Shocking but true: There hasn't been a Ford Super Duty on the cover of Four Wheeler for almost two years. Well, it's high time we changed that Super Duty drought by presenting Ron and Christine Williams' stunning '00 Crew Cab shortbox.We met the Williamses at the Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. We were impressed by the clean look of their massive Super Duty, but as we talked with them we became even more impressed as we learned that Ron did all of the project planning and almost all of the wrenching on the truck himself (with some help from friends including Barry Miller and Tony Lacy). All while he was overseeing his busy bathroom remodeling business.
Williams is no stranger to building custom trucks--he has built three project trucks previously--but just when he thought he "had his modifying withdrawal somewhat under control" he had the uncontrollable urge to build this Super Duty F-250 diesel. Of course the truck went through several significant alterations before he hit on the magic formula. Now that his truck is completed, Williams can honestly say that he's finally satisfied.
Don't look for this orange pearl metallic paint at your local paint supplier, because you won't find it. It was custom-mixed to Williams' specifications by the folks at Auto Body by Duie in Bordentown, New Jersey. They also applied the silver metallic tribal flames, which were then outlined in purple before the truck was covered in clearcoat. Even with the arresting paint, the overall look of the Crew Cab is simple and uncluttered, thanks to an absence of gaudy bolt-ons. Williams kept the look simple by adding only a set of Carr sidesteps, a Distinctive Truck front bumper cover, Reflexxions steel hood, Stull Industries outer grille shell and billet grille, and a Randy Ellis Designs Sleekster frame-mounted lightbar with four APC driving lights.
Helping to aim the moderately sized 42x14-16.5 Super Swamper IROK tires on 16.5x10 Weld Scorpio forged-aluminum wheels is an Off Road Unlimited crossover steering kit and a beefy 1.5-inch-diameter Bullet Proof Steering Rock Proof tie rod that features 0.75-inch chromoly Stage 2 spherical rod ends. Other steering mods include a Skyjacker drop pitman arm and a Fox Racing Shox 2.0 steering stabilizer. The Dana 50 axle retains its stock internals, but is protected by a Purple Cranium Half Spider differential rock guard.
Since Williams purchased the Super Duty in 2000, the truck has been fitted with four different suspension lifts. None fulfilled his desires until he permanently removed the leaf springs in favor of a Kelderman Air Ride 15-inch air suspension system. Williams says: "That was a lot of work, especially when your truck is too big for your garage and it rains almost every day." Here you can see some of the front suspension componentry, which includes dual Fox Racing Shox 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks.