Suspension Modifications ...
Suspension Modifications
The new pickup has been completely redesigned for the 1999 model year. The stock Extended Cab shortbed Silverado came equipped with six-lug, 16-inch wheels, aerodynamic sheetmetal, and a bevy of drivetrain enhancements. In fact, most people whove driven the new truck say the biggest improvements are to the components you cant see.
With the six-lug wheel off...
With the six-lug wheel off the truck, the rear disc brake is uncovered.
The spring rates may have...
The spring rates may have changed, and the shackles are slightly different, but the truck&8217s rear suspension is very similar to the old configuration. Dropping the new truck with springs is a cinch.
Like most sport truck builders,...
Like most sport truck builders, we didn&8217t hesitate to get to work on a new truck. Instead of waiting for a new spindle to be developed, we immediately swapped springs to achieve a mild 3/4 suspension drop. Shown is the de-arched spring from Chassis Tech (top), compared to the stock leaf.
The Chassis Tech shackle (left)...
The Chassis Tech shackle (left) offers 1-2 inches of lowering, depending on the mounting hole that&8217s used. Since most of our lowering will be achieved with de-arched springs, we chose the inside hole (which provides an additional 1-inch drop) to mount the spring. Also pictured is the stock hanger.
We shortened the bolts connecting...
We shortened the bolts connecting the spring to the rear hanger to allow enough room to remove the bolt. If we hadn’t cut the bolt, we&8217d have had to drop the gas tank (mounted to the side of the hanger). Once the bolt was shortened, with a little finesse we were able to remove it from the spring and hanger.
Once the bolt had been removed,...
Once the bolt had been removed, we could easily swap out the stock spring for a new one. Note that the head of the bolt has been redirected to the outside of the hanger.
Aside from the six lugs, the...
Aside from the six lugs, the front suspension seems strikingly similar to its predecessor.
Once we got behind the spindle,...
Once we got behind the spindle, we got a glimpse at some of the new components. For example, the new truck&8217s ride control is operated via adjustable shocks.
The lower ball joint will...
The lower ball joint will be the biggest hurdle to manufacturers of drop spindles. The old ball joint pointed to the sky; this new one points down to the ground.
We won&8217t need to redesign...
We won&8217t need to redesign the spindle to achieve our 3-inch drop. Swapping the stock spring for a shorter coil is easy.
With the new spring from Chassis...
With the new spring from Chassis Tech in place, the suspension can be reassembled.
The truck&8217s lower stance...
The truck&8217s lower stance fills the fenders nicely--even with the stock wheels and tires.
Body Mods Project coordinator...
Body Mods
Project coordinator Perry Price (right) of Price Truck Stop in Scottsdale, Arizona, brought the truck to Deano&8217s in Tempe for exterior enhancements.
The factory bolt pattern and...
The factory bolt pattern and wheel offsets are new this year.
Price Truck Stop specializes...
Price Truck Stop specializes in wheel and tire packages for street trucks. The B. Coddington is the latest offering.
We used a few simple tricks...
We used a few simple tricks to enhance the looks of our Chevy. Removing the exterior trim was an obvious choice.
We opted for a clean monochromatic...
We opted for a clean monochromatic treatment for our Silverado. Prior to our installing the Street Scene Grille, the parts were prepped for paint.
Inside the paint booth are...
Inside the paint booth are a number of stock and aftermarket parts. They include Street Scene Cal Vu mirrors, a Street Scene Speed Grille, stock door handles, a smoothed tailgate, and stock bumpers.
Assembling the new parts was...
Assembling the new parts was a snap. In addition to painting the stock grille, we cut away the original mesh prior to installing the Speed Grille. That step is optional.
The roll pan from Sir Michaels...
The roll pan from Sir Michaels is a bolt-on item. However, Deano’s took it a step further and welded it on. Now it&8217s ready for paint.
Inside the booth, the Sir...
Inside the booth, the Sir Michaels pan was color-matched to the stock paint.
Once all the exterior components...
Once all the exterior components were allowed to cure, the bros at Deano&8217s began to reassemble the truck.
Most of the parts simply clipped...
