Custom 1978 Ford F-150 - 78JUS4U
Father-and-son Build Turned Memorial
/ By Dan Ward
/ photographer: Bob Ryder, Mark Halvorsen
/
Article provided by: Truckin' Magazine
Seldom does a tech sheet move you when reading over the nuts and bolts of a truck buildup. However, after reading Kevin Harrell's info, we were all touched. Kevin rebuilt the '78 Ford F-150 that was handed down to him from his father, who purchased it new in 1978. After years of faithful service as a work hauler, grocery hauler, and eventually a school hauler, Kevin decided to transform the truck and do it in his late father's memory. Hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars later, the very rare '78 was finished and christened with a personalized plate reading "78JUS4U," a fitting reminder that this truck was built for a special man. Trucks are more than hunks of metal with rubber tires. They're rolling time machines that can take us back to a special era when happy times filled our thoughts.
 The real star of the show is the built and blueprinted 400ci V-8. Using a Comp Cams camshaft, rods, lifters, and a polished Edelbrock intake with a Holley 850 sitting on it, the Blue Oval pours out over 400 horses to the Ford 9-inch. |  |  Hunkered down on Air Ride Technologies Shockwaves, the '78 stuffs huge Hoosier 29x14-1/2x15 Quick Time Pro slicks mounted on 15x10-inch Boyd Coddington Starburst wheels. A Competition Engineering ladder bar setup keeps the meats planted. |
 House of Kolor True Blue Pearl paint was applied by Custom Paint in Hampton, Virginia, but not before the tailgate was welded smooth, the roll pan was welded in, and the handles, side markers, antenna, emblems, body trim, cowl vents, driprails, and gas door were fully shaved. Ray Davis performed the bodywork. |  Inside the steel doors, Howell's Upholstery covered the dash pad in gray leather along with the Steel Horse seats and door panels. Kevin installed the audio system, consisting of a Rockford Fosgate head unit, Rockford amps, and Alpine separates in the kick panels. | |