Project Red Strokes: The Revival of a Crew Cab Short Bed

Breathing New Life into a Classic

Every once in a while, a project comes along that feels bigger than the sum of its parts. For us, that’s Project Red Stroke. We’re only the second owners of this unique build and the moment it rolled into our shop, we knew it deserved a second chance at life. This wasn’t going to be just another restoration or cookie cutter refresh. Our vision was clear: turn this everyday workhorse into a head-turning tribute, a machine with the sleek styling of the original OBS Lightning and the personality that makes people stop mid-conversation when it drives by.

Stripping Away the Ordinary

When Project Red Strokes first arrived, it was… fine. But “fine” doesn’t stop traffic. “Fine” doesn’t make guys double tap a picture. The first order of business was eliminating the distractions and giving the truck a cleaner canvas to work with.

 That started with saying goodbye to the camper shell. While they serve a great purpose, that was the first thing to go. It hid the clean body lines and left the truck looking dated, removing it instantly opened up the rear profile and opened the door to our ultimate street truck look. 

Like any survivor of the daily grind, the truck carried its share of dents and dings. So, we took the time and spot-filled, bondo’d and smoothed out those imperfections so that the body could reflect the bold vision we had in mind. To nail that Lightning inspired street truck look, we then shaved off the factory cab lights. The cleaner roofline gives the truck a more aggressive, aerodynamic stance.

Out with the Chrome

The key to transforming Project Red Strokes was rethinking its factory aesthetic. Chrome has its place, but this truck deserved something sharper, more modern, and undeniably performance driven.

To start, the factory chrome bumpers were replaced with paintable steel versions we could cover in that eye popping Vermillion red. Up front, we installed paintable bumpers from our catalog. To take things one step further, we even installed a Lightning style lower valance that screams street truck. The chrome grille was swapped for out paintable matched version, and we took the extra step of paint matching the headlight bezels as well. Factory headlights were replaced with our brand-new units featuring amber turn signals giving it that clear, crisp, and purposeful factory look.

To really snag that Lightning look, we had to bring in some black. We replaced the chrome door handles and tailgate handle with black pieces straight from our catalog and even the windshield trim got the treatment, powder-coated in black for subtle contrast.

The result? A truck that looks factory in the best way possible, this little rig looks like it rolled off the line as a special edition crew cab diesel Lightning. But no street truck resto is complete without the right wheel combo. The original steel wheels and hubcaps were practical but uninspiring and needed a change. To really capture an OE inspired style, we needed something both period correct and eye-catching. So, we sourced a set of factory aluminum Alcoa wheels, polished them up like new, and slapped some new street tires on them.

The Paint and Body

While parts swaps and upgrades are exciting, nothing elevates a build like expert bodywork and paint. We owe a huge thanks to our friend Chad Robinson, who put in countless hours perfecting the panels, smoothing every surface, and making sure the truck’s finish matched the bold direction of the build.

From filling and smoothing to prepping and spraying, Chad’s craftsmanship shines through every angle of Project Red Strokes. Without his dedication, the truck wouldn’t have that “just right” factory-fresh look we were chasing.

Subtle But Strong

With the heavy lifting complete, it was time to add the details that made the build feel intentional and polished. We threw some limo tint on all the windows to instantly create a sleeker sport truck look, while also providing practical benefits like UV protection and cooler cabin temps. Next, a clean, functional, and stylish, roll-up cover gave the bed a finished look while keeping gear safe and dry. As exciting as the transformation so far has been, we’re only just getting started. Project Red Strokes has already gone from a dated crew cab to a Lightning-inspired street machine, but the future holds even bigger plans.

Our roadmap includes performance upgrades under the hood, suspension refinements, and maybe even a few surprises that will make this truck a true one-of-a-kind. For now, though, we’re thrilled to see how far it has come and to share the journey with followers such as yourselves that love these old Ford trucks as much as we do.

Project Red Strokes is more than just another build in our garage. It’s a celebration of style, performance, and the artistry that goes into transforming a truck into a statement piece. By stripping away the ordinary, dialing in the Lightning-inspired details, and relying on the skill of talented friends, we’ve turned this crew cab short bed into a head-turner with plenty of personality. For us at Complete Performance, the journey has just begun. Stay tuned, because the next chapter of Project Red Strokes promises to be even bigger, bolder, and badder than ever. Intro photo courtesy of Lyle Richmond.