Most of the parts simply clipped back into place. The door handles must be accessed through the inside panel.
Phase One completed. The truck...
Phase One completed. The truck sits on Price Truck Stop B. Coddington wheels and Bridgestone tires. The exterior parts--Street Scene Speed Grille, Cal Vu mirrors, Sir Michaels roll pan and stock handles and bumper--have been color-matched by Deano&8217s.
As is the case of many sport truck enthusiasts who find themselves ready to embark on a new project, the modification of Sport Truck's latest vehicle began even before the protective plastic could be torn away from the seats.
We are in the unique and enviable position of having the very first new 1999 Silverado to roll off the assembly line and into the paint shop.
Since their last redesign in 1988, Chevy trucks have driven the sport truck industry. More aftermarket products are available for Chevys and their engine platforms than for any other pickup. Accessory manufacturers will have products ready even before the fist Silverados hit the showroom floor.
To underscore the availability of parts, and to fan the excitement about its new truck, Chevrolet let us get our hands on this 2WD 1/2-ton Silverado. Our Extended Cab shortbed truck came equipped with a 5.3L V-8 that churns out 270 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. You don't have to rely on the parts store to supply you with four-wheel disk brakes, powerful engines, or locking spares--those items are on the long list of factory-equipped features. Frankly, we'd be perfectly happy driving this truck in its stock form for a while, but since we were invited to perform any modifications we wanted, we were more than happy to oblige. Plus, we like to show-off.
Serial No. 0001 was barely out of the manufacturer’s lot when we had new wheels, tires, grille, mirrors, and roll pan installed. The suspension mods followed. In a flash, we’d given a mild yet striking stance to Chevy’s 1999 Silverado. In many ways, the Silverado’s predecessor defined the sport truck market. In the coming months, truck builders from across the country will decide whether the same will be true of this latest product.
Our first take on modifying our new vehicle relied on a combination of off-the-shelf bolt-ons and mild body modifications. As you'll see, the results were immediately gratifying. Over the coming months, we'll continue to modify the truck in hopes of enhancing its looks and performance through the use of parts available from Malibu Sportruck, Hotchkis Performance, Baer Racing, Gibson Exhaust, Whipple Industries, and JET.
In the meantime, we've concentrated our efforts on the suspension, wheels and tires, and exterior bolt-ons. As this new truck is redesigned, most of the parts we'll use will be early-production bolt-ons or custom-made prototypes.
The new truck's suspension was lowered with springs from Mesa, Arizona-based Chasssis Tech. While suspension manufacturers scramble to produce a new spindle or a redesigned A-arm, we expect that shorter coils, de-arched leaves, shackles, and flip kits will be used for lowering purposes over the next several months. Chassis Tech lowered the truck 3/4 in less than an afternoon, using such a system.
The suspension work enabled us to visit Price Truck Stop in Scottsdale, Arizona, for fitment of the wheels and tires before sundown. The truck's new bolt pattern (6 on 5.5 inches) and offsets (front 5.5 inches, rear 6.75 inches) were incorporated into a wheel design by B. Coddington, which is sold exclusively through Price Truck Stop. The company specializes in fender-stuffing wheel and tire combinations for virtually every street truck. Our truck's bigger fender wells and limited clearance posed no challenge to Price. Armed with years of experience, the crew (Steve Brown, Dale McLaughlin, and Perry Price) was able to fill the fenders with the new Bell Bottom wheel. The billet wheels measure 18x8 in the front and 18x9.5 in the rear and are wrapped with Bridgestone Dueler HTS tires (265/60R18 front, 285/60R18 rear).
Custom Painting in nearby Tempe, Arizona. Deano's crew (Forrest Jones, Matt Howard, Chris Rodes, and Taylor Jenson) color-matched a pair of mirrors and a Speed Grille from Street Scene Equipment, along with a roll pan and a tailgate-handle relocator from Sir Michaels.
Deano's did much more than slap some paint on our parts, however. The shop worked closely with our project coordinator (Price Truck Stop) to maintain a consistent design element throughout the buildup. The crew was also charged with shaving the tailgate and color-matching the stock parts.