There are some things that make you look and then there are things that make you look twice. Caden Rankin’s stunning LS-powered 1949 Ford F1 truck is a catalyst for double takes. And it was generating plenty of those at the Comp Turbo Technology booth within the 2023 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show.
What is the PRI Show?
The three-day PRI show, held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana, is open to PRI members who work in the motorsports industry. It fills the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. The show features the newest parts and technology and provides access to manufacturers and service providers in the industry. Additionally, it offers face-to-face networking with industry leaders. In total, the show features more than 1,000 exhibitors and 3,600 booths. Furthermore, the show covers all forms of motorsports and attracts attendees from all 50 U.S. states and all over the world. The tally of attendees includes professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers, and media.
About Comp Turbo
Comp Turbo, based in Pomona, California, is a company revered for its turbo know-how. The company has pioneered advancements in compressor and turbine wheel technology. In fact, Comp Turbo is the inventor of the first-ever patented oil-less turbocharger. By eliminating oil lubrication, the company took the turbo industry to a new level. The 15-year-old company has a product line that includes direct replacement turbos for Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Ford. But that’s just the tip of what the company offers. The company’s product line includes a variety of standard rotation and reverse rotation turbos as well as many other products and services. Heck, Comp Turbo even offers gaskets, clamps, and flanges.
Caden Rankin’s Turbocharged LS Ford F1
Caden Rankin’s beastly 1949 Ford F1 was front and center at Comp Turbo’s PRI booth. The truck’s glorious patina downplays the incredible amount of tech and fabrication under its sheetmetal. The truck has a potent powerplant consisting of a 427 cubic-inch LS engine built by Mark Smalls. The ‘plant contains a mind-boggling list of performance parts. But the engine’s crown jewel, or jewels, is the pair of Comp Turbo 88/85 turbos that supply the engine with boost. Fun fact: We’re told that soon those turbos will be swapped out for a pair of Comp Turbo’s new hubless turbos.
More About Caden’s Ford
Engine power is routed through a built TH400 transmission to a carbon fiber driveshaft, and downstream to a custom Ford 9-inch rearend. The truck’s front suspension uses double-adjustable struts while the rear is a four-link setup with double-adjustable shocks. The truck is no trailer ornament. In fact, Caden, a senior in high school, often drives the truck to school.