Are there any aftermarket companies willing to sponsor this worthy cause?
Here is an exceptional Readers' Diesel that was sent to me:
#1 Years of diesel experience?: I purchased this 02 Ford F250 7.3L 4x4 new but I also drove an eighteen-wheeler for over one million miles back in the eighties.
#2 How you use your vehicle?:
I'm a full-time missionary and part-time bounty hunter for abducted children. We often use this truck for remote area missions helping poor children. We do this primarily in the back country of the Copper Canyon area in Mexico. We often travel to dangerous areas of Mexico and several of the modifications to our F250 were done to deter or defend against kidnappings, carjackings, and robberies.
My favorite modification?:
The Fab Fours bumper not only looks cool but it's intimidating and this helps in deterring the bad guys in Mexico from messing with us. For this reason the Fab Fours bumper is my favorite mod.
Favorite diesel story?:
The Fab Fours bumper not only looks cool but it has already helped us by intimidating the bad guys that tried to force us to stop on a remote desert highway in Mexico this past March. They came very close to a close encounter with the massive bumper. They got out of our way just before we took them out! The train horn and power steps are also part of our defensive modifications on this truck.
Details:
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty 7.3L 4x4
Odometer: 92,000
Owner: Brad Bieganski
Lake Forest, CA
Engine 7.3L
Air Intake: AFE Cold Air Intake Stage II
Exhaust: Banks Power Elbow & 4-inch Monster Exhaust Turbo-Back
Programmer: Innovative Diesel SCT X3 Custom Tuned
Suspension: 5.5" FabTech Lift/ Double Shocks, And Traction Bars
Tires and wheels: American Racing Wheels, Toyo Open Country M/T 35 x 12.50 R17
Other:
Power Steps & Bed Step (Amp Research)
Train Horn (Nathan P3)
Onboard Air System (Viar)
Custom Hood (Cervini's)
Grill Insert (Putco)
Winch Bumper (Fab Fours)
M12000 Winch (Warn)
Roll Bar (Sterling Equipment & Mfg. ***
Visit Kingdom Flight and watch the "Mariquita Rescue" video. It's amazing what minivans can do.
Brad told me they just received a donated 02 Ford Excursion (7.3 of course) and needed some parts and donations for the orphanage. God willing it will happen.
Below is the list of things we've done to our F250 and hope to do to
the Excursion.
Thanks!
Brad
The list of desired modifications for the Excursion are as follows:
Suspension lift. Upgrade to heavy-duty off-road suspension with
beefier leaf-springs, dual shocks, steering stabilizer and traction
bars.
$3800
Over-sized wheels and off-road tires:
$1600
Retractable power-step running boards. Note: The power step running
boards retract when the doors are closed and could help in deterring
carjackings in Mexico.
$1100
Front winch bumper. Note: The winch bumper is 1/4" plate steel and
while it is an excellent bumper to securely protect the enclosed winch
from theft, it is even more valuable to us for it's potential
battering-ram capabilities in potentially dangerous situations in
Mexico.
$2500
12,5000 l.b. winch.
$1500
In -dash GPS unit
$1000
The above items are listed as off-road necessary items for extreme
road conditions. The below items are performance related items and
most are for cooler engine and transmission operational temperatures,
better performance, and higher fuel mileage.
Transmission, Turbo, and Boost gauge installation. Note: A must for
monitoring critical engine and transmission temperatures while off-
roading.
$600
Aftermarket high-capacity transmission cooler pan and synthetic high
quality oil. Note: High transmission temps are common in extreme off-
road situations without this modification.
$500
4" turbo-back exhaust and power elbow modification. Note this
improvement lowers EGT's (exhaust gas temperatures) substantially
while improving mileage and horsepower.
$1600
Cold-air intake system. Note this improvement also lowers EGT's
while improving mileage and horsepower.
$500
Electronic engine tuner and diagnostic programmer. Note: this is a
necessary items for reading diagnostic trouble-codes for remote
repairs and is also used for electronically tuning for maximum
performance.
$400
Aftermarket air-intake hood. Note: This modification increases air-
flow for the engine lowering overall engine temperatures.
$1000
On- board air system. Note: Enables on-board compressed air for
power tools for remote mechanical repairs and provides an air source
for remote tire repairs.
$400
Grand Total: $16,500