Project: SCHEVY 2001 Silverado

[GMracer]

Well I've been lurking this site for a while now, and figured I would share my project, as long as it's cool with you guys. I know it's not a pro-touring car, but the plans for this thing is a mean street machine, that can handle well and put it's fair share of power down on the pavement.

April 2007 was the last time I took a bunch of pictures of it, this being two of them.



July came and after having the trans built the August before I had it blow on me 3 times, all the builder told me were they were bad parts, never got a chance to push the truck much, and was told the trans would hold more than I was asking for, well after the third time I convinced myself I would be careful till I could afford to order a level 5 80e or something similar. Well with my luck it blew again, no reason what so ever I was just on my way to work and it locked up. When the fluid was cold it would move, heated up and it would go anyway. So it went back in my garage, and I convinced myself, not so much my friends, that I was going to tear it completly down and build it frame up.



The plans as of right now, a basic over veiw:
2001 Silverado 2wd regular cab shortbed
Rolling Chassis
- To be designed and fabricated by myself
- Factory suspension moved upwards to accommodate lower ride height
- Motor moved back and up to transfer weight and clear steering
- McGaughys Spindles, ridetech Control arms, and double adjustable shockwaves, Muscle Bar up front
- F9100s, double adjustable billet shocks, Satchell adjustable 4-link out back
- GM 14bolt 9.5” SF narrowed rearend
- Converted to 5x5 Lug Pattern
- Powder coated Hammered Black Satin finish, all components gloss black
- Custom Fuel Cell Behind rear end
- All fuel, air, and brake lines to be hard stainless, with braided to moving parts
- Intro Wheels GT Sports 20x8.5 Front w/ Toyo Proxy STII 275/40/R20
- Intro Wheels GT Sports 20x15 Rear w/ MT Sportsman SR 29x18x20
- Wilwood 16” Front Rotors 6 piston calipers
- Wilwood 14” Rear Rotors 4 piston calipers
- GM HD Hydroboost Brake System
Exterior
- Water based True Black w/ blue toner
- Ceramic Clear Coat (same as new Mercedes)
- Body dropped bed 5.5” to hide all suspension components and appear “stock”
- Stock Wheel tubs widened to accommodate 20x15s, again to appear “stock”
- Rear tailgate will close and open to appear "stock"
- Shaved tailgate, license plate, candied and smoked tail lights
- Exhaust tips through the roll pan to mimic the front bumper
- Escalade Handles
- Cal-Vu Mirrors
- Front bumper is a modified SS bumper
- Hood will be raised across the whole back
- Xenarc Headlights with 4300k HIDs
- Clear Marker Lenses
Interior
- All plastic panels will be dyed black, factory satin finish.
- Escalade top dash pad, wood grain on passenger side to be painted black, and “Cadillac” replaced by “SCHEVY”
- Escalade Dash Bezel
- 03 Console w/ T56 shifter while retaining cup holders.
- Black headliner, and visors to match
- Black Carpeting
- Modified Stock Bucket seats, reworked into more of a “race bucket”
- Denali Gauges, all interior dash lights to be orange (only color on whole truck, while the rest is black and billet)
- Sounds system is TBA, but amp will be hidden along with two 10”shallow mount subwoofers behind each seat.
Drivetrain
- 402 CI LQ4 Specs TBA Est. HP 750rwhp
- Custom Turbo Kit by TurboDan Single S85mm all stainless tubular headers, complete one off kit.
- T56 6 Speed Transmission
- 4.88 gears w/ Detroit Locker in the 14-bolt
- Exact Specs TBA on complete drivetrain







Originally I modified the stock frame, and finished it besides my shock mounts

[GMracer]

But then I decided I'd rather build my own frame, so I built a table

Threw this frame on it

Jigged everything I needed




Ordered some custom spec rails from AutoWeld

Starting to lay them out

Here you can see how the stock hyrdoformed frame compound bends in, so I needed to mimic that

Marked the angles


Cut

Clamped into place and double checked everything

[GMracer]

Welded the seams up

Then I used the same method to tie in the rail rails since they were 10" closer together than the mid section

Cut and Bevel

Weld and then mark them for final fitment

Clamping up and getting ready for final fitment

Both sides complete and welded up as one piece

Had to smooth the welds on the inside before I put them together otherwise I would never have got them smooth

These welds were tight enough to do, never mind a grinder

[GMracer]

Starting on the next side, also explains how I strengthened those seams, and kept it hidden
Since I did the other side completely and got it right I knew where everything had to be cut and drilled

Drilled the plug weld holes



Made some plates, 3/16"


Welded them in on one side

Slide them together clamped everything up nice and tight



Once everything was good, I layed the rail flat, clamped and welded the seam

[GMracer]

Once the cooled I needed to grind this one smooth also

Everything was set just need to get the final welds in this weekend, due to being in school till tomorrow then I got the summer off.


I also cut the rear frame rails down 4" I was going to run them higher but decided against it, so I plated them the same way.



Also once I get my 2" Spindles in I will be able to layout the front suspension and order my laser cut brackets for that. Also got to send out my 14b to have it narrowed in a week or so. Sucked that I had to cut off all those brackets I welded up already. Oh well, plans change.

[robbie_92835]

I cant wait to see more progress pics.

[Code Red]

wow very nice work and those wheels look famaliar ;) (i have them on my colorado)

[GMracer]

Yea, you're on a couple other boards I'm on, I actually just sold them though. Thanks for compliments!

[Code Red]

Yea, you're on a couple other boards I'm on, I actually just sold them though. Thanks for compliments!

welcome


what other boards?

[GMracer]

I know you're on the Fiberglass Forums, I don't know what else I've seen you on, ShowTruckScene? I don't know I'm on too many of them haha

[Code Red]

I know you're on the Fiberglass Forums, I don't know what else I've seen you on, ShowTruckScene? I don't know I'm on too many of them haha

I havent been on fgf in awhile course havent done much fiberglassing in a while

[trackrat79]

Very cool, wish I had the money and time to do my chassi now. That and I need to get something else to drive before I tear my truck apart.

Was it expensive having custome rails made. I thought that there were companies out there that did it but scared of the cost never really looked into it.

[GMracer]

I think it was about 1100 shipped for custom spec rails

[6'9"Witha69]

Too cool bro. Have you plotted out the susp pickups and analyzed the info?

[GMracer]

plotted out the susp pickups? did you mean the trucks suspension?

with my spindles and the control arms setup where I plan to, the rollcenter will be about 1" above the ground, going to run 4-5* of caster, all the pivots (arms and steering are stock location) which helps with clearances and such. Out back, I haven't plotted out how I'm going to setup the bars, whatever fits basically, and I will set my IC right above the front bumper.
I don't have a program or anything to do the plotting, and since it is a street car, and I don't have the ability to weigh and get perfect calculations I will leave enough adjust ability to go from there. Like I said though it's not going to be a strict track truck, so with what I plan I think it will work ideal for my plans.

Any tips or suggestions are welcome, I'm open to trying new methods.

[Nessumsar]

That it awesome man! Wish I had a shop at my disposal, oh the possibilities! Love the power slide picture as well, very sweet.

[01somta]

I am in LOVE!!!

[GBodyGMachine]

This is sweet. Do you post on FSC? If not you should!

[GMracer]

Not on FSC, I'm on GMFS though.

[796spdbu]

what sites are these you speak of..fsc and the others..what the address' of you dot mind. what kinda rear suspension you going to us? Thanks.