Bully Dog Enters the Drift Scene with an F-150 Build for U.S. Drift Competitions
Known for its high-performance diesel downloaders, RFI intake systems, and exhaust components, Bully Dog has crossed over into the light-duty gas performance marketplace, which seems to be the trend these days. In order to get the news out, the design and build team at Bully Dog purchased an ’06 F-150 Ford pickup solely for the purpose of U.S. Drift Competitions and spectator demos. After three months of hard work and countless hours of research and development, Bully Dog finished the SGT Slide Ways just in time for its debut at the 2006 SEMA Show.
Chassis Modifications for Drift Capability
Bully Dog began the three-month project by modifying the chassis for handling and drift competitions. Since Ford did such a great job on the platform, only a few minor modifications had to be made. KW Suspensions front shocks and springs bring the front of the truck down a total of 4 inches to improve the handling characteristics of the truck. A set of Belltech front drop spindles also aids in the lowering of the front of the F-150. In the rear, KW was called upon again for a set of its shocks and springs to help bring down the rear of the truck for serious sliding and drifting. Inside the rearend is a custom limited-slip differential with 4.11 gears made specifically for the Bully Dog truck. Helping to keep the rear flat while making those outstanding turns and corners on the drift course is a Belltech larger-than-stock sway bar. Since the Ford brakes are pretty good from the factory, the only part that was swapped out was the brake rotors. A new set of Brembo vented rotors replaces the factory units.
Engine Upgrades for High Performance and Power
Once Bully Dog had completely finished prepping the chassis for its drifting capability, work began on the engine. The Ford 5.4-liter V-8 produces an estimated 300 hp in stock form, but since Bully Dog excels in the world of engine tuning, it only seemed appropriate to tweak and design performance parts for the new Ford V-8. Since Bully Dog has an established track record in the field of air intakes, exhaust systems, programmers, and nitrous, this is where all the attention was focused on the F-150.
With the truck up on the lift, the stock exhaust system was scanned and mapped out with a CAD system. Engineers spent hours improving the flow and design of the factory components, transferring this information to larger-diameter stainless tubing for improved performance and durability. Next, the Bully Dog crew removed the restrictive air intake and molded a new free-flowing unit with a stainless box and an improved filter to increase airflow and filtration to the engine. After the Rapid Flow intake was installed, an electronically controlled nitrous system was then plumbed in. The team then researched the new Ford engine and developed a new Bully Dog performance management tool to control spark timing and fuel and up the horsepower all the more.
WWII-Inspired Paint and Body Design
One of the best aspects of the Bully Dog Ford is the paint and bodywork. Designed like a WWII fighter, the F-150 now sports a Street Scene front bumper cover with built-in fog lights, GT grille, and hood. Before applying the new fighter-like paint, the stock mirrors were tossed along with the rear bumper in favor of smooth Street Scene units. With this array of parts adorning the truck, David Phillips of nearby American Falls, Idaho, sprayed the top half of the Ford in BASF gloss black and the lower half in an olive drab military shade. Before reclearing the truck, vintage war markings and logos were sprayed and hand-painted on the truck, as if the F-150 had just returned from a tour of duty. Custom Bully Dog logos replace the basic Ford emblems, and beneath the mirror are vintage kill markings. Once all the paintwork was complete, a new set of wheels and tires designed for all-out performance was powder-coated to match the top half of the truck. KMC XD-series 20×9-inch and 20×10-inch wheels were wrapped with BFGoodrich KDW rubber, and the package fills the Ford fender wells quite nicely.
Custom Interior for Ultimate Driver Control
Inside the truck, Bully Dog pulled out all the stops. The stock seat was tossed, and new black leather APC race seats were fitted with racing harnesses. Bully Dog removed the stock steering wheel and replaced it with an aftermarket LeCarra model. A custom carbon fiber inlay was designed for the inside of the truck’s interior. Mounted on the windshield is the brand-new Bully Dog Power Pup F-150 programmer that allows the Bully Dog racers to adjust power on the fly with the push of a button. A polished four-point roll cage by CBI ensures that if the Ford ever gets on its top, the driver will walk away safely.
Prepping for Drift Competition
Since the completion of the F-150 bomber concept, the truck has been getting prepped for drift competition, which includes special alignment and chassis tuning. The F-150 looks great and is sure to be a performer, as well as a hit on the drift circuit. While many of the new Bully Dog performance parts for the gasoline market are still in the developmental stages, we plan to bring you a lot of coverage of these hot, new parts as they become available, as well as future coverage of the F-150 once it gets on the circuit. Stay tuned—there’s more coming from this aggressive company.
