Willing and Abel
Who: Abel Sanabria
What: '99 Chevy Silverado
Where: Dixon, California
Abel purchased his '99 Extended Cab Chevy Silverado in 2001, when it was bone-stock. The first thing Abel did was take off all of the emblems and lower the body down 2/4 with Belltech springs and spindles. Once down, he felt better about slapping on a set of 20-inch rims and Hankook Ventus Sport tires. Abel then got in a major fender bender, which obligated him to replace the hood with a cowl induction unit by Goodmark. Under Abel's new hood lies a 4.8L, fitted with an AIRAID intake, GMS high-flow mass air sensor, and a Hypertech programmer. Soon, Abel will have headers and a brand-new sound system to complete his vision.
Thanks, Pop
Who: Manuel Campa
What: '78 Ford
Where: Tucson, Arizona
Manuel bought this '78 Ford from his father for $1,000, and not long after, the 302 engine spit a rod out the side. Instead of throwing in the towel, he built a new 351 for it and even threw on some chrome goodies to boot. Headers and a Flowmaster exhaust system evacuate the spent gases of the Mouse motor, while the B&M Shift Improver Kit controls the Second gear chirps. Manuel finished off his truck by filling in the tailgate and installing a roll pan, before the custom-mixed green was sprayed. Some day, Manuel will 'bag the truck and tuck some 20s, but for now, the wallet is a little tight for that.
Now Those Are Some Pipes
Who: Doug Williams
What: '98 Ford F-150
Where: Columbia, Illinois
Doug purchased his '98 Ford F-150 in 2000, when it was pretty much a plain Jane. Doug quickly bought electric-heated seats out of an '00 Tahoe and modified them to work in his F-150 to keep his butt warm. Doug then added the two-tone paintjob, along with 5-inch sidepipes, a billet grille, musclecar hood pins, and 18-inch Eagle Cyclones. Doug is looking to do a lot more to his truck in the near future, but for now he is happy to roll with his loud sidepipes.
Dime 'Bagged
Who: Eddie Piat
What: '98 S-10
Where: Champaign, Illinois
Eddie is well on his way to a full feature with his 'Dime. The truck features Slam Specialties 'bags, eight SMC valves, and two 450 Viair compressors. All that stuff lets him air the truck down really close to the 18-inch KMCs. We say "well on his way" because Eddie plans on body-dropping this sucker and redoing the paint. If you want to see it in person, take a trip to Indy Truck Bash. Eddie says he'll be there, parked next to the hot dog stand.
Shhh, It's a Secret
Who: Jason Medley
What: '04 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Where: Harned, Kentucky
Jason Medley likes to keep some things secret when it comes to his TrailBlazer, like how he dropped it 5/6. Luckily, he wasn't tight-lipped about the other modifications he did. He started by removing the luggage rack and the side moldings to smooth out the lines and make it look less like a grocery-getter. Next, he bolted up a set of SSR wheels that keep the factory GM look but still add to the cool factor. Last but not least, some tint was thrown on the windows, and a DVD system was stuffed in the dash. Jason hopes his TrailBlazer will inspire other owners to break out the tools and get to wrenchin' on their SUVs.
There Is Big and There Is Bill
Who: Bill McShane
What: '98 Dodge Ram
Where: Wesley Chapel, Florida
Talk about big, Bill has taken his Ram up-way up. To get this thing that high, he had to use 2-1/2-ton military axles and some long King shocks. Both the front and rear suspensions were converted to a four-link setup, and the steering uses a series of brackets to turn this behemoth. Luckily, Bill started with a truck that could move the 49-inch tires, thanks to the V-10. Right after these shots were taken, Bill shipped the monster off for body and paint, as well as to have the interior re-skinned. The upholstery shop will have a fun time crawling in and out of it, while covering around the monitors and stereo equipment.
Pink Taco
Who: Brian S. Young
What: '95 Toyota Tacoma
Where: Gilbert, Arizona
Brian is the third owner of this aptly named Pink Taco. It features a 3-inch body drop and a full set of hydros to tuck the 17-inch Myrtle Strangers. The whole body has been shaved, and the front clip has been updated to '00 sheetmetal. Behind those dark windows, you will find a Vegas-themed interior and a full blow-through sound system. Brian says it may not be the manliest color, but it will drag with the best of them. And if you don't believe us, then you can drag on him, and see what happens.
Family Affair
Who: Robert and Patricia Fredlund
What: '93 Dodge Dakota
Where: Saint Petersburg, Florida
When Robert and his wife Patricia cruise this '93 Dodge Dakota in their hometown, people are a bit surprised to find out it's a daily driver. The small-block V-8 under the hood has been given a shot in the arm, thanks to the Mopar Performance Computer, a K&N filter, and a Flowmaster exhaust system. To smooth out the bumps, Robert equipped the truck with Rancho RS 5000 shocks and a set of Ultra wheels, wrapped by Goodyear tires. The truck received a deep-red basecoat with silver licks, to complement the power lurking under the hood.