Virginia Valedictorian
Classic ride: 1978 Ford F-150
Proud owner/hometown: Jackie Wray/Rocky Mount, Virginia
Juicy details: This truck only had 78,000 miles on the odometer when Jackie purchased it last year. Since then, he has "freshened up" the 351ci V-8 engine, got the air conditioning working, rebuilt the C6 transmission, and added a 6-inch Skyjacker suspension lift, new 4.11:1 gears, 35x12.50-15 BFG M/T tires, and 15x10 Rockcrawler wheels. Inside, he added a Kenwood CD player, MTX amplifiers, and Pioneer subwoofers and speakers.
Super cool: This truck used to be yellow and brown, but Jackie wasn't down with that. He transformed the truck by covering the "ugly" yellow with Mossy Oak camo vinyl. Inside, he continued the transformation by recovering the seat in brown leather and exterior-matching Mossy Oak camo.
Stunning Jeep
Classic ride: 1979 Jeep CJ-7
Proud owner/hometown: Stewart Stroud/Kenansville, North Carolina
Juicy details: Here's another classic rig that was completely restored by the owner. A 351ci Ford V-8 engine provides get up and go, and it has been significantly modified with an aluminum intake and heads, roller rockers, an Extreme 4x4 camshaft, headers, a 750-cfm Edelbrock carburetor, an MSD ignition, and Flowmaster mufflers. The rig also sports a 4-inch lift, greaseable leaf-spring shackles, a locked Dana 30 front axle, a locked Dana 44 rear axle, 4.56:1 gears, 35-inch BFG A-T tires, and 15x10 aluminum wheels.
Super cool: Stewart ordered a Warn 9,000-pound winch on a multimount system, and he made sure that there were receivers in both bumpers.
Texas Terror
Classic ride: 1979 Ford F-150
Proud owner/hometown: Dan Taber/Katy, Texas
Juicy details: Dan has built his truck, "Redzilla," to be all about function and durability. The front Dana 44 axle has been upgraded with Superior axleshafts and a Lock-Right locker. The rear 9-inch axle has been fitted with a Detroit Locker. The truck has been lifted 4 inches to run 36x14.50 Super Swamper TSL Radials on 15x12 American Racing wheels. Inside the rig, there's a new tachometer, bench seat, and door panels.
Super cool: Dan has ignored the 300ci I-6 engine and NP435 transmission because both of those are going in the Dumpster when he installs a built 460ci V-8.
High Bow Tie
Classic ride: 1979 Chevy Silverado
Proud owner/hometown: Jason Miller/Gosport, Indiana
Juicy details: This beautiful rig sports a Vortec 5.7L V-8 engine, headers, 2.5-inch-diameter Flowmaster exhaust, a Turbo 350 transmission, an NP203 transfer case with part-time conversion, a 10-bolt front axle, a 12-bolt rear axle, 4.56:1 gears, a Superlift 8-inch suspension lift, a 3-inch body lift, 39-inch Mickey Thompson tires, and Bart 15x12 Super Trucker wheels. Inside, the truck is loaded with factory options and sports a Pioneer sound system including a pair of 10-inch subs.
Super cool: It took Jason four years to complete the body-off restoration on this rig. The entire frame has been painstakingly sandblasted and painted black.
Ol' Paint
Classic ride: 1981 Chevy 2500
Proud owner/hometown: Damian Macleod/Sonora, California
Juicy details: Shawn Ambler of Insane Customs did the paint job on this eye-catching rig, and it features flames on one side and scallops on the other. The outside of the truck also features a 4-inch cowl hood, a bed-mounted toolbox, and 36-inch Super Swampers. Under the hood is a 454ci V-8 engine backed by a Turbo 350 and an NP208 transfer case. The truck's tall stature comes from an 8-inch suspension lift and a 3-inch body lift.
Super cool: Damian says that he has put a lot of time into this rig, but not a lot of money. He also notes that this is no "pretty-boy truck" - he has raced it at local mud bog events. He says that soon the 454 will get some serious mods, including a blower.