Words: Tommy Parry
Ambitious and imaginative, Bud started this build with a enviable list of ingredients. An 8.8 from a Ford Crown Victoria would sit at the rear, a TH350 in the middle of the Ford, and ahead of that would be a 5.3-liter Vortec. Bud had a massive turbocharger in the works, as well as a custom, zeed frame with airbags, a chopped top and an intimidating paint scheme. That was a lot to expect from the start, but he had high standards, energy and enough bread to see this dream become a reality. So, he was off to a strong start.
Bud was clever enough to realize his limitations and send the frame off to a skilled machinist who would do the work for him. He worried – briefly – about getting some flak from his friends, but he wanted this build to work and look stunning, and with a finite amount of time, he dedicated himself to the areas where he’d have the most effect.
As the motor would provide more than enough to vaporize the rears, which sat unweighted, he opted for a set of 285/60-17 rears to attempt to handle the torque with relatively tall sidewalls. These would be mounted on top of Police Interceptor 17” rims, and once they were all joined to the frame, which was then outfitted with the front suspension setup and the cab, Bud had a proper platform with which to move forward.
Bud tacked on a brand new Speedway I-beam axle with 4-bar suspension and cross-steer kit, mounted the shocks and finalized the steering – and he had himself a roller. Around this point in the build process, Bud began building his bed. With the metal in place, he chopped the bed a healthy 4” and then masterfully flared the edges.
Bud then used his metalworking skills to bolt together the immaculate floor, which made a Destroyer ship look like it was made from Lincoln Logs. The welds here really are works of art.
Turning his attention to the motor, Bud slapped on a Holley Hi-Ram intake which dominates his visual field as it sticks a full 15” above the motor. To complement the intake, he added a solid fuel pump and a set of 80 lb/hr injectors. He would have all the fuel he’d need to use that massive turbocharger, but finding an inconspicuous place to mount it proved quite difficult.
Several productive months, a few gallons of coffee and several broken blood vessels later, Bud had himself a force-fed Ford that would turn heads for miles around. Keeping a rat rod aesthetic, his gleaming engine bay was truly the jewel in a tarnished crown. With a slew of humorous, shed-built ancillaries dotting the engine bay, there was nobody able to criticize this build for a lack of style and imagination. In fact, the only folks willing to criticize him would be the local authorities – for leaving long, black strips on the pavement with all his turbocharged torque.
