Driving Line VOLUME V ISSUE 1 | WINTER 2019 | Page 35

BECOMING OFF-ROAD READY
Some other alterations were required to make the beam (TTB) setup, which is more than capable of handling this car. While they look proportional to the Chupacabra’s
DeSoto body fit. To make things work easier, he reused oversized tires. Although the truck originally came on 33-inch large fender openings, the only way to get a sense of just
the Ford’s firewall, steering column, pedal assembly and tires, Dave wanted to go bigger, requiring modification of how tall this car really sits is by standing in front of it.
wiring harness. The truck’s firewall was too far forward in the Ford core support to fit the DeSoto fenders. The car is relation to the DeSoto’s, so the Ford body mounts were now rolling on a set of 37x12.50x17 Nitto Trail Grapplers, The build was finished off with a set of custom tube
moved 6 inches back to make up for it. He also built some on stock late-model Dodge wheels to retain the proper bumpers holding a spare tire and fuel can, a full rollcage
custom rocker panels to mount the floor panels to. The backspacing needed to stuff the tires in the fenderwells. inside the car and a roof rack built from the original ladder
steering shaft was modified to fit correctly, and the firewall
was welded in place to the frame for a final fit.
rack on the F-250, bolted to the rollcage. Dave later added
Dave takes pride in boasting that “Chupe” has been a Tepui rooftop tent and LED lightbars to the rack. After five
all over the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada, on and months of working nights and weekends on the Chupacabra,
Using the stock Ford F-250 suspension allowed off-road without issues on the Trail Grapplers that allow Dave finally called his creation “finished.” Before adding the
the Chupacabra to have a working four-wheel-drive with for an easy transition from highway to dirt, mud, snow and rooftop tent, winch and tires, he was only $2,200 into the
a Sterling 10.25 rear axle and Dana 50 front twin-traction sand. The 37-inch tires really act as an optical illusion with build, which certainly lends itself to the Gambler 500 style.
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