While at
Xenon, Webasto Products sent a technician to install their new power operating
soft tonneau cover that comes with an interior light and 2-keyfobs to
easily open and close the cover. You can also vary the opening at any
length. The install took a little of an hour to complete.
Once back
at Mike Face’s shop the grille was taken out and replaced with a
stunning, beveled, billet aluminum grille set by B-Cool Billets of Riverside,
California. Mike’s technicians then installed the great performing
Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation’s custom 14in. slotted brake
rotors and Tri-Power aluminum calipers that would more quickly and safely
stop the new, heavier F-150 Big Sky. These custom brakes also have the
Ford F-150 logo stenciled on the 14in. rotors.
The new bolder
looks were coming together nicely and it was time to stuff the custom
Xenon fender flares with giant, 35.5in. high, BF Goodrich LT355/55ZR22in.
G-Force T/A steel belted radial tires. These rugged, high-performance
all-terrain tires are wrapped around huge, 22X10in., ‘Clamp’
model, Cyclos Designer Wheels by Oasis Alloy Wheels. I paid a visit to
Oasis Alloy Wheels in Anaheim, California, and photographed the ‘Clamp’
wood sample wheel that the Oasis designers Cad-Cam’d before the
final sparkling polished, aluminum alloy wheels were cast.
It was now
time for the Big Sky to head further east out to Riverside, California,
to get a 2in. lift at Advantage Performance Center. Performance West choose
a set of Rev Tek’s billet aluminum spacers that are affixed to the
top of the front coil-over shock absorbers. The 2in. lift kit really adds
to the ability to conquer tough off-road trails and to give the Big Sky
even more outstanding handling ability on the hard pavement.
After a road
test at Advantage Performance Center the Big Sky headed south to San Diego
where a new Sony Xplode audio & video entertainment system was installed.
This system includes a powerful Sony AM-FM stereo radio, Indash CD player
and DVD player with a large flip-up front screen plus a large pull-down
rear screen that pivots a full 360-degrees so that any of the seats can
have the screen turned in their direction to better view the video being
played.
Once complete,
the Big Sky came back north to Performance West Group’s Vista, California
headquarters’ where a bed rug by Wise Industries, a bed extender
from Instagate, and a set of 4-Cruiser Stainless Steel Accessories stainless
steel door entry guards, with Ford’s logo, were installed.
While in
Vista, the Big Sky headed southwest to Jim Warner’s Muffler Shop
in nearby Oceanside, California, where it was fitted with a custom Borla
dual, cat-back exhaust system to better exit the hot gases, and give the
Big Sky an unmistakable rumble and growling exhaust note. This would be
no usual install with the dual exhaust tips exiting on only one side in
front of a rear wheel. No, Performance West designers instead went for
a truly unique ‘quad’ exhaust look with 2-2in., polished stainless
steel, Borla exhaust tips sticking out from a precut opening through the
Xenon side skirts on each side of the truck. Jim himself cut a hole through
the frame on each side of the Big Sky, boxed the frame, bent and snaked
the exhaust pipe to the cutout on each side. This is truly a ‘one-of-a-kind’
install, and makes the Big Sky very special indeed.
