The front `53 grille was welded and smoothed and then a pair of `56 headlight rings and buckets were used to house the `56 inner panels. The front running lights were frenched into the front roll pan and flanked by a pair of amber turn indicators. A pair of custom-built 14-gauge steel running boards with stepped rear exhaust ports allow the dual 3-inch exhaust tips to exit. With everything fabricated and fitted properly the truck was then disassembled. The cab, hood, fenders, and bed were then massaged, sanded, primered and block-sanded until every part was straight and true. Randy's Auto Color in Redding, California, supplied Matrix primer. The components were then rolled into the paint booth where Sonny Sibert sprayed multiple coats of Matrix `04 Ford royal metallic blue. Following the base coats Sonny filled his spray gun pot with clear and applied multicoats of clear that were color sanded between each coat. After some time to cure, the trucks newly painted surface was then cut, buffed, and polished to its glistening brilliance.
Inside, the gauge cluster was widened 5 inches to house six Stewart Warner white-face gauges. The Vintage Air A/C and heater system was mated to a pair of custom vents from the 2-inch exhaust pipe. An ididit steering column was capped with a LeCarra Banjo-style leather-wrapped steering wheel. Jeff fabricated the center console that was constructed from -inch conduit and 18-gauge steel. Sonny then painted it with body-matching Matrix '04 Ford royal metallic blue. The center console houses the Air Ride gauges, pneumatic activation switches, running light switch, and a built-in compartment for the iPod and Alpine head unit. Chris Merrill was responsible for installing all of the ARC audio components, including speakers, audio amp, and Kenwood subwoofers. Scott Stanley of Cottonwood, California, performed the interior design and fabrication. Scott used a pair of BMW 328 bucket seats, removing their headrests before covering them with black leather. BMW 328 door panels and Porsche gray and black tweed carpet were installed to create that pro-touring appearance.
Recently Jeff and his wife Jody, returned to the 2008 Ford F-100 North & South Show in their same truck some 20 years later. The "Blue Tiki Devil" was named after their granddaughter Tara Kathlyn and from what we can see, Jeff and Jody's '53 Ford F-100 was worth the wait.
The center console houses...
The center console houses the Air Ride gauges, pneumatic activation switches, running light switch, and a built-in compartment for the iPod and Alpine head unit.
Truckin' magazine 1989 no....
Truckin' magazine 1989 no. 11 featured the North South show in San Luis Obispo, California...
...that Jeff attended with...
...that Jeff attended with his primered `53 Ford F-100. Unfortunately, his truck didn't make the show coverage, but it was the spark that lit his custom truck flame.