Jason Rossetti, has been making tracks in the Pismo dunes for years in his 4-inch lifted ’92 Bronco and in his ’99 F-350 with a 10-inch lift.
Not content with those two trucks, he now plans to tackle these soft, rolling Dunes in an ’03 Ford F-350 with a full foot of extra altitude, proving once again that size does matter. He initially visualized marching up the eastern slip face, emerging over the crest as if levitating above the sand in a ghostly gray rig. However when Rossetti first acquired the truck he found the leafspring front suspension too stiff for his liking, and thus came up with an innovative solution that involved his insider connections as a parts manager for Novato Ford. Having access to all sorts of cool components, he decided to dig through the parts bin for a 2006 coil-spring front end. He then dropped off the rig with Nick Vazquez, who cut his teeth as an assistant manager at a 4Wheel Parts store, before setting up his own shop.
While performing the coil spring suspension transplant, Vazquez enhanced the O.E. parts with 12-inches of lift via Sway-A-Way coil-over shocks and a four-link control arm setup. In the rear he installed a set of softride 10-inch springs. The big lift also required adding a long-slip driveshaft in the front to prevent it from bottoming out on compression, which might break the transfer case. Other upgrades included an ARB locker in front, an Auburn locker in the rear, and reservoir front and rear shocks.
The result? “It now has a completely better ride, way softer,” Rossetti smiles. He also likes the fact that it’s a regular cab truck, since he’s become tired of seeing an excess of crew-cab, short-bed trucks at Pismo. What else did he do to set his Gray Ghost apart from the crowd? For improved engine respiration, under the hood is an AFE Stage 2 intake, and downstream from there is a four-inch exhaust, custom-fabricated to clear the suspension.
Dialing up the diesel’s output further is a Banks Six-Gun system with a Speedloader option, along with Wicked Wheel’s quickspool impeller, Banks Power Elbow downpipe, and Snow Performance’s water/methanol injection. All that extra motive power required some attention to the transmission. A Trans-Go Tugger shift kit and Saxco Converter were installed by Marin Autotrans to help the tranny handle all the enhanced diesel power.
To complete the look, Rossetti chose Toyo M/Ts (38/15.50/20) wrapped around the aptly named Dune 8S rims from Weld. And giving his Ford a chin that puts Jay Leno to shame is a Road Armor front bumper, outfitted with a 15,000-pound Warn winch.
Now Rossetti’s Ford is ready for some duning, and just about any other sand you’d dare to kick in his face. So, the next time you’re in the central coast area, look for a ghost truck sailing over the biggest dunes at Pismo.
