A Real World Painter’s Truck

ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING ASPECTS OF GOING TO SHOWS IS SEEING TRUCKS THAT REALLY SHOWCASE A BUILDER’S SKILLS. IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE WHO DID WHAT AND HOW IT WAS DONE. Sometimes the most trick modifications aren’t always the best executed, though. At times, things can be overdone and border on overkill, while others are perfect, slick yet subtle. The “less is more” approach often goes a longer way than more, more and  more. Here to drive this logic home is Chad Doss. Chad’s an auto collision painter by trade, and when he was standing in front of his own project truck, he left the crazy color palettes behind and opted for a single-stage paint scheme instead. Modifications were also kept to a minimum to avoid unnecessary distractions. “Kill ’em with cleanliness” is a motto that he holds dear.

[CHAD’S] HAD LONG SLEEPLESS NIGHTS CONTEMPLATING WHAT TO KEEP OFF HIS TRUCK RATHER THAN WHAT HE COULD ADD.”

 

Chad sees cars and trucks of all types roll through the garage doors, and being in the business of collision repair, some might think there’s little room for creativity. Well, he would be the first to argue against that way of thinking. As the old saying goes, there are more ways than one to skin a cat, and there are definitely more ways than one to piece together an impressive truck.

When he purchased the truck, it has already been body-dropped by its previous owner, Kevin Whipps. This gave Chad a little bit of a head start on the other mods he wanted to do, but since he’s a body and paint guy, he jumped right into cleaning up the truck’s exterior. Every handle was shaved right off, and the rear bumper was tossed aside for a Sir Michael’s weld-in roll pan. The main idea was to minimize clutter; so, the stake pockets were also deleted, and its details as small as this that create such a slick look that others might not be able to carry out when building their own trucks, but it’s necessary when trying to break away from the crowd.

When the time came to choose a paint color, Chad stayed away from a multi-colored paint scheme and loud graphics. Not that there’s anything wrong with splashes of color here and there, but it just wasn’t in the stars for this Silverado. The solid Chrysler Silver hue from DuPont worked perfectly to help get the point across. The most striking characteristic Chad’s truck has going for it is its streamlined appearance. Nothing has been overdone anywhere in the interior or the exterior. Go ahead, try your best to pick something out on this truck that isn’t clean and straightforward. Simply put, the Chevy is a neat freak’s dream come true.

Having built his fair share of customized vehicles in the past (including a body- dropped Sonoma, a ’bagged Lincoln LS, a Corvette C5 and numerous sport bikes), Chad understands where to draw the line on what to do and what not to do during a build phase. As he so eloquently puts it, “My main reasons for putting the truck together the way I wanted to see it was due to my passion for trucks and to showcase my abilities. I just have a love for low, well-built vehicles.” In the 13 years he’s been honing his skillset, there is a noticeable maturity to his work. The approach of maintaining a highly sanitized feel, both inside and out, displays an elevated amount of planning and foresight on his part.

Looking for clues as to what exactly makes Chad’s build one of the cleanest out there? Well, the 22-inch Bonspeed wheels that he chose for the build are well proportioned to the stance (bigger isn’t always better), and the Baer rotors that peek out from behind the billet spokes add a subtle, sporty depth that’s just right. Exterior accessories were kept to a bare minimum. The billet grille insert and Street Scene turn signal sport mirrors pretty much round off the list. The headlights aren’t aftermarket, just in case you were wondering. They were simply cleared out and stuffed with 6K HID bulbs. A peek inside the cab gives onlookers a healthy dose of more silvery sweetness. The door panels have been smoothed and painted, as was the entire dash. An Escalade center console has been invited to divide the plush bucket seats, and a gauge cluster from the same model was also transplanted into the confines of the Silverado’s interior. Even the bed scores major style points with a Line-X coating, which always serves a dual purpose of form and function.

Chad has built himself a very slick hauler, indeed. Surely, he’s had long sleepless nights contemplating what to keep off of his truck rather than what he could add to it. It’s a beat built for the everyday real world. There’s an apparent sophistication that commands respect not only from truck fans, but from anyone who can appreciate a well- modified vehicle of any make.

After eight months spent reshaping the truck into what it is today, Chad was eager to get the truck out on the show scene. If you’ve seen it in person, then consider this story a hymn sung to the choir. If you have yet to come across it, you’ll know its pedigree during the moment of introduction.

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Chad Doss
2004 Chevy Silverado
Springfield, MO

ENGINE

• Factory 4.3L V-6
• Flex-a-lite electric fan
• JBA plug wires
• JBA shorty headers
• K&N filter
• Engine driven compressor
• Optima Red Top battery

SUSPENSION

• Air Lift Dominator 2600 ’bags
• Belltech drop spindles
• KP Components step notch
• KP Components 6-link cantilever with Watts link rear setup
• 2004 Chevy 10-bolt rearend
• Baer disc brakes on all four corners
• Custom Heim joint sway bar end links

WHEELS & TIRES

• Bonspeed Laguna II 22×8.5 wheels
• Hankook 265/35R22 tires

BODY & PAINT

• DuPont Cromax Pro Chrysler PS2 paint
• 2 ¾-inch bodydrop
• Sir Michael’s roll pan
• Bed floor raised 5 ¾ inches
• All handles shaved
• Street Scene sport mirrors with turn signals
• Stock headlights cleared out
• Shaved third brake light
• HID lighting
• Welded stake pockets
• Line-X bed liner

INTERIOR

• Upholstery work by Ron’s Custom Interior
• Black carpet
• Reupholstered leather seats
• Dash and door panels smoothed and painted
• Escalade gauge cluster
• Tahoe center console
• Escalade door handles
• Budnik Famosa billet steering wheel
• JVC receiver

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