Square Body Mayhem

Custom trucks are what we live and die by, so what do you do when you want a completely dependable driver to hit shows in? Well, if you’re anything like D-Beaux out of Humble, Texas, you still have to drop it to the ground. He’s had body-dropped trucks before, and this time he wanted something that he could drive more than 1,000 miles straight without worrying about dings and rock chips, and still be able to clean it up for a show.

ONE WEEKEND, D-BEAUX CALLED UP THE BOYS, SUPPLIED THE BEER, AND BEFORE HE KNEW IT, THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE OFF TO THE POWDER COATER THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.”

Enter Donovan “D-Beaux” Melonson’s $1,800 Craigslist beater, Dookie. To start this build off in the right direction, he wanted a good solid rust-free truck. When he found this truck, he gave it a test drive, and when the A/C blew cold, the deal was sealed. He drove it around stock for a few months, before finally getting the build started.

D-Beaux and his friends got down to business, and in a matter of a couple of months, the frame was Z’d 3 inches and stretched 1 inch up front to center the new Intro Rally wheels and make clearance for the firewall. A set of 22- and 24-inch Intros was the end game, so a mock-up of the 2-link suspension and rear notch were made so that the air suspension could lay out. The rearend posed the most challenges. D-Beaux wanted to fit massive 24×12-inch wheels, so the rear was narrowed 14 inches and rebuilt with 3.73 Richmond gears and Moser axles.

With the stance dialed in, it was time for the truck’s first appearance. D-Beaux packed up and headed to Tex Mex for a super fun debut, where he tells us that he finally “got to enjoy a truck instead of worrying about every little bump in the road…” There were still a few more things to complete, so after driving it around and working out the bugs, it was time for the finishing touches.

After about a year or so, D-Beaux and his friends tore the truck down to the frame for full powder coating, a new engine and new interior. One weekend, D-Beaux called up the boys, supplied the beer, and before he knew it, the frame and suspension components were off to the powder coater the following Monday.

Once all of the pieces were back, assembly began. After the frame was back together as a rolling chassis, he got to work on the engine. Since the cab was off, he had Pristine Paint & Autobody shave the firewall and inner fenders and paint them to create a subtle contrast. Meanwhile, the bed was covered in new sheet metal and sprayed with color-matched Line-X, since this truck would get some use.

With all of the pieces of the puzzle coming together, the final reassembly was underway, and as always, it took much longer than the weekend teardown.

Inside, D-Beaux and his buddies at Arjonas Upholstery in Pasadena, Texas knocked out a clean and simple interior and stereo to keep the long road trips ahead as comfortable as possible.

A few final touches, including custom pinstriping and underhood clean up, and D-Beaux was finally happy with a reliable cruiser that he wouldn’t have to worry too much about. It might have taken a bit longer than anticipated, but the end result was truly worth the wait. ST

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Donovan “D-Beaux” Melonson
1986 GMC Sierra Humble, TX

ENGINE

• Russle Fields Chevy 383
• SBC
• 700R4 transmission with TCI converter
• B&M shift kit
• Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
• Holley 650 carb
• Hooker shorty headers
• K&N air intake
• Flowmaster Turbo 40 mufflers
• Billet Specialties valve covers powder-coated black
• Flex-a-lite electric fans
• Afco four-core aluminum radiator
• 15-gallon aluminum fuel cell
• Narrowed Chevy 10-bolt rearend with 3.73 Richmond gears and Moser axles

SUSPENSION

• 3-inch Z in the frame with a 1-inch stretch to center the tires and clearance the firewall
• Disc brake conversion
• DJM drop spindles
• Slam Specialties ’bags
• QA-1 Shocks
• Rear 2-link with wishbone setup

WHEELS & TIRES

• 22×9 and 24×12 Intro Rally billet wheels
• Pirelli 265/35/22 and 405/25/24

BODY AND PAINT

• Factory smoothie front bumper
• Raised and smoothed bed
• Flush mount gas cap in bed floor
• Shaved and painted firewall
• Painted inner fenders and underside of hood
• PPG Russett Metallic paint
• Paint by Dave Flint at Pristine Paint & Autobody
• Pinstriping by Big Johnson

INTERIOR

• Leather-wrapped dash
• Suede headliner
• Leather seats and door panels
• Loop carpet
• Custom slim line box and subwoofers behind seat
• Built by Alfredo at Arjona’s Upholstery

Special Thanks From Owner: I want to thank Dave Flint over at Pristine Custom Paint, Darren Davenport at Accu-Coat, Alfredo at Arjonas Interior, all my friends who helped along the way, and of course, my wife Sue for putting up with my hobby and parking her $50,000 car outside.

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