When we first caught sight of Blake Parker's '07 F-150, it looked more like a tactical bomb-squad transporter rather than a daily driver filled with audio. "I got a little out of hand with the black," Blake tells us at the photo shoot and we just laughed and agreed. It started out like so many projects, just a little bit here and little bit there and then it happened. A year after the first part was purchased, a custom truck was built just the way he wanted it: black.
Working as a salesman at Appearance Car Audio in Birmingham, Alabama, Blake was tired of seeing cars being fixed up with tons of chrome. New to the truck world, he picked up an '07 Ford F-150 and decided to add just a couple of things. After the custom truck snowball had fully engulfed him, he ordered a Belltech lowering kit. Up front drop spindles and coils bring the front down 4 inches and out back, a flip kit lowers everything 5 inches. Belltech Nitro Drop shocks keep the ride smooth and Blake tells us it's his favorite mod he's done. American Racing 24-inch wheels were ordered, in black of course, and mounted inside Hankook 295/35R24 rubber up front and 305/35R24 tires in the rear. With the lowering kit installed and the new wheels bolted on, the F-150 began to take on a sinister look. Rather than fight the feeling, Blake went with it.
On went a black Grillcraft mesh grille, the headlights were smoked, and the taillights were also blacked-out. Each Ford emblem was painted black and the windows received a serious coat of tint. Under the hood, the 5.4L received a K&N intake and MagnaFlow exhaust. The rumble was nice, but Blake wanted a different kind of rumble, the kind that can be felt and heard.
The etched Plexiglass provides...
The etched Plexiglass provides some contrast thanks to red LED lighting shining through.