Dezert1500

First off, I appreciate everyone that nominated me which has allowed me to partake in PT's TOTM contest. I've enjoyed the site, trucks, builds and people over the past two years I've been active here.

My truck started off as a bone stock 2004, 5.3, fully loaded regular cab. It stayed that way for a full year until I installed a drop shackle to level it out and after that it started a non-stop modding process.

I've done the whole lifted, prerunner style trucks, but this was my first "street" truck and I wanted to do it right since I had a virgin platform to start with. My idea behind the build was to build a unique, street-able, track-able, fast, slammed, canyon handling, tow capable, road-trip-able, daily drive-able truck that looked nothing more than a dropped truck. A few years, some busted knuckles, and hours upon days of endless ideas, I feel I've come close to my original goal. I've built 95% of the truck myself with easily hundreds of hours into mods you can't even see. Here's what lies underneath....

How it originally sat when it was "lifted"



The start of the suspension tear down



Bed off exposing the new drop





Drop finished sitting at 6/9-10





I originally equipped the 5.3 with mild cam, converter, headers, and a dyno tune which I quickly realized was not near enough power for my goals. I ran mid 14 second 1/4 miles in 3500+DA with this setup. I pulled the 5.3 in favor of a LQ9, larger but still mild cam, higher stall converter, and deeper gears which yielded a much better E/T of 12.7 @ 105 and 1/8 mile of 7.9 @ 85.



Inspecting the the 6.0L and getting it ready for install









Going to get a dyno tune by Black Bear Performance for the new 6L.



Why slam it to the ground if it doesn't ride good? I equipped the suspension with some King shocks valved specifically for my truck and driving style.



I made sure the suspension could take the constant hauling this truck sees across hundreds of miles. Not to mention still ride good while doing so.









Current cell phone pic of how the truck looks now. I haven't had time to clean it or take new pics, but I will soon.



VIDEOS

Initial 6.0 (un-tuned) start up



Speedo clip



MOD LIST:

Performance
Naturally aspirated LQ9 (6.0L)
Black Bear tuned
CAI
EPS cam
Yank SS3600
Shift kit
Bassani mid-length headers
Full mandrel exhaust
05+ Efans
145amp alternator
Trans cooler
3.90 gears
Detroit Locker
T/A girdle diff cover
05+ brakes, slotted rotors, performance pads and ss lines

Suspension
6/9 drop
King shocks
Cal Tracs
Helper bags

Exterior
Powder coated bumpers
Powder coated wheels
Cleared headlights
Colormatched handles, tailgate handle, and bumper cap
05+ lower valance and fog lights

Interior
Denali cluster
Basically stock for now, but next on the list

Misc
Raised gas tank
Raised trans crossmember
Polyurethane bushing in Cal tracs

Future plans
More N/A power, top end, more cubes? mid 11's goal.
Coilover front end
Sound system