Little Star

When we photograph a truck to be featured on these pages, it is usually the result of a project that came to be in one of two ways. Many times, the truck was sought out and purchased with the sole purpose of turning it into a magazine-quality show vehicle. In these cases, there was most likely a plan in place long before the actual vehicle was even purchased. The more common story we hear, however, is the one where the truck just kind of happened. You know, some engine mods here, a little shaving there, and next thing you know, it's a full-blown show truck.

It is, however, quite rare for someone to purchase a truck, perform a few initial modifications, drive it on a daily basis for five years, and then proceed to tear it down to build a killer custom truck. But that's exactly what happened in this case.

Francisco Paredes, a 29-year-old from Simi Valley, California, has owned his '93 Cheyenne since new. After outfitting the truck with a set of 17-inch rims and a few other goodies, Francisco simply drove the hell out of it for the next five years. Maybe it was the influence from his friends in the Bad Habits car club, but he spent the next three years turning his daily driver into the show winner you see before you.

Francisco's first stop with the truck was IF Customs in Sylmar, California, for some frame-laying suspension work. Up front, only the stock coils and the shocks were scrapped and replaced by a set of Firestone PN 2600C 'bags; relocated KYB shocks cushion the ride.

The rear was significantly more involved and began with IF bridge-notching the frame and custom building a four-link system and a Panhard bar to take the place of the stock leaves. Another pair of Firestone PN 2600C 'bags were used to suspend the rear along with KYB shocks. IF then ran 1/2-inch airlines to 1/2-inch valves that flow air from three Thomas compressors and three 5-gallon air tanks. With this new killer suspension, the now ancient 17s looked hopelessly obsolete on Francisco's ride.

His new wheels of choice were Intro Vistas that measure 20x8.5 inches in front and 22x10 inches in the rear. To get the exact look he wanted, Francisco mismatched two brands of tire. The fronts are Michelin P255/35R20s while the rears are Dunlop S9000s measuring P285/30R22.

Under the hood, the 4.3L V-6 was left completely stock with the exception of a Flowmaster after-cat exhaust. Just for fun, many of the accessories were painted red to match the body color. With the truck mechanically sound and laying out on 20s and 22s, it was time to concentrate on the body and the paint.

The next destination for the truck was J&S Customs in Moorpark, California, for a major shave and a little granitizing. The cab area was cleaned up by first shaving the door handles and the rain gutters. A smooth cowl was added, and the little GM mirrors were retained. Moving to the bed, the taillights were shaved and Cadillac units were frenched into place. The tailgate handle was shaved, and a steel roll pan was welded into place. When the body was completely smooth, it was sprayed in PPG Chevy Red. The bottom and the rear of the truck as well as an area of hood were shot in gray before J&S laid down the custom airbrush work in black and orange.

The brightwork up front includes the stock grille filled with a billet insert and a Bow Tie emblem as well as a set of Crystal Eyes headlights, parking lights, and clear corners. The smooth chrome bumper also features billet inserts with halogen driving lights hidden behind. On the other side of the cab, the bed is topped with a smooth tonneau from Colonies.

Little Star was definitely shining brightly now, but Francisco had one more stop. He called upon the talents of Auto Sound and Security in Westlake, California, for the sano interior and the stereo install. They began with a bare cab and a set of '93 Acura Integra seats, to which they added liberal amounts of gray vinyl and tweed filled with stitched graphics to match the exterior. The headliner, the dash, and the door panels were covered in the same manner, as was the custom built center console. The Billet Specialties steering wheel sets off the multitude of billet trim, which includes the pedals, the shift lever, and the dash and door panel inserts. The bed received the same treatment, as it was also covered in vinyl, tweed, and carpet. It also sports a cool speaker enclosure and very cool wheel well covers.

For sound, Francisco went with a Pioneer Head unit mated to both a 600-watt Alpine amp and a PPI amp with a 1000-watt rating. The Alpine amp powers the four JL Audio speakers located in the stock locations in the doors and the cab pillar. The PPI amp powers the three 12-inch JL subs located in the aforementioned enclosure at the front of the bed.

After five years of driving a basically stock truck, Francisco has built an awesome ride that has already earned him a bed-load of trophies. His truck even graces the month of November in the '02 Truckin' calendar. This is one Little Star that really shines.