Famous painter Pete Santini...
Famous painter Pete Santini used House of Kolor hues to brighten up the factory Brilliant Black coat. AMI billet handles were integrated into the graphics.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF ITBob's '08 Ram is the latest in a line that's included an '05 Super Duty and an '02 Ram 2500. This truck came off the lot at Huntington Beach Dodge and promptly made a road trip to Utah for the wheelbase stretch. The job was done by Clint Hardman and Landon Fausett at Innovative Customs. The end result actually looks factory-the frame splices aren't apparent, and attention to detail includes extending all necessary wiring with factory-style connectors, adding longer CNC-bent brake lines, and a longer rear driveshaft. For complete details on the conversion, see the install article ("Mega Cab Long Bed") in the March '08 issue.
Following the truck's 20-inch stretch, Bob docked it at PDC Motorsports in Brea, California. He and PDC owner Jay Parodi bolted on a longbed truckload of accessories. First on the list was a Superlift 6-inch suspension kit with triple SSR remote-reservoir shocks up front and single SSRs in the rear. Since Bob's job is touting Superlift products at shops and events in the western U.S., his undercarriage is fully optioned. In addition to diesel-rate front coils, the Superlift kit corrects steering angles with a dropped pitman arm, a track bar relocation bracket, and optional Rockrunner link arms. These arms are threaded to permit caster fine-tuning through length adjustment and to allow bind-free articulation during off-camber suspension cycling. Handling is also improved with the optional dual steering stabilizer kit.
Santini calls his ghost-chrome...
Santini calls his ghost-chrome marbling effects "'60s old-school crap." He used Pearl White paint and an acetylene torch to execute the trick for the first time this millennium.
Other chassis details include the Superlift kit's specially designed bumpstops, extended braided-steel brake hoses, and a crossmember lowering kit that decreases driveshaft angles to cancel driveline vibration. Because the factory rear leaf springs are well-engineered, Bob retained them, adding 4-inch tapered blocks to level the Ram. Axlewrap isn't much of a problem in the '08 Rams. Still, Bob installed Superlift's optional Torque Max SS traction bars. To draw attention to the undercarriage additions, Bob selected suspension components powdercoated silver by Specialized Coatings in Huntington Beach, California.
The lift creates clearance for 37s, so Bob chose 37x12.50R20 Pro Comp Extreme Mud Terrains. These might seem aggressive for a daily driver that covers the California-to-Colorado, Washington-to-Arizona beat, but Bob loads up the sand toys and leaves the pavement on weekends when he isn't working. They're actually surprisingly quiet for a mud-terrain on the freeway.
Bob conquered the OE plastic-chrome...
Bob conquered the OE plastic-chrome look by scuffing it, then finishing with clearcoat. This complements the Carriage Works billet grille.
For a modern but understated look, Bob decided to go with black wheels-Pro Comp 20x9.5 Series 7005 Cast-Blast Extreme Alloys. ATS fender flares keep the rubber contained within the body lines for highway patrol compliance.
Although the Ram's 6.7L Cummins diesel has plenty of poop at 350 hp and 650 lb-ft, factory power isn't enough for a former racer. To help move the 37-inch Pro Comps and keep EGTs down while loaded, Bob freed up engine breathing with an AEM Brute Force HD cold air kit. On the downstream end, a stainless steel Magnaflow dual-tip exhaust is freer flowing than stock.