Feature > Featured Vehicle
Rod Elliot's Chevy 2500 HD
Heavy Duty Attitude
story & photos by Chris Pearson
Rod Elliot’s Chevy 2500 HD has an attitude all its own. The truck has gone through serious modification without him going overboard with the show truck profile most people think of. Rod is also the owner of Sport Truck USA in Newport, Michigan. That might lead someone to believe he had a lot of help building this truck. He did, but not the freebie kind. Based on the stories about what this truck has been through, it definitely gets used for what it was built for and still manages to get around to various local states car/truck show circuits.
A conservatively modified 6.1L Vortec V8 sits under the hood. The motor breathes through a K&N cold air intake and the exhaust is handled by a dual three inch system with Dynomax mufflers. A Granatelli mass airflow sensor was installed along with a computer chip from Superchips for added horsepower and torque. The power goes through a stock 4 speed automatic and transfer case.
The Sterling rear end is locked up with a Lock Right and driven by 4:56 gears.
Rod put a few lifts on this Chevy before he was satisfied with its height, but decided on 16 inches of lift to complete the project. The rear has 12 inch springs with a four inch block while the front has four inch springs over the axle that have been modified for a smoother ride. Up front the original suspension was removed and a solid axle kit was used to swap in a Super Duty Dana 60 that runs a Trachtech limited slip and 4:56 gears. The rear end is a Ford Sterling, and is loaded with a Powertrax Lock Right. Both axles retain the original Super Duty brakes for some serious stopping power for those 42x14 Interco IROK’s on 17 inch Weld Cheyenne wheels. To turn those monster tires with ease, an AGR hydraulic ram was installed on the custom steering linkage fabricated at Rod’s shop. Four reservoir shocks on dual shock hoops are up front and the gas variety, attached to a dual shock conversion, does the job in the rear. Both drive shafts were custom built by Advantage Driveline in Jackson, Michigan.
The interior has stayed mostly OEM except for white out gauges and the cool filter key chain Rod got from a K&N rep. Future plans for the interior include an extensive entertainment system.
12 inch lift springs, four Fox shocks, and Pro Comp ladder bars keep everything located.
Fabtech’s Desert Guard bumper protects the front end and holds two daylighters.
 |
Interco 42 inch IROK’s are mounted on 17 inch Weld wheels and Four Fox remote reservoir shocks on BDS hoops damp the front end. |
The stock front suspension was removed to make room for a Dana 60 solid axle. The assembly is steered by custom built links and an AGR hydraulic ram.
As with any modified 4x4, the ideas never stop flowing and the work always continues. However, whatever is next for the truck, I’m sure Rod will keep it as tasteful as the semi-end result displayed here.