BRIGHT ORANGE
October 15, 2024
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
ADVANCED ALTERNATOR
Until now, rodders have been severely limited by the battery-charging alternators they’ve had to select from. Rodders either utilized an OE or an OE-style alternator for their custom engine applications, or they selected one of the aftermarket units that were polished or chromed. Now, with the introduction of MSD’s Advanced Power System (APS) alternator, that’s all changed for the better.
TOYOTA STEERING SOLUTIONS
While early Toyota trucks are a great foundation, they do require a few modifications to make them capable of serious off-road use. Sure, you’ll need the basics, such as larger tires, lower gears and some kind of traction-aiding device in the differentials, but first there is a more important issue at hand. The steering on these early Toyota trucks was not designed with hardcore off-road use in mind.
IN ARM’S WAY
Maximum’s design replaces the upper control arms with a torque arm and a Panhard rod, each of which has only one job rather than two. The Panhard rod centers the axle from side to side, and the torque arm controls pinion angle. Assigning each of these duties to separate components allows each piece to be better at its one job than the stock upper control arms are at either job. The torque arm is essentially a three-link design, and Maximum claims that it improves traction so much that after installation you may have to alter your sway bars to prevent understeer.
Spotlighter
Cool Breeze
This Chevy’s Owner Specializes in Cool
When Tony Gonzalez says that it is his business to be cool, he really means it. Gonzalez owns an air conditioning repair and installation company, but what gets him hot in his spare time (read, winter) is to build and ride in his 1995 Chevy Silverado.
Author
Matt Emery
Story & Photography
Bringing the Silverado to Life with Custom Modifications
Though the Chevy may be getting on in years, Gonzalez has been hard at work, with the help of a few good shops, turning it into one of the finest modern trucks around. When Gonzalez first bought the Chevy, it was in fair shape, and the purchase price was only $7,000, which seemed fair as well. At first, he bought it for a work truck. But then he did a little gazing at the Silverado and decided that he wanted a full custom, so he went out and bought another work truck.
Laying It Low: Suspension and Wheel Upgrades
The first thing Gonzalez did was to take the Chevy to the guys at Chino’z Auto Body in Winnetka, California. Though the chassis is basically stock, he knew that he wanted the Chevy to lay flat, so the crew at Chino’z installed a set of Firestone airbags at the corners. That took care of any height problem the truck may have had, but since no drop spindles or other pieces were used, it didn’t really work with any “normal” wheels—15s were out of the question, and even 18s didn’t do the trick. No, the only size that Gonzalez would consider for his wheels were dubs, and he eventually settled on 22s.
The Perfect Finish: Wheels, Brakes, and Tires
But those 22s had to reflect the look that Gonzalez wanted, so he chose modern-themed five-spokes by Image. Wrapping those wheels was a chore since the Images filled the wells, so rubber-band-thick 30-series Toyo rubber (295/30R22) was used. Getting the rolling hardware slowed takes a little more than the stock brakes can handle, so a set of Power Slot rotors was added, and clamping onto them are very cool carbon fiber disc pads.
Power and Performance: Engine Modifications
Another thing that takes a little extra to get things rolling is an engine. As with the brakes, the engine has gotten a little help. In place of the stock unit, an Edelbrock TBI has been installed to give the engine a fair chance at breaking a sweat. Getting the spent fuel out is no sweat, however, as a set of Flowmaster mufflers plays a much better tune than the stock cans.
Custom Interior: Seats, Center Console, and High-Tech Features
The interior has seen its own share of upgrades. The first things that you see when entering the Chevy are the seats. The stock units have been stripped of their upholstery and covered with black leather that features a yellow flame motif. The work is nice, and it was done by the crew at Oscar’s in Winnetka. Oscar’s also built and covered the custom center console, which holds not one but two monitors. Flames seem to be everywhere, even on the upper dash, and they’re also featured on the Nu Image instrument overlay. The Fiber Optic steering wheel features flames cut into the billet aluminum.
A Premium Audio Experience: Custom Sound System
The multi-dimensional media system that the Chevy is adorned with begins with a Kenwood head unit that features, of course, AM/FM and CD capabilities, but with the touch of a button, the faceplate swings out to reveal a digital readout for the internal equalizer. From there, the system is run to multiple JBL amps: five of them, as a matter of fact. Of course, a lot of power is needed, as there are four 12-inch JL Audio subwoofers as well as various mids and tweeters packing the cab. As stated, a pair of monitors keeps the occupants occupied (although to see the rear one, you actually have to be sitting on the woofers). It takes a lot of experience to install a system like this, so that is why Gonzalez worked with the pros at Galaxy Auto Sound of Winnetka.
A Bold Exterior Makeover: Body Modifications and Custom Paint
Last, but certainly not least, is what Gonzalez did to the body of the Chevy. To make sure that those gigantic wheels fit inside the openings, the crew at Chino’z opened them up 3 inches. They also added a Sir Michael’s roll pan (equipped with cool flame taillights cut into it) and shaved the handles from the doors. You may have noticed that the doors don’t look as they did when the truck was stock. Well, they would look stock on a Lamborghini, we suppose, but not on a pickup truck from Detroit. But there is no denying the fact that they look pretty cool on the Chevy. Though the doors are cool, the flames that adorn the truck are hot. Again, the crew at Chino’z applied the killer PPG-based flames.
Show-Ready and Award-Winning
When Gonzalez rolls with his fellow Toys R Us club members, he is sure to turn heads with his cool ride. The judges must agree, as Gonzalez has taken a first place at the 2004 Showboat Show and a close second place at the 2005 Forbidden Fantasy. In the four years that it took him to build the Chevy, Gonzalez did the job slowly and customized the truck to reflect the look that he wanted to obtain. This is certainly a case of slow and steady wins the show.
