A Dentside F-100 Built to Stand out From the Crowd

LIKE MOST OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TRUCK SCENE, JASON JONES HAD DREAMS OF BUILDING SOMETHING BIG THAT HE COULD DEBUT AT THE SEMA SHOW. However, Jason knew he didn’t want to create just another C-10 with an LS swap and air ride that could potentially get lost in the crowd. In order to leave his mark, he needed to build something that would not only be different but stylish as well. At the 2013 SEMA Show, Jason saw Snakebit, a ’56 F-100 built for charity. He knew that he couldn’t simply replicate the truck, but Snakebit was the catalyst that spurred him to create something different.

ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE FEATURES ON THIS TRUCK IS THE “BOSS” TAILGATE. TO CREATE IT, SADISTIC IRON WERKS STAMPED A PIECE OF SHEET METAL AND HART FAB GRAFTED IT TO THE STOCK TAILGATE.

On the heels of the 2013 SEMA Show, Jason made his way to Detroit Autorama. While in the area, he figured he would visit the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. He stumbled upon the F-150 manufacturing plant there and gathered more inspiration. Jason came up with the idea of building a ’70s model F-100 and taking some Boss Ford styling cues to pay homage to the muscle car era. From there he found this ’73 F-100 farm truck that was still in running condition and snagged it for $2,500.

“THE TRUCK WAS PERFECT. IN THE LAST DECADE WE’VE SEEN A FEW SIXTH GENERATION (1973-79) FORD “DENTSIDE” F-100S LIKE THIS ONE BUILT TO TURN HEADS.”

The truck was perfect. In the last decade we’ve seen a few sixth generation (1973-79) Ford “Dentside” F-100s like this one get built to turn heads. The beauty of creating a new craze with a truck like this is that you lead people in a new direction they’ve never considered before. The only obstacle is the lack of aftermarket parts availability to modernize these classic trucks; however, if you build it (and they gain serious popularity), the parts will come.

TO GET THIS TRUCK DOWN OVER THE 22- AND 24- INCH B FORGED WHEELS, A SCOTT’S HOTRODS SUPER SLAM IFS AND CUSTOM REAR 4-LINK WAS USED.

SEW IT SEAMS CUSTOM AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS UPDATED THE STYLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAB.

After coordinating with Travis Highlander of Highlander Concept Rendering, Jason had a good visual of what the truck could look like. From there Ross Tyler of ART Photography helped him put together a proposal, and then he contacted several companies to find a way to get the truck displayed on the indoor show floor at SEMA. This was a scary moment because he’d started tearing into the truck and was still unsure if it would be accepted into the show. Soon after, he received an email from the team at Vortech Superchargers, and they started conversations about the project. Vortech decided they were in and now it was time to find a shop to help make it happen.

“IT WAS A MAD RUSH TO FINISH THE TRUCK IN TIME FOR SEMA 2014. I REMEMBER GETTING UPDATES ON THE BUILD A WEEK BEFORE THE SHOW, AND IT WAS STILL IN PIECES ON THE EAST COAST.”

Jason had everything lined up, or at least he thought he did, and the plan was to drop in a Coyote engine and plant the truck on the floor. After a few months, Jason was struck with some bad news. The shop that had taken on the build was unable to make the bolt-on front suspension work with power steering. The aftermarket front cross member also placed the engine so high that a Boss 302 intake and Vortech Supercharger couldn’t fit under the hood. On top of that, the shop was inundated with other projects, and it didn’t look like the crew would be able to finish Jason’s truck in time.

TO BACK UP THE BOSS HOMAGE, A COYOTE 5.0L ENGINE AND VOTECH SUPERCHARGER WERE DROPPED IN AND TOPPED OFF WITH A BOSS 302 INTAKE. IT’S SHOWCASED IN A CUSTOM ENGINE BAY DONE BY HART FAB.

