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(Sep 04)

A Signature Series 4x4

This standout F-150 is ready for Show and Go

When most automotive-relat­ed businesses set up shop, one of the first things they usually do is build a vehicle to showcase the qual­ity of their work. Signature Audio in Scottsdale, Arizona, is no exception. Owner Geoffrey Bingham decided that to truly showcase the quality work his shop performs, he would need a vehicle that stood out from the crowd. So Bingham chose a big one: an '02 Ford F-350 Super Duty.

The Crew Cab came with a pow­erful 7.3-liter Power Stroke diesel, and features a straight-axle front suspension, which was perfect for the future modifications that he had in mind.

Since Signature is an audio shop, naturally the first thing planned for the big Ford was the entertainment system. The crew started the project by tearing the interior apart in preparation for the massive system. Starting with a clean slate, the loca­tions of the various components were planned and fabrication was started.

The dashboard was modified to house a 7-inch Clarion monitor, along with the Clarion DXZ 825 CD head unit. The air conditioning controls that once resided in that location were relocated into the cus­tom center console that curves up to meet the bottom of the dash. The console also houses the Clarion VCZ 625 DVD changer and a set of white-faced Auto Meter gauges. Several monitors were installed throughout the truck, including 7-inch units in each headrest and a 5-inch monitor in the front visor. These provide a clear view of the video to each of the passengers, who can each select their own video source among the DVD, PlayStation2 or the navigation system.

To go along with all of the video is an even greater amount of audio equipment. The source signal from the CD player is fed through a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound processor and then split through a Kicker X3i crossover to the various amplifiers. No less than four Kicker amplifiers power the 16 speakers located throughout the interior of the truck. MB Quart components were used for both the front and rear fill. A custom pair of kick pan­els, fabricated using fiberglass and machined aluminum, house the MB Quart QSD components, while similar door panel enclosures each contain a pair of 6-inch drivers. The rear fill is handled with an additional QSD set in matching aluminum and fiberglass door pods. Behind the rear seat, a fiber­glass and MDF enclosure was con­structed to house the four Kicker 10-inch square subwoofers. The box blends smoothly into the sur­rounding panels and is covered in color-matched vinyl.

Since just about any available space in the truck was now taken up with equipment, the pair of Kicker KX 1200.1 amplifiers were mounted beneath the rear seat on a motorized amp rack, while the KX400.2 and KX800.4 were installed in the bed-mounted tool­box. Keeping all of the equipment safe and secure is a DEI alarm sys­tem that can control every aspect of the truck, from the windows and locks to the motorized amp racks.

The entertainment system took three months to finish, and then the F-350 found its way to SDHQ in Mesa, Arizona, for a number of performance modifications. The crew at SDHQ made quick work of installing a 12.5-inch Edge Suspension lift, complete with hydraulically assisted crossover steering to fit the massive 38-inch Parnelli Jones tires and 16.5-inch Weld Mountain Crusher wheels. King Racing shocks help smooth out the ride, while custom-built driveshafts and replacement 4.56 gears transfer the power to the road.

Speaking of power, the 7.3-liter Power Stroke diesel received a rather large boost in the form of a B&B Exhaust, APE intake and a Superchips Micro Tuner. The        *'"! hand-held programmer allows the truck to be programmed to a vari­ety of levels, depending upon the requirements of the driver.

Along with the suspension and high-performance work, SDHQ also performed several cosmetic modifications that not only improved the look of the Ford, but also enhanced its functionality and usability. To make getting into the truck more accessible, N-Fab Nerf-Steps were added in a color-matched finish. To continue the look of the bars around the truck, SDHQ built a custom light bar that holds 9.7-inch Light Force HIDs up front, along with a cus­tom tubular spare tire holder in the bed. For even more light, an additional set of 6.6-inch Light Force lights was added in the cus­tom front bumper. With all of the fabrication and major work fin­ished, various components were removed and powder-coated to match the finish of the truck.

In just under a total of eight months, and with the help of SDHQ, Signature Audio trans­formed this F-350 into a rolling showcase of high-quality work and craftsmanship. With all the attention to detail in the interior components and the eye-popping effect of the exterior styling, this Ford is a truck that definitely stands out from the crowd, yet equipped to go any­where—and sound good doing it.