Mike Linares grew up riding dirt bikes and quads in the dunes of Glamis, California, but after a friend built up a 1977 Ford F-100 into a capable off-road truck, Mike made him an offer and bought it. Mike had seen Ford Ranger’s and Chevy Silverado’s out on the dunes, but really liked the uniqueness of the F-100.
The truck had a carbureted 427ci Ford from Moruzzi Race Motors and was a blast to drive, but after driving it for a few years Mike decided that the F-100 needed a little tweaking.
Mike took the truck to RJ Fabrication who discovered that the shocks were too long for the suspension, which basically reduced up-travel, and some parts were hitting other parts when it bumped out all the way with some steering angle.
RJ Fabrication went through the truck, revising the steering and suspension setups to make it all work together, rebuilt the C6 automatic transmission, and swapped out the torque converter.
The inside of the cab received heated seats, carpeting, an updated air conditioning system along with new switches and gauges.
The truck was now performing better than ever, but just 5-weeks after the truck was finished, Mike was filming some stuff with the Terra Crew and rolled the truck on a section of whoops.
The F-100 was sent back to RJ Fabrication to determine how much damage was done and to make repairs.
The frame was straightened and boxed, the front lower shock mounts were reinforced, and a steering system from Power Steering Solutions was installed. The reworked front suspension now provided 21-inches of wheel travel.
In the rear, a Camburg trophy truck style rear end works in conjunction with 60-inch lower links and RJ Fabrication’s own upper links. The rear shock mounts were raised to allow longer shocks which contributes to the 30-inches of rear suspension travel.
The brakes were upgraded with Wilwood discs and six-piston calipers that hide behind Method wheels. The tires are 39×13.5×17 BFGoodrich Baja TA’s.
The F-100 was painted with a Viper Red hue applied by Travis Sylvester at Sylvester’s Customs, who also painted the frame and cage, and laid down the pair of black racing stripes that run from the hood to the back of the cab.
Instead of a carburetor the engine is now fed fuel from a Holley Terminator X EFI system because “it’s user-friendly, and it works extremely well right out of the box.”.
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About The Author
Growing up, my father always believed that every family needed a truck—there’s just something about having a vehicle capable of hauling anything at a moment’s notice. That philosophy stuck with me, and it’s been the foundation of my lifelong passion for Ford trucks.
While I’m best known for my work with Ford Rangers, I’ve owned a wide variety of Ford trucks over the years—including F-150s, F-250s, F-350s, and even larger rigs like the Ford Excursion, Ford Expedition, and a 1982 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile camper van. I’ve used these vehicles for everything from family transportation to towing car trailers and campers, and each one has fueled my love for Ford’s versatility and durability.
I especially enjoy the styling of 1970s and 1980s Ford trucks—the bold designs, rugged presence, and classic charm are timeless. Sharing my passion for Ford trucks, vans, and SUVs with other enthusiasts online brings me a great deal of joy, and it’s why I created Blue Oval Trucks.
This website is dedicated to helping Ford truck enthusiasts explore, learn about, and celebrate these incredible vehicles. While I share my expertise and experiences here, Blue Oval Trucks is an independent enthusiast site and is not affiliated with Ford Motor Company.
