Further modifications include a multi-piece driveshaft supported by a large center support bearing. Kent Performance in Fresno bent and welded up a custom 35-gallon polished aluminum fuel cell located behind the rear axlehousing, and Jared Fullmer at Influential Designs in Fresno bent all of the polished 3/8-inch fuel pressure, return, and vapor lines. Fullmer also bent up the 3/8-inch air lines from the reservoir tank to the eight 3/8-inch Viair SMC air valve manifold linked to the Viair compressors.
Up front, the factory lower control arms were modified to accept the Slam Specialties airbags. A pair of custom upper tubular A-arms were fabricated by Influential Designs, and Belltech 2-inch drop spindles were sandwiched between the upper and lower control arms. A pair of Slam Specialties HS-7 dual-port airbags are teamed up with a pair of QA1 aluminum adjustable shocks, creating and maintaining adjustable ride height and ride quality.
After the frame was designed and built, it was delivered to Jared Fullmer at Influential Designs. The frame was completely disassembled and stripped down to the virgin metal. Portions of the frame were reworked, and the frame and welds were smoothed. Jared, known for his attention to detail, used very little body filler to mold into the frame's welded joints and corners to eliminate any imperfections. Many of the suspension and engine components were chrome-plated by New Age Chrome in Clovis. The crew at Morino's Polishing in Fresno spent endless hours buffing and polishing to bring the frame to a glistening finish. Morino's also polished all the stainless steel brake lines, air lines, and aluminum parts.
Steve Deman of Deman Custom Paint and helper Ed McGraph made a road trip to apply color and graphics to the frame, engine, and transmission. A couple of weeks later, Deman was back filling, smoothing, and painting the rearend housing using Alsa Corporation's Kolor Kings Cotton Candy Blue Pearl paint, which makes the insane frame come alive.
If this is any indication of what the top-half of the '00 GMC is going to look like, we can hardly wait for the bottom half - stay tuned.