Sticking with the original idea of tucking 20s, Chad ordered a set of beautiful Budnik Trilogy III wheels measuring 20x8 inches up front and wrapped in P255/35ZR20 Bridgestone, and 20x9.5-inch rims out back, protected by matching Bridgestone tires measuring P285/30ZR20. Hitting the switches saw Chad's truck 1-inch away from laying frame but still tucking the 20s with ease. Any F-14 Tomcat is going to look cool going fast, but Chad wanted a land-cruising machine that stood out from the traditional crowd. Pulling the Chevy into the Custom Image bay, the guys began on the bodywork. After smoothing the firewall and inner fenders for the motor transplant, the crew looked to the body. Adding a '95 GMC grille shell and billet grille, the door handles were shaved, along with the stake pockets, tailgate handle, cargo lamp, cab seams, and gas-filler door. A Sir Michaels roll pan was added with a GT Classic lid, and the entire bed was coated with a Rhino Linings protective liner. Completing the bodywork meant time for the paint, and the guys created a custom mix of BASF Diamont Lime Green, again applied at the Custom Image Motorsport's shop. Now, the truck looked distinctive and fast but was only moderately quick with the old big-block in between the fenders. Cue the electric guitar, roaring engines, and of course, the blast of the jet afterburners.
Tearing into the Rat motor, the Brodix aluminum heads and iron block were delivered to Rojam Machine Company for CNC porting and polishing, and a mild boring. With the heads prepped and the block in order, the team at Custom Image stuffed the 0.030-inch-over block with 8.0:1 ratio pistons, a forged Crower crank, billet connecting rods, a Comp Cams solid lifter camshaft with 590 degrees of lift and a duration of 250 - the big-block was ready to rumble. For exact tuning, an Arizona Speed and Marine EFI system was added to supply fuel to the air mixture supplied by the crazy 22 pounds of boost from the 8mm cog ATI Procharger supercharger with a front-mount, air-to-air intercooler. Exhaust exits as fast as the air enters, thanks to a full-custom system with Hooker headers and dual 3.5-inch pipes leading to dual Flowmaster two-chamber mufflers. Traction is a small problem with 1,000 hp and 780 lb-ft of torque, but with the help of a 14-inch Chevy rearend stuffed with a Powertrax locker, 3.73 gears, and the Hipster-equipped 400 tranny, the truck has clicked off a best time of 10.95 seconds at 126 mph. Helping dip into the 10s, the tranny is equipped with a Neil Chance 3,400-stall converter, controlled by a Hurst Quarterstick shifter in a jet-fighter-like joystick location in the console.