It's no stretch calling Bob Shepard's Chevy prerunner super, since that's precisely the term that best characterizes this no-holds-barred Bow Tie. Designed and built by the legendary Geiser Brothers (Rick, Jeff, Mark, and Frank), this '02 Silverado is largely scratch-built and incorporates only a few OE -- or close to OE -- components; everything else is the handiwork of the brothers G.
Beneath the maze of chrome-moly tubing is a pair of OE framerails, at least in part. The front and mid segments of the stock 'rails were used as a foundation for the multiple struts, gussets, plates, and reinforcement tubes (all of which are 4130) that give Shepard's ride its basic strength.
The truck's front suspension is Trophy Truck in design and execution; upper and lower A-arms were custom-built with chrome-moly plate by the Geyser Brothers and cycled through an impressive 26 inches of wheel travel. On each pair of control arms, a single King Technologies 3-inch-diameter coilover with dual-rate springs provides basic suspension and damping, while the massive 4-inch-diameter King triple-bypass damper delivers additional -- and finely tuned -- control.
The Chevy's rear suspension is no less impressive. The Geisers fabbed a four-link suspension that cycles the Chrisman 10-inch rear axlehousing through an astounding 33 inches of whoop-eating travel. As with the front suspension, a King 3.0 coilover shock and a King 4.0 bypass damper deliver precise damping and spring action. The front and rear suspensions are controlled from excessive compression by the King 2.5 bumpstops mounted at each corner.
To provide the ultimate in strength to an area known as suspect, the Geisers installed CNC front hubs with a 6 on 6.5 pattern and backed up these hyper-strong hubs with a pair of CNC 14-inch disc rotors, which are squeezed by CNC six-piston calipers. Still on the frontend, we find a massive 3-inch-diameter steering rack that moves the various steering linkage through Aurora rod ends. The rearend is equipped with a custom antisway bar, which pivots on Aurora rod ends, as do the various rear suspension links. As with the front, the rear disc brake rotors are 14 inches in diameter and are clamped by CNC six-piston calipers.
While many exotic prerunners are radical in the suspension and chassis department, only a select few sport an engine that lives up to the standards set by the wicked travel suspension. Such is the case with Bob Shepard's truck. The bent-eight is based on an LS-1 (Corvette) block and cylinder heads, displaces a full 6.0L, and cranks out in excess of 500 hp, accompanied by 550 lb-ft of torque. Built by UMI Racing, the Mouse was treated to such niceties as a sophisticated Motec fuel-injection system, Goodridge stainless lines and fittings, and Borla mufflers. Greg Holman of REF Unlimited fabricated the beautifully functional headers and exhaust system, using stainless-steel tubing throughout. The engine's coolant is circulated through a custom 4-inch-thick, Ron Davis-built radiator, while an array of Fluidyne coolers remove heat from the engine oil, the transmission fluid, and the power steering fluid. Putting the power to the Chrisman rear drive axle is a 4L80 four-speed OD automatic transmission, which was completely reworked by Gordon Stoney and boasts a TCS torque converter.
Not to be ignored was this prerunner's interior. The Geiser Brothers scratch-built an aluminum dash panel/console, and then trimmed it with a carbon-fiber inset. The dash was plugged with Auto Meter gauges, a PCI/Kenwood race radio, a PCI four-link Digitalk intercom with a trio of headrests for the passengers, a Lowrance GPS with color monitor, and a Terratrip mileage computer. Fortunately, Tom Oliva knew what to do with a soldering gun and electrical connectors -- he's responsible for all the wiring in the truck. Sparco seats, a Mastercraft safety harness, and a MOMO steering wheel round things off in the thoroughly equipped cockpit. As a finishing -- and expensive -- touch, Ron Mangus of Bloomington, California-based Custom Auto Interiors by Ron Mangus was called in to cover much of the interior with leather, but not before two layers of Dyna Mat sound-deadening material were applied.
