Shawn Koerkenmeir’s 2002 Silverado

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE THAT MANY TRUCK BUILDERS LACK IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF “BUILD IT FAST AND SHOW IT ASAP.” But for Shawn Koerkenmeir, building his truck was a gradual process. After purchasing the blue ’02 Chevrolet Silverado in October 2005, Shawn felt the itch for air ride when he saw a classmate’s ’bagged S-10. He started saving in earnest, and slowly but surely he was on his way to setting his truck on the ground.

The magical day arrived when he finally had enough money to get started. Shawn brought his Silverado to Nfamus Air Suspension and the crew installed air ride. Having done his research, Shawn purchased drop spindles for the front and a KP Components 6-link kit for the rear. Once the work was finished, Shawn began to see the bigger picture, and a little progress made him yearn for more changes. Next on the list: make the truck more aesthetically pleasing.

Shawn’s motto of less is more informed his plan for the Silverado. He started by shaving the taillights, adding a roll pan and installing a new cowl hood up front. Along the way, he made the extra effort to fix any dents and scratches the body had suffered. When the dust settled, he started on a more drastic modification, a full color change. After deliberating his options, Shawn decided on GM Black paint. As soon as the truck was painted, he felt compelled to push the envelope with more changes.

Herman’s Upholstery in Arlington, Texas, was Shawn’s next destination. Black leather and suede, and a smoothed and painted dash gave the interior the exact feel he’d dreamed of, dark and elegant. Once the interior was complete, Shawn was content, for a while at least.

In 2011, he had custom airbrushed skulls and grim reaper graphics added to the tailgate, hood and the center console in the cab.

Shawn’s personal tastes changed as trends in the truck scene developed. He made up his mind that he wanted a body-drop and billet wheels. He originally put his faith in a shop he thought would do a good job, but they let him down; so, he retrieved his truck and brought it to his old friends at Nfamus Air Suspension. The Nfamus crew went above and beyond, narrowing the rearend, adding a fuel cell and building a sheet metal bed, all of which rests on staggered Raceline Speedster 6 wheels.

SHAWN IS FINALLY SATISFIED WITH HIS TRUCK. NOW HE’S HAPPY TO DRIVE IT TO SHOWS AND RELAX WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE TO MAKE CHANGES.”

The changes didn’t stop there. The motor was built, the body lines and fuel door were shaved, a top-of-the-line stereo setup was installed, and the truck was repainted House of Kolor Jet Black.

Shawn is finally satisfied with his truck. Now he’s happy to drive it to shows and relax with friends and family, without any pressure to make changes.

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Shawn Koerkenmeier
2002 Chevrolet Silverado
Grand Prairie, TX
Relaxed Atmosphere

ENGINE

• 2002 Chevrolet 4.8L V-8
• COMP 220R crankshaft
• Texas Speed and Performance pushrods
• Dual spring kit
• Cadillac Escalade 6.2L water pump
• Rebuilt high-output alternator
• Summit Racing E-fan kit cooling fans
• Corvette LS6 intake manifold
• Spectre intake
• Dirty Dingo billet power steering bracket
• Professional Products fuel rails
• Doug Thorley shorty headers with ceramic finish
• True Duals full exhaust front to back
• Kooks mufflers
• Metal Worx fuel cell
• GM rearend narrowed by 7 inches
• Re-splined factory axles

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

• Performed by Keith Sawyer at Nfamus Air Suspension
• Air Lift Dominator control arms
• Custom raised and shortened front control arms
• Stock spindles
• Air Lift Dominator front shocks
• Slotted and drilled front rotors with powder-coated calipers
• AccuAir air management
• Nfamus 3-link rear suspension setup
• Air Lift Dominators rear shocks
• Two VIAIR 380 air compressors

WHEELS & TIRES

• 22×8.5-inch front, 24×10-inch rear Raceline Speedster 6 polished finish
• 265-35-22 front, 295-35-24 rear Nitto NT420s

BODY & PAINT

• Shop: Chris McLendon at Lone Star Elite Restorations, Keller, TX
• 5-inch stock-floor body-drop
• Chevrolet Silverado HD hood
• Chevrolet Tahoe grille painted to match
• Billet grille inserts with billet Bow Tie
• Street Scene SS bumper cover sectioned 2 inches
• Custom gas filler in truck bed floor with motorcycle gas cap
• Molded steel roll pan
• Shaved inner fenders and body lines
• Sheet-metal bed floor
• Paint-matched door handles
• AVS LED light strips in roll pan
• Aftermarket cleared headlight housings
• Street Scene mirrors
• Shaved gas door, third brake light, stake pockets, taillights and tailgate handle
• Shop: Nfamus Air Suspension
• House of Kolor Jet Black paint
• PPG Vivid Blue Pearl paint
• Custom airbrushed skulls and grim reaper with Vivid Blue Pearl graphics
• Control arms, link bars and bridge painted Vivid Blue Pearl

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Shop: Herman’s Upholstery, Arlington, TX
• Black leather seats with black suede inserts
• Black carpet
• Black suede headliner
• Smoothed and painted gloss black dashboard
• Aftermarket white face gauges
• Billet Specialties Chicayne steering wheel
• Painted handle bezels
• Custom fiberglass console with enclosed subwoofer
• Door panels dyed black with suede inserts
• Air system gauges mounted in upper headliner console
• Custom-painted door panel speaker pods
• Audio by owner
• Kenwood DDX 318 head unit
• JL Audio wiring
• Infinity Kappa IN 62.9i 6.5-inch two-way speakers
• Infinity Kappa 50.9cs components
• Kicker CVX 10-inch subwoofer
• JL Audio JX360/4 amplifier
• Kicker ZX750.1 amplifier
• Optima Yellow Top battery
• Fat Mat sound deadner

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “Thanks to Keith and the guys over at Nfamus Air Suspension who put out an amazing final product; my friend and painter, Chris McLendon, for all the late nights; Relaxed Atmosphere and to all of my friends and family who stood behind me from day one pushing me to finish my truck.”

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