Most folks agree that the best way to learn a new skill is through a combination of technical instruction and hands-on experience. That's exactly the approach that young Shannon Chapa from Cordele, Georgia, chose as a way of achieving his long-term goal of opening his own body shop.
Currently enrolled in South Georgia Technical College studying electronics, Shannon is supplementing his classroom instruction with the best kind of practical experience. At 19, Shannon's been involved with lifted trucks for the past five years. When he received his '08 Ford F-250 as a graduation present, the truck had less than 10 miles on it before he and his father Raul had a plan worked out for lifting it. They teamed up with their good friend Cole Sercer of Sercer Machine in Rochelle, Georgia, who began implementing the changes.
Building from the bottom down, Cole used his custom jacks to raise the F-250 and remove the stock Ford suspension. Since the original Dana 60 up front and the Sterling 10.5 in the rear were more than strong enough, they were retained, but new four-links (front and rear) were designed using 2-inch, 0.25-inch wall thickness DOM tubing. Rather than building a central cage, Cole wanted a high center for the truck and created custom brackets to hold the four-links.
 The adjustable suspension...  The adjustable suspension gives the big F-250 12 inches of lift. The Firestone bags, designed for a semi, use a heavy-duty Oasis compressor mounted in a toolbox in the bed. The truck raises and lowers as well as going side to side. For convenience, motorized Amp Research steps drop down to ease entry and exit. |  The 6.4L twin-turbo V-8 benefits...  The 6.4L twin-turbo V-8 benefits from a cold-air intake, SCT tune, and a 4-inch straight-pipe with an 8-inch tip. |  The King Ranch interior was...  The King Ranch interior was already luxurious straight from the factory, but the aftermarket stereo system adds another dimension. The double DIN Pioneer head unit powers the upgraded Kicker component sets in the doors and a second Kicker 660-watt amplifier drives the three 10-inch subs and four mids, mounted in their own enclosure behind the rear seats. |
He replaced both driveshafts, converting the Ford two-piece driveshaft in the rear to a one-piece version. Here's where the build gets a little more complicated. Not only would the truck have a full 12 inches of lift, it also raises and lowers thanks to its new airbag suspension.
Adjusting the truck's altitude is accomplished by four huge Firestone Triple Convolution bags that rest on custom-fabricated perches. They provide about 14 inches of lift, but travel is limited by the Poly Performance limiting straps. The bags are energized with a bed-mounted Oasis compressor that feeds a 20-gallon oxygen tank used as a reserve. Danz valves and 3/4-inch hydraulic lines fill the bags.
Look closely and you'll see the Sway-A-Way spring-loaded bumpstops incorporated into the design that cushion the truck when the bags are deflated. With that much lift, stabilizing the big Ford was critical, so six Sway-A-Way shocks were added with four up front and two in the rear providing genuine off-road capability. A Sway-A-Way steering stabilizer, custom-fabricated sway bar, and new pitman arm completed the suspension mods.
The final step was extending the stock brake lines to compensate for the lift. Once all the hardware was in place, an appropriately larger set of wheels was in order. The truck now rolls on 24-inch chrome Mazzi Hulk rims and 38x14-R24 Kumho M/T rubber.