A Build That Was Too Good to Not Finish

It’s a fact that completing an entire truck build is no easy task. Full-blown custom trucks not only require a load of cash, but a lot of time, as well. We often underestimate how much it will take to make it all happen. It’s easy to come up with ideas, but the ability to apply them and create a stunning product can take a toll. Certain things out of your control can prevent you from being able to own the baddest truck on the planet.

THIS’04 GMC SIERRA HAS MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE SO DRASTIC IT TOOK VISION AND DETERMINATION TO SEE THEM THROUGH.”

This’04 GMC Sierra has modifications that are so drastic it took vision and determination to see them through. The truck, better known as Penelope, belongs to Marine Sergeant Alex Salas, who brought it to Next Level Customs (NLC) in Fresno, CA. Shop owner Eric “El Maestro” Castillo devised a plan for the blank canvas. The Sierra had suicide doors and a 3/5-drop over 22s.

Alex was a resident of Fresno, but he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, which is nearly 300 miles south. He came to NLC in 2008 after his second deployment ended, a Marine expeditionary unit (his first was to Iraq in 2007). Alex wanted a ’bag job that was simple and reliable since he drove back and forth between the camp and Fresno frequently.

Eric started out by visiting Jeff Jacoby of AVS because he knew it was the one place he could go to get all of the parts needed. A complete air ride kit was put together, including AVS air tanks, gauges, switchbox and parallel 4-link; compressors, valves, wiring and brackets. While he was there, Eric also picked up a kit from AVS to fix the suicide doors, which included hinges, latches, dual-geared actuators with wiring harness and a four-channel remote system. Back at the shop, Eric and Gus “Dirty” Ramirez ’bagged the truck to Alex’s request.

Afterwards, Alex began to show the truck with the crew and that’s when the custom bug bit him. Once the show season was over, Alex decided he needed to step up his game and complete the truck. His plan was simple and included an upgrade to a 2010 GMC Yukon Denali front clip. During this transformation, a snowball effect occurred. Eric suggested that the bedsides needed to be modified to match the front fenders, and then one of the crew members threw out the idea of swapping in a set of Denali taillights, which lead to completely reshaping the rear. Lastly, they added Denali side mirrors and shaved the bodylines. With these mods complete, the truck got major attention at shows.

Though the truck already laid frame on the pavement, Eric convinced Alex to let him perform a body drop over 24s to make it look even better. With approval, Eric, Dirty and Audel “El Bebe” Herdandez got started by channeling the cab and tubing the firewall for the large wheels. On the rear of the frame, the part in front of the notch was sectioned to get the mounts lower because the rear was custom made to maintain the stock bed floor depth. The rearend was then sent out to Fearless Gear to have it narrowed a total of 4 inches. There was one problem, though; the Denali bumper hung lower than the body, so it was sectioned to make it level with the rocker panels.

When Penelope debuted with the new mods, it gained a great deal of attention and Alex figured it was time for paint. The truck was sent to a paint shop where it sat for months; the painter continually making empty promises to finish it. Alex decided to pull the truck out of the shop, and calls were made to rally friends to whip it back into shape. Then, a bead-rolled sheet metal bed was created that even has a blow-through subwoofer enclosure up front that holds two 15-inch Kicker L7 subs. To complete the sound system, custom fiberglass door panels and a pod on the headliner was made to host the Kicker speakers.

By this time, all that was left was paint and upholstery to finish the truck. Alex also became a father to his first-born baby girl and was taking steps towards purchasing a house for his family. Alex and Eric became close friends. Eric noticed that Alex was focusing on his family and knew the truck would likely be stored away for a while. Since Eric had put four years worth of blood, sweat and tears into it, he didn’t want to see Penelope forgotten, so Eric made Alex an offer for truck so he could finish it.

