When Axis Sport Tuning started looking for a rig to showcase its new line of Warlock 20-inch wheels and a tow vehicle to haul its NASA Series race car, it didn't have to look any further than Ford's F-350 Super Duty. Axis purchased the Super Duty with the factory Amarillo-yellow paint option, and ordered it up with the 6.0L Power Stroke diesel powerplant-after all, the truck was destined to be a tow rig.
Axis Sport Tuning has built a number of road-worthy project vehicles over the years, and those impressively equipped trucks and cars were outfitted with a number of the company's aftermarket products, in particular Axis' impressive line of exclusive, stylish wheels. The impressively designed Warlock wheels feature a simulated bead lock accented in yellow to match the truck. Axis picked a 20-inch size to fit in with the F-350's big image, and those wheels are wrapped by 37x13.50-20 Toyo Open Country M/T tires.
To allow plenty of space for that impressive rolling stock and to provide the Super Duty with a brutish image, the Ford was lifted 6 inches with a Skyjacker suspension lift using Softride rear springs, a drop pitman arm, Nitro N8000 Series gas shocks, a heavy-duty front sway bar, and a dual inline steering stabilizer. Sporting a new attitude, shod with stylish wheels, and riding on impressive rubber, the Super Duty was well on its way to meeting its goal as a stand-out tow rig. However, the most important modification was yet to come-enhanced diesel power.
For some additional grunt, Axis turned to Gale Banks Engineering, and the company outfitted the Super Duty with its Big Hoss Bundle. This impressive upgrade includes everything necessary to address fuel and airflow management. Included in the Bog Hoss Bundle are the Six-Gun Diesel Tuner and its Speed-Loader upgrade. The Six-Gun offers six levels of power via an adjustable knob on the dashboard-power levels climb 20 percent with each click up the dial. The Speed-Loader upgrade provides additional horsepower and torque as well as the added safeguard of limiting fuel delivery if EGT climb to a preset temperature (1,400 degrees F on the Ford 6.0L Power Stroke). The upgrade tunes the fuel injection pulse's width, timing, and pressure.
Gale Banks also installed its Techni-Cooler intercooler on the F-350, which is included in the Big Hoss Bundle. Techni-Coolers are larger-than-stock aluminum intercoolers with larger inlets and outlets. Techni-Coolers reduced the air temperature of the hot, compressed air coming from the turbocharger. This cooler air charge also becomes denser, and this denser air provides more oxygen to the combustion process. Larger boost tubes that direct air to and from the Techni-Cooler are also included. These larger boost tubes increase airflow with a minimal loss of boost pressure. To provide more intake air into the engine, Banks included a High-Ram intake. The Banks High-Ram replaces the smaller stock unit and optimizes airflow into the engine and increases boost without increasing turbine backpressure. The combination of the Techni-Cooler, larger boost tubes, and the High-Ram intake increase air density by as much as 10 percent.
Finally, Banks included two gauges in the company's Big Hoss Bundle. Banks' Dynafact pyrometer gauge monitors EGT, and the Dynafact boost gauge monitors power and turbocharger performance. In addition, Banks' PowerPDA controller for the Six-Gun sits proudly on top of the dash. The Big Hoss Bundle adds as much as 156 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. For extra performance, Axis also installed a 4-inch MagnaFlow exhaust system with a dual 5-inch tip.
Now that the truck was lifted, fitted with the appropriate rolling stock, and performing up to spec, Axis focused on some final upgrades that would finish off the project in style. A set of Hella Rally 4000 driving lights and pencil beam lights were mounted up front for some extra visibility, and Modern Image graphics were applied to the truck's body for extra flair. Final tweaks included a carbon-fiber dashboard and door panel, retractable AdMP Research/Bestop steps, a Diamond Liner spray-on bedliner, and a Pace-Edwards retractable bedcover.
With all the modifications installed to perfection, the Super Duty was ready to fulfill its duties as tow rig and rolling advertisement for Axis Sport Tuning. The owner of Axis races in the NASA Series with a supercharged Nissan 350Z, and that car will be hauled by the Super Duty inside a 30-foot Carson trailer. The trailer nicely matches the F-350, in that it is covered in yellow aluminum. Since yellow is Axis' corporate color, the combination of truck and trailer go a long way to establish the company image. Naturally, the yellow combo would be hard to miss on the road, and that is exactly Axis' intention.