The Latest F-450 From Liberty Forged

Surely, you’ve seen the last official Liberty Forged truck—an all-white 2020 Ford F-450 that featured a big lift, big wheels, and even bigger style! That build included everything you’d want to see in a top-shelf diesel show truck, and its owner, Steven Statton, was ready to follow it up with a newer 2022 model. Steven also happens to co-own and operate Liberty Forged, located in Claremore, Oklahoma, so orchestrating another such high-profile project so soon was important to keep a fresh piece of advertisement rolling in the streets. Of course, assembling a custom heavy-duty pickup like this is his idea of a good time, but Steve’s latest project was equally fueled by a business decision to finish the ’22 F-450 in time to showcase it at SEMA 2024. Even though the process is a familiar one, Steven had to map out its multiple phases just right to get everything done before the big show began.

One of the major aspects of the build was to increase the F-450’s ride height. To do this, Steve reached out to Big Shot Industries in Du Quoin, Illinois to not only handle the installation of the new chassis components, but to also powdercoat them all as well. The lift kit in question came from Elevate Suspension, and the finished color Steve had in mind for the parts was radical. A Thunderkiss base and a Dirty Magic topcoat from Prismatic Powders was expertly applied to the Elevate components, as well as the King coilovers and shocks. Powdercoating these pieces not only added a layer of protection to them but increased the impact they make with them being so much more visible due to the Ford’s increased altitude.

The bump in elevation cleared the way for Steve to make his next executive decision—to choose the right set of Liberty Wheels to bolt on. Obviously, any of Liberty’s styles would have done the trick, but for this specific application, he picked gloss black LBTYD22 super dually wheels in size 26×14! The directional spoke design of this wheel is absolutely hypnotizing when it’s rolling at cruising speeds, and the billet floaters that Liberty includes with each set only adds to the illusion. Complementing the wheels are Fury Country Hunter MT2 tires—an ideal selection of rugged rubber to complete the chassis overhaul.

The fresh lift kit and rolling gear was enough to dramatically improve the looks and demeanor of the F-450, but Steve still had much more in store to alter its appearance. Heavy-duty, American-made Bodyguard Bumpers were selected to replace the factory units. The difference these things make is incredible. They’re just so visually striking—and built to last. Fitment is spot on with these things, and the utility of the front bumper with its mounting location for a light bar and grille guard option is extremely beneficial.  A Cervini’s cowl hood was next to find its way onto the F-450’s exterior landscape, as were Rek Gen mud flaps, and paint-matched accessories such as the headlights, taillights, and more. Increasing nighttime visibility and show-worthiness is a network of over 40 Beemer rock lights strategically positioned underneath the truck to properly highlight its impressive suspension setup. There’s absolutely no way of missing this truck whether it’s bombing down the highway or parked on full display at an event.

With so much going for the F-450 in the looks department, Steve figured performance enhancements for the factory 6.7L Power Stroke were in order. To handle this portion of the project, he contacted Randall Williams at The Diesel Shop in Locust Grove, Oklahoma to boost the diesel mill’s power output with high-quality components from Titan Turbo, No Limit Fabrication, and S&S to maximize the coal rolling experience.

While the build process did take the better part of an entire year, Steve was successful in putting the truck together in time to roll into SEMA 2024—and it made its presence known while atop the world’s largest automotive stage. As extraordinary as this truck appears, there are even more improvements on the horizon for it. Interior work is on the way, which will include substantial audio upgrades to further enrich every driving session.

Advertising comes in many mediums, but there’s nothing quite like building a physical application to showcase a brand’s high-end wares. That couldn’t be truer in the world of custom wheels—or any other specialty part designed to build the baddest trucks on Earth.

2022 Ford F-450

OWNER:
Steven Statton
Claremore, OK

• 6.7L Power Stroke
• Engine modifications by Randall Williams at The Diesel Shop
• Titan Turbo 62mm valley
• No Limit Fab 3467 Precision compound, CCV delete
• S&S fuel disaster prevention kit, 10mm ignition pump
• Elevate 8-inch suspension lift
• King coilovers and shocks
• Suspension components installed and powdercoated by Big Shot Industries
• 26×14 Liberty Forged LBTYD22 wheels
• True Spike lug nuts
• 37×13.50R26 Fury Country Hunter MT2 tires
• Bodyguard bumpers and grille guard
• Rek Gen mud flaps
• Beemer rock and wheel lights
• Cervini’s cowl hood painted to match