaf design.
How's this for a reinforced spring hanger? A pair of Deaver leaf packs ensure a smooth, pr

The front end was fabricated using 1.75-inch, 0.120-wall 4130 chromoly tubing, and it's four inches wider per side than stock. The I-beams and radius arms are welded together into solid "J-beams" for added strength and simplicity.....
The front end was fabricated using 1.75-inch, 0.120-wall 4130 chromoly tubing, and it's fo
.....The equal-length beams are matched by an equal-length swing-set steering system. Careful planning meant that the tie rods only required minimal bends for clearance.
.....The equal-length beams are matched by an equal-length swing-set steering system. Care
Kingpin beam ends and matching knuckles were employed; they're much stronger than their stock ball-joint counterparts. Note the double-sheared tie rod end and the knuckle's fabricated steering stop.
Kingpin beam ends and matching knuckles were employed; they're much stronger than their st

At each J-beam juncture you'll find a Sway-A-Way 2.0 coilover, a 3.0 bypass shock, and a 2.5-inch diameter bump stop. Note the monster-sized beam pivot bracket just visible behind the coilover. Custom pivot brackets are required if you're building an equal-length system. McKenzie's limit straps stop the suspension at full droop.
At each J-beam juncture you'll find a Sway-A-Way 2.0 coilover, a 3.0 bypass shock, and a 2
A Blitzkrieg Motorsports (BMS) 9-Inch housing is something relatively new in the axle world, but the company's offering shows a design that can compete with the best of 'em. The center section is made of three CNC-bent sections.....
A Blitzkrieg Motorsports (BMS) 9-Inch housing is something relatively new in the axle worl
.....which are then welded together, after which the third member mounting face is welded on. Beefy axle tubes and a substantial back brace complete the BMS housing. Currie axle shafts and a Strange Race Case are also on board.
.....which are then welded together, after which the third member mounting face is welded

Mounted above the Deaver springs, Sway-A-Way 3.0 bypass shocks are on board to control the rear suspension's bump and droop action. To the immediate right of the compression adjusters you can see a corner of the custom-built 48-gallon Transfer Flow fuel tank, which retains the stock tank's EVAP emission controls.
Mounted above the Deaver springs, Sway-A-Way 3.0 bypass shocks are on board to control the
Few things are as obnoxious or as dangerous as a floor jack that flops around. This one sits securely in a locked-down perch. Note the way the locking arm connects to the jack's actuation collar and prevents unwanted movement and noise.
Few things are as obnoxious or as dangerous as a floor jack that flops around. This one si

Building headers with equal-length primary tubes can require some tricky routing, but Mac Performance pulled it off in fine style and with good fitment in the engine bay.
Building headers with equal-length primary tubes can require some tricky routing, but Mac
Here's a slick way to mount a muffler. The Magnaflow's mount tucks in high and out of harm's way.
Here's a slick way to mount a muffler. The Magnaflow's mount tucks in high and out of harm
Six Soltek HID's are ready to go atop the cab, mounted to the roll cage with a Keith-built mounting frame.
Six Soltek HID's are ready to go atop the cab, mounted to the roll cage with a Keith-built

Keith (left) and Tony Sato contemplate which of the two of them will smoke you first, and by how much.
Keith (left) and Tony Sato contemplate which of the two of them will smoke you first, and