WHITEOUT | A Simple, Smooth and Sinister Square

Kyle Martin’s Simple, Smooth and Sinister Square

alance. It’s one of the most difficult things to achieve when building a custom truck. Blending together all of the right parts and finishes to achieve a symphony of cool is an art form in and of itself. It’s been proven time and time again that erring on the side of simplicity usually produces the cleanest and most well-balanced custom results.

Ever since he was a kid, Kyle Martin of Coral Springs, Florida, had always wanted a classic Chevy truck, and it was the ’67-72 body style bowtie haulers that originally stole his heart. As time went on though, Kyle took a shine to the chiseled square lines of the ’73-87 GM trucks and switched his focus.

Let’s back Kyle’s story up a bit into the burnout box where it all began.

Growing up in Florida, the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona was always a regular event for the Martin family, where they cruised in Kyle’s father Steve Martin’s LS6 Chevelle. Like most young gearheads, Kyle got his camshaft-thumping, gear-banging, tire-smoking passion from his hot rodding father, and at the shows, the burnout contest was his favorite place to hang out. That’s where Kyle began to notice trucks and how, with no weight in the bed, they would produce an endless show of white puffy billowing goodness as the rear rubber feverishly searched for traction.

With the goal of one day owning the custom truck of his dreams, Kyle went to work at his father’s electrical contracting business and diligently squirrelled away the nest egg for his future bowtie pickup.

“With the goal of one day owning the custom truck of his dreams,  Kyle went to work at his father’s electrical contracting business  and diligently squirrelled away the nest egg  for his future bowtie pickup. ”

The day finally came in December of 2014 when father and son were walking the aisles of the swap meet at the Daytona Turkey Rod Run. An all-original laser-straight and rust-free ’84 Silverado pulled Kyle’s focus. The truck was a stone stock Summit white survivor with a Goodwrench 350 engine in it that had replaced the failing original. A deal was struck and the truck was driven back to the family shop to be dis-assembled and prepped for Kyle’s custom vision.

A BLUEPRINT ENGINES 383 STROKER BACKED BY A B&M 700R4 TRANSMISSION PRODUCES THE MECHANICAL MUSIC.

Upon further inspection, the Goodwrench 350 engine ran like a clock but also leaked like a sieve. Save for the driveway mess, the slippery stuff actually kept the frame in rust-free condition, perfect for adding just the right custom suspension trickery. To remedy the oil leak and put more punch at the pedal, a Blue Print Engines 383 stroker was dropped in and hooked to a B&M 700R4 transmission.

To plant this power to the ground and get the truck in the weeds and stuffed with style, Kyle turned to the suspension pros at Ridetech for a full Stage 3 air suspension. Ridetech CoolRide airbags combined with CPP drop spindles and HQ series front shocks handle stance and style under the leading edge of this classic square body. Out back, HQ series shockwave air springs team with a bolt-in 4-link to slam the hauling platform. A RideProX air management system lifts the truck slightly for cruising while hammering it down for show duty. A Classic Performance quick ratio steering box enhances handling while a Baer Brake System with Pro+ 14-inch front rotors and 13-inch SS4+ rear rotors slows the bowties roll. To set off the slam and create the perfect billet aluminum window for viewing the Baer big grippers, Kyle ordered up a set of Budnik 20×8-inch front and 20×12-inch rear G10 billet wheels with bronze centers for the ultimate pro touring look. Nitto 555 G2 rubber does battle under the bowtie at all four corners.

BUDNIK G10 BILLET WHEELS MOUNTED ON NITTO 555 G2 RUBBER FILL THE WHEEL WELLS UNDER THE CUSTOM RIDETECH SUSPENSION.

Kyle built this truck with his father in his electrical shop. The build was an effort to join Steve’s restored original style with Kyle’s custom style. During the build, Kyle’s grandpa James Basanye had fallen ill, and Kyle and Steve actually used a lot of his tools while wrenching on the truck.

“It was like he was there right alongside us as we worked on the truck,” Kyle recalls.

Driving the truck is Kyle’s favorite part about owning it and biggest reward from building it. In fact, seat time in the truck provided a great deal of therapy for Kyle when his grandpa was sick. Unfortunately, Grandpa James passed on, but his memory lives in Martin/Basanye family hot rodding and in this stunning classic pickup.

THE BUDNIK STEERING WHEEL IS THE ONLY NON-FACTORY ITEM IN THIS SANITARY ORIGINAL INTERIOR.

After the truck was completed Kyle and Steve drove it to the Daytona Turkey Rod Run and Kyle couldn’t resist entering the burnout contest. After the smoke cleared from blistering the hides, Kyle looked over to see a young kid and his dad giving him the thumb’s-up in the very same spot where Kyle and his dad use to stand. The cycle continues.

OWNER

Kyle Martin
1984 Chevy Silverado
Coral Springs, FL

ENGINE

• Blue Print 383 stroker
• Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold
• AED HO 750 CFM carburetor
• Hooker 2-1/4-inch headers
• Flowmaster Super 44 mufflers, 3-1/2-inch custom exhaust
• MSD Ignition
• .528/.536 Lift, 221/226 duration camshaft
• B&M 700R4 transmission, Turbo Action Cheetah Shift Kit, Vega TQ Converter
• Transmission work by Owner

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

• CPP Dropped Spindles
• Classic Performance Quick Ratio steering box
• Ridetech Stage 3 air suspension system
• CoolRide Airbags
• HQ Series shocks
• HQ Series Shockwaves/Bolt-In 4-link
• Eaton Posi
• Baer Brake Systems 14-inch Front Pro+ Rotors
• Baer Brake Systems 13-inch Rear SS4+ Rotors
• Baer Re-Master Cylinder

WHEELS & TIRES

• 20×8-inch Budnik G10
• 20×12-inch Budnik G10
• Nitto 555 G2 rubber

BODY & PAINT

• Stock Sheet Metal & Trim
• Original Summit White Paint –Polished Out with Products from Kyle’s work-Adam’s Polishes

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Stock Interior with Budnik Steering wheel
• Kicker Audio System

Special Thanks From the Owner:

“I’d like to thank my dad Steve Martin for all of his help and support throughout the build. I’d also like to thank the Team at Ridetech for all of their advice and guidance on setting up and dialing in the suspension. I’d like to Thank my Grandpa James Basanye (RIP) for the tools to wrench with and for always riding along with me in spirit when I cruise.”