The game had changed, and Eric was ready to go balls to the wall with the project. The first thing he did was to make a call to Rio Sound and Custom Wheels in Rio Grande City, TX to order up a set of 24×9 and 24×10 Intro Twisted Flow billet wheels. The rearend was sent out once again to Fearless Gear to be narrowed another 8 inches to accommodate the large lip of the new wheels. The AVS rear 4-link also had to be modified for this as well. Up front, the wheels had a substantially larger lip than before. To help suck them between the fenders, Eric had Vince and “Old Man Joe” Lombardi of the Choppin’ Block build a custom set of control arms.

With the suspension wrapped up, the drivetrain was removed to access the firewall for paint. All of the unnecessary holes were filled and ground smooth. In the rear, the roll pan was swapped for the stock bumper, which was sectioned, sucked in and shaved. Eric also bead rolled some sheet metal to smooth out the underside of the hood. Then, the truck was entrusted to Rafael Felix in Traver, CA for paint and interior work. Together, with his team Lupe and James, Rafael went to work on Penelope to get her ready for SEMA 2013. Just six days before the show, the truck was ready for reassembly. Eric called his Sickness club buddies, Dirty, Sal, Beimar, Too Sic, Armando, Jose, Pepe and even Alex to stay up late to help get it back together. They did the work all while being careful not to scratch any of the freshly painted pieces. Luckily, the truck came together and impressed everyone. We’re just glad that he was able to stay focused and see this truck through to completion. ST

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNERS

Eric Castillo
2004 GMC Sierra
Fresno, CA Sickness

ENGINE

• Shop: Next level Customs
• 5.3L V-8 painted red
• 4L60E transmission
• Custom intake tube with K&N filter
• Camaro water pump
• SPAL electric fans
• JBA headers
• Custom dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers
• Choppin’ Block aluminum fuel cell

SUSPENSION

• Shop: Next Level Customs
• Choppin’ Block spindles and custom tubular control arms with raised upper mounts
• Custom hood ’bag plates, cups and bridge mount
• Conti Tech 2,500-pound airbags in front
• Slam Specialties RE-7 airbags in rear
• Fox 2.0 reservoir shocks
• AVS notch, air tanks and parallel 4-link with pan hard bar
• Rearend narrowed 12 inches
• Moser axles
• ABS brake systems with electric booster and billet remote reservoir

WHEELS & TIRES

• 24×9 and 24×10 Intro Twisted Flow billet
• 265/30R24 Nexxen

BODY & PAINT

• Shop: Next Level Customs and Kustom Interiors and Paint by Rafael Felix
• 3-inch body drop
• 2010 GMC Yukon Denali front clip with sectioned bumper
• 2010 GMC Yukon Denali taillights and side mirrors
• Bedsides modified to match front fenders
• Factory bumper sucked in, sectioned and shaved
• Shaved body line, wiper cowl, fuel door, door handles, third brake light, cab seems, antenna and tailgate
• AVS suicide door kit
• Bead rolled sheet metal bed floor
• Tubed and smoothed firewall
• Custom wheel tubs
• Flush mount pop-up fuel cap
• House of Kolor Candy Apple Red with custom mix of mini flakes and pearls over silver base
• Custom graphics that include chrome effects, water drops and realistic flames

INTERIOR

• Shop: Next Level Customs and Kustom Interiors and Paint by Rafael Felix
• Spice leather upholstery with engine turned accents
• Chrysler 300 seats cut down
• Custom headliner wrapped in suede
• AVS billet switch box and gauges
• Nu Image Denali platinum gauges
• Steering wheel wrapped in matching leather
• Custom made wraparound interior made for one-off look and to keep audio system hidden
• Custom center console
• Pioneer head unit
• Kicker DS65 speakers
• Kicker 15-inch L7 subwoofers in enclosure
• Kicker 2500.1 and 450.1 amps
• Custom blow-through speaker box
• Dynomat

Special Thanks from owner: Gus “Dirty” Ramirez, Audel “El Bebe” Hernandez, Alex Salas, Armando Soto, Sal Ramirez, “Too Sic”, Beimer Hernandez, Tavito, Jeff Jacoby, Vince and “Old Man Joe” Lombardi and especially my wife Aurora for pushing me to finish this project

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