photographer: Dan Ward, Sean P. Holman
The year was 1986, and movie theaters were packed with crowds of people eager to see high-flying fighter jet sequences, an inside look at the Navy's top pilots, and the energy between the then little-known actor Tom Cruise and actress Kelly McGillis. Living vicariously through these fearless pilots, millions of movie-goers experienced the need for speed that can only be achieved at Mach 2. Top Gun was so successful because it was unique and a first for high-performance aerial cinematography. It was also a launching pad for an eager producer named Jerry Bruckheimer, and for Tom Cruise, a movie that even to this day defines his 20-plus movies over the last two decades.
We feel that Chad Engel, owner of Custom Image Motorsports of Omaha, Nebraska, was influenced by this epic in the need for speed, and if not, the similarities are too similar to overlook. In the spring of 2002, Chad decided to open his own high-performance and paint and body shop in Omaha, a task that is much easier said than done. He realized quickly that he needed a rolling business card for his newly established shop, and what better ride to start with than his very own '90 Chevy 454 SS truck? The goal was to build a truck that could tuck 20s, drop jaws with its good looks, and pin Chad back in the seat to the tune of a 10-second e.t. timeslip.
Realizing this truck could be the launching pad for his very own career, work began by stripping the suspension off the frame, cleaning the frame, and painting it a bright custom mix of lime green. Belltech 2-inch drop spindles were modified by Baer Brakes to clear the 13.5-inch big rotors and were then bolted to the upper and lower control arms. The crew at Custom Image Motorsports then added Air Ride Technologies 2,600-pound airbags, complete with a set of Air Ride shocks. Out back, the rear frame received a bridge notch, triangulated four-link custom shock mounts, and a set of Air Ride Technologies airbags and shocks. Plumbing the system are 1/2-inch air lines, MIC fast-manual valves, two Firestone compressors, and two air tanks. With the welder out and hot, a 16-gallon Triangle Engineering fuel cell, complete with a 12-AN braided stainless fuel line, was added to the custom suspension. This serious equipment and suspension provided Chad with a solid foundation for the hard-core powerplant that was being created in the mind of a man who could be considered a maverick in his own right.