Twin Turbo’d and Sittin’ Low

MAYOLO “CHAPS” DIAZ HAS LOVED CUSTOMIZING THINGS SINCE HE WAS A YOUNG KID. In fact, he recalls cutting up a John Deere tractor that he got for Christmas when he was just 10 years old. He said he cut it up because it had a cab, and he didn’t want a cab on his tractor, so he whipped out the tools and started cutting. Well, as we all know, this only sparks the addiction and adds fuel to the fire, and before he knew it, Chaps was permanently hooked on the low life.

Chaps had recently sold a truck that he’d been building for a few years, but he got an offer he couldn’t refuse, which happened to be right around the time that GM was coming out with the new ’14 body-style truck and EcoTec3 motor. Even before it was released, Chaps was already researching options with the direct-port injection, and he knew this would be his next build. So with the proceeds from his previous build in hand, he started the hunt for a standard cab GMC Sierra with the options and setup he was looking for. After a few quick trips to all of the local dealerships, Chaps came up empty. He didn’t want to settle, so he decided to order it factory direct optioned exactly how he wanted it right from GM.

Since he was ordering a “custom” truck right from the factory with the exact options and colors he wanted, the “build” would take about eight weeks; so, Chaps decided to kill two birds with one stone and ordered a custom set of Intro Billets so that they would both be ready right around the same time. His buddy over at Rio Sound & Security ordered a custom set of 26- and 28-inch Intros with a reverse hoop to get as much lip as possible– after all, Chaps does have to represent Texas here. The truck and rims did end up both being completed right around the same time. It’s not everyday that a plan works out just so when building custom trucks, but so far so good for Chaps.

CHAPS MADE SURE THAT THE TRUCK WOULD SIT LOW, CONSIDERING HIS CLUB, GROUND ZERO, WOULD NEVER LET HIM HEAR THE END OF IT IF THE TRUCK WASN’T LOW ENOUGH.”

With the wheels and truck in hand, it was time to start cutting. Chaps knew that with this build he wanted a daily- driven street machine, so he opted to go with a full performance sport truck-style build with a modern twist. He still wanted to slam it as low as possible, so the crew at The Drop Shop and Chassis Fab collaborated to drop the GM down on a hybrid-style setup with ’bags in the front and coils in the rear. A custom 2-link with QA1 coil- overs was built in the rear and a set of custom arms, McGaughy’s drop spindles and Firestone ’bags took care of the front. This set the stance and allows the ginormous 26- and 28-inch billets to tuck deep into the fender wells.

Although the rear is “static” that doesn’t mean that it’s not low. Chaps made sure that the truck would sit low, considering his club, Ground Zero, would never let him hear the end of it if the truck wasn’t low enough. Chaps went ahead and had Jon at Chassis Fab raise the bed floor and build a pair of custom tubs; this definitely helped level everything out, and then it was time for the final piece of the puzzle, the power.

Chaps enlisted Tellez Motorsports to help unleash the beast in the gen five 5.3. They built a twin-turbo setup running 10 psi to take advantage of the direct-port injection. To strengthen the internals and tune for 800- plus hp, the crew also installed Comp Cams lifters and springs, and after about two weeks, the truck was dialed in and ready to see the dyno for final tuning.

Dialing it all in, Chaps is super happy with the end result. A slammed truck that can whoop on any sports car but is still reliable enough to drive as a daily cruiser–mission accomplished!

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TECH SPECS

OWNER

Mayolo “Chaps” Diaz
2014 GMC Sierra
Misson, TX Ground Zero

ENGINE:

• Shop: Tellez Motorsports
• Factory 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8
• 800 hp/750 tq
• Twin turbo charged with Precision 62/66 billet turbos
• 10 pounds of boost
• Comp Cams lifters and springs
• Custom boost grind cam
• MagnaFlow exhaust
• Steel braided oil hoses

SUSPENSION/CHASSIS:

• Shops: Chassis Fab, the Drop Shop and Tellez Motorsports McGaughy’s drop spindles
• Custom Chassis Fab control arms
• Firestone airbags up front
• Custom 2-link rear suspension setup with QA1 coil-overs
• Shortened rearend with Motive Gears Yukon Posi and Moser axles

WHEELS & TIRES:

• 26- and 28-inch Intro Dangerous wheels
• 255/25/26 and 295/25/28 Delante tires

BODY & PAINT:

• Updated with all-terrain grille
• Custom headlights, torn apart and rebuilt
• Custom raised bed floor
• Color-matched bumpers
• PPG Luxo Blue Metallic “

INTERIOR/STEREO:

• Reshaped seats, removed headrests, all covered with Katzkin leather
• Performed by: Classic Trim
• Full custom audio setup
• Two sets of DB Drive P7 6.5- inch pro components
• Two 8-inch DB Drive WDX drivers
• DB Drive A7 125.4 amp for mids and A7 2000-watt amp for subs
• DB Link wiring and fuses
• Performed by: Simple Designs

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: A huge thanks to my wife who was always there to support me with the truck. Also a very special thanks to everyone who helped on this build including Juan and Adrian at Tellez Motorsports, Joker, Piri from the Drop Shop and John at Chassis Fab, David at Classic Trim, Edgar Paz, Baldo and of course all my family in Ground Zero!

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