Here is the first tech installment of the Stylin' Concepts and Goodmark '04 Chevy Silverado sweepstakes rig. We let you in on the details of the build last month in our News section, but here is a refresher. The truck will be loaded with products from Belltech, Power Slot, APC, Goodyear, Corsa, Volant, Nu Image, Street Scene, and of course, Goodmark, to bring it into the custom realm. Once it's all said and done, the truck will be given to one of you - that's right, one lucky reader will be handed the keys to this ride.
This story will cover dropping the truck with Belltech, stopping it with Power Slot, and styling it with APC wheels and Goodyear rubber. The truck is being built at Stylin's headquarters in Cleveland, so we took a trip out there to capture it all on film. If you want a chance to win this truck, get off the pot and fill out your sweepstakes card. Visit www.sporttruck.com or www.stylinconcepts.com for more information, and good luck.
1. When we arrived at Stylin's...
1. When we arrived at Stylin's headquarters, the giveaway Silverado was in pieces. The bed was off to make the install easier and help provide us with better photos.
2. Included in the Belltech...
2. Included in the Belltech 2/4-inch lowering kit were new spindles, shocks, ball joints, and shackle/hanger combo for the rear.
3. To start the suspension...
3. To start the suspension project, the crew at Stylin' Concepts, headed by Mike Gunnoe, removed the stock and boring wheel and tire package.Two bolts were unthreaded from the backside of the calipers, and with those bolts gone, the stock caliper was removed.
4. With the caliper moved...
4. With the caliper moved and out of the way, the factory rotor was removed and discarded so that the new Power Slot rotor could take its place.
5. Upper and lower ball joint...
5. Upper and lower ball joint nuts were removed to gain access to the spindle. Once they were off, the spindle was removed.
6. Belltech's kit required...
6. Belltech's kit required removing the stock lower ball joint; the company sent out a heavy-duty model that will be rotated up instead of facing down like the original. A cut-off wheel made quick work removing the factory rivets holding it on.
7. After taking a break from...
7. After taking a break from the grinding and cutting, the stock spindle was removed from the hub assembly. Belltech's spindle features reversed, tapered ball joint holes to accommodate the new ball joint orientation.
8. Once the rivets were cleared,...
8. Once the rivets were cleared, the factory lower ball joint was removed. This was the most difficult step in the install.
9. Because the new ball joint...
9. Because the new ball joint is a heavy-duty model, the lower control arm opening had to be enlarged to accommodate its larger size.
10. With the opening massaged,...
10. With the opening massaged, the new lower ball joint was bolted into place.
11. Belltech also includes...
11. Belltech also includes new, shorter polyurethane bumpstops to keep bottoming-out to a minimum.
12. Next up, the upper control...
12. Next up, the upper control arm was flipped over and reinstalled. Then the Nitro Active shocks were slid into place.
13. With all the nuts secured,...
13. With all the nuts secured, the front was ready to rock and roll.
14. In the rear, the hanger...
14. In the rear, the hanger was removed to allow the flip kit to be installed.
15. Mike then installed the...
15. Mike then installed the Belltech shackle.
16. The shorter rear shocks...
16. The shorter rear shocks were installed on the factory mounting points.
17. With C-clamps pinching...
17. With C-clamps pinching the leaves, a small-pinion-angle shim was placed in the leaf packs to give the driveshaft the proper angle.
18. This shot gives you a...
18. This shot gives you a close look at the leaf pack and the new pinion shim.
19. No sport truck is complete...
19. No sport truck is complete without an upgraded braking system, and this giveaway project is no exception. Keeping the install quick and easy, Power Slot rotors were ordered up for the Chevy hauler.
20. With the front calipers...
20. With the front calipers off from the spindle install, the new Power Slot rotor was placed over the lugs, and the stock caliper was installed. It's just that easy.
21. Out back, the factory...
21. Out back, the factory caliper was removed to gain access to the rear disc.
22. One small tug was all...
22. One small tug was all it took to remove the stock rotors.
23. As with the front, once...
23. As with the front, once the Power Slot was in place, the caliper was reinstalled and ready to stop the truck better than ever.
24. APC donated a set of its...
24. APC donated a set of its new chrome 20x8.5-inch W67 wheels to the project with Goodyear tires wrapping the larger hoops. This new combo will give the truck more traction so that the new brakes can actually stop this rig and also improve its style.
Sponsors List
Altech
Belltech
Billet Specialties
Corsa
Gaylord's
Goodmark
Hypertech
Icon by APC
In-Pro Car Wear
Nu Image
One Trick Truck
Owens
Power Slot
Street Scene
Stylin' Concepts
Volant