Daystar's Copper-Clad Bootlegger Features a K&N Filter to Protect the Supercharged LS3

Bootlegger made its public debut at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas

Daystar had the perfect vehicle to bring on the trip, it just needed some freshening up. Then the thought of wheeling through the Smoky Mountains sparked an idea for an off-road moonshine runner. Things suddenly got much more involved. With the help of products from Summit Racing and a slew of off-road and performance companies, including K&N, the Daystar team decided the project's new scope was within their grasp.

Starting with a complete but well-worn truck, the all-employee crew worked from the ground up to add off-road capability without losing any of the Power Wagon’s inherent style. That meant keeping the great lines whenever possible, upgrading the bits that were questionable, and flat-out replacing what was obsolete. Look closely and you’ll notice that the factory frame remains, although it has been boxed for strength. The beefed-up frame was disguised a bit when the new paint was given rust-colored accents at each weld to return a bit of its previous weathering. New Skyjacker leaf springs with Daystar bushings locate a Dana 60 front and GM 14-bolt rear axle that have both been filled with ARB lockers. They team up with a set of 42-inch Interco tires for go-anywhere traction. Wide-open fenders give the Wagon great approach and departure angles as well. Odds are it’s not getting stuck on the trail anytime soon, but in case a fellow off-roader needs a hand, a bumper-mounted Warn winch is ready for duty.

Of course any bootlegger worth their mash would have some excess copper sheet left over from building their still, so Daystar chose to incorporate several copper accents into their Power Wagon build. Copper can work harden, so it takes practice to form it without cracking. Luckily Daystar has plenty of experienced craftsmen on hand and finding some in-house talent was easy. The warm shine of the copper contrasts nicely with the olive drab paint and can be found in several details both outside the vehicle and inside the cab, most noticeably in the bed. The original bed, while intact, wasn’t much to look at. In its place went new copper bedsides and rails to match the small still in the bed along with a fresh floor from Bed Wood.

A copper bed and hood sides were fabricated to give Bootlegger the shine of a moonshine still

There was no question that a rebuilt flathead six, as originally found in the WWII-era Dodge trucks, wouldn’t cut it on the trail, let alone the street. The weight of stout bumpers and recovery gear, along with tall tires, would have bogged it down. Considering that bootleggers were known for their hopped-up cars built to evade revenuers, something special was needed. They found what they were looking for, as propping open either of the louvered copper hood sides reveals a 416ci Edelbrock LS crate engine. Based on an LS3 block, the Edelbrock crate engine uses a 4-inch Manley crank to get more cubes and an E-Force supercharger to really turn up the torque. Output is an impressive 720hp and 695 lb-ft. and it’s all fed by a custom copper pipe air intake that uses a K&N filter element. A Hughes Performance 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission is bolted onto the stroker and sends power to a Magna transfer case and on to the axles.

While the utility of the Power Wagon remains, there were a few allowances made for creature comforts and style inside the cab. For example, there are copper accents riveted to the aluminum bomber-style bench seat and the cabin was thoroughly plastered with Dynamat for quieter cruising. Dakota digital gauges replace the utilitarian military gauges to keep tabs on the 700hp monster lurking just in front of the firewall.

Daystar’s 50-day build certainly paid off, as the Bootlegger survived not only its maiden voyage through the Tennessee mountains, over rocks, and across streams and mud, but also a frigid romp on an Alaskan glacier before its official unveiling at SEMA. People noticed too. Daystar’s booth was constantly thick with admirers, a tough feat to accomplish when every booth is vying for attention with exotic cars and flashy displays. Aside from the attention, Bootlegger also earned the Transamerican Auto Parts “Life is Better Off-Road” award for combining outstanding capability with style and build quality.