2002 Ford 350 - Outer National

The rear bumper is also made by Ranch Hand, and it protected Louie's family during a recent accident. A car was totaled when it hit the Super Duty while going 35 mph and did virtually no damage to the F-350. Fortunately, no one in either vehicle was hurt.

N-Fab three-step nerf bars protect the rocker panels and make it easy to get Louie's family in and out of the crew cab. The third step is mounted between the rear door and tire to provide a step up to the roof rack.

The Con-Ferr roof rack is mounted on the ARE Z-Cap camper shell. It's definitely not a fashion piece; this roof rack gets used every day. When it's not serving duty as a platform during professional architecture photography sessions, it carries a fullsize 35-inch spare along with a canoe and two mountain bikes.

Louie chose 16x10-inch Helo Maxx wheels so there would be plenty of sidewall material for off-road driving. Louie wrapped the wheels in 35-inch Mastercraft Courser MT tires because he says they perform great in the mud, can't be heard over the engine noise while driving on the highway, and his previous set lasted an incredible 67,000 miles.

Modifications to the T 444E engine include a simple yet huge Tymar Performance air intake and a six-position DP Tuner programmed by Jodi Tipton. The stock turbo has been replaced with a compressor from a diesel E-series van. What!? No, that's not a mistake. Louie says the van has a bigger exhaust outlet because the donor setup is not intercooled-so his truck will benefit from the better flow for a fraction of the cost of a ball bearing turbo upgrade. The turbo has already been improved with an ATS intake housing and a Beans Diesel Performance exhaust flange.

A 5-inch Superlift suspension kit helps the truck clear 35-inch tires. Up front, the spring packs were replaced with 10 leaf kits and the rear achieves the lift with the help of 3-inch blocks. Superlift shocks improve the ride at every corner of the truck, and Louie painted the brake calipers red to spruce up the underside of the truck now that it's riding higher.

A 4-inch DPPI downpipe leads through a homemade exhaust system that only has three bends-all less than 90 degrees. The exhaust exits in front of the rear tire, and Louie says there have been no heat problems involving the rear tire-plus, the tubing doesn't have to travel over the rear axle.

Western Diesel gauges in the A-pillar help Louie keep an eye on the exhaust temperature, turbo boost levels, and the transmission temperature. He plans to put a probe in the rear differential and install a switch so transmission and diff temperatures can be monitored with the same gauge.

A Ford idle controller allows precise control of the Power Stroke rpm. Custom Husky liners cut for the six-speed shifter protect the carpets from mud and grime found at work sites.

The center console came from a Ford Expedition and was wired to retain full functionality. It has a working 12-volt powerpoint and can even control the stereo in the dash. A domed International badge on the wood trim continues the T 444E theme.

Without the new turbo installed, Louie's truck scored 320 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque at the FOKISD/SLAPS show after the '06 Power Fest National Rally at Indianapolis Raceway Park.