Need A Lift?

Modifying and customizing trucks is big business.

Modifying and customizing trucks is big business. Take a look at this lifted Ford to get a solid idea of the kinds of equipment and modifications truck owners want. Adam Nitte is what the politically correct like to call a "multi-tasker." This resident of Burbank, California, is engaged in a number of diverse pursuits. For openers, Nitte remodels houses for a living. He's also a physical trainer at local health clubs around the San Fernando Valley and, more importantly (from a gearhead perspective), Nitte owns Insane Trucks, a company that builds some of the coolest rock-crawling, trophy-winning 4x4 trucks in the Golden State.

NITTE'S "ROLLING BUSINESS CARD"

Just take a look at Nitte's 2000 Ford F-250 Power Stroke and you'll know why we call it his "rolling business card."

"We've tried to incorporate all of the best aspects of a state-of-the-art four-wheel-drive truck and blend it with a few comfort-saving features like the insane (there's that word again) audio-visual system, for example (valued at more than $20K), to create the ultimate show-and-go, all-terrain, off-road vehicle!" exclaimed Nitte.

Of course, the first features you notice on this bright-red monster are those huge tires and incredible 23-inch lift. This feat was accomplished at BTW Performance in Azusa, California, by executing a 3-inch body lift, along with a set of 20-inch Atlas Spring packs. A set of King off-road shocks attached to Donahoe shock hoops with 9-inch BTW hangers are also part of this awesome combination. Off Road Unlimited (ORU) supplied the crossover steering/ram power-assist setup.

Out back, Nitte's truck is equipped with ORU full-length traction bars and King off-road shocks with DJ Safety limiting straps. The 5.13:1 geared Ford front-and rear-axle assemblies both are equipped with a pair of Mag-Hytec large-volume differential covers. And finally, the F-250 rolls on a set of 20x46x19.5-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw tires mounted to 20x12-inch KMC XD "Rockstar" wheels.

Powering Nitte's bright-red brute is a 7.3-liter Ford Power Stroke Turbo Diesel with horsepower and torque boosted by an Edge Products programmer. The Power Stroke is also equipped with an AEM Brute Force cold-air intake and Rolling Big Power (RBP) Turbo-Back stainless-steel exhaust system. Other items include a TRUFILTER billet-aluminum oil filter and VIAIR on-board air system.

Handling all that torque is a Jimmy G./North Valley Truck Transmission Center (a division of Racetrans.com) Ford 4R100 four-speed-overdrive transmission equipped with Axiom Technologies and TransGo internals and a Torque Converter Shop (TCS) steel-billet main shaft and torque converter. Out of necessity, the F-250's transfer case was also clocked to maintain driveline concentricity and uses a BTW custom transmission crossmember.

The big Ford's body was jazzed up a bit with the addition of Hannaman Fiberglass front fenders and Precision Grilles-equipped custom front bumper. The hood is from Suncoast Creations, while the rear-fender flares are from the Bushwacker, Inc. catalogue. The bed cover is from Gaylord's and Studio Auto Body handled the paintwork.

To say that Nitte's Ford has been "accessorized" is a gross understatement. Nitte's high rider is equipped with a set of 12-inch dropped steps by Kodiak. A set of World Imports air horns are used to let people know Nitte is coming up behind them and four KC HiLiTES are used to light the way during late-night off-road excursions.

Inside, the F-250 features a Mike Cox/Goodfella's Rod & Custom tan-flamed leather-and-ostrich interior. Other items include Nu Image flamed dash knobs and Grippin Billet door handles and floor pedals.

Kustom Rydez Unlimited in Brea, California, installed the 6,000-watt killer audio system consisting of an AM/FM/DVD/MP3/Bluetooth ACT Enterprises head unit, four Powerbass 12-inch subwoofers, two 10-inch Powerbass subwoofers, and two 8-inch Powerbass mids and highs. Also along for the ride: one ACT 17-inch overhead monitor, four 10-inch in-door monitors, and one 7-inch front-driver monitor. All electrical was done by CVS Motorsports.

"When you back one of these things up, you can't see everything in front or behind you, so we installed ACT Enterprises/Promise Mobile Electronics on-board cameras front and rear (which use ACT monitors) and Rostra Precision Controls cameras side-to-side," Nitte said.

Nitte has more than $60,000 invested in his F-250. Fortunately, it's a truck, so it can carry the tons of trophies and awards it has collected at shows.