La Foringa

T TAKES A LOT OF

ICOURAGE TO DROP A GRIPLOAD OF CASH ON A TRUCK THAT MOST PEOPLE PASS RIGHT OVER ON THEIR WAY TO BUY A CHEVY. The ’97-’03 Ford full-size trucks were never super huge with the custom crowd—even the Lightning was never really that popular in comparison to other trucks—but Servando Salazar was all about straying away from the pack and building something that was totally unique from the get-go. And we don’t think anyone can say that his 2000 F-150 isn’t in a league of its own!

The complete build took about six years from start to finish, and it had a few different looks along the way while Servando figured out exactly where he wanted the truck to end up. And because he was building a lowered Ford, a lot of the parts had to be adapted or built from scratch rather than just adding them to an online shopping cart like most of us are lucky enough to be able to do.

HEAVY LOWERING

As a member of Draztik Truck Club, Servando had some pretty high ideals to live up to, but being a millwright by trade, that didn’t bother him any since he’s used to doing some heavy lifting on the daily. But again, starting out with an F-150 was a challenge.

At first, the truck was just lowered a bit over a set of offthe-shelf wheels with a few mild custom touches to tide him over, but as the project progressed it was clear to Servando that the Ford needed a lot more to stand out. A few of the mods were easy enough—bolting on some engine upgrades, including under-drive pulleys, a 75 mm throttle body, a short ram intake, Pacesetter headers, and a Carven side-exit exhaust—but the more exciting stuff required cutting and welding.

Servando employed the help of Tony Rivera of Family Kustoms in Alvarado, Texas, to get the truck a lot lower to the ground. The frontend was modified extensively to fit a set of airbags, and a custom Mustang rack-and-pinion steering rack was used to better work with the now-adjustable ride height.

THE COMPLETE BUILD TOOK ABOUT SIX YEARS FROM START TO FINISH, AND IT HAD A FEW DIFFERENT LOOKS ALONG THE WAY WHILE SERVANDO FIGURED OUT EXACTLY WHERE HE WANTED THE TRUCK TO END UP.

Because the truck was about to see a set of huge wheels, a more compact Ford Explorer brake booster was used for additional clearance. The rear was just as involved, requiring a monster notch and 4-link, in addition to another pair of airbags over the narrowed rear end. All of this was to make sure that a decent amount of the 26x9 and 28x12 Intro Berlusconi billet wheels would tuck plenty hard, and they certainly do!

And then there was the sheetmetal work required to keep the impressive wheel and tire setup covered, which included cutting out the factory wheelwells and welding in large wheel tubs. When all was said and done, Tony’s hard work definitely brought a smile to Servando’s face once he hit the “down” switch for the first time!

FACTORY FRONTEND

But even with the amazing suspension and wheels, one of the first things that always attracts folks to the F-150 is the frontend. While a lot of people assume it’s totally custom or af termarket, the truth is that it’s simply a (mostly) factor y front sheetmetal swap from a 2005 Expedition with a custom billet grille! It obviously doesn’t hur t that it (and the rest of the truck) is painted in Ford’s T5 Dark Copper Metallic, which also looks completely custom.

The interior is also the per fect blend of factor y and custom, with reshaped Expedition seats stitched in custom stamped leather, with matching Expedition center console and other stamped interior pieces. The W-Power steering wheel adds the per fect finishing touch, while still allowing a per fect view of the white-faced gauge overlay.

Even though most would consider a masterpiece such as Ser vando’s F-150 finished, he tells us that he has even more planned, including a possible engine swap, graphics, and possibly even a new color. Guess we’ll have to wait and see, but we definitely wouldn’t be disappointed if Ser vando decided to leave the truck as-is!

T R U C K S P E C S

OWNER

SERVANDO SALAZAR ❚ Fort Worth, TX ❚ 2000 Ford F-150 ❚ Draztik Truck Club CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

§ Work performed by Tony Rivera at

Family Kustoms § Airbags front and rear § Monster notch over rear axle § 4-link rear suspension § Front frame notched for airbags § Custom Ford

Mustang rack-andpinion steering § Ford Explorer brake booster § Drilled and slotted brake rotors § Moser rear axles in narrowed axle housing WHEELS & TIRES

§ 26x9 and 28x12 reverse Intro

Berlusconi wheels § 255/30R26 and 295/30R28 Atlas tires § Engine & Drivetrain § Original transmission rebuilt by First

Professional

Transmission BODY & PAINT

§ Work performed by Celso’s Auto,

California Collision,

Texas’ Finest, and

TJ’s Customs § 2005 Ford

Expedition front sheetmetal swap § Billet grille insert § Ford T5 Dark Copper

Metallic paint § Custom pinstriping § Front and rear wheel tubs INTERIOR & STEREO

§ Work performed by Northside

Upholstery § Reshaped Ford

Expedition seats, upholstered with stamped peanut butter leather § Ford Expedition center console § Matching stamped/ upholstered interior pieces § Power steering wheel § White-faced gauge overlay § Pioneer double-DIN head unit