Chevrolet Trucks Blog

The story of the transformation of Forrest Heintz’ Silverado has appeared in numerous truck magazines. After the massive transformation, his truck is now one of the biggest sport trucks to ever roam the streets of Texas.

As a kid, Forrest was captivated by the monster trucks he saw in stadiums, fairgrounds, and on television. The now infamous Silverado used to be his daily driver and mud-bogger during his high school years. According to him, it spent more time being dirty than it did clean. All this is in the verge of changing, when Forrest and his friend James had a quick trip to a local truck show. In the said event, James brought his Chevy Tahoe that is somewhat incomparable with Forrest’s untidy Silverado. This made Forrest decide on having his Silverado altered.

With the help of B&C to help out on the budget, his Silverado has undergone major changes. The front end of the truck received a four-link suspension that would locate a Dana 60 axle, taken from an ‘02 Ford Super Duty pickup. The B&C built its own crossover system. The rear of the truck had a three-link and a 1-ton rear axle, which were taken from an older Chevy truck. All the link bars were built from Schedule 80, 0.250 wall, 2-1/2-inch-diameter tubing, and pivot on urethane bushing ends. To provide the lift for the chassis, a quartet of King 14-inch stroke, 2-1/2-inch-diameter coilover shocks were custom-valved in-house and installed. Hotchkis 23mm sway bars were also employed to keep the Chevy from tipping over while running on the highways and side streets of The Lone Star State.

The Avalanche is available in two engine choices: a 6.0 liter V8 that produces 366 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, or a 5.3 liter V8 that cranks out 310 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque (4WD) or 320 hp/340 lb-ft of torque (2WD).

It noticeably rides very well on the GMT900 platform. The steering is particularly sharp and brisk due to the new rack-and-pinion system that comes with the Avalanche. According to Jason Fogelson’s review of the Avalanche, “the braking is good, which is especially important for a 5863 lb vehicle and the anti-lock disc brakes on all four wheels haul the Avalanche down from speed.”

As for the Avalanche’s safety features, it comes as a standard on all models. We have the required front-seat airbags and LATCH for the rear-seat child safety seat anchors. The OnStar crash-notification system is also present as a standard. Also comes as a standard are the antilock brakes, electronic stability control, all-speed traction control and tire-pressure monitors. Optional safety features include side-curtain airbags that protect against head injuries in side impacts and rollovers ($350).

The Avalanche is a four-speed automatic with a .70 overdrive in fourth that can jolt down to third gear when passing maneuvers on the highway. When there is high fuel demand, the Active Fuel Management shuts down cylinders. It does this so efficiently that one will only notice the gas when one takes a look at the gas pump.

The Chevy Avalanche is truly a one of a kind. It successfully combines the carrying capacity of a long-bed pickup with the comfort of a five-passenger sport utility vehicle.

So much has been said about the Avalanche in last month’s entries. Now let us take a peak on the inside of the Avalanche itself. The cabin of the Chevrolet Avalanche 2007 is more SUV than truck. It can be geared with the “LTZ” equipment package if the Avalanche-buyer wants to. One only needs to put down an additional $6,735.

The said package includes power adjustable heated front bucket seats, leather front and rear seats, power adjustable pedals, head-curtain side airbags for the front and rear, dual-zone air conditioning, a premium stereo system as well as other chic extras.

For big bulked drivers, the driving position is noticeable comfortable. It can adjust to your body built to make you feel comfortable even in long travels. All the adjustability makes it conducive for the one driving to have a relaxed ride. It can lessen the chance for back pains and strained muscles due to extended time of uncomfortable driving. The seat is placed in an angle that would give the driver a good view of the road.

As another option, the Avalanche-buyer can have a rear view camera for $195 and a rear parking assist (this is part of the LTZ package) to help out when backing. This can aid in providing the driver with a better view of what’s behind his Avalanche just to make sure nothing or no one gets driven over.

As for the space in the back seat, it has a comfortable bench seat and considerable space for the passenger’s legs and head.

The 60/40 split rear seat folds to give access to the “Midgate,” which also opens into the Avalanche’s 5.3′ enclosed cargo bed. In a few moments, one can enjoy an open bed that extends until the back of the car.

Rumor has it that Chevrolet would incorporate a V8 engine in 2008. Asked to confirm the new engine option, GM spokespersons told us only to, “stay tuned.” No other information, denial, or verification was provided. Well for now, all we can do is wait. But here are some considerations.

