BSI 1956 Ford X-100

In today’s late-model truck market, with all of its modern technology, it can be difficult to keep yesterday’s classics in the bright sunlight. Lucky for us, Bodie Stroud has proven that you can have an old classic and still enjoy all of the latest high-performance mods and creature comforts.

Bodie grew up in SoCal, and at 16, he started spinning wrenches and smokin’ tires. After high school, Bodie attended the famed Pasadena Art Center College of Design where he learned how to turn his visions of style and speed into incredible renderings. After spending years working for “the man,” he took off his suit and tie and decided that he wanted to get back to his love of cars, his passion for precision.

He opened a small shop and began building hot rods, customs, trucks, muscle cars and motorcycles. After appearing on the Discovery Channel’s popular TV Show “Monster Garage” with well-known custom builder and fabricator Jesse James, Bodie decided to go out on his own and opened Bodie Stroud Industries (BSI). Throughout the years he’s built many incredible award-winning custom trucks and cars for enthusiasts and celebrities, including cars for Johnny Depp and Tim Allen.

His latest venture is to recreate a true classic American custom truck. When you think of vintage custom trucks, the first image that comes to mind is a ’56 Ford F-100 pickup. Bodie thought it would be bitchin’ to put the ’56 Ford F-100 back into production while keeping its timeless, unique appearance. He wanted to blend in a modern frame, suspension, brakes, wheels/tires, drivetrain, paint, interior and audio, ultimately mass- producing these wild customs Ford X100s for enthusiasts.

The Ford X-100’s foundation is a modified factory frame with boxed rails and a custom center section. Cross members and driveshaft hoop provide necessary strength and rigidity. The IFS consists of a pair of 2-inch drop spindles sandwiched between custom BSI-patented EZ Aline upper and lower tubular control arms. The unique BSI upper control arms allow the control arm length to be adjusted to set the caster/camber front-end adjustments without removing the front wheels. RideTech adjustable coil-over shocks provide superior ride quality and adjustable suspension height. An optional suspension package includes a RideTech pneumatic system. The Speedway Engineering front sway bar delivers flatter cornering and helps eliminate excessive body roll. A Flaming River rack-and-pinion power steering unit is linked to a Flaming River steering column that’s capped with a Flaming River Waterfall 13.8-inch-diameter, six-bolt, half-wrapped Italian gray leather steering wheel.

WHEN YOU THINK OF VINTAGE TRUCKS THE FIRST IMAGE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE ’56 FORD F-100.”

Moving to the rear suspension, a Currie Ford 9-inch rearend housing is stuffed with 3.90 gears and an Eaton Detroit Trutrac limited slip unit with helical gears instead of clutches. The rearend housing is anchored with a BSI 4-link and EZ-Aline adjusters with Ride Tech Air Ride suspension.

The power comes from a Ford 5.0L Coyote Aluminator V-8 engine with a choice of a naturally aspirated 412 hp or a Ford Racing Roots-style supercharged Coyote that puts out 630 hp. A 3-inch-diameter driveshaft from Inland Empire Driveline links the Coyote power to the Currie Ford 9-inch rearend. A MagnaFlow 3- inch-diameter stainless steel exhaust system allows the burnt gases to exit with the right amount of backpressure. The Coyote gear selection and rpm changes are performed by a Ford 4R70E automatic transmission.

The custom X-100 interior features a 1956 factory dash that was modified to fit a late-model Ford King Ranch gauge cluster with white face gauges. The traditional bench seat has been replaced with a pair of modern high-back bucket seats covered in high-quality soft leather. A custom center console separates the buckets and houses the 4R70E transmission shifter. A Vintage Air climate control system allows for year-round comfort during summer heat or winter cold. Just like modern vehicles, the X-100 is equipped with an OBDII port under the dash to diagnose any tripped drivetrain codes.

It’s cool to see a shop like BSI pump out turnkey classic trucks like this. This looks like a great program for those looking to jump into a trouble-free custom F-100. That is, of course, if you’re able to afford the 180k starting price.

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TECH SPECS

BUILDER

Bodie Stroud
BSI, Inc.
Sun Valley, CA

ENGINE

• Ford 5.0L Coyote Aluminator V-8 (supercharged 630 hp)
• Ford Racing Roots-style supercharger
• Ford Racing intercooler
• Custom BSI air intake
• Ford Racing headers
• Aluminum four-row radiator with 12-inch dual electric fans
• Magnaflow 3-inch exhaust
• Inland Empire polished aluminum 3-inch driveshaft

TRANSMISSION

• Ford 4R70W four-speed automatic

SUSPENSION

• Front: BSI EZ-Aline upper/lower control arms
• RideTech pneumatic ’bags or RideTech adjustable coil-over shocks (optional)
• Rear: BSI four-bar suspension
• RideTech pneumatic ’bags or adjustable coil-over shocks (optional)
• Ford 9-inch Currie rearend

STEERING

• Flaming River rack-and- pinion
• Flaming River tilt steering column
• Flaming River Waterfall 13.8- inch leather steering wheel

BRAKES

• Wilwood disc brakes, front and rear
• Six-piston aluminum calipers
• 13-inch drilled and slotted rotors
• Wilwood master cylinder

WHEELS

• Boze Fatal billet aluminum, 19×8.5-inch front, 20×15-inch rear

TIRES

• Mickey Thompson Sportsman radials, 26 x 8.00R-18LT front, 31 x 18.00R-20LT rear

PAINT

• PPG Candy Red Brandywine

INTERIOR

• 2006 Mustang GT high back bucket seats
• BSI custom center console
• 2008 Ford King Ranch F-150 gauges
• Vintage Air air conditioning

AUDIO

• Alpine head unit
• Rockford Fosgate amps and speakers

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