Rick Dore, of Rick Dore Kustoms, recently built an F-150 project for the SEMA show and incorporated custom-designed and fabricated steel accessories for the body along with custom-mixed paint, lowered suspension, and a new sound system. With an extensive portfolio of custom cars and trucks, Rick is a heavily sought after customizer and builds trucks to a high standard.
This Ford F-150 was lowered by Fly-In-Hi Total Performance Centers, in Phoenix, with the help of Air Ride Technologies airbags and four-link suspension. Custom bodywork and a flashy set of wheels and tires accentuate the trucks new aggressive stance. Rick styled each of the steel body pieces, side skirts, roll pan, and hood. His designs were turned over to Grant Kustoms in Oroville, California, for even more custom fabrication. Grant Kustoms specializes in producing one-off pieces that will differentiate your custom project from everyone else's. On the F-150, the Dore-designed, Grant-built pieces add sleek and distinctive lines to the truck, without contradicting its "Built Ford Tough" personality. Carrying this look a step further, the overall design called for shaved door handles and the installation of Street Scene Equipment Cal-Vu Sport Mirrors. The F-150 sits on Toyo tires mounted on 22-inch Colorado Custom wheels.
For the paint, Rick's choice was to have a dazzling blue custom-mixed for the project. He turned this responsibility over to Kyle at K-Daddyz Kustomz in Bakersfield, California, whose team immediately went to work mixing BASF pigments. The result, what they call "Tahitian Blue," was laid over the truck's original black.
Rick increased the power of the factory 5.4L V-8 by adding a Vortech intercooled supercharger system, which was installed by SVC MotorSports. SVC is a full service speed shop located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Vortech system includes replacement high-flow fuel injectors, a DiabloSport Predator programmer, and a high-flow reusable air filter.
Modifications to the truck's interior include color accents on the dash and door panels, as well as a new audio/video system. The accent color is the same bold blue used on the exterior. The hue was used in the center of the dash around the audio source unit and air conditioning controls, and on the portion of the door panels surrounding the door pulls
Cardenal Car Stereo of Glendale, Arizona, took the lead on designing and installing the sound system. The system is a combination of Clarion and MTX components, creatively installed in discrete locations. A Clarion source unit (DXZ745MP) placed in the dash provides CD/DVD/MP3 functionality, plus a TV tuner and Sirius satellite radio compatibility. Two MTX amps installed in the back of the front seats provide the necessary power boost. For speakers, the team placed MTX 6-1/2-inch Thunder8000 component devices in front and rear cabin locations. Three 8-inch MTX Thunder6500s are mounted underneath the rear bench seat in a fiberglass, leather-wrapped enclosure. Lastly, 7-inch LCD monitors are set up in the back of the front seat headrests.
All of these audio and video goodies are protected by a Viper 350HV alarm system with keyless entry. Since the door handles are shaved, the ability to pop the doors open with the push of a button is a must-have feature.
The finished build was made possible by true collaboration, as several minds were brought together on the Rick Dore-designed F-150.