2002 Ford F150 XLT - Off-Road Magazine

You are probably sitting there reading through this feature and wondering, what makes this truck one of a kind? Well, if you live in Tucson, Arizona, you will have a really hard time finding a truck built to this level-aside from Alex Paterson's. His truck is so well known in town that when we mentioned our photo shoot to a few locals they responded with, "Oh yeah that silver Ford that is always running around. We see him all the time. It sure is a nice truck".

Alex purchased his '02 Ford F-150 XLT in 2002 and delivered it to H&M Motorsports in San Marcos, California, to have their front long-travel kit installed as well as a simple bedcage for the rear shocks. Shortly after getting the truck back in his hands Alex fired up his welder and decided to tackle the interior cage and fabricate some additions to the bedcage. After a few trips to the desert Alex realized why certain people get paid to build trucks and some don't. The truck didn't work as well as he had hoped so back to H&M it went.

In June of 2008, Alex picked up his newly rebuilt F-150 and headed to Plaster City, California, for some testing. The new build performed without flaw and has remained without any more modifications since. The truck was completed just in time for the birth of his daughter who should be somewhere around 3 to 4 months old when this article comes out. Alex already has plans to get her strapped into the third seat, if he gets his wife's permission that is.

Specs
Vehicle:
'02 Ford F-150 XLT
Owner:
Alex Paterson
Chassis:
4130 chomoly 2-inch tube, some stock frame retained
Engine:
5.4L V-8
Drivetrain:
Ford 4R70W transmission, H&M 9-inch, Detroit Locker
Suspension:
H&M front long travel kit, H&M four-link rear, King shocks
Steering:
Howe pump and remote reservoir, MOMO wheel
Brakes:
Wilwood 6-piston 13.5-inch rotors
Tires/wheels:
37-inch Goodyear Wrangler GS-A, Walker Evans 17x8.5
Interior:
Mastercraft seats, Crow belts, PCI race radio and GPS, Fiberwerx dash
Other Parts:
KC lights, Fuel Safe cell, Optima batteries, K&N intake
Favorite Off-Road Area:
Arizona, Southern California, Baja

Alex is still running the stock 5.4L V-8 engine in his Ford. He has added an AEM intake system, PWR radiator, PWR fans, Spintech exhaust, Bosch fuel pump, and a 41.5-gallon Fuel Safe Racer X fuel cell. The estimated power measures in at 330 hp with 320 lb-ft of torque.
Alex is still running the stock 5.4L V-8 engine in his Ford. He has added an AEM intake sy
This truck always carries dual spare tires and an aluminum floor jack, just in case. Alex also made sure the stock gas filler cap was retained in case he gets pulled over on the road. This truck is still "technically" street legal.
This truck always carries dual spare tires and an aluminum floor jack, just in case. Alex
The Trailer Products one-piece Ford race clip was delivered to Fiberwerx where it was split into three pieces and louvers were added. Trailer Products also provided rear fiberglass. 37/12.50R17 Goodyear Wrangler GS-A tires are wrapped around 17x8.5 Walker Evans bead lock wheels.
The Trailer Products one-piece Ford race clip was delivered to Fiberwerx where it was spli

After H&M tore our Alex's amazing interior cage, they rebuilt it with the addition of a third seat. Three Mastercraft Prerun seats were bolted securely to the cage with Crow five-piont belts. Alex also had the carpet and leather redone in the cabin to give it that finishing touch.
After H&M tore our Alex's amazing interior cage, they rebuilt it with the addition of a th
Dirt-Tech battery trays are located under the floor jack and hold dual Optima Red Top batteries.
Dirt-Tech battery trays are located under the floor jack and hold dual Optima Red Top batt
The H&M four-link system provides up to 30 inches of wheel travel. It raises the truck 2 inches keeping the rear squat in order to compliment the front end. Rear shocks include King 3.0 triple bypass shocks, 2.5 coilovers and 2.5 hydraulic airbumps with a 4-inch stroke.
The H&M four-link system provides up to 30 inches of wheel travel. It raises the truck 2

The adjustable rooftop light bar is holding four 8-inch KC black SS Long Range Rally 800 lights. Two of the same lights have also been added to the front bumper.
The adjustable rooftop light bar is holding four 8-inch KC black SS Long Range Rally 800 l

The H&M front suspension includes boxed lower chromoly arms and billet aluminum upper control arms. In order to hit all 17 inches of wheel travel Alex used King 2.5 coilovers,....
The H&M front suspension includes boxed lower chromoly arms and billet aluminum upper cont
.....2.5 triple bypass shocks and two hydraulic bumpstops with a 2-inch stroke. This suspension raises the front end of the truck 4 inches. Alex also added ProAm 2-inch hubs.
.....2.5 triple bypass shocks and two hydraulic bumpstops with a 2-inch stroke. This suspe
H&M builds their own version of the Ford 9-inch axle housing. This model is stuffed with 40-spline, 300M axles, 5.39 gearing, a Detroit Locker, and is build completely out of chromoly for superior strength. To accommodate the travel a high-angle driveshaft was installed. Wilwood 6-piston front brakes are found front and rear running 13.5-inch rotors and Crown stainless steel brake lines. ProAm 2-inch full floater hubs are also found on each side of the rear end.
H&M builds their own version of the Ford 9-inch axle housing. This model is stuffed with 4

A custom leather-wrapped dash is often what sets apart well-built prerunners and garage fab. This dash was originally off-the-shelf from Fiberwerx until Alex got a hold of it. He modified it to fit the stock gauge cluster and his amenities of choice. A MOMO steering wheel was added connected to a Sweet Quick disconnect system. PCI Race Radios Icom race radio system was installed for communications and a Lowrance 540C Baja GPS is ready for navigation duties.
A custom leather-wrapped dash is often what sets apart well-built prerunners and garage fa
The transmission is a '02 Ford 4R70W which has been modified with a semi-manual valve body and additional friction plates. Hughes provided the torque converter and the shifter came from Art Carr. Performance Drive Train located in Tucson, Arizona, completed all of the transmission work.
The transmission is a '02 Ford 4R70W which has been modified with a semi-manual valve body