Buying a base-model truck is a great way to save money and build a custom the way you want it to look. Let the dealer sell some sucker the fully loaded rig with all the bells and whistles, because you know that with several smart purchases, your truck will be looking great in no time and you'll have more cash in your pocket. When it came time to build a new project, we used the "Build it the way you want it" mentality and purchased this bare-bones '06 Chevy Silverado. Needing a daily driver parts truck, we left the dealership with a work truck, some extra spending money, and a mind full of creative ideas.
Before
A daily driver needs to be fully functional and to keep the cost down and the fun level high, we ordered a bed full of parts from Stylin' Trucks. Known for their great customer service, helpful tech support, and low prices, Stylin' was the first place to start the truck build. To drop the Silverado, a Belltech Stage Three 5/7 drop kit was ordered, complete with front 2-inch spindles, 3-inch coil springs, alignment bushings, drop leaves, 6-inch rear flip kit (with C-notch), rear shackle kit, and Belltech's best Street Performance shocks.
After
The lowered custom truck market is desperately in need of better shocks, and Belltech has answered our call with its vehicle-specific oversized shocks featuring 35mm pistons and Teflon-coated bushings. Lowering a truck improves the overall looks, improves the truck's handling, and when done right, it can provide a smooth ride that doesn't feel like a horse and buggy. To maximize the Silverado's lowered stance, we bolted on a set of 24-inch MHT DUB Big Homie wheels in a black and chrome finish. Providing the contact patch and protecting the wheels, we wrapped the MHT hoops in Hankook Ventus V4 ES tires. Having a sport suspension with a tire that isn't designed for performance is a waste of time, and thankfully, the Hankook Ventus V4 ES is a well-built high-performance tire.
To turn the wrenches, we dropped the truck off at Mouse's Kustom Fab in Phoenix, where they can do all types of suspension work and specialize in back-halves. In just one day, Mouse's Kustom Fab had turned this boring, base-model truck into a real head-turner. Check out how they did it, and if your truck needs a suspension makeover, give Stylin' Trucks a call.
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Once our boxes arrived from Stylin' Trucks, we unpacked the 5/7 lowering kit. As you can s
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Arriving at Mouse's Kustom Fab in Phoenix, brothers Jacob "Mouse" Daugherty and Jeff "Jefe
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The truck was supported on jackstands, which is exactly how you would do the install at ho
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Starting in the rear, the factory shocks and bumpstops were removed.
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Using an air impact and 13/16-inch wrench, the factory leaf spring shackles were unbolted.
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If you have a new leaf spring bolt, a quick tip is to cut the driver-side front leaf sprin
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With the axle supported by two jackstands, the leaf spring plates were removed and the U-b
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To make installing the C-notch easier, a scraper and paint thinner was used to remove the
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Using the supplied Belltech template, the area to be cut was marked on the frame.
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Holes were drilled into the corners for a point of reference and to help get the Sawzall i