With so many companies stamping out replacement sheetmetal these days, it's rare to find a truck in its original steel, but J.D. has it all. Not afraid to make some sparks fly, this truck has been cut a little more than most. It's difficult to explain, but the stock '48 truck had an additional panel that ran under the cab and the front portion of the bed that spanned the distance between the body and the running boards. That was done away with to get this truck laid out right and looking good, and then the running boards were subsequently raised to meet the base of the cab. That left the front fenders with a lot of overhang that was cut off and reshaped to flow correctly. Out back, the 6-inch shortened bed was raised, then from the rear view, the cab appears to be chopped, thanks to the relocated bed. With the custom 2x3 frame, the GMC sits flat on the tarmac, resting its smoothed running boards comfortably. A full shave occurred at Street Rod Factory (SRF), with welders shutting any and all openings that were deemed unnecessary. A Gaylord bedcover was modified by SRF for a better fit before the painting ensued. SRF mixed together some PPG Viper Blue for the bottom half and Kawasaki Green for the top. Jim Waggaman sprayed the flames that roll back into a color separation line with a fade from Viper Blue to a custom-mixed purple. You won't find a hint of factory chrome or otherwise on the exterior, as the grille, bumpers, and even the headlight rings are now colored as one.
To make the driving more entertaining, a sound system that GMC couldn't have imagined in '48 was added. A Kenwood head unit feeds Kenwood speakers in the kick panels, while an MTX amplifier beats bass vibrations from MTX subwoofers mounted underneath the seat. Seating comfort was swapped from a BMW and covered in tweed by N.C. Upholstery in San Marcos, California, along with the door panels. A tan leather headliner looms over the dark brown carpeting. The steering came courtesy of LeCarra and the archaic 6-volt factory gauges are now 12-volt Dakota Digital. Southern California summers can get good and warm, so the '48 has a cold A/C to keep both driver and passenger chilly and comfortable.
Now 23 years in existence, J.D. has been messing with this truck for almost half of his life. Since we last spoke, a little birdie told us it was getting redone-again. First trucks are hard to forget, and although not in his case, most of us remember our first truck fondly and wish it was still in our hands today. J.D. has a long future ahead of him if he keeps up this kind of work, but it can't be done alone. His family was a helping portion, and of course, the family-run business at Street Rod Factory in San Marcos, is his home territory. A member of Xtreme Lowz car club, J.D. can be seen touring much of the Southwest show circuit, should you desire to see this GMC live and up close.