This is it, the final phase of our stocker to SS custom body-style transformation. Up to this point, we had GO-EZ in Placentia, California, tub the fenders so that the suspension could accommodate 22s and had 714 Motorsports in Huntington Beach, California, bolt-on an SS-style front clip from Late Model Restoration Supply. Now, it was time to lay on the paints.
We tapped Kelly & Sons Crazy Painters in Bellflower, California, to spray on the black and copper two-tone and silver flames. Mitch Kelly oversaw the job and mixed and sprayed the paints. John and Shaggy prepped the truck and did all of the bodywork. Tom Kelly-the legendary pinstriper, airbrusher, and all-around custom-paint guru-designed the flame graphic and brushed on the pinstripes. What we didn't show was the bodywork that was done to the truck ahead of time. The Silverado was in decent shape for an '01, but some previous custom projects, factory flaws, and a few dings had left their marks, which motivated the Kelly & Son crew to do about 30 hours of bodywork to tighten up the truck and smooth it all out. After that, it was all about laying on the Vibrance colors made by PPG colors. Read on for how we went about turning Project Intimidator into a candy-metallic rock star.
Here are the Vibrance paints and other PPG products that were applied to the truck. | 
It took 10 hours for John and Shaggy to prep the truck. This involved blocking, sanding, and primer, aside from the bodywork they had done before that. Also, the SS bumper, grille, hood, taillights, third brake lights, tonneau, and eventually the wheels and tires were removed. Then, the papering began to protect the bed, third brake light location, rear window, wheel wells, windshield, engine compartment, undercarriage, and the tonneau. You'll notice that an extra helping of paper in the doorway allowed the paper to be pushed in, and it also allowed the doors to be opened and closed for the painter to lean in and paint the door sills without worrying about tearing the paper. The plastic grille, bumper cover, and Chevy Bow Tie were prepped for paint. Then, the hood was hung up to make it an easy target for the spray gun. |
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Mitch said he had been painting for 30 years, but he still makes it a point to read the tech sheets on the paint products he's about to use. That way, he can make sure he understands how they will react to the humidity and temperature in the paint booth and to the other products he is using. He put a can of sealer on the shaker for 15 minutes, then he mixed four parts of primer to one part of hardener and loaded the mixture into his gun. Next, he put on his paint suit and a fresh air system that covered his face with a full visor that blew filtered air onto his face for him to breathe. He then shot sealer onto the truck, grille, bumper cover, hood, and Bow Tie. |
Next, cans of pearled Black Crystal paint were shaken for 10 minutes, mixed with reducer, and then were shot onto the truck, tonneau, bumper cover, Bow Tie, and part of the grille in two layers. This formed the basecoat. | 
After the basecoat dried, Tom laid out the flame design with tape. We wanted a classic flame job, and that's what he gave us. The line of flames on each side was wider than in our rendering, but it was okay. The end result is better proportioned to the rest of the two-toned paintjob. His movements were quick and efficient when he laid the strips of tape right to left and back again, from the curve of the flames to their tips. What he usually does is lay out some lines on one side of the vehicle, then identical lines on the other side, going back and forth to make sure he would get everything right. This time, however, he laid out one side entirely and then did the other, for the sake of the photo shoot. |