When is low enough really low enough? This is an issue that's completely in the eye of the beholder. In the deepest regions of Texas, some ridiculously low trucks have emerged. Our man Shannon Taylor of Conroe, Texas, is definitely on the list of dumped trucks with this retina-destroying, pearl-yellow '72 Chevrolet C10. Shannon and his truck are members of the truck club Low Ain't Enough Customs and the base of our question to you: When is low, low enough?
Some of us were lucky enough to have parents who drove trucks we could covet. Shannon is no exception. This searing '72 was in the hands of Shannon's father until 1995 when Shannon was still a wee little lad in high school. Shannon's pop, Frank, finally decided to part with his truck, knowing that he was relinquishing the keys into the hands of a capable young man. Before any suspension mods could get underway, Shannon put his plans in motion by removing the longbed from the truck and bolting on a shortbed and performing the accompanying frame cutting and splicing necessary to accomplish such a task. This slick fitment led the way for a custom three-link suspension to be fitted onto the 12-bolt rearend. Inside that posi-equipped axle is a set of 3.73 cogs. Providing clearance for the super-sized lowering is a complete, through-the-bed, bridge notch. Up front, the lowering is accomplished with a set of Chassis Tech 3-inch drop spindles in place of the wussy stockers. Looking at the pictures, it's easy to see that this truck is not sitting on some mere bolt-on drop kit. All four corners of this Chevy use 2,600-pound airbags for lift and drop control. One 5-gallon chromed air tank and two custom-painted compressors push the air through 1/2-inch air line and individual corner control valves. Monroe Sensatrac gas shocks smooth out any rough rides. The sweet rolling attire finishing off this super C10 is an order of four KMC Wingnuts. Two 18x8s do the front of this classic some justice wrapped in 245/40R18 Goodyears. No self-respecting hot rodder would run the same sized wheels and tires front and rear, so Shannon made the right decision by bolting on appropriately sized 18x9.5-inch rear wheels with rubber by Goodyear again, but sized at 275/40R18. Stock front discs and rear drums bring it all down to a stop.
Under the cowl induction hood lies a venerable Chevy small-block, but even the casual observer will notice the TPI intake attached to the motor. Straight out of a '89 Camaro, Shannon laid in a replacement for his tired old motor. This 350 isn't all stock though. Before finding its new home in Bad Medicine's engine mounts, the motor was treated to Tuned Port Injection Specialties' port-matched upper and lower intake runners. Helping the stock bottom end make more ponies, Corvette aluminum heads from a '92 model inhale through the modified intake and a conical K&N filter. A stock HEI distributor sparks the ignition, but ACCEL 8.8mm wires carry the charge. Shannon wired the fuel injection with a Painless wiring kit, and the computer runs with the aid of a JET Performance chip. Fuel is fed by way of an 18-gallon fuel cell mounted under the bed. The '89 Camaro that donated the motor also supplied the 700-R4 Overdrive slush box. A Trans Go shift kit was installed to firm up the feel. Stock exhaust manifolds feed the fired gasses into a fully aluminized 2.5-inch Flowmaster exhaust system.
The part that really draws all the attention to this ride is the exterior. Jerry Norris of Conroe, Texas, is the man behind the welder...and the paint gun...and the sander...and the...well, you get the idea. A plethora of boring stock parts found a new home in the trash bin. On that list were both front and rear bumpers, the door handles, side view mirrors, wing windows, tailgate handle, fuel filler, stock taillights, hood, and grille. Jerry replaced the front bumper with a fiberglass roll pan and the rear bumper was omitted for a weld-on pan from Sir Michaels. The factory grille was foregone for a billet unit, and the stock taillights went south for the winter so new clear lenses could be put in place. One-piece side glass replaced the wing windows, but Shannon wanted to increase the smooth overall visual by not placing any side view mirrors on the vehicle. All factory trim and handles got the heave ho, and the filler neck for the in-cab fuel tank was sealed off forever. The aforementioned cowl hood stands in for the stocker. Jerry went to town with the color chosen to enhance the new lines of the '72 C10. Over a plain, white base is the most intense yellow we have ever seen: PPG Flame Yellow Pearl. The hot hue covers every inch of metal inside and out on Shannon's truck.
Speaking of inside, Shannon's wife, Brandy, got in on the interior act by building the door panels herself. For seating, another used-up GM vehicle was chosen. This time a late '90s Chevy truck donated its factory butt hauler. The seats were recovered in light and medium tan pleather before getting the thumbs up. Brandy's door panels, the kick panels, and the headliner were matched with the same scheme and colors. Tan Bentley carpet covers the floor. For tunes, Shannon chose a simple layout. In the modified dash, a Pioneer DEH P730 sends the beat to the speakers behind the seat; to add a few show points, a 6.5-inch LCD monitor is laid up behind the chrome glovebox door in a tan Bow Tie. A Sony PlayStation 2 is linked to the monitor for instant entertainment needs. Steering this Chevy is made more pleasurable with the NRC billet and leather steering wheel. Shannon keeps tabs on the vitals with Auto Meter gauges fit to the stock dash cluster, but not before a polished panel was put in place. Very stylish, indeed.
Shannon and Brandy say this truck is no trailer queen; it's driven on a regular basis as well as to any shows it attends. With the computer-controlled TPI motor and a four-speed Overdrive transmission, we're willing to bet the Taylors knock down some nice mileage numbers that the stock carb could only hope for. Shannon points out that this truck is the culmination of almost ten years' work, and he wishes to thank his parents, Carol and Frank, Brandy for not only the ultra-cool door panels but also for allowing the usual late nights in the garage, the fellas at Ain't Low Enough Customs, and Jerry Norris for the incredible bodywork and paintwork. Shannon is quick to point out that the C10 still "Ain't Low Enough." We'll let him believe what ever he wants and see what he comes up with next.