For some, it's the wife, others, the girlfriend, or maybe just the faithful dog. But for Jim Bayne, it's this gorgeous '37 Ford Wild Rod. You see, as the owner of Killer Ridez, in Seagoville, Texas, Jim turns wrenches all day on customers' vehicles. After the shop doors are closed, however, Jim's real love affair unfolds, the result of which is this immaculate truck that photos just cannot do justice.
Two years and many alterations to the body, bed, interior, and engine later, Jim was finally satisfied with his latest creation. Looking back, the time went by fast, considering the amount of work involved. Starting with the exterior: The hood was smoothed inside and out, a hinge kit was installed, and both doors were suicided using Bear Claw latch systems. Jim also installed a curved DOT windshield and curved side glass. While he was at it, he also bolted on a polished stainless grille, molded in a set of LED taillights from HiTech, and secured a tonneau cover to the rear. The finished bodywork required attention from a paint gun filled with the best and brightest Diamont has to offer: Viper Red. With it covering the entire exterior, Jim has no problem garnering attention in this bad machine.
Opening the suicide doors reveals an interior dressed to the nines. The custom six-hole dash is filled with white-face Dolphin gauges. Housed in the super-slick fiberglass console are Vintage Air controls, Air Ride Technologies switches, a Clarion head unit, and a B&M billet shifter. Seating arrangements are the finest available, with chamois leather and suede covering every panel that was not painted Viper Red. Even the headliner was wrapped in leather and suede, hiding the custom fiberglass structure. Jim would like to give a special thanks to Kustoms Cars and Audio, in Sanger, Texas, for the clean install. While at Kustoms, the audio was handled: A pair of Memphis Audio components were stashed under the dash, and two 10-inch Memphis Audio subs were mounted behind the seats, while two Memphis amps were set in the bed.
Speaking of the bed, it is a true joy popping the tonneau on this beast. Inside are the dual airbag compressors, trick-mounted Optima battery, and dual nitrous bottles mounted via cool Aerospace Components billet brackets. That much NOS fogger squeeze is sent to a healthy engine that screams whether on or off the bottle. Ripped from a '69 SS, the 350ci mill is stuffed with 11.5:1 forged TRW pistons, a Bullet racing cam with 485/507 lift, Crane roller rockers, and a solid billet crank. These goodies, combined with the Brodix heads, Demon carb, S&S block-hugger headers, and DynoMax bullet mufflers, bring the horsepower level to 380 dyno-proven ponies. Press the squeeze, and your buttocks are planted in the suede-covered seats to the tune of 540 tire-shredding horses. Sounds like fun to us.
Under the hand-laid fiberglass body and supporting the killer small-block is a modified '37 Ford frame featuring a Mustang II front suspension with Firestone airbags and a C-notched rear frame section with Air Ride Technologies Shockwave 'bags. Keeping traction and geometry in line is a chrome-plated, triangulated four-link from Pete & Jake's. The entire frame was treated to sweet powdercoating from Enduro Coatings, in Mesquite, Texas, and what wasn't protected by coating was chromed by Pulido's Chroming for added good looks. Underneath each one of those gorgeous, curvaceous fenders are polished billet wheels from Intro. Up front, the stylish 18x7-inch Pentia wheels are wrapped in Nitto 225/40R18 rubber, while out back, the 20x10-inch Pentia wheels get some protection from Nitto 275/35R20s. Providing the stopping force for this slick ride are 11-inch Wilwood disc brakes, front and rear.
Two years of his life later, Jim had a truck on his hands that amazed all who see it. Humble as always, Jim just smiles about his bright-red phenom--after all, it was just a project for him. One we would give our left arm for. So, Jim, what do you come home to now?