With the truck blown apart, Jason had to pick up the pieces and move on. The F-100 was taken to Hart Fab where Josh Hart, John Ortiz and Brian Ortiz were willing to take on the huge build in a short amount of time. The first thing on the list was to reconfigure the front suspension. A call was made to Scott’s Hotrods ‘N Customs to order a Super Slam IFS system, not only to add airbags but also so they could use a rack-and-pinion power steering setup to turn the massive 22×9-inch B Forged 595 front wheels. Then Josh added custom metal work in the bed and the engine bay. He also had Bobby Martins of Sadistic Iron Werks stamp “Boss” into a piece of sheet metal that was later grafted into the tailgate. From there Jeff Volker of Volkers Autobody was enlisted to handle the paint and body. On the inside, Scott Zielinski of Sew it Seams Custom Automotive Interiors handled all of the upholstery.

It was a mad rush to finish the truck in time for SEMA 2014. I remember getting updates on the build a week before the show, and it was still in pieces on the East Coast, which is pretty far from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Jason says they were so busy and sleep deprived that “the guys were all like walking zombies those last four, five weeks.” The truck was so rushed together that when Josh and John transported it across the country, the paint was still wet. It was so soft that Jeremy Seanor of Lucky Strike couldn’t paint the Boss stripes on the sides.

Though it was complete madness to get this truck ready for SEMA, it all paid off. The truck was rolled into the Vortech booth in the center hall. Laid out and in bright red paint with a supercharged Coyote engine. It grabbed everyone’s attention. It was certainly one of the most memorable trucks in attendance, and it shined a new light on Dentside F-100s. Hopefully this truck paves the way for others because it sure does look mean with all of its upgrades.

TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Jason Jones
1973 Ford Dentside F-100
Dallas, TX

ENGINE

  • Shop: Hart Fab
  • 2013 Ford 302-ci 5.0L Coyote engine
  • Boss 302 intake
  • GT 500 injectors
  • Vortech Supercharger V-3 Si with an air-to-air charge intercooler
  • 4R70W transmission with smart shift from Performance Automatic
  • Aeromotive fuel pump and regulator
  • Custom exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers
  • Performance Rod & Custom three-core custom aluminum radiator and transmission cooler
  • American Autowire wiring harness
  • Narrowed Ford 9-inch rearend
  • Mosler third member with 4.10:1 gears and Detroit TruTrac

SUSPENSION

  • Shop: Hart Fab
  • Custom Scott’s Super Slam IFS
  • Z’d front frame with 1-inch cut off the bottom
  • Wilwood spindles
  • Wilwood 14-inch rotors with Superlight six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers
  • Slam Specialties airbags
  • Ridetech shocks
  • Custom rear 4-link and pan hard bar
  • Rear step notch
  • Accuair air management system
  • Dual Viair 444 Compressors

WHEELS & TIRES

  • 22×89 and 24×14 B Forged 595
  • 255/35R22 and 405/25R24 Pirelli tires

BODY & PAINT

  • Shops: Hart Fab (sheet metal work) and Volker’s Autobody (paint and bodywork)
  • PPG Audi RS4 Red
  • Boss stripes by Jeremy Seanor of Lucky Strike
  • Pinstriping by Greg Cline
  • Glass/door trim from LMC Truck
  • Ring Brothers hood hinges
  • Custom sheet metal engine bay
  • Shaved drip rail, cab seams and emblems
  • Front and rear bumpers cut and tucked closer to the body
  • Custom bead rolled sheet metal cab and bed floor
  • LMC Truck headlights, taillights and door handles
  • Custom tailgate with “Boss” stamped in the center by Bobby Martins of Sadistic Iron Werks

INTERIOR/STEREO

  • Shop: Sew it Seams Custom Automotive Interiors
  • Relicate-supplied leather and suede
  • Custom bench seat with bolsters
  • Custom door panels with “Boss” logos
  • LMC Truck carpet
  • Custom dash by Josh Hart
  • Auto Meter Gauges
  • Ididit steering column
  • Billet Specialties steering wheel and window handles
  • RetroSound head unit and speakers

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “Special thanks to God, my wife Autumn, brother Sean and Kenneth Gamble, as well as the amazing team of craftsmen that busted their ass on the build. Josh Hart, Jeff Volker, Scott Zielinski and the entire Cline and Thompson families, just to name a few. Also huge thanks to AccuAir and Vortech for getting us to SEMA and taking a chance on us.”

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