The grunt comes from a '96 Corvette 5.7L engine with a cast-iron block and aluminum heads. The engine was disassembled, then machined, and rebuilt with all-new pistons, rings, and bearings. Kevin deburred, ported, and polished the aluminum heads for a more efficient flow. A Street Performance electronic EFI was mounted on and plumbed. The Sanderson ceramic-coated block hugger 1-1/2-inch-diameter headers collect into two 2-1/2-inch-exhaust tubes that flow into a pair of chambered mufflers. To add some bling, Kevin installed a pair of Street Performance aluminum ball-milled center-mount valve covers and engine pulleys. To keep the engine and transmission cool, Kevin dropped in an ARE four-row aluminum radiator. The horsepower is transferred from the `96 C5 automatic transmission and has a single driveshaft linked to the narrowed, beefed-up Ford 9-inch rear end with a pair of 31-splined Strange axles and new Richmond 3.73 gears.
The body mods, prep, and paint were carried out by the talented crew at Air Tight Grafix in Columbus, Ohio. Beginning with the steel cab, the doors and bed were media-blasted, straightened, filled, and then block-sanded to perfection. The original running boards, fenders, and hood were replaced with fiberglass components. The hood was replaced with a fiberglass one-piece hood. The hood was then hinged in the rear to open at the front. The two side panels are removable. The cab, drip rails, door handles, and door hinges, were all shaved smooth. Transforming the original barnyard hauler into this cool truck rod was the color inspired by a metallic-green plastic lid on a can of Pledge furniture polish that caught Kevin's eye. The guys at Air Tight Graphix used PPG Green as a base, then mixed and matched the metallic green of the Pledge lid, which created the brilliant green hue. After the green basecoat was applied, it was color-sanded, then buried in multiple coats of clear.
Activating one of the electric door poppers allowed us to open the door and gaze into the immaculate custom interior, featuring a Glide squared split-back bench seat that was stitched and covered in soft beige leather by Trent Van Arsdalen in Baltimore, Ohio. Trent also covered the custom door panels, kick panels, and headliner with the same beige leather. The smoothed dash houses an instant informative Dakota Digital instruments and billet-aluminum gauge cluster cover. A Colorado Custom matching Slater steering wheel caps the painted ididit adjustable steering column. A Lokar aluminum gas pedal assembly transmits Kevin's instantaneous horsepower needs. Kevin's gear selection is made easy and precise with the long, leather-booted Genie Shifter. The floor was covered in loop beige carpet and trimmed in beige leather. A simple audio sound system consists of an Alpine head unit with a six-disc changer. A pair of four-inch Alpine mids are located in the doors, with a pair of 6x9 Alpine mids hidden behind the Glide seat.