A family outing turned into a family obsession. That's pretty much what happened to Pennsylvania native 23-year-old Jeremy Saylor. As a young boy, Jeremy and his family packed themselves into the family car and headed to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for the annual show truck extravaganza. Little did his parents know they were laying the groundwork for the future of their offspring. Mesmerized by the glory of the show trucks, young Jeremy and brother John were inspired and well on their way to carving their own niche in the off-road community.
At 15 years old, Jeremy convinced his parents to help him buy his first project, an '82 Chevy 4WD pickup. His parents were happy to support their son's ambition. Since then, Jeremy and Jason have been through many project vehicles together. A Chevrolet supporter for life, Jeremy has taken part in many generations of the Bow Tie legacy -- owning and customizing several trucks including an '86, an '88, and a '95 Chevy truck.
Recently, the two took their hobby a step further by starting their own custom truck shop, cleverly named Saylors Shop. Both brothers work construction, but as soon as the foreman lets them off, it's straight to work on their trucks until the early hours of the morning. Secluded deep in the backcountry of Meshoppen, a small town about 20 minutes from civilization, the two brothers have plenty of space to make as much noise and mess as they need to.
As he began his latest project, there was no question as to what brand it would be. Like a trained soldier, Jeremy would remain loyal to his Chevrolet flag. His 2000 Bow Tie provides Jeremy with something he has never had before: new paper plates and an intact truck.
As we look at this Chevy Silverado, it's hard to believe Jeremy is just 23 years old. Jeremy purchased the truck new in early 2000 and went to work on it. With his first new truck in hand, he was on his way to his most glorious creation yet. He found himself with a much easier task since this truck was new. There was no rust or road grime or damaged components. With a desire to put on a big set of Super Swampers, Jeremy had his work cut out for him, lifting the truck tall enough to get adequate tire clearance. He gave Whiplash Performance Center a call, and on the staff's suggestion went with their 12-inch suspension lift. In the rear, the kit uses a 6-inch leaf spring lift combined with a 6-inch block between the axle and the springs and Rancho RS 5000 shock absorbers.
The front of the truck has independent suspension and four-wheel drive, hence the lift kit is a bit more complicated than just a set of leaf springs. The Whiplash 12-inch kit provides Jeremy with a bolt-on cradle that drops down the suspension and the front drive system. The kit is pretty much a bolt-on application with no major chassis modifications. The only other part Jeremy had to supply was a custom-lengthened front driveshaft. With the new suspension in place, a set of Rancho RS 5000 shock absorbers was put up front as well.
Inspired from his childhood memories, Jeremy wanted to find the biggest tires he could fit on the truck. A set of 44x19-1/2-inch Super Swamper Boggers gives the new Chevy the look Jeremy has always wanted. Mounted on a polished set of 15x14-inch Weld Typhoon wheels, this beast sits tall and proud. The forged wheels provide plenty of strength to safely handle the huge tires. The now towering Chevy was ready for some finishing touches.
The girth of the new tires presented a power challenge to the drivetrain of the elevated Chevy, so Jeremy used a few simple tricks to help out. The differential gears were changed to a set with a 4.56 ratio to help push the new tires. He installed a Hypertech chip to give the electronic system a little boost. And, finally, he bolted on a Gibson 3-inch exhaust system. The new extras provide Jeremy with all the power he needs wherever he wants.
Now with the mechanical features just as he wanted, it was time for Jeremy to really set the truck off with the paint. He and his brother went to work in their shop. Starting first with customizing the body features, Jeremy shaved the door handles on both the doors and the tailgate. Realizing that the truck was so tall no one besides airplanes could see the third brake light above the rear window, he shaved it off too. Jeremy added a ram-air hood, a sunvisor, and a set of Street Scene mirrors to finish off the aesthetics of his erected Chevy. After all of his custom features were in place, they decided to paint the truck a brilliant Hugger Orange. The combination of the chosen color and the fact that the grille, the bumpers, and the mirrors were painted to match sets this Bow Tie off like firecrackers on the Fourth of July.
After all was said and done, the stunning beauty was outfitted with a Pioneer CD player and a Kicker amplifier. The 400-watt system is backed by a pair of 10-inch Kickers. The incredible system adds the final touch to Jeremy's high-flying show piece.
Jeremy and brother Jason have more than eight years of experience customizing off-road trucks. Since their quest began in the early Nineties, their love for the sport has only grown stronger. These two veterans of the truck scene are just that, veterans with many wins and numerous vehicles. It's enthusiastic people such as the Saylor family who make the sport of off-roading what it is. Good luck to you both. We look forward to your future endeavors.
SPECIFICATIONS
Owner/hometown: Jeremy Saylor/Meshoppen, Pennsylvania
Make/model: 2000 Chevy Silverado
Engine: 4.8L Chevrolet V-8
Wheels/tires: 15x14-inch Weld Typhoon/44x19.5x15 Super Swamper Boggers
Shocks: Rancho RS 5000
Exhaust: Gibson 3-inch
Additional features: Pioneer CD player with 400-watt amp; two 10-inch kickers; Lund roll pan; Street Scene mirrors; ram air hood; shaved door handles