Mighty Green Machine

CUSTOM AUTO’S ATTENTION-GRABBING, RAGS-TO-RICHES SILVERADO 3500HD

- Ryan Lee Price

When you have lemons, you make lemonade, and when you break an egg, you make an omelet. In this single-use, disposable world, it is refreshing to hear about a bad situation made better through upcycling and restoration—especially if it resurrects a truck that would have normally been resigned to rust into obliteration in the junkyard. This 2012 Chevy Silverado started life as do thousands of hard-working trucks in America until it was involved in a horrific encounter with a concrete wall, completely destroying the truck in the process. However, the truck wasn’t a stranger to the Custom Auto crew, as the owner had been a good customer, which is how it ended up residing there permanently. After the accident, Ryan Hillman, the manager at the shop arranged for its purchase with the idea of building a unique custom ride as a showpiece of the shop’s abilities. Ryan explains: “We love trucks that stand out. Many show trucks these days have factory paint or a vinyl wrap. We wanted something different, something that would really grab attention.”

UNDER THE HOOD

Because the stock Duramax 6.6-liter engine was basically destroyed in the accident, what was left of it was torn apart and rebuilt by Baird Racing in Idaho Falls. While the crankshaft and oil pan remained stock, the eight pistons were replaced with Diamond Racing’s forged versions, and the rods were sourced from Wagler Competition Products. Honed to exacting specifications, the rods feature a tongue-and-groove design to better align the cap locks, which helps maintain a true bore. The pushrods came from Trend Performance, and ARP supplied the head studs to keep the Industrial Injection Competition heads bolted securely to the block.