Preacher Bruce Suggs of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is doing God's work, both in the church and on the street. His '40 Ford pickup was built up for a very simple reason, best stated by the preacher himself: "Because I am a pastor and the Lord blessed me to build and have this truck." The underscoring is his, the emphasis duly noted -- this truck is indeed blessed.
"The Lord is with thee" The preacher's chopped-top Ford was aided in its path to salvation by Downs Mfg., which baptized the hot rod with a slew of aftermarket components. The fully smoothed Scotts Air Ride frontend on the heavenly hot rod includes Scotts A-arms and Shock Wave 'bags. The rear four-bar is aided by Firestone 2,500-pound 'bags plumbed with 3/8-inch line. VIAIR 450 compressors feed the system, and 6 gallons worth of tanks store the air until called upon for more. A Dakota Digital switch box rounds out the custom touches.
"Thy will be done on Earth" The drivetrain is no less worthy of our admiration, featuring a '96 Trans Am six-speed tranny. Built up by the God-given talents of Tim Bradham, the drivetrain components include a 4-inch-narrowed 9-inch Ford rear axle with a drive ratio of 3.73 and a specially built exhaust system using 3-inch pipe with a Flowmaster muffler.
"Forgive us our trespasses"Acts of divinity were done to the engine through Chris Bledsoe Motorsports of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The 350 four-bolt was bored 60 over and includes a BDS camshaft with a 360 lift capped with NASCAR-spec 18-degree-angle heads and a seriously awe-inducing BDS 671 blower. As Preacher Suggs wanted this build to yield something "fun and fast to drive," when he decides to transgress, he can unleash all 825 horses -- not that he would ever consider doing that.
"Lead us not into temptation"It's difficult not to covet the '40 Ford, as its exterior is a sacred offering of specially fabricated components, including a custom-made Downs grille, frenched-in E-class Mercedes-Benz headlights, and Billet Specialties sideview mirrors. Suggs called upon his own otherworldly talent and the crew at his body shop, Suggs Auto Sales & Body Works, to attain suicided doors, a flush third brake light, a chopped top, widened rear fenders, and a fully clean-shaven body. A Pros Pick tonneau covers a smoothed and clearcoated wood bed. The blessed body hovers on Billet Specialties Hustler 16x7-inchers up front and 17x11s out back, all four beauties wrapped in BFG 205x50R16s. PPG Fast Red allows the truck to take on Biblical -- not to mention organic -- proportions, as Preacher Suggs has named the chopped-top Ford Covered by the Blood.
"Deliver us from evil"As hard as it is for us sinners to look away, we are tempted by the supernatural interior by Jerry Hobgood on Spring Hope, North Carolina. The red-leather upholstery, both on the seats and the floor, is the backdrop for a slew of goodies, including a custom dash, Billet Specialties steering wheel, ididit steering column, Pontiac Sunfire seats, billet handles, and overhead console. Whether Preacher Suggs chooses to hear religious hymns or the devil's own, aka rock 'n' roll, he'll be hearing 1,500 watts worth of it -- that's a whole lot of Creed. The Kenwood head unit controls Clarion components for the highs, and to add that extra oomph, 1,200-watt Audiobahn amps were strapped in to power 15-inch subs. Speaking from a delusional state of beatitude brought on by the various merits of the '40 Ford, we can honestly say that Bruce Suggs preaches the doctrine of customization very persuasively through his '40 pickup. We can only imagine his powers inside a church. n