2002 Chevy Silverado - Blue Hell - Truckin' Cover Feature

To facilitate a snug fit and eliminate clearance issues, the bright, chrome Rozzis were milled on the backside to the tune of a 1/2-inch by Classic Wheel Works in Glendora, California. The stock rearend was narrowed 4-1/2 inches by Hoopers Rear End Exchange in Sun Valley, California, to get the 24s to nestle comfortably inside the Silverado's rear fenderwell openings and sit flush with the bed sides. After the IFC crew got Blue Hell to lay rail on 24s, the next challenge was to hammer the rockers on the tarmac. Careful measuring followed and a 4-inch body drop was carried out on the Chevy to capture the ultimate laid-out look Eric had cemented in his cranium. When body-dropping a truck to this degree, clearance problems come into play under the hood with the brake booster location and A/C placement. Due to the exceptionally large rollers capping off the suspension on Blue Hell, these clearance issues became even tighter, and IFC was forced to move the A/C back and relocate the brake booster.

Completion of the suspension work and body drop led the IFC metal magicians to the body, where Eric's list of smooth subtractions was attended to with care. Now missing from Blue Hell's exterior metal landscape are the door handles, the gas door, the taillights, the stake pocket openings, and the rain gutters. Out back, the scenery was smoothed with a Grant Kustoms roll pan and tailgate skin combination that eliminated all annoying seams and cleaned up the rear view for smooth show status. A set of LED taillights mounted in the top of the tailgate region keeps tailgaters at bay when Eric takes Blue Hell out for a mid-Saturday cruising excursion. A Cadillac Escalade front clip present on the truck's previous debut remains intact, while the custom exhaust tips fabricated by R&J Customs in Buckley, Washington, exiting through the center of the Grant roll pan become just one of the many new body additions. Topping the bed is a custom-made tonneau constructed by Ryan at R&J Customs, which helps to seal the host of audio enhancements mounted inside the box from the elements.

After IFC performed all of the rough metalwork, the truck was put into the hands of R&J Customs where Shawn made sure the body was smoothed to a wrinkle-free and baby's-backside quality before the crafty colors were laid down. While Ryan at R&J was in fabrication mode, he fabbed up a host of custom sheetmetal engine dress-up panels to give the doghouse a less-is-more street-rod appearance.