Up front, under the DuPont Lemon Glow skin, is a KRZ Customs frame, featuring a four-linke
Many people say that today's youth is getting a bad rap, since the younger generation has been immersed in video games, computers, chat rooms, and cell phones since birth. The planet has never possessed a generation so diversified in technology. This computer-literate generation has developed its own high-tech language and means of communication that has become foreign to many of us. Not only are they portraying their life's journey in computer files and journals, they are forecasting their future with the aid of a computer. Of course, every generation's youth has their own identity. For instance, the baby boomers had musclecars, long hair, incense, beads, and a war that didn't make sense to anyone, except those on Capitol Hill.
A young kid from Fresno, California, possesses a rolling masterpiece that could take many enthusiasts a lifetime to accomplish. Byron Erkenbrecher is a graduate of Fresno Christian High School and is now a 19-year-old student at Fresno State. Byron had a vision of building a cool early model custom truck when he was in the seventh grade. Convincing his dad, Ron, of his intent, they set out on an expedition. A few months later, they discovered a '53 Chevy driver in good condition. After throwing down a fistfull of Franklins in exchange for the pink slip, Ron drove it home. Initially, it was to be a father and son project, but later, Byron's close junior high buddy, Jordan Gilmore, became involved. The two teamed up with Ron's expertise, since he is a previous street rod and musclecar builder who knows his way around a toolbox. Ron stressed the importance of organization. The boys photographed assembled parts and components in detail before anything was removed and disassembled, then every part and fastener was labeled and bagged. Within days, the truck was just a bare frame and an empty body carcass.
Knowing a custom ride begins with the frame, Byron sourced out KRA Customs' Jeff Zander, who designed and built the custom frame with 2x4-inch framerails that were extended 6 inches from stock, then fabricated a triangulated four-link rear suspension and installed a Chubby Chassis Mustang II front IFS kit. The four-link rear suspension bars and upper wishbone, along with the front upper and lower A-arms, were dipped in the chrome tank, contrasting the powdercoated purple frame, as well as the Art Morrison Ford 9-inch rearend stuffed with 4.11 gears. Pro-Shock components, teamed up with Firestone airbags fed by two Thompson compressors at each corner, give the truck its athleticism and ability to impact the earth's crust and rise to a comfortable ride height.
A handmade polished aluminum fuel tank is linked to the engine with polished fuel and air lines supported by chrome-plated hardware. Wilwood disc brakes in the front and rear are responsible for the truck's straight and true braking. To maintain a nostalgic rolling stock, Byron bolted up a set of 19-inch Colorado Custom Slater five-spoke twisted wheels wrapped by P245/35R19s in the front and P285/30R19 Michelin rubber in the rear.
The fat-fendered '53's grunt comes from a 350ci small-block Chevy that was machined and stroked to 383 cubic inches by the crew at Beck Racing Engines (BRE). BRE brass freeze plugs were carefully aligned and installed into the engine block. After machining the 350ci Chevy cast-iron block, a set of Clevite main bearings were installed onto the block's crank bores, and the 400 cast-steel crankshaft with 0.200 inches machined off the main journals was then laid onto the block's main bearings. A Fel-Pro rear main seal was covered in silicone and positioned into place.