This '99 GMC Sonoma has been beatin' up on its owner, Darren Martin from Gainesville, Georgia, during the entire construction. He had to be rushed to Emergency to have nine staples punched into his head to stop the bleeding. His arms have received burns; fingers have been cut and smashed. Just about any pain you can inflict on yourself while working on your custom truck, Darren has done it.
Darren had the crew at Down South Kustoms in Gainesville swap out the OEM spindles for a pair of Belltech 2-inch drop spindles and a vertical pneumatic system featuring 2500-lb Firestone 'bags up front and 2600-lb Firestone 'bags in the rear. The bags are nourished by a pair of Viair 550 compressors in the front and a Viair 350 in the rear. A set of Eagle 221 20x8-inch polished aluminum wheels are wrapped with Ventus 255/35R20 rubber on all four corners.
The '99 V-6 4.3L Vortec 262ci powerplant delivers more than stock horsepower to the rear wheels thanks to several engine performance enhancements. Down South Kustoms installed a JET Performance computer chip and improved the engine's airflow, and increased the atomization volume with a Power Aid throttle-body spacer sandwiched between the throttle-body base and intake manifold. A specially ground GM Performance Z06-style camshaft was carefully inserted into the cam bearings to increase both torque and power. JET Performance also upgraded the transmission to withstand the increased torque of the engine by installing a Clutch Master Stage 1 racing clutch. A set of JET Performance underdrive pulleys were installed to free up the power lost to parasitic drag on the engine. To help the engine keep cool, a new thermostat was installed with an aluminum radiator, along with an electric fan. The factory electronic single-point ignition and coil have been left unmolested. A Flowmaster dual exhaust system was bolted up to the factory exhaust manifolds to increase the exhaust flow rate.
Down South Kustoms and Moez Paint Works performed the cosmetic makeover. The Sonoma Stepside body received an FBI shaved tailgate skin with a frenched license plate. A smooth Checkmate tonneau cover was included in the stylish aero package. The factory rear bumper was modified to house the frenched 12-inch LED taillights. The leading edge was transformed using a GMC Envoy grille shell with an FBI billet aluminum insert flanked by a pair of Envoy HID headlights. Following the body mods, the Sonoma was prepped and ready to be rolled into the paint spray booth, where House of Kolor Pewter Metallic was applied to the outer skin, followed by laying out some scallop flames that received Orion Silver color; then it was all buried in multi-coats of clear.
Opening the doors exposes the immaculate two-tone light gray and charcoal all-leather interior performed by Alvarez Upholstery in Gainesville, Georgia. The dash was smoothed with a fiberglass cap. The factory bucket seats were covered with fine light gray leather. Black and gray carpet with custom leather floor mats embossed with custom charcoal flames were also put in place. The headliner and door panels also have matching embossed custom charcoal gray flames. A custom center console separating the bucket seats was covered in charcoal leather.
The team at Down South Kustom wanted to make sure Darren would not be bored, so they installed an array of gear to make for some entertaining sights and sounds. The actions of a Sony PlayStation 2 are viewed through a Panasonic 7-inch DVD monitor that was grafted into the dash. A blow-through subwoofer enclosure was constructed to house two 12-inch, 900-watt Power Plant Fusion subs in the bed. The cab is surrounded with Fusion Power Plant highs and mids located in both the door panels and atop the dash. Two Fusion Power Plant amps power the system: an FP 1002 for the cab and an FP 1402 for the subs in the bed. When Darren rolls with the tunes blastin' everyone listens.
From bumper-to-bumper Darren's Silver Streak will intrigue anyone with a taste for style and sound.