’88 Blown GMC

In Hawaiian, “wiki wiki” can mean “hurry” or “fast,” depending on its use and interpretation. New Zealand-born transplant Kim Greenwell’s Kahului, Maui-based black-on-black, 1988 GMC Sierra 1500 is definitely “wiki wiki” with its 500-plus-horsepower, Whipple-supercharged 383 small-block stroker. Greenwell’s intent was to build a stock-bodied hot rod pickup that he could use to advertise his automotive repair business, Kiwi Car Care. “I was looking for a nice, straight, rust-free truck that I could paint black,” says the Kahului automotive repair shop owner. “This truck was perfect. It was low mileage, and the price was right. But the brown color definitely had to go!” That’s not the only thing that got changed. “I kept the outside of the truck as stock as possible, but under the hood it’s a true sleeper.”

Greenwell located a 1992 Chevrolet 350 four-bolt-main truck block and had it hot tanked, align honed and bored to accept a Power House Performance Products 383 Chevrolet engine stroker kit. Included in the kit was a 383 cast iron GM crank, a set of Clevite engine bearings and a set of Hastings-equipped 8.5:1-compression JE forged aluminum dished blower pistons. 

Since the GMC would be supercharged, Greenwell upgraded the valvetrain with an Iskenderian hydraulic “blower cam” (208 degrees intake and 216  degrees exhaust; .435-inch max valve lift intake and .445-inch max valve lift exhaust), along with a set of Isky lifters. Other vital short-block components include a GM Performance Parts eight-quart lubricating system, a Cloyes Tru-Roller multiple index timing chain and an Edelbrock aluminum water pump.

Up top you’ll find a set of CNC-ported Power House Pro Action aluminum cylinder heads equipped with 2.19-inch stainless steel intake and 1.88-inch stainless steel exhaust valves, along with a set 1.5-ratio Vortec roller rocker arms. These heads have been port matched to an Edelbrock multiport EFI intake with a 75mm throttle body mated to a polished Whipple supercharger pumping out 12 psi. Other key ingredients in the engine’s makeup include a Tuff Stuff Performance 100-amp chrome-plated alternator, March Performance billet engine pulleys, an MSD ignition firing NGK spark plugs and a 3-inch Hooker Headers thermal-coated exhaust system. The estimated horsepower is well over 500!

Backing this up is a Kiwi Car Care-prepared GM 4L60E equipped with a B&M Performance Products reprogramming kit and a manual valve body. Of course, with that much power on board, it was necessary for Greenwell to also upgrade the Jimmy’s suspension. Out back, Kim equipped the factory GM 12-bolt rearend with a new set of 3.41:1 gears and Positraction carrier. Suspension updates continue with the substitution of a set of Belltech 2-inch dropped front spindles and Belltech parallel leaf rear springs, along with a set of Belltech air shocks. 

Wheels and tires consist of a set of polished American Racing Torq-Thrust II wheels, measuring 17×8 inches in front and 18×10 inches in the rear, wrapped with P255/55xZR19-inch Yokohama radials in front and P285/50xZR18-inch Yokohama radials in the rear.

So much for the steak; now for the sizzle. Bodyman Mark Villaverde at Kahului’s Automotive Services straightened out what minor dings might have been in the truck prior to repainting it in Greenwell’s desired shade of DuPont Chroma Premier Black. Upon reassembly, new-old-stock body trim was used. “I wanted to keep the outside of the truck as clean looking as possible,” said Greenwell.

On the inside, the truck is equipped with NOS, OE factory black vinyl and gray cloth upholstery. It’s nothing fancy; just nice. Also along for the ride is a Grant GT steering wheel and a Kenwood audio system. 

Completed at a cost of $22,000, the truck is well known around Hawaii’s Garden Isle—or, as the locals say, it’s “da island kine!”