A Carter AFB carburetor was mounted to an Edelbrock Performer manifold and topped with a K&N Xtreme air filter. Hooker Super Competition headers replaced the stock exhaust manifolds and were connected to dual Aero Chamber mufflers. A Mallory Unilite distributor and high-output coil work in conjunction with Summit Racing 8mm wires sending voltage down to the Motorcraft plugs to light the fuel charge.
A custom-fabricated, full-cab rollcage was made using 2-inch, 0.120-wall steel tubing, and the dash was refaced with brushed stainless steel overlays. The dash was then fitted with Auto Meter gauges. A Tuffy Security overhead Jeep console was modified to fit the cage in the Ford and fitted with a Cobra 29 CB and Pioneer stereo. The original heater/defroster was replaced with a Ford factory A/C system, and a N.O.S. Ford wiring harness for a '76 pickup was installed.
On the outside, the customizing includes a later-model grille shell from a '78 Ford truck with a custom tube grille featuring floating Ford letters in the middle of it. Three-inch double-tube bumpers from Cheyenne Bumpers were installed front and rear. A Warn XD 9000i winch was installed on the front bumper, and a 2-inch receiver hitch was added for good measure. The rear bumper was outfitted with a custom swing-away spare tire carrier to fit an oversize spare and a swing-away basket for carrying fuel cans or an ice chest.
As with most everything else on this truck, the author did the paint and bodywork himself. The scalloped paint scheme and graphics are designed to make the truck look as if it is moving even when it is parked. Even the holes in the Eagle Alloy Series 589 wheels were painted. Wrapped around the sharp-looking wheels are 38.5x15.50x16.5 Dick Cepek Fun Country Radials.
After several years of work, this early Ford is now ready for road and trail. The custom suspension provides a very smooth ride on and off the pavement. Bumpsteer is minimal, and the truck has excellent tracking on the highway. There is virtually no axlewrap when blasting the dunes, and wheelhop is pleasantly absent. "Project Tall Cool One" is truly a classic Ford with modern amenities, not to mention class and style.