1998 Chevy Extended Cab - Concealed Custom

In the world of aftermarket automotive customizing, there are several different approaches enthusiasts take to ensure that their vehicles get noticed. Some custom truck owners choose to go the radical route by body dropping their ride, laying every color of the rainbow down on the exterior, and stuffing some righteous wheels and rubber under the modified body. While these trends of radical paint schemes, accompanied by extensive body modifications and a severely hammered stance, were the custom truck norm for some time, it is not the only way to win trophies at shows or to get your vehicle featured within the pages of Truckin'. Trucks that capture a look of class with one-color paintjobs and subtle modifications are often the ones that impress us the most. These trucks reflect a timeless appearance that keeps them current with aftermarket trends years after they have been finished. Ben Rollins from Las Vegas opted for the simple approach when he began building this '98 Chevy Extended Cab. Ben purchased the truck brand new, equipped with a V-6 engine and manual windows and door locks. Knowing the Chevy was not going to see any dragstrip glory with a stock V-6 between the rails, Ben began focusing his attention on turning his truck into a competitive showpiece. Ben's first brush stroke in painting the hammered hauler of his dreams began by eliminating the large gap between the frame and the asphalt.

Lowered trucks have been popular for more years than we care to count, and trends in suspension technology and design have come and gone, forcing us as enthusiasts to constantly modify our trucks' chassis to keep up with the times. There are trucks left out there with normal suspension drops using spindles and coils, but the latest craze is airbag suspensions. Ben desired a full air-ride suspension on his Chevy so he could lay its rails flat on the Vegas strip while cruising with his club Severed Ties. To get this Chevy to drag rail at the tap of a switch, Ben turned to Chris Waitier of Phoenix to lend a helping hand and expertise to get the truck to rest the rails in a hurry. The first step was to set up the chassis structure with the use of Belltech 2-inch dropped spindles under the front end. After the spindles were tightened down onto their mounts, Firestone 2500 airbags were stuffed into the factory spring pockets and supplied with oxygen via 1/2-inch air lines with fast solenoids. The rear was given its altitude adjustment using Firestone 2500 airbags and a custom-made bridge notch to house the rear axle when the 'bags are relieved of their air supply. Belltech Nitro drop shocks were used in the front and the rear to allow the Chevy to conquer any unsightly dips and bumps in the road. With such an intense suspension stance, the original equipment rims and tires were no longer fit to do duty under Ben's midnight blue beauty. Therefore, he went in search of the perfect wheel and tire combination that would maintain simplicity while adding a classy touch. Neeper Titans measuring 20x8 inches all around seemed to fit the bill, so Ben threw down his credit card and walked away with four sparkling chrome rollers that captured the subtle show touch he was looking for perfectly. Clothing for these large-by-huge 20-inch Neepers is handled by Yokohama 255/35ZR20 AVS Sport rubber. In order to leave more stacks of cash for the body alterations, Ben opted to leave the factory V-6 engine stock with the exception of adding a 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust system. The real magic of Ben's Concealed Custom Chevy lies in the body modifications. Anyone can throw some trick paint over untouched metal, but it takes a tremendous amount of customizing courage to take a welder and grinder to the surfaces of a brand-new truck. The exterior of Ben's low-slung Bow Tie is well groomed and smooth as a baby's backside; it also incorporates some of the most contemporary modifications into the finished product. Starting at the back end, the factory taillights were tossed in the trash and replaced with '93 Cadillac Sedan De Ville units, which were molded into the Chevy's factory bed panels. The factory rear step bumper was given the boot to make way for a molded steel roll pan, while the tailgate handle was shaved and relocated to the inner wall of the tailgate. Not intending to use the bed for hauling anything but trophies, Ben had D&N Auto in Las Vegas shave the bed stake pocket holes and smooth the top of the bedrails. The nose and mid-region was given its haircut by shaving the antenna, the door handles, and the third brake light. A Stull phantom billet grille lends a mysterious look to the front end while conveying an in-your-face street attitude. Cargo is kept safe underneath a paint-matched Stockland tonneau cover. Once D&N Auto completed the facelift on the body, Ben had the staff squirt the factory sheetmetal with DuPont Midnight Blue to maintain some OEM heritage and keep the radical modifications on the truck undercover. During the body's transformation, Ben was right there with the specialist at D&N, participating in the smoothing and shaving every step of the way.

Since Ben drove his truck off the lot in 1998, he made huge progress in creating an impressive custom show truck. The simple and classy appearance of Ben's Concealed Custom gives it an original look that will remain stunning for years to come. Ben would like to extend an appreciative thanks to JMH Auto Upholstery, D&N Auto Collision, Performance Muffler, JJ Warren, and the rest of his Severed Ties club members for their hard work in making his truck a frame-dragging reality. Ben has several plans for his Chevy, but for now he is cruising in smooth style while hitting the switches, rolling on dubs, and showing up all the competition.

Inside Concealed Custom

Ben took a walk on the wild side when redecorating the interior of his mild-mannered Extended Cab. The factory bench seat was removed to make way for Honda Accord buckets upholstered in tan and dark-blue tweed with flamed stitching by JMH Auto Upholstery. Ben and his fellow Severed Ties club member JJ Warren covered the rest of the panels, including the dash, the door panels, and the miscellaneous plastics, in tan and dark-blue tweed for a picture-perfect contrast. Above, passengers are visually entertained by a tan tweed headliner with sculpted flame graphics designed and covered by JMH. A Pioneer head unit fills the cab with cruising tunes, while a Billet Specialties Phantom billet steering wheel helps Ben steer his ride in style. Blending these fabric hues makes one striking statement on the inside of Ben's airbagged beauty.