What’s better than visiting western Florida in the dead of winter? How about watching trucks hook bumper-to-bumper, blast down the dragstrip, and send their rear tires up in smoke — all in sunny, 80-degree weather! Luckily for us (and you), the 2017 Florida Truck Fest featured all of the above at its first-ever event. Held at Bradenton Motorsports Park, the inaugural affair was a celebration of all things truck. From pristine-condition show rigs to mammoth-sized mud runners, 10-second drag trucks to dyno-melting diesels, and unique engine swap projects to military vehicles, this venue had a little bit of everything. Here’s an exclusive look at some of the trucks we came across at this year’s show.
Blue Oval Behemoth
Of all the automotive trends Florida is known for (exotic super cars, year-round drag racing, big, lifted show trucks, etc.), its mud truck scene is our favorite. This Super Duty behemoth was put together by JH Diesel & 4x4 in Bradenton, Florida. The ’04 F-250 sports a 4-link suspension with coilovers, 5-ton Rockwell axles front and rear, 66-inch V-tread tractor tires, and a potent 6.0L Power Stroke under the hood.
We’re not sure what kind of drivetrain losses the truck has with tires that big, but its 190cc injector, BorgWarner S364.5 SX-E turbo, Stage 2 Colt cam, ARP head studs and upgraded valvesprings combination make for a reliable setup capable of producing 600-rwhp in street applications.
The Drop Box
A 12.66 Quick Change transfer case from SCS Gearbox bolts to the factory-based Ford 5R110 TorqShift automatic transmission and drops the driveshafts to more geometry-friendly angles. This same transfer case is a commonly used component in mega-horsepower truck pulling applications.
As for the massive, 5-ton Rockwell axles, JH Diesel & 4x4 tells us the rear differential is welded while the front is left open in an attempt to minimize breakage.
Tug o’ War
Being that there were no mud holes around the dragstrip, the seven mud trucks that were on hand had to improvise… Enter the tug o’ war competition. While the first few bumper-to-bumper hooks showcased how the perfect amount of low engine speed and gear reduction can help you inch your way to a win, these two trucks did the exact opposite.
From the time the officials said “go,” the 6.0L Power Stroke Ford from JH Diesel & 4x4 and the 6.4L Power Stroke from Nick’s Mobile Repair were up against their respective rev limiters. The back and forth melee was greatly appreciated by a crowd that seemed to only grow larger throughout the day.
BDS Beetle
How’s this for an attention-getter? BDS Suspension’s neon green Volkswagen Beetle definitely turned some heads in the manufacturers’ midway. The late model VW body sits atop 50-inch tractor tires and benefits from Chevy power.
Line ‘Em Up
These high-powered 7.3L Power Strokes turned heads all day long on the drag strip. The white truck (a straight axle-swapped ’97 F-250) catapulted through the quarter-mile in as quick as 11.22 seconds with the aid of nitrous. The red F-250 Super Duty competed solely on fuel and nabbed a best pass of 12.47 at 107 mph.
Light ‘Em Up
Burnout competitions are often referred to as “crowd favorite” affairs, yet rarely have anyone sign up to compete. This was not the case in Florida! Truck owners were eager to get in line and hundreds of show-goers came out of the woodwork to watch them burn rubber.
Hauling the Mail
Event sponsor White’s Diesel Performance brought its ’99 E-350 out to do battle on the dragstrip. Owner Jake White told us he scored the 7.3L-powered van for just $400 — a deal that was way too good to pass up.
The Whole Truth
Truck owners (especially diesel owners) like to know how much horsepower and torque they’re sending to the pavement, so it only made sense to have a chassis dyno on hand. JDL Mobile Dyno Tuning brought its Dyno Jet from across the state in Royal Palm Beach to run trucks throughout the day.
For Sale
Performance and off-road oriented shows like the Florida Truck Fest are a great way to stick a for sale sign in the window of something you’re looking to get rid of. The owner of this clean ’78 F-350 was looking to do just that. Although it had been repainted, the rest of the ‘78 was mostly original. The venerable 460 ci big block resided under the hood, and it was backed by a C6 automatic.
13-Second EcoBoost
This F-150 Tremor spent the day clicking off mid 13’s in the 102 to 103 mph range. If we had to guess, we’d say the truck was making the most of the performance capability that exists when the 3.5L EcoBoost is the beneficiary of custom aftermarket ECM tuning.
EcoBoost Upgrade
Speaking of the 3.5L EcoBoost, Southeast Power Systems — one of BorgWarner’s largest turbo distributors in the country — was on hand in the manufacturers’ midway with its upgrade K03 turbochargers for the game-changing V6. Its turbos can support up to 425 hp and 530 lb-ft of torque.
Ultimate Pit Bike?
If you’ve been to a diesel event over the last three or four years, you’ve probably seen this unique creation cruising the grounds. But, it’s not just confined to the pits. It’s 100-percent street legal.
Built by Glenn Russell to represent and support the Diesel Life apparel brand, the 3-wheeled buggy sports a 2003 Chevy S10 rear axle with disc brakes, a four-speed transmission, and is powered by an air-cooled Deutz F4L912 diesel engine. On the highway (yes, the owner drives it there), it sees roughly 60 mpg while cruising at 65 mph.
Ford Country
Beef is what we’d call this truck, too. We don’t know if the western side of the Sunshine state is Ford country or not, but judging by the rides that came through the gate at the Florida Truck Fest, this region is definitely big on Blue Ovals.
