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1989 Chevy K3500 Pickup - 2007 Top Truck Challenge Competitor
Like A (Granite) Rock
February, 2009
By Ken Brubaker
Photography by Sean P. Holman, Ken Brubaker
Rick Johnson owns his own granite countertop company, so he knows all about working with stout components, and as a Texas native, he surely must know a thing or two about really big trucks. Well, Rick's Chevy 1-ton is one tall Texan, it sports some big power underhood, and comes loaded for bear with custom camo bodywork. And with an assessed valuation of $10 million, heck, this might be the priciest rig that's ever rolled into Hollister for TTC.  Camo'd up and ready for combat,...  Camo'd up and ready for combat, Rick's Chevy looks ready to conquer our Mud Pit. Up front, the Winch Ready Triton 2 bumper houses a Warn 15000, and KC and Westin lights provide illumination. Base paint was applied by Rick, with assistance from Jennifer, Laura, and Joe, and with metal accents courtesy of a Case backhoe. |  Mirroring the front, the rear...  Mirroring the front, the rear Rockwell 2 1/2-ton also turns 6.72:1 ring-and-pinions, with welded spiders serving in lieu of a locker. The three-link/coil-spring suspension is damped by a single nitro shock in a custom hoop at each end, and together with the owner-fabbed 3-inch body lift, it clears the 46x19.5 Mickey Thompson BCs on 16.5-inch Marsh Racing steelies. |  As with most mud trucks (i.e.,...  As with most mud trucks (i.e., that get reeeally dirty inside), Rick's kept interior mods to a minimum. Auto Meter gauges monitor rev and amps, engine temp and oil pressure, and a trick 12voltguy.com control panel allows Rick to juggle electrical functions with a flip of a switch. |  Big boggers need big power,...  Big boggers need big power, and Rick's Chevy 454 big-block, bored 0.030 over and running 13.0:1 compression, is built to deliver. The balanced block is stuffed with SRP forged pistons and a solid .632-inch-lift roller cam. A Team G intake manifold works with the Holley carb to feed fuel through the runners, and 1 7/8-inch Hedman headers funnel exhaust gases to 3-inch Flowmasters-and in case that's not enough grunt, a 150hp NOS nitrous system is plumbed into the intake. Dual Optima Yellow-Tops provide the juice, and a Mallory Hi Fire ignition and coil, MSD distributor and wires, and an owner-fabbed wiring harness work to regulate and flow the volts. On the bottle, Rick estimates his big-block is good for 675 hp and 690 lb-ft of torque. |  Up front, the divorce-mounted...  Up front, the divorce-mounted NP205 transfer case spins a Houston Driveline driveshaft to turn the cogs in the 2 1/2-ton Rockwell axle. The frontend has been converted to full hydraulic steering with a custom drag link courtesy of Texas Auto Gear, and welded 6.72:1 gears inside the diff provide locking by Lincoln. The suspension is relatively basic (by TTC standards), a triangulated three-link/coil-spring arrangement running a single nitro-charged shock at each corner, and a custom 3-inch body provides added clearance in the wells. Sixteen-and-a-half inch steel Marsh racing rims and 46-inch Mickey Thompson 'Claws comprise rolling stock, and the standard-issue Rockwell pinion brake helps to slow down the big Chevy. We dig the custom tow hook welded onto the axlehousing too. | |
Owner name/city: Rick Johnson/Willis, Texas
Occupation: Owner, JCS Granite
Vehicle model: '89 Chevy K3500 pickup
Estimated value: "$10 million, according to wife"
Engine/aspiration: 454ci 13.0:1 Chevy V-8, bored 0.030 over, oval-port heads, SRP pistons, solid roller cam/Holley carb, Team G intake manifold, Hedman headers, NOS 150hp nitrous, 3-inch Flowmaster exhaust
Transmission: Keith's Transmissions TH400 with manual valve body
Transfer case: Divorced NP205
Suspension (f/r): Three-link, coil springs, nitro shocks/Three-link, coil springs, nitro shocksAxles (f/r): Welded 2 1/2-ton Rockwell/Welded 2 1/2-ton Rockwell
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 16.5-inch Marsh steelies
Tires: 46x19.5 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws
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