Colorado High: Pat O’Keefe’s Custom Colorado
While probably not the first idea in performance vehicles, a pickup truck can turn heads just as quickly as any Corvette or Camaro, provided it’s built well and sounds amazing.
When it comes to this Colorado, it’s more than just built to look impressive, but to perform just as it indicates and much more. This 2007 Colorado has features that you won’t see at first but when you realize they are there, you’ll be left wanting to build your own mid-sized truck for street and track duty. If anything, this truck shows you how to do the right mix of performance, safety, and good looks, proving that show and go can co-exist.
The engine started out as your normal LS7, but now it’s gone beyond what GM intended for this modern 427 small block. Right away you see that ATI FT1 supercharger hanging just behind the grill and that ProCharger intercooled intake catches your eyes with its blow-off valve. You’ll also notice that Safecraft Automatic Fire Suppression System. It’s a very compact system but fits well within the confines of the hood. Going back to the engine, internally, it’s built to the best specs you can get with a custom camshaft by Exotic Performance. It’s based on a Comp Cam design but features 236/246 lift at .050-inch with 114-degrees of lobe separation.
It bumps those lifters up to a set of Manley 5/16-inch one-piece pushrods with Comp Cams 26921KT valve springs controlling those valves. The cylinder heads are o-ringed by West Coast Cylinder Heads to keep the compression in as the Diamond Pistons squish that supercharged air into the combustion chamber. With that much more power and pressure inside, a set of Compstar Connecting Rods were installed on the stock LS7 crankshaft with Clevite H-Series Rod and Main Bearings. Controlling the fire and injection from the Aeromotive Eliminator fuel system is a Big Stuff 3 engine management system.
Keeping the engine cool is a priority, but thanks to that supercharger system, there wasn’t much room left in the engine bay for the AFCO Radiator and Cooling Fans. That’s why you don’t see it up front but instead in the back with the custom, one-piece bed. You’ll also notice that the bars come out of the cab rather than the rear window like on most trucks. Just as much fabrication and body work was done to make the roll cage look nearly factory integrated, yet remain functional and safe for the occupants. We’ll talk about that more in just a moment because it’s inside that really shows the forethought of this build.
Controlling the torque from the engine to the custom Dana 60 rear end is a Borg Warner T56 with a Zoom Multi-Plate Clutch. No automatic for this truck as it sees duty on the drag and on the road course. Those Moser Axle shafts connect to a 3.54:1 ratio ring and pinion for the best mix of acceleration and speed. That axle is also located with a set of custom truck arms, much like the stock cars you see race the ovals and the choice of many pro-touring builds as it’s offers simplicity with good articulation for chassis movement. A set of AFCO shocks and coil springs controls that movement front and rear. However, up front is a set of custom spindles with a set of AFCO chromoly hub assemblies.
In side those massive looking Forgeline ZX3R wheels are US Brake 4-piston and 2-piston calipers with drilled rotors front and rear. Those wheels are 19×9 front and 19×12 rear with large Mickey Thompson street tires wrapping both ends.
Now we get to that very interesting interior. If we were to tell you that this truck was fully caged, you’d probably not believe us. You see those Cobra seats with Sparco six-point harnesses for driver and passenger but you would end up thinking that it only had a roll hoop and drag bars at first blush. However, under that tweed A-pillar cover are the down tubes and under that custom headliner is the halo bar. That’s right, all of the tubing for the roll cage, minus the parts around the doors, are hidden by the custom interior. That interior includes a set of Autometer gauges in a custom panel in the dash and under the stock radio head.
After looking at Pat’s truck, all we can say is that we have a lot to do to Project Ron Burgundy now. However, this Colorado is definitely an inspiration to any would-be builder in the pro-touring segment, truck or not. The custom touches and full interior with roll cage are amazing but then you also include the work for the rear potion of the cage, cab, and bed and it’s just all overwhelming and amazing at the same time. If you want motivation for your next build, look no further than this Colorado.
