The tonneau cover and custom...
The tonneau cover and custom pinstriping really help give the truck that little extra bit of refinement.
Oftentimes, you can have two trucks sitting side by side and one draws your attention while the other is just a nice-looking truck. Most times, the difference is the attention to detail-the subtle little things that have been addressed and done to make the truck look just that much cleaner, that much more polished. When we were recently at a North Texas Power Stroke Association Rally we found a perfect example of someone paying attention to even the smallest of details.
Bryan Whatley from Wylie, Texas, has an '00 F-250 that is a shining example of what years of nit-picking a truck can lead to. But this isn't always how this truck looked. Though it was originally purchased as a tow rig for hauling his custom cars around, Whatley quickly realized the double duty a truck offers and started using it as a work truck as well.
Over the years, he started getting rid of his custom cars and the itch to critique something finally won over and Whatley turned his focus solely to his White Beauty, but back then, it was closer to the beast.
The truck has an aggressive stance due to the 3-inch DJM drop beams and 5-inch rear shackle and hanger drop kit. The truck is actually so low, Whatley has to use two different size tires because the 305/50R20 General Grabber UHVs in back would rub up front. So the front tires ended up being 295/50R20s still wrapped around the same Incubus Grim wheels. While the difference is only very slight, it is just enough to clear the wheelwells.
Up front, Whatley took the advice of friend and added an '08 F-450 Job 2 air dam. In addition to the air dam, the front end has been converted to an '05 to '07 Harley Davidson. Whatley, paying very close attention to detail, wasn't happy with the front bumper not aligning quite right with the wheelwells, so he called around, had a few other people measure their trucks, and decided to take a daring step. He cut 11/2 inches off of his frame to get the bumper to align and fit like factory. This modification has been dubbed the "Budro Mod" by some.
With more than 360 hp under...
With more than 360 hp under the hood, Whatley needs all the traction help he can get.
To pull the finishing touches off in the front, a Reflexxion steel cowl hood was installed, along with '07 mirrors with clear Recon signals, Putco clear lense covers for the cab lights, Stealth bulbs in the front turn signals, and '05 to '07 factory fender emblems.
Gaze at the truck long enough, and additional subtle details start popping out. The door badges that generally say 7.3L Power Stroke or 6.0L Power Stroke (depending on the year) have been replaced with International door badges, and the pinch welds under the cab that run the entire length of the body have had custom covers made by Whatley himself and been painted black to fade into the background. James Crawford from Garland, Texas, handpainted the pinstripes along the sides and the custom vintage stripes on the tailgate. But before he could do that, Chris Rayner from Detroit Customs in Sachse, Texas, had to fix the scratches and dings that happened when it was used as a work truck, along with installing all of the parts Whatley purchased to replace the factory stuff.
As you walk around the back of the truck, the Extang RT bedcover (that fits nicely inside of the bedrails) starts to show itself. The third brake light has been replaced with a Recon clear LED brake light and the taillights were replaced with Acekogyo LED lights. With the windows tinted down to 5 percent in the back, Whatley made some custom reverse lights that attach to the receiver mounted under the bumper. These come on when the reverse lights come on, and they make it easier to see at night, which is extremely important with Whatley's three little girls at home.
 It is the subtle details that...  It is the subtle details that make this truck appear so clean. The Job 2 air dam, Harley front end, painted mirrors, clear cab lights, and clear turn signals are just some of the subtleties. |  The factory air filters are...  The factory air filters are extremely restrictive-an AFE Stage II intake fixes that problem. |  The Fuelab regulator is part...  The Fuelab regulator is part of the Innovative Diesel regulated return system. Behind that is the Garrett turbo, looking right at home. |