Truth be told, we'd need to devote an entire magazine to Bob Shepard's fabulous prerunner in order to chronicle every cool mod and slick upgrade, but we can't. What we can do is deliver an additional number of Randall Jachmann's stellar images so that you can sit back and scope out the incredible Geiser Brothers' fabrication skills and revel in the manner by which Bob Shepard's magnificent prerunner literally redefines the term state-of-the-art.
specifications
Owner/hometown : Bob Shepard, Phoenix
Year/make/model : '02 Chevrolet Silverado prerunner
Front suspension : Geiser Brothers, double A-arms, 4130 chrome-moly construction, 26 inches of wheel travel, single King coilover shock and King bypass damper per wheel
Rear suspension : Geiser Brothers, four-link, 4130 chrome-moly upper and lower links, 33 inches of wheel travel, single King coilover shock and King bypass damper per wheel, Geiser Brothers antisway bar
Brakes : CNC 14-inch rotors, CNC six-piston calipers (all four wheels)
Engine : 6.0L LS-1 V-8, 500 hp
Wheels : Walker Evans Racing, aluminum with bead locks, 17x8.5-inch
Tires : BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR Project, 39x13.50R17
Estimated value : $200,000
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 This prerunner's cockpit is...  This prerunner's cockpit is something sumptuous, thanks to a trio of Sparco seats and leather-covered everything by Ron Mangus. The Geiser Brothers built the dash/console unit and stuffed it full of Auto Meter gauges, a PCI Kenwood race radio, and a Lowrance GPS navigation system and color monitor. Mastercraft safety harnesses, a MOMO steering wheel, and an ARB refrigerator round out the upgrades. |
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 Following current state-of-the-art...  Following current state-of-the-art design, the Geiser Brothers fabricated a complete upper and lower A-arm setup for this Chevy, using nothing but a TIG welder, a boatload of 4130 chrome-moly plate, and the hard-earned design knowledge and experience that comes from years of building race-winning off-road trucks. King coilover shocks are in place, augmented by King triple-bypass dampers. Note the design and execution of the upper J-arm and the massive, center-pivot lower control arm -- true works of the fabricator's art. The disc brake rotors are 14-inch-diameter CNC components and are squeezed by six-piston CNC calipers. Oh, yeah: There are 24 inches of wheel travel; the better to float over whoops with. |
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 The rear suspension is no...  The rear suspension is no less radical than the front. The Geiser Brothers built a four-link suspension for the Silverado -- note the massive lower links. The Chrisman axlehousing cycles through 33 inches of travel, which is achieved and controlled through the use of King coilover shocks and King bypass dampers. Also, note the full under-belly skidder and the clean design of the rear suspension's reinforcement tubing. Those Geiser brothers know their stuff. |
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 Bob Shepard's Geiser Brothers-built...  Bob Shepard's Geiser Brothers-built Silverado literally defines the term amazing. Designed and built much like a true race truck, the '02 Bow Tie boasts custom body panels, including a slick one-piece front clip from the Geiser Brothers, a Geiser-built bumper, Sylvania HID headlights, and shiny silver paint by Jugan's Custom Paint. Nice stance. |
 Semi-nude prerunner; film...  Semi-nude prerunner; film at 11. |
 Powered by a 500hp Corvette-based...  Powered by a 500hp Corvette-based LS-1 V-8, Bob Shepard's shiny silver Silverado is one killer toy -- an ideal blend of form and function. The cost to build such a wicked ride? A conservative estimate starts at 200K. Call the Geiser Brothers when you win the lottery. |
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 There's so much going on at...  There's so much going on at the rear of Shepard's Silverado, it's hard to know where to start. First, scope out the Geiser Brothers' cool billet spare-tire hold down, the beautiful radiator shroud, the well-thought-out chassis/rollcage supports, and the impressive flip-down light 'cage equipped with a sextet of Hella HID lights. Not content with those mods, the Geisers whipped up a series of storage boxes built from aluminum. Go ahead, ogle all you want. |
 About the only things the...  About the only things the Geiser Brother didn't fabricate on Bob Shepard's prerunner are the wheels and tires; they left that to Walker Evans Racing and BFGoodrich, who supplied a set of 17x8.5-inch, bead-lock-equipped aluminum hoops, which are encircled by a quartet of 39x13.50R17 Baja T/A KR project tires. |