Custom 1998 Chevrolet S-10 - Low Roller

Out of the Misfortune Comes A Body-Dropped S-Series

By Joe Greeves

Photography by Joe Greeves

There are lots of ways to get involved in our sport, but Newark, Delaware's Ryan Cavanaugh became a trucker by accident. After a collision destroyed his car, Ryan decided a truck might be safer and more fun, so he purchased a brand-new '98 S-10 Extended Cab. About that same time, he also met the members of Low Rollers in his home town. They not only showed him their hot collection of custom rides, but also introduced him to the finer points of the trucker's lifestyle. He liked what he saw and decided to put his efforts into high gear, intent on creating a truck that both he and his fellow club members could admire.

Emenheiser's Auto Body in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, got the creative juices flowing, beginning with a long list of body modifications that included bringing the S-10 a whole lot closer to the asphalt. To ensure no stray daylight would escape from the rocker panels, Shawn Emenheiser began with a 3-3/4-inch body drop, 2-inch dropped spindles up front, and a Super C-notch in the rear. While everything was apart, suspension components were either powdercoated or painted to match the exterior. After the truck was thoroughly grounded, a new air suspension was added to bring the Dime back to proper ride height. Using 2,600-pound Firestone 'bags on all four corners, along with 3/8-inch SMC switches and lines, the system is powered by an engine-driven compressor that pressurizes a pair of 3-gallon reserve tanks mounted underneath the bed. Switches were added to the custom center armrest and gauges were installed in the dash.

Once the ups and downs were under the driver's control, body modifications were next - and there were quite a few. Emblems, door handles, and side mirrors were trashed, and Ryan redid the front end using a grip of GMC Envoy extras, such as new headlights, front bumper, and grille shell, all fitted with a billet grille. Hinges were reversed on the Goodmark hood to give spectators a better view of the detailed 2.2L four-cylinder engine. Moving to the rear, the tailgate was welded shut, the inside corners of the bed were radiused, a unique barbell-shaped enclosure was fabricated from sheetmetal to clear the rear axle, and the smoothly rounded bed was sprayed with Rhino Liner. The changes continued with a small gas filler door mounted on top of the driver-side bedrail, a custom rear pan with an angled license plate in the tailgate, and a unique set of teardrop-shaped taillights.

The twin doors on the driver side retain the factory hinges, but the passenger door was suicided. When all three are open, they provide a dramatic view of the custom interior, made even more striking by the wide-opening Street Beat ragtop. Like everything else on the truck, every inch of the interior was examined to create a fresh approach. Beginning with the dashboard, all nonessentials were eliminated , such as the passenger-side airbag, A/C vents, defroster vent, heater controls, and glovebox, in an effort to create a smooth, unbroken expanse. Stock instruments were replaced with a set of Nu Image white-faced flamed gauges in the factory gauge panel, augmented by the angled pair of APC air gauges in the center of the dash. Just below is the Alpine head unit, controlling the stereo and the remotely mounted screen in the revamped center console. Filling the ample space behind the trimmed bucket seats is the fiberglass sub' box, holding the pair of 10-inch Kicker L7 Solobarics. Reworked door panels now incorporate the pair of 6-1/2-inch MB Quart components with a second pair of 4X6s positioned on top of the dash. Power for the system comes from a DEI 1100D amp, mounted out of sight behind a side panel. Joe's Car Stereo in Newport, Delaware, handled the install, adding a Viper Security system to protect the truck and its contents. Final interior details include an Altered Image steering wheel, Trenz pedals, and Trenz rearview mirror. Ryan and his friends did much of the interior, leaving the seats to Strader's Interior in Milford, Delaware. After eliminating the headrests, Strader stitched the buckets in gray leather and tweed to match the rest of the interior. Emenheiser finished the task by spraying all the interior fiberglass pieces and the exterior of the truck in a combination of PPG Blue, Silver, Orange, and Green paint, accented with Orange ghost diamond-plate graphics and PPG Green pinstriping. Getting the truck rolling is a set of 20X8-inch Intro Vista rims wrapped in Dunlop 245/35/ZR20 radials.

Now that the truck is complete, it has become a regular on the show circuit, and Ryan is enjoying his new-found truck culture as a proud member of Low Rollers. And to think it all happened by accident!