Daily Slideshow: 1957 F-100 Has a 4.6-Liter Police Interceptor Heart
When you grow up around cars, the old man teaches you a thing or two. If you pay attention, you learn a few tricks of your own.
Two Schools of Thought Merge
If you were introduced to cars at a young age and your dad was a collector with as many as 30 cars to his name, your interest in cars would be a given. But what do you do when your dad was a purist, and you have the itch to infuse a little bit of new technology and dependability to a classic? Click along to see how this F100 marries the two ideologies perfectly.
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The Man Behind the F100
JP Koop grew up the son of a grocer with a knack for collecting cars. Taken by a love for automobiles at a young age, Koop transitioned from building model cars to tooling around with go-karts and mini bikes. He graduated to the big leagues when he got his driver's license with a 1969 Ford Mustang sporting a 428 CI V8 under the hood. Over the years, Koop became involved with restorations of older Fords while running his transportation business. The desire to build a custom truck for himself and break free from the traditions of restorations burned deeply. He settled on a 1957 Ford F100, the first year of the third generation F-series. Koop partnered with Mike Boerema of Gas Axe Garage in Allendale, MI and they devised a plan to build a truck with a lowered stance that would be dependable during its duties as a hauler.
>>Join the conversation about the F-100 with a V8 right here in the forum.
Johnny Law to the Rescue
To ensure Koop's F100 would be bulletproof, he and Boerema decided on a 4.6 liter V8 out of a 2005 Ford Police Interceptor. The modest V8 came from the Ford assembly line with a sturdy iron block, cast iron crankshaft, and aluminum heads. The sequential electronic fuel injection pairs with factory coil-on-plug ignition. In all, the 4.6 makes an honest 250 horsepower and 287 lb-ft of torque in stock form. Koop's 4.6 has been given a mild refresher and sports aftermarket air intake setup. A power dual master cylinder from Summit Racing feeds the steel brake lines connected to the vented front and rear disc brakes, ensuring the brake pedal works just as well as the gas pedal.
>>Join the conversation about the F-100 with a V8 right here in the forum.
Purposefully Low
Koop wanted the F100 to handle as good as it looked. He started with a Crown Victoria 8.8 inch rear-end and a Crown Victoria independent front suspension. The rear-end houses 3.55 gears and a custom four-link setup by Gas Axe. Air Lift air bags, Monroe shocks, and Panhard bar do their thing in the rear. In the front, 2-inch drop spindles, Air Lift air bags, and Monroe shocks with an Air Life AutoPilot air system adjust the stance. 15-inch Rocket Racing Injector-Series wheels are mounted to BF Goodrich tires providing grip at all four corners. A 4-speed automatic Ford 4R75W transmission handles the shifting duties and power is distributed thanks to a custom driveshaft from D&R Driveline.
>>Join the conversation about the F-100 with a V8 right here in the forum.
Desert Gem
When seeking a rust-free classic, your best bet is always the desert. Koop found his F100 in Arizona and was lucky to need only minimal patchwork to small areas. Koop trusted Ted Aguilar of Walker, MI to make sure the body and bed were as straight as possible. Dressing up this F100 is a Tuxedo Black and Pearl White custom paint job. Additional styling cues of note include a shaved and louvered hood and tailgate and a fantastically vintage wooden bed. The bumpers were ditched for a sleeker look and the look plays well of the taillights borrowed from a '56 Pontiac. Koop's soundtrack is promoted through a custom 2.5-inch dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers.
>>Join the conversation about the F-100 with a V8 right here in the forum.
Beautiful Simplicity
The interior of this F100 might be the "piece de resistance". It's both functional and incredibly simple, just like the truck as a whole. The stock dash wears digital gauges from Dakota Digital and a JVC stereo updates the sound system. The steering wheel is a GT Performance GT3 Retro and an Ididit tilt wheel eases ingress and egress. Rex "Moon Dog" Parson was called upon to upholster Koop's F100 and he chose Chevy half ton truck seats which were upholstered in black and white vinyl. The carpet is black and features white piping to carry the two-tone theme of truck to the interior. A Vintage Air A/C setup ensures this classic will remain comfortable no matter the weather or the number of miles Koop drives.
>>Join the conversation about the F-100 with a V8 right here in the forum.
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