Holty Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 ImpoSStor SS At the Las Vegas SEMA show in November of 2002, Chevrolet introduced the Silverado Regular Cab SS concept vehicle - "a slimmed-down pickup with a 395-horsepower 6.0-liter V-8 and six-speed manual transmission, designed to haul more than lumber back from the home improvement store." The following January, Hot Rod magazine ran an article with the headline "CHEVY'S $23,000 SUPER TRUCK - High Performance on a Working Man's Budget", and ending with "The SS will be available during the first half of 2003 through any Chevy dealer." I read this and thought, "This is the truck that will replace my black, regular cab S10!" It was perfect, just what I was looking for! And for only $23,000! It sounded too good to be true! In November 2003, after the regular cab SS failed to materialize at my local Chevy dealer, I attended the SEMA show and spoke with the Silverado brand manager. I asked about the possibility of my dream truck making it into production. All he would say was "I can't tell you our future plans." Without a warm, fuzzy feeling that it would ever happen, I flew home on a Saturday morning red-eye and the following Monday, ordered the raw material to build my own regular cab SS. I few weeks later, in December 2003 I took delivery of a black 2004 LS with a 4.8L V8 and a 5-speed. I trailered it to a rented garage and started the conversion process. Out came the 4.8 and the 5-speed, in went the 6.0 and the 6-speed. On went the SS cladding, door handles, mirror caps and the BSER roll pan! In February 2004, after 14 months of long nights and weekends the truck was ready for it's debut at the Detroit Autorama (where it was relegated to the basement with the rice rockets and the rat rods because "it looks too stock to be upstairs"). Since then I've also had the truck at indoor shows in Chicago, IL, Green Bay, WI, Grand Rapids, MI and again in Detroit, along with many outdoor shows and cruise nights. My favorite event has been the annual Zippy meet where everyone knows it didn't come this way and appreciates the work that went into it. In the summer of 2006 I decided the next logical step would be the installation of a supercharger. I was lucky enough to get a demonstration ride in one of Wheel to Wheel's development vehicles. I was hooked! That July I purchased and installed the first W2W intercooled Rotrex supercharger kit to be sold to the public. I didn't take the time to dyno the truck before the installation of the Rotrex so I don't know how much power it was putting out but after the install, with the help of Mike at Zippy Performance I've been able to achieve 500 RWHP and 478 ft/lbs of torque. With a best of 13.148 @ 110.45 my quarter mile times are not yet where I'd like them to be. Lack of traction has been the biggest problem. With trap speeds as high as 116.8 the truck has much more potential. Before next summer I plan to have a pair of 18" drag radials that will clear the Baer brakes. Then we'll see what it can do. Well, I finally got my dream truck. I bristle when it's referred to as a "clone" but, in reality, it's a clone of that 2002 SEMA concept truck. It's got more power and a few more creature comforts than that truck and it's lacking the concepts coil-spring rear suspension but for the most part I've stayed true to the original design, including the cloth seats. I'm especially proud of the fact I did the majority of the work myself in a rented garage but it would not have turned out as well as it did without the help of family and friends. Additional information can be found in my Garage. Thanks to all who nominated me for CFT consideration. MODIFICATIONS: APPEARANCE: Silverado SS Front Fascia Silverado SS Grille Silverado SS Cladding with Custom made rear cab corners Silverado SS Gloss Black Door Handles Silverado SS Gloss Black Tailgate Handle and Bezel Silverado SS Gloss Black Mirror Caps Silverado SS Badging with Custom "ImpoSStor" Tailgate Decal Modified BSER Roll Pan Extang RT Roll-Top Low Profile Tonneau Cover Lighted Billet Aluminum License Plate Frame by Trenz ENGINE: LQ9 6.0L V8 LS6 Camshaft LS6 Cylinder Heads MSD Super Conductor 8.5mm Spark Plug Wires Rotrex/Wheel to Wheel Intercooled Supercharger Siemens/Mototron Deka 4 Flow-Matched 60 lb/hr Fuel Injectors Volant Performance Cold Air Induction with Ram Air Scoop 2005 GM Electric Fans Custom PCM Programming by Zippy Performance GM Increased Capacity Aluminum Radiator EXHAUST: TOG Headers with Breslin Split-Lock Header Bolts Ceramic-Coated Muffler from Magnaflow Custom Bent Ceramic-Coated Exhaust Pipe Ceramic-Coated Billet Aluminum Exhaust Tips TRANSMISSION: Tremec T-56 Close Ratio 6-Speed Transmission with Viper Internals Spec Stage 3 Clutch, Pressure Plate and Steel Flywheel Pro 5.0 Shifter from D & D Performance TIRES & WHEELS: BF Goodrich G-Force KDW Tires - 265/50R20 Front, 305/50R20 Rear GM Accessory Chrome 5-Spokes 20" X 8.5" BRAKES: Baer 14" Eradispeed Directional Rotors PBR AlumaSport 2-Piston, Pin-Drive Calipers SUSPENSION: 4.56 Gears Detroit TrueTrac Differential Bilstein Shocks Eibach Lowering Kit-50mm front (coils), 110mm rear (hangers & shackles) CalTrac Traction Bars from Calvert Racing Hotchkis Stabilizer Bars TA Performance Rear End Girdle with ARP Stainless Hardware INTERIOR: Silverado SS Instrument Cluster with PRNDLL Delete Headliner and Visors Color-Matched to Charcoal Interior Custom Billet Shift Stick with White Hurst Shift Ball Catch-All Floor Mats from Nifty Products OTHER: Bedrug by Wise Industries Custom Built Aluminum Driveshaft by Dynotech Engineering Flip-up License Plate Mount from Summit Hidden Hitch Trailer Hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobradh77 Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats and well deserving truck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSThunder Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12'SROCK Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 congrats man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlkSSnCpt Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congrat very well done man... -Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hankg42 Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 As I said in the vote post, it was a tough choice for me. Congratulations Stewart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGunny Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats, looks like you put a lot of work into that and it shows... beautiful truck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krambo Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Nice work!!! Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fast_ass_truck Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 congrats man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireRescueSS Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 ....Congrats.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockHead Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congratulations Stewart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixxerrider Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nxtnlne Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats... sweet truck brother.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usabodyguard Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats... all three were great trucks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImpoSStor SS Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Thanks to everyone who participated in the Jan/Feb CFT contest and for all the positive comments. It's an honor to be voted to this position from a field of 3 great trucks by such a knowledgeable group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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