Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Scientists, scholars and Colonel Sanders may care, but what about truck enthusiasts? For us, this begs the question: "which is to get first - the lift or the performance?" Talk with two lifted truck fans and you get two answers. Well, talk to fifty truck fans and you still get two answers because there are only two answers. The point is that there is no right answer. But one thing is for certain, a well-built Socal truck needs both.

Unless you're sponsored by a truck manufacturer, a major aftermarket supplier, or your dad, most of us customize our trucks in stages. Not only is this the most cost effective approach, it stretches out the fun part of owning a custom lifted truck. But where does a well-intentioned desert-head begin? If style is king in your book, and you have the cash, go for the lift kit. But cost is a major factor here. Ever see that guy driving home with the brand new lift-kit, but still rocking factory wheels and tires? Face it, installing a sick lift and new meats at all 4 corners is a major money outlay, but it has to happen sooner or later, so why not sooner?

On the other hand, you're gonna need some powerful ponies to roll that new rubber, and some brakes, brake pads and brake lines to reign it in. By doing the performance mods first, you get the often under-estimated pleasure of driving a sleeper around until you get around to lifting the truck. Seriously, a K&N, Volant or aFe CAI topped off with a performance air filter costs a few hundred bucks at the most and gives your stock truck more power/dollar than most mods. Combine that with one of our performance chips, a cat-back exhaust, headers and a hi-flow catalytic converter, and you've got a fire-breathing stocker on your hands. What could be wrong with that?

Though the performance-first method may lack the neck twisting style of a classic lift, one thing is certain: you'll be out smoking imports without a care in the world while you're saving up for that new suspension lift, rims and tires. Let's face it, you're a true Socal truck enthusiast, and the lift, wheels and tires are sure to come. They're a must. And in the meantime, the only chicken and egg questions concerning you will be which restaurants serve 'em fried!