Powerlabs Diesel’s SEMA Super Duty

If you’re in the business of selling diesel parts, services and accessories, it makes great marketing sense to build a truck that can showcase your company’s talents. And bring that rolling showcase to the industry’s biggest event, the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and you’re bound to get noticed in a big way.

Such was the idea behind Powerlabs Diesel’s 2011 F-350 Super Duty. Owner Brent Willsey, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, wanted something eye-catching and so he created this awesome Ford for SEMA. Like many SEMA builds, the truck went from stock to spectacular in about three months before rolling to the show in Vegas.

Since image is everything at SEMA, getting the white Super Duty to be noticed in a sea of custom vehicles required an 8-in. Top Gun Customz suspension system, complete with Night Hawk shocks and dual steering stabilizers, just for openers. To complement the lift, a set of 40-in. Interco Super Swampers were wrapped around 24-in. BMF wheels. And for added range for the drive from Idaho to Vegas, a 50-gallon Titan fuel tank replaces the stocker.

Under the hood, the 6.7L was treated to a handful of simple bolt-on upgrades to improve power and drivability. For help in the breathing department, Brent’s team added an S&B cold air intake (after the show) and MBRP 5-in. turbo-back exhaust system. Helping in the towing and mileage department is a Snow Performance water/methanol injection system.

Sure, the show was peppered with lifted Super Duty pickups, but what makes this truck stand out in a crowd is the overall look inside and out. Gone are the huge chrome bumpers fore and aft, replaced with body-colored Fusion bumpers from their Defender Series. Both bumpers are fitted with Rigid Industries LED lighting. Complementing the bumper up front is a black Royalty Core grille while AMP Research Power-Steps help with exit and entry. Recon lighting is added throughout the truck, including the side mirrors. To help tuck the huge rolling stock, EGR fender flares were added as well. The subtle stripe graphic is courtesy of Toy Skinz.

On the inside, the stock leather seating gets added bling from painted interior panels and custom kick panels. Speaking of custom, closer inspection of the rig reveals some cool treatments where the factory logos were once located. Tuning is via an H&S Black Maxx unit mounted on the A-pillar.

With all the subtle details and overall look of the Ford, and the traffic by the truck all week at SEMA, we’d say that Powerlabs Diesel did a great job on their latest sales tool. UDBG

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