TEXAS MASSACRE | ’14 Chevy Silverado

TREET TRUCKS DIE-HARDS OUGHT TO BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT WE LOVE A BIT OF FLASH FROM TIME TO TIME. Whether it’s mirror-finished billets, exotic leather interiors or a hundred different colors full of candy and flake, showmanship is a favorite dimension of the custom truck game. Among the limitless directions in which a build can be modified, certain qualities pull a bit more weight than others. However, no matter what your personal taste and style preference, brand loyalties, polished vs. patina’d, etc. just about everyone can agree that clean is king. There’s a good reason cleanliness is next to godliness, and few places is this demonstrated as well as in the custom truck world. For any automotive genre, when a build is done with proper attention to detail, with quality and functional work, and with a clean finish, it attracts all of the right kind of attention. To demonstrate the perfect candidate, we present Chris Crain’s ’14 Chevy Silverado.

Crain’s Silverado single cab acts as a primary example of the “less is more” philosophy, proving that minimal mods, executed well, can produce stunning results. Having fully embodied the street truck way of life since high school, Crain has a well-stocked arsenal of past build examples. In fact, the Silverado is his second Street Trucks feature following an ’81 C-10 back in the December 2011 issue.

At this rate, the silver Chevy will certainly not be his last. The ’14 was a dealership order from Derek Scott’s Auto Park, in Hearne, Texas. The brandnew vehicle was ordered in September of 2013 in anticipation of the redesigned model debut. After a few months of waiting, Chris picked up the truck on a Saturday, and it was dropped at the shop the following Monday, with just 39 miles on it, for a full-scale chassis rebuild. The brutal quickness with which the Chevy was chopped up led to the finished product’s name, Texas Massacre.

Crain’s Massacre was first carried out by the super-talented team at Drops R Us. Jose Peña, Eric Gonzalez and Erin Garcia got to wrenching on the Pyle Brothers’ narrowed 17-inch rearend, capable of fitting comfortably with 24×15-inch rear rollers. The frame was also narrowed, relocating Belltech shocks to the inside. These work in congruence with the 2-link and wishbone suspension configuration. The front also uses Belltech shocks along with custom control arms and McGaughy’s drop spindles. The air ride setup carrying the brunt of the weight is a cocktail of top-notch parts and expert arrangement. The front rides on Air Lift Dominator 2600 ’bags and the back uses RideTech’s Ride Rite 9000s. The ’bags are fed from two 3-gallon tanks from RideTech and dual VIAIR 444 compressors. Ride Tech’s E3 Control serves as the precise manager of the setup. The tanks, compressors and a custom fuel cell have all been tucked invisibly beneath the bed floor, which bears an elegant custom look from the additional tub space, yet still retains a clean, factory design.

“THE FINAL RESULT OF THE MINOR EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR ADJUSTMENTS IS A BADASS TRUCK CLEAN ENOUGH TO HAVE JUST ROLLED OFF THE PRESS IN DETROIT, BUT UPON PROPER INSPECTION DISPLAYS EXPERTLY CRAFTED TOUCHES THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE.”

The RideTech setup gives Texas Massacre that next-level frame-laying stance, and when aired out like it ought to be, the truck tucks the massive 24s all the way around. The dramatic width stagger gives the Massacre a menacing look despite its dazzlingly overall clean exterior. The heavy-lipped rollers are made by Twisted Trenz and paired with Pirelli rubber at 275 and 405, respectively. Beneath the wide hood lies a potent 5.3L Chevy Ecotec3 V-8. An Injen Technology cold-air intake and custom 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust TEXAS MASSACRE assist with breathing for the motor capable of lighting up tires right off the lot. The power is sent to the custom rearend through the GM Hydra-Matic 8L90 transmission.

Protecting the ultra-clean looks and fun factor of being a factory-new truck capable of throwing sparks down the interstate, minimal modifications to the body and interior keep that OE comfort intact. For the exterior, simple steps that add subtle updates as opposed to distracting flash was the plan of action. Diaz Custom Auto performed colormatching paintwork on the bumper caps, mirrors and door handles for a smooth and flowing final finish. The shade is DuPont-made GM 2014 Silver. The spray extends through the truck bed where the custom tubs were added to house the massive wheels. While the interior has been left wholly intact, a small measure of luxury customization has been taken for added appeal and comfort: The front buckets were reupholstered with a matching black ostrich leather insert for a touch of elegance.

The final result of the minor exterior and interior adjustments is a badass truck clean enough to have just rolled off the press in Detroit, but upon proper inspection displays expertly crafted touches that make it unique. The design subtleties work in a perfectly complementary fashion to the suspension, chassis and rolling attire changes. It’s a Texas Massacre dripping in factory silver paint as opposed to gruesome gore. Chris Cain and his choice builders have struck a chord with the finished design, proving that in a world of endless possibilities for fans of custom trucks, clean is truly king.

TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Chris Crain
2014 Chevy Silverado
Calvert, TX
Ground Zero

ENGINE

• 2014 GM 5.3 Ecotec3 V-8
• Injen cold air intake
• Custom 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust
• GM Hydra-Matic 8L90 transmission
• Custom fuel cell

SUSPENSION & CHASSIS

• Shop: Drops R Us
• McGaughy’s drop spindles
• Custom control arms
• Narrowed frame
• Rearend narrowed 17 inches
• Custom 2-Link and wishbone rear setup
• Belltech Shocks front and back
• Air Lift Dominator 2600 ’bags up front
• Ride Tech Ride Rite 9000 rear
• RideTech E3 management

WHEELS & TIRES

• 24×9-inch and 24×15 Intro Custom Wheels Twisted Trenz 6s
• 275/35/ZR24 and 405/25/ZR24 Pirelli tires

BODY & PAINT

• 2014 GM Silver
• Color-matched mirrors, door handles and bumper caps
• Color-matched rear tubs
• Paintwork performed by Diaz Custom Auto

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Factory audio
• Front bucket seats feature custom ostrich inserts

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “To my wife, Jacky, for letting me do what I love and sharing my passion with me! Also to Jose Peña of Drops R Us and his crew in Pasadena, Texas, along with Raymond at Rio Sound Custom Wheels for all their help and support.”