Dane Crowder’s 700 hp ’17 F-250 was built for hard work, rough play, and long-term durability.
Diesel is the backbone of the construction industry. From the equipment used to dig the hole, to the materials being delivered or hauled away, to the job of creating on-site power, compression ignition makes everything possible. For Dane Crowder, this ’17 King Ranch edition F-250 is the multi-purpose tool that keeps his operation humming along at full steam ahead. Despite having owned his fair share of Fords over the years—including F-350 and F-450s, 6.4L Power Strokes, and even a 1,000hp 7.3L OBS—Dane’s late-model Super Duty is his favorite.
With both performance and improved reliability in mind, Dane treated the 6.7L Power Stroke to a set of larger injectors and a DCR conversion, a drop-in turbo and air-to-water intercooler upgrade, leveled the front-end and installed adjustable 3-link arms, and even bolted a set of traction bars into place. In the blink of an eye, he had a 700hp daily driven workhorse on his hands, a truck that could be driven cross-country, tow anything he needed it to, and even one that could win a dyno competition. Below, we’re taking a deep dive into Dane’s do-everything Ford.
Beneath all the No Limit Fabrication intercooler and intake plumbing, you’ll find a 134,000-mile 6.7L Power Stroke under the hood of Dane’s Super Duty. The valve covers have never been off the bone-stock long block, but the factory injectors were ditched in favor of a set of S&S Diesel Motorsport replacements equipped with 100-percent over nozzles. To eliminate the 6.7L Ford’s Achilles heel, an S&S DCR pump sits in place of the factory CP4.2 at the front of the lifter valley. The common-rail system is supported by a 165-gph AirDog II-5G low-pressure supply system, along with the H&S Motorsports fuel filter conversion kit that’s visible here.To support the engine’s added fueling yet still allow him to tow heavy, Dane chose this fixed geometry turbo, a drop-in unit, from No Limit Fabrication. Produced by Precision Turbo, it boasts a billet, 64mm (inducer) compressor wheel, a 66mm (exducer) turbine wheel, and a ball bearing center cartridge. Almost out of view, you can see the No Limit up-pipe kit that accompanies the cutting-edge turbo. In addition to their 304 stainless steel construction making them highly durable, they improve exhaust flow to the 64/66 charger, ultimately helping to drive it harder.Based on a past that consisted of a 1,000hp 7.3L Power Stroke as a play toy and a tuned 6.4L tow-rig, Dane couldn’t keep himself from modifying the ’17 shortly after acquiring it back in 2019. “I’ve always had a horsepower bug,” he told us. “So, within a week I had exhaust installed and a No Limit intercooler on it.” That replacement air-to-water intercooler is put to exceptional use now, thanks to its ability to keep EGT in check. The corresponding piping is polished 304 stainless and adds to the 6.7L’s aesthetically pleasing look when you pop the hood.Working with S&S Diesel Motorsport, Dane’s Super Duty was one of the first modified 6.7L Fords to be treated to a DCR pump conversion. Unbeknownst to him, he would put the DCR through the ultimate torture test. After unintentionally running bad fuel through the engine, rust began to spread throughout the low and high-pressure fuel circuits. Thanks to the fuel control actuator screen stopping larger chunks from pass through it, a high rail pressure code was all that indicated something was wrong. Despite being fed rust, upon teardown the DCR’s camshaft checked out fine and all internal bushing surfaces looked brand-new. The same DCR pump is still on the truck today.In order to clear the set of 35-inch diameter all-terrains he planned to run, Dane had to get the front of his Ford higher in the air. To get there he contacted one of the best in the business in Icon Vehicle Dynamics. The company’s Stage 1 lift included replacement dual-rate coil springs that raised the truck’s front ride height roughly 2.5-inches. Extended length, non-reservoir Fox 2.0 shocks were also added. The factory rear leaf springs and shocks were left untouched.PMF Suspension is renowned for its burly, unbreakable, yet fully functional parts, and these adjustable 3-link arms replaced the factory radius arms. Not only are they significantly stronger than the stock radius arms, they provide the ability to fine-tune castor. That means Dane’s Super Duty handles tremendously well for a 9,000-pound truck. And even though Dane’s F-250 is only lifted 2.5 inches up front, the PMF 3-link arrangement can accommodate up to 7-inches of lift before drop brackets are required.PMF also got the call when it came to traction bars. Having 700 hp on tap means that 1,400 lb-ft of torque is also on the table, and it’s the kind of twist that can easily make the 10.5-inch Sterling axle wrap—not to mention try to twist the leaf springs into an S shape under load. Equally as beefy as the 3-link arms up ahead of them, the traction bars are bolted in place via all Grade 8 hardware. On top of that, all joints are greasable and rebuildable.Given the endless amount of options on the wheel and tire market, finding the perfect combination for an all-purpose truck can be a tall order. That said, we think Dane nailed it with these Method 703-HD bronze wheels. The eye-catching 20x10s are joined with 35×12.50R20LT Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T’s. Fitting for the truck’s daily workload, they’re load range F tires, and each boasts a load carrying capacity of 3,640 pounds at max inflation pressure (which is 80-psi). The aforementioned Icon Stage 1 lift made it possible for the 35’s to clear the fenders without issue.Within Dane’s mobile office, this tool serves an invaluable purpose. “The truck has driven across the U.S. twice and I have a heavy foot,” he tells us. “The truck usually runs about 95 mph when it’s not hooked to a trailer…” Reason enough to buy a Valentine One, arguably the best radar detectors money can buy. On top of all the performance mods, the suspension upgrades, or the overall aesthetics, it’s yet another indicator that Dane and his Super Duty mean business.This is the kind of work modern Super Duty’s were built for. Delivering building materials, hauling the excavator or skid steer to the jobsite, utilizing the Thule roof rack, a bed full of tools…it’s all in a day’s work for Dane’s Ford. Any given day of the week (and in fact, most of them), you can find 20,000 to 25,000 pounds worth of rock, limestone, dirt, or equipment behind it. And between those various (and varying) workloads, its 700 hp is regularly called upon to get this 9,000-pound behemoth up and moving in a hurry.The ¾-ton Ford tips the scales at 8,850 pounds without its driver, and this is one reason why: an XT4000 TruckSlide from Highway Products. “The slide weighs 700 pounds by itself,” Dane told us. “I had to use a forklift to install it.” As you can see, Dane puts its 4,000-pound weight capacity to good use, but there’s no dented bed floor to worry about, or the hassle of hopping in and out of the bed to load (or unload) larger tools. A paint-matched, fiberglass ARE truck cap keeps all cargo secure and out of the elements.With 15,000 to 25,000 pounds tethered behind what amounts to a 10,000-pound truck on workdays, it pays to have as much fuel on board as possible. A 60-gallon S&B direct bolt-in replacement tank nearly doubled the Super Duty’s fuel capacity (the factory, short bed tank only held 34 gallons). When cruising empty, and if he can somehow manage to keep his foot off the accelerator, Dane can travel 800 miles before the truck needs to be refueled.Because S&S Diesel Motorsport’s DCR pump enjoys 25-percent more displacement than the CP4.2 on ’17-’22 6.7L Power Stroke engines, they and Dane knew it could support a set of 100-percent over injectors with proper tuning. Finding the perfect balance of duration and quantity in a performance file meant that proper rail pressure could be maintained, and the truck responded by making 699 hp on the Northwest Dyno Series’ SuperFlow chassis dyno at the 2024 WC Fab Open House. The spot-on calibrating has also helped get the most out of the relatively small 64/66 Precision turbo while ensuring the truck runs extremely clean.
