After being voted in to compete in this year's TTC, Phillip McGilton and his team completely rebuilt his '83 K10 in only 41 days. It's big, it's built like a tank, and when the wicked, loping 632ci big-block engine fires it sounds really angry. If Phillip McGilton's truck were human we'd respectfully recommend it attend anger management class. We'll see if it can withstand the fury of the Tank Trap next month.
A close look at the Ford Performance Red machine reveals front and rear fenders that have been modified to allow for full travel of the huge 54-inch Boggers on 20x14 MRW bead-lock wheels. The front fenders had about 4 inches removed, while the rear fenders had about 6 inches taken off. Other mods include a tubed and boxed frame, a 3-inch body lift, custom front and rear bumpers, custom rocker guards, front- and rear-mounted Warn 16.5ti winches, a bed-mounted 15-gallon fuel cell, and a cowl hood. | 
Gobs of power and big tires meant a beefy front axle was mandatory, so a 2 1/2-ton Rockwell was used. Custom Differentials assembled the centersection with an Ouverson Engineering Ultra Locker and then the team at SI Performance finished the job by adding 2-inch-diameter 47-spline Ouverson Engineering axles, a Wilwood caliper on the pinion brake, and custom mounts for the suspension and steering. Speaking of the suspension, it consists of a custom four-link setup with King 3.0 18-inch remote-reservoir coilovers, King 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops, and Beard limiting straps. The upper four-link bars are made from 2-inch 0.250-wall chromoly and the lowers are made from 2.5-inch 0.250-wall chromoly. All of the link bars use 1.25-inch spherical rod ends. Hydraulic steering makes the big 54s easy to point and the steering system also uses 1.25-inch spherical rod ends. | 
Under the hood is an envy-invoking Merlin 632ci big-block engine that produces a staggering 900 hp and 995 lb-ft of torque. It's topped by a Holley intake and an ACCEL Digital Fuel Injection TBI setup. Other mods include an MSD distributor, coil, and wires, 2.5-inch-diameter custom headers, 4-inch-diameter exhaust, Powermaster 140-amp alternator, and a pair of Optima Yellow Top batteries. Oh, and then there's the 150hp nitrous kit. The engine is cooled by a bed-mounted and lexan-protected Be Cool four-core radiator with two 15-inch electric fans. Finally, the power is handled by a TCI-built Turbo 400 transmission that sports an Allstar flywheel, heavy-duty output shaft, Winters shifter, and a deep cast-iron pan. The trans is cooled by a bed-mounted radiator with 14-inch electric fan. |
The four-link bars mount to a custom steel cradle that also serves as a mount for the SCS transfer case. The case is mounted to a custom aluminum mount. Sprouting from the case are custom driveshafts with beefy 1480 U-joints. | 
The interior is all business. It features Beard seats, each with a five-point harness, a four-point rollcage, a Grant steering wheel, a slew of Auto Meter gauges, and switches set in a Painless Wiring switch panel. These switches control everything from emergency kill to cooling fans to lighting. | 
The rear 2 1/2-ton Rockwell axle also has a pair of 2-inch-diameter Ouverson Engineering 47-spline axles and a pinion brake. It is fitted with an Ouverson Engineering spool. The custom four-link suspension is also fitted with King 3.0 18-inch remote-reservoir coilovers, King 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops and Beard limiting straps. |
Specs
Owner name/city: Phillip McGilton/Marion, Illinois
Vehicle model: '83 Chevy K10
Occupation: Small business owner
Engine/aspiration: Hard-core 632ci V-8/Holley intake, ACCEL DFI, 150hp nitrous, custom 2.5-inch headers, 4-inch-diameter exhaust
Transmission: TCI Turbo 400
Transfer case(s): SCS
Suspension (f/r): Custom four-link, King 3.0 18-inch remote-reservoir coilover shocks, King 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops, Beard limiting straps/Custom four-link, King 3.0 18-inch remote-reservoir coilover shocks, King 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops, Beard limiting straps
Axles (f/r): 2 1/2-ton Rockwell, Ouverson Engineering 2-inch-diameter 47-spline axleshafts, Ouverson Engineering Ultra Locker, hydraulic steering/2 1/2-ton Rockwell, Ouverson Engineering 2-inch-diameter 47-spline axleshafts, Ouverson Engineering spool
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 20x14 MRW bead locks
Tires: 54x19.5-20 Boggers