Sources tell PickupTruck.com that the Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup is going to receive a V8 next year - the same small block 5.3-liter 295-horsepower / 317 lb-ft motor that will power it’s Shreveport stable mate, the 2008 Hummer H3 Aplha. Both trucks are assembled in the same Louisiana factory, along with the Colorado’s mid size corporate twin, the GMC Canyon.
The current 2007 Colorado offers buyers a choice of two engines: the Vortec 2900 2.9-liter inline-four cylinder rated at 185-hp / 190 lb-ft or the Vortec 3700 3.7-liter 242-hp / 242 lb-ft inline-five cylinder.

In 1999 Chevrolet brought its S-10 V8 Extreme Concept to the SEMA show in Las Vegas as a promo for the S-10 Xtreme factory body and suspension kit. GM legendary performance guru Jon Moss and his team of powertrain wizards gave the V8 Xtreme Concept a 350 cubic inch (5.7-liter) LT1 Corvette powerplant. It was rated at 340-hp and 370 lb-ft and was mated to a four-speed auto gearbox.

In 2004, when Colorado replaced the S-10, the 420-hp Curz Concept showed up out of the blue sporting a 6.2-liter eight cylinder engine and six speed manual transmission. It was built by GM’s Performance Division to showcase design talents and engineering expertise. But it also showed that the Colorado platform could hold a V8, even if the truck looked like it had been spray painted around the engine.

And just last year another Colorado V8 went to SEMA. The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab Z71 Plus Concept was a heavily disguised look at the powertrain we’re expecting production Colorados to receive next year, though the Plus Concept had a more powerfully tuned version of the 5.3-liter V8 capable of 320-hp and paired with a heavy duty 4L65 four-speed automatic.

High-performance vehicles such as the Chevrolet Corvette are revered for their awesome power and precision handling. Pickup trucks such as Silverado, on the other hand, are admired for their ability to carry both passengers and cargo efficiently and dependably on any road surface or off-road. Combining the best aspects of both vehicles, Chevrolet introduces the Silverado SS – The Corvette of Trucks – at this year’s SEMA show, the latest iteration of the original SS show truck.

“The first SS Silverado created an awareness and understanding of the performance limits of a pickup—this SS takes it to the next level,” said John C. Farris Jr., Chevy Silverado assistant brand manager-marketing.

This four-passenger, four-door pickup is powered by a 6.6-liter, overhead valve (OHV) aluminum LS1 V8 engine that produces 480 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 475 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a short-throw, six-speed, rear-mounted manual transmission – the same transmission found in Corvette models. Helping to hit that unique Corvette exhaust note are ceramic-coated, stainless steel, tubular, four-into-one headers with 1 ¾-inch primaries and 3-inch collectors. Dual 3-inch exhaust system, dual 3-inch inlet and dual 3-inch outlet muffler and aluminum exhaust tips complete the exhaust system.

Any performance vehicle must also reward the driver with precise “ride on rails” handling, and Silverado SS is no exception. It features four-wheel independent short- and long-arm (SLA) suspension and adjustable front and rear air ride suspension that allows the driver to vary the ride height to best suit the situation – lower for highway cruising or higher for greater clearance. Power rack-and-pinion steering ensures precise steering and four-wheel disc brakes featuring 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear provide sure, safe stops. Antilock brakes are also standard on this vehicle.

Inside, Silverado SS rewards driver and passengers with a number of features that even make Corvette owners envious, beginning with the ability to share SS performance and handling attributes with more passengers. Four bucket seats with carbon fiber inserts create a comfortable and luxurious environment. A blue electroluminescent instrument cluster lends a “floating” appearance to the speedometer, tachometer, engine temperature and oil pressure gauges. A new in-dash information screen, meanwhile, provides suspension and performance information. Four-point, cam-lock safety harnesses enhance passenger safety and a Corvette steering wheel with a custom logo reinforces the SS’s connection to the American icon.

Seen from the exterior, it’s clearly evident that the redder-than-red SS is no ordinary Silverado; its performance cues are evident from any angle. Up front, SS features a molded front fascia with integrated brake-cooling ducts, a new front grille with integrated Chevy Bow Tie and projector beam headlamp assemblies. The domed hood is made of a carbon fiber material and the cowl has been raised 2.5 inches, creating a flowing appearance. The composite front fenders with integrated wheel flares accentuate the performance element of this vehicle and house the nickel-plated wheels (20″ front, 22″ rear) and custom Goodyear tires. Integrated rocker panels on the lower bodyside further accent the Silverado SS’s “ready to pounce” appearance.

Also unique to the Silverado SS is the integration of the cab and pickup box. Gone is the normal space between those two body parts. The smooth molded one-piece appearance is refined, dramatic, and an instant classic.