Swamp’s Rat: A Quick And Stealthy Shop Truck

One of the most overlooked diesel trucks on the market is the standard cab, long-bed pickup. Most are relegated to fleet duty and live a boring life racking up miles and miles of work. Every once in a while, a diesel enthusiast will get ahold of one of these overlooked gems and work their magic on it. The end result is usually one quick “sleeper” diesel that will leave a Mustang or a Corvette owner scratching their head.

Such is the story behind David Armstrong’s 2008 plain white wrapper standard cab, long-bed pickup. Purchased on the cheap as a retired fleet vehicle, David, who is the owner of Swamp’s Diesel in La Vergne, Tennessee, uses the truck as an R&D vehicle for new products, and has come up with one cool daily driver hot rod in the process.
Since the F-250 is a two-wheel-drive model, giving it a short drop was a natural. A DJM 3/5 kit was used, utilizing DJM “Dream Beams’ up front and a spring hanger and shackle kit out back. In true hot rod fashion, the truck sports semi-skinnies up front and fat tires out back. The rears are 305/50R/20 Nitto 420s mounted on 20×10 Method Race standard wheels while the fronts are 285/50R/20s wrapped around 20×9-inch wheels.

“Under the hood is where the magic begins. Since Swamp’s Diesel specializes in Fords, and does lots of high-horsepower engine builds, the stock 6.4L was given a powerful but streetable treatment.”

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Under the hood is where the magic begins. Since Swamp’s Diesel specializes in Fords, and does lots of high-horsepower engine builds, the stock 6.4L was given a powerful but streetable treatment. The heads were fitted with Hamilton Cams pushrods and valve springs and new OE lifters were installed. Topping the engine is a unique Swamp’s Diesel Stage 2 ported intake manifold, which is fed via a Swamp’s custom compound turbo setup that utilizes 74/88 and 66/68. The turbo are mounted on a Swamp’s Diesel custom fabricated system, made from 321 stainless steel with two wastegates.

“Tuning is courtesy of Swamp’s Diesel Performance while exhaust is handled via 6.0L exhaust manifolds backed to a 4-inch aluminized exhaust system.”

Tuning is courtesy of Swamp’s Diesel Performance while exhaust is handled via 6.0L exhaust manifolds backed to a 4-inch aluminized exhaust system. David says the setup makes a solid 630 horsepower and 1,150 lb/ft of torque, but again is a very streetable combination. Believe it or not, he also says the transmission is still stock and hasn’t given up the ghost yet. A combo of 3.55 gears and a Detroit Locker put the power to the pavement, with the help of some custom traction bars.

Visually, the truck is real plain white wrapper material, but sports a newer FX4 grille shell and painted bumper with a Job 1 valence. The Ford also retains the original vinyl interior and bench seat. David says the truck is a blast to drive, and still makes for a good shop truck, if only he can keep the employees from roasting off the rear tires, in true Don Garlits Swamp Rat dragster style. DW