2001 Ford F-150 SuperCrew - Project Sinatra: Part II

Projects are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get. Sometimes things click and parts fly onto a truck. Other times there are delays, parts are out of stock, and a lack of funds makes finishing a truck impossible. We have felt the same dilemmas that you have when creating our own automotive works of art. Our second-oldest member of the Truckin' stable is an '01 Ford F-150 SuperCrew that you may remember as Project SuperCrewzer. The truck has seen many versions of itself that have followed along with trends of the time such as being 'bagged on 20s, lifted on 33s, and recently being re-painted to match a staffer's '89 jet boat. Unfortunately, since it had been passed on from driver to driver, the truck had not been properly maintained or taken care of. Looking at the poor Super Pooper-as we have come to affectionately call it-a decision was made to completely rebuild the truck from top to bottom and bring it back to its glory days. Our plan was a simple but costly one: To add a whole new suspension, 24-inch wheels and tires, add big brakes, bolt-on an '03 Lincoln Navigator front end to the Ford, repaint the truck one solid beautiful color, add more power than ever, and completely redo the interior and audio. Does it sound like a bunch of stuff to do? It is. Trust us, it is. But it will all be worth it when the last bolt is tightened and the truck rides again.

So, why the name Project Sinatra? Because we are doing the truck our way. You'll notice cleaner, simpler, better-built trucks rolling around America in 2007 and 2008, and we're spear-heading the movement by building a clean and elegant truck that can hold its own at a truck show or a movie premier.

The first step required a short drive to Energy Suspension in San Clemente, California, to install all-new polyurethane bushings in our suspension parts. Better handling, a firmer ride, and a longer life are all positive attributes of Energy's top-of-the-line bushings. This often-overlooked upgrade is a must when replacing or upgrading your suspension and steering components. Besides the nicer and firmer polyurethane bushings, Energy also uses solid DOM metal sleeves, whereas most OEs use split tubing that is weaker and prone to wearing more quickly. The second step was to drive to MIC's (Master Image Customs) new headquarters in Chino Hills, California. The guys at MIC are known for 'bagging some of the sickest show trucks, but for this insall, they put down the welders and grabbed the impact guns for some bolt-on fun. Off came the Fabtech 6-inch double-shock lift system and on went a 2/4 Belltech drop. We replaced several OE worn-out parts, or missing parts due to the lift on the F-150. These parts included the upper A-arms, lower A-arms, ball joints, and tie-rod adjusting sleeves.

Transforming our daily-driver project truck was as easy as picking up the phone and ordering the proven parts that were engineered to work and improve upon where the OE left off. You can do the same if your truck is more than 5 years old and just needs some TLC. Pick up the phone, go online, or walk to your local shop and start doing things your way.

We definitely made plenty of mistakes for you during this build process. Good for you, bad for us. First off, we should have prepared for the 24-inch wheels and tires better-by not attempting a 4-inch drop in the front. The absence of the stock coils was what made us try the 2-inch Belltech drop coils, but with a nearly 32-inch tall tire, 4 inches of front-end lowering was too much. Whereas, we don't recommend cutting coils, the SuperCrew actually rides and drives like a champ now. The addition of new suspension components and new bushings really woke up the handling of the Ford. Now, we feel safe and reassured on the freeway at higher speeds. For this editor, driving a lowered truck is always a better experience, because in the historic words of Ricky Bobby, "I want to go fast."

In regards to the wheel and tire package, it's hard to beat 24-inch Giovanna wheels with Pirelli tires. Yes, we had several parts that did not work. And yes, we had to reuse or buy new parts to replace them. But overall, the truck has a whole-new persona. This kind of overhaul really proved that if you have a truck that has seen better days but is still a worthy driver, new parts and some well-spent cash can turn things around for you and your rig. You don't need to buy a brand-new truck to have the latest and greatest the aftermarket has to offer.