2001 Ford Lightning - Style & Sound

Although it took two years and two builds, 23-year-old Dave Schalk finally got his 2001 Ford Lightning truck the way he wants it. "The truck was built two different times and each time he was disappointed to see other trucks that were done in a similar way," relates Andy Schroeder, owner of Project Two. "He wanted something that was as different as possible." In the pursuit of uniqueness, Schalk wasn't stingy, throwing down $48,000 on top of the original $33,000 cost of the truck.

So far the Lightning's won Best In Class at the Milwaukee World of Wheels. It also scored the People's Choice Award for Best Truck. From the 10-inch Xenarc touchscreen to the Rockford Fosgate T2 12" subwoofer positioned center rear in the cabin and housed in its own 4.5ft3 ported box, it seems like people know a well-installed audio/visual system when they see one.

Driver Profile
It all began at Brookfield Central High in Wisconsin. That's where Dave Schalk got the car audio bug, courtesy of his shop teacher, Frank Palm. Flash forward a few years and the audio infection has spread, especially evidenced in his 2001 Ford Lightning. Now 23 and a parts manager for Harley-Davidson, Dave Schalk is all set to drive in one-of-a-kind splendor. He thanks his brother, Scott, for the cool white paint job.

Installer
Rob Williams
Project Two
Waukesha, WI

Occupants sit in re-upholstered...        read full caption Occupants sit in re-upholstered Mustang Cobra seats, the driver operates a Billet Specialties steering wheel that has been powder-coated black and covered with (surprise) Alcantara, and seatbelts from a Harley edition F-150 (shortened to fit) keep everyone in place. In a show of confidence that only people in their early 20s are capable of, all airbags have been removed.	There's never been a Lightning...        read full caption There's never been a Lightning dash like this. It had to be redesigned to take the Drivesoft computer system and 10-inch screen. The vents were removed, while heater controls were re-routed to a custom-built center console. Under the console is the computer's main unit. In case you were wondering, the heating and air conditioning are still fully functional. The gadget where the driver's side vent once was controls the truck's Air Ride Technologies Shockwave suspension. Also in the center console is a cup holder, some storage space and a DVD player.	You've got to get the basics...        read full caption You've got to get the basics right. Project Two stripped out the cabin and got busy with Dynamat Extreme, applying two layers over almost anything that wasn't glass, pedals or dashboard. Extra sound-deadening and good looks came in the form of black-and-red Alcantara, along with carpet and carpet liner. Door pockets were removed and the panels, reinforced with fiberglass. The midrange speakers from the MB Quart QSD 216 component set were flush-mounted into doors while the system's complementary tweeters were set into the A-pillars.
Power comes from a Rockford...        read full caption Power comes from a Rockford Fosgate T15004 4-channel amplifier. Two channels are up front, running at 4-ohms stereo (300 watts apiece), while the rear two channels are bridged to the sub. The amp resides in a steel-housing bolted to the truck's back wall and protected by a fiberglass cover.	Set in a box fashioned from...        read full caption Set in a box fashioned from 0.75" fiberglass with a 1" MDF baffle and augmented by two 4" ports (which are 21.5" long and run behind the seats), the Rockford Fosgate sub provides bass response that Schalk describes as incredible and better than expected. Naturally, the whole shebang - even the screw heads - is covered in Alcantara.	An upgraded system needs upgraded...        read full caption An upgraded system needs upgraded energy. That's why two Optima YellowTop batteries can be found under the hood - one taking the space where the washer fluid reservoir used to be.

2001 Ford Lightning

Wheels 22" Davin Speed SP1...        read full caption Wheels 22" Davin Speed SP1 alloys	Tires Hankook tires 265/35...        read full caption Tires Hankook tires 265/35 (front); 285/35 (rear)	Exhaust Magnaflow exhaust...        read full caption Exhaust Magnaflow exhaust teamed with the 5.4L V-8, pulley reduction kit and a JLP airbox
Brakes 15" rotors, Brembo...        read full caption Brakes 15" rotors, Brembo Gran Turismo eight-piston calipers (front); custom 14" rotors w/ one-off Brembo calipers (rear)