Power and Performance: Inside Brendan Schaub’s Ford Lightning Build!

Brendan Schaub’s Boosted Ford Lightning

In the world of trucks, there are enthusiasts, and then there’s Brendan Schaub—a former MMA fighter turned comedian and podcaster—who lives and breathes everything about custom trucks and high-performance vehicles. His journey with his prized possession, a 2004 Ford Lightning, is not just a tale of upgrades and modifications, but a testament to a true passion for trucks and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Brendan’s connection with his Ford Lightning began when he stumbled upon it online. Despite facing initial hurdles with fuel injectors and timing issues, his determination to transform this beast into a neck-breaking boosted Blue Oval was strong. After navigating through numerous setbacks and visits to various shops, Brendan’s persistence paid off, and the truck was finally ready for some performance upgrades and smoky burnouts.

We were lucky enough to collaborate with Brendan to document the addition of some power adders that would reengineer his Ford Lightning with speed in mind. The first step was taking it to DWraps in Simi Valley, California, to fully wrap the truck in a vibrant orange vinyl with a sleek black hood—a striking combination that set the scene for what was to come.

After navigating through numerous setbacks and visits to various shops, Brendan’s persistence paid off, and the truck was finally ready for some performance upgrades and smoky burnouts.

With aesthetics in place, it was time to enhance the truck’s performance. Brendan, in partnership with Whipple Superchargers, introduced a W175AX supercharger kit to the factory 2.9L engine. This addition not only unleashed the beast within, but it also elevated the truck’s power output to new heights. Complemented by Snake Eater Performance fuel injectors, the engine received the necessary fuel to match its enhanced airflow.

But Brendan’s pursuit of perfection didn’t stop there. With big power comes big responsibility, so a set of Wilwood big brakes and custom brake brackets from TCE Performance were added, ensuring enough stopping force and control for all that new power.

But Brendan’s pursuit of perfection didn’t stop there. With big power comes big responsibility, so a set of Wilwood big brakes and custom brake brackets from TCE Performance were added, ensuring enough stopping force and control for all that new power. The wheels are from Weld Racing and are wrapped with Mickey Thompson street slicks to complete the aggressive stance and set the tone for dominance.

This first build from Brendan captures the essence of his passion and dedication. The transformation can be followed in full on his new auto-centric YouTube channel called Tune Town. Once the truck was ready for its debut to the masses, I met with him in the scenic hills of Southern California for an unforgettable photo shoot. Meeting Brendan in person was a testament to his true nature and genuine love for trucks, making the experience all the more exciting.

While Brendan’s journey in the truck scene may be relatively new, his enthusiasm is just getting started. With a custom RAM TRX also in his arsenal equipped with a supercharged engine and designed for off-road rowdiness, Brendan’s presence in the truck community is certain to get him some new fans—and probably a few haters, which will only drive him to do more. We’re excited to see his journey into the truck scene and can’t wait to join him on his next adventure!

Photo Credit: BRIAN MCGEE