Wolf In Wolf’s Clothing - 2003 Chevrolet 1500 2WD Extended Cab

A sensible individual has to respect an impressive truck build, no matter what the make or model. Personally, we’re pro-Chevy here at OFF-ROAD magazine, but we think even the most anti-Bowtie guy would have to appreciate the amount of work that went into James Mullinex’s ’03 Chevy 1500.

Between the construction performed by both KibbeTech in Simi Valley, California, and A&A Corvette in Oxnard, California, this Chevy has turned out to be just as mean as it looks. With over 500 horsepower feeding through a 4L80E to a built 9-inch rearend, this KibbeTech long-travel truck—packing over 20 inches of front suspension travel—can absolutely fly over rough terrain.

Thirty seven-inch Baja T/A tires tuck under Glassworks and Trailer Products fiberglass, which allow the front tires to compress a full 10 inches upwards from ride height. James —who works at A&A Corvette building almost quadruple-digit horsepower engines—built himself one serious LQ9 that sits under the ’03’s slanted hood. Even after the parasitic loss of power through the drivetrain, James’ engine pumps out 435 horsepower to the rear wheels.

And like any other project, James’ truck is still not quite done. His next step is to connect the engine cage and bed cage in between with a full interior rollcage that will follow through the fire wall to the engine cage and out the rear of the cab to the bolt-in bed cage. Not only will it bring safety to the truck, it will add rigidity and improve the way the truck works.

A full KibbeTech frontend sits 5 inches wider per side under the Glassworks fiberglass fenders. The lower control arm is boxed 1/8-inch chromomly plate that uses 1-inch uniballs at the pivot point. The gold-anodized upper billet arm uses 3/4-inch FK rod ends. Together, combined with KibbeTech’s custom-built spindles that ride in between 1.5-inch uniballs, the front end is limited to 20 inches of travel with a pair of Beard limiting straps. Fox 2.5 10-inch-stroke shocks damp the ride while 2.5 Fox hydraulic bumpstops keep the truck from bottoming out.
A full KibbeTech frontend sits 5 inches wider per side under the Glassworks fiberglass fen
KibbeTech closely followed the front lines on James’ 1500 to fit a 1 3/4-inch tube directly under the grill in a low profile design. A skid plate was added to protect the front. The 37-inch BFG Baja T/A tires on 17-inch Method wheels clear that bumper and the Glassworks fiberglass in front.
KibbeTech closely followed the front lines on James’ 1500 to fit a 1 3/4-inch tube directl
Trailer Products rear 6-inch-wider bedsides allow the Baja T/As to tuck easily in back as well. Since James works around Corvettes, it’s no surprise that there is a Corsa dual exhaust tip from a ‘Vette from out of the passenger bedside.
Trailer Products rear 6-inch-wider bedsides allow the Baja T/As to tuck easily in back as

Atop the Deavers is a Currie Prerunner 9-Inch housing outfitted with disc brakes and a nodular iron third member packed with a Detroit locker and 5.14 gears. Thirty five-spline axles reside in the fabricated housing.
Atop the Deavers is a Currie Prerunner 9-Inch housing outfitted with disc brakes and a nod
KibbeTech boxed and plated the frame with 1/8-inch steel.
The rear bed cage that hold the Fox bypass shocks was made completely bolt-on.

KibbeTech used Deaver F87 leaf springs in a spring-under rear suspension build. The Deavers, combined with 2.5 Fox 16-inch-stroke double-bypass shocks allows the rear end to soak up terrible terrain. If the suspension gets close, Fox 2.5 hydraulic bumpstops prevent metal-to-metal contact.
KibbeTech used Deaver F87 leaf springs in a spring-under rear suspension build. The Deaver
With a quick glance, you’d never guess that there was a 500-plus-hp LQ9 engine sitting under the hood. According to James, this is a much milder engine than the one he built before and pulled out of the truck. You can see how high the Fox hydraulic bumpstops are on the engine cage. This is due to the extreme amount of upward travel in the front end.
With a quick glance, you’d never guess that there was a 500-plus-hp LQ9 engine sitting und
Unfortunately, the custom engine cage does not clear the factory brake system. Therefore, KibbeTech builds a remote reservoir master cylinder and uses a Wilwood proportioning valve under the seat in line between the master cylinder and rear brakes. DMP Fasteners built the custom brake lines.
Unfortunately, the custom engine cage does not clear the factory brake system. Therefore,

Specs

Vehicle:	2003 Chevrolet 1500 2WD Extended Cab
Owner:	James and Christina Mullinex
Chassis:	factory frame, plated and boxed by KibbeTech, KibbeTech engine cage and bed cage
Engine:	6.0L LQ9 short block, A&A Corvette ported cylinder heads, A&A custom-ground Corvette camshaft, late model intake, 90mm throttle body, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, A&A custom programming on PCM, 435 RWHP, 392 lb-ft of torque
Transmission:	CRC 4L80E transmission built with cryogenically treated input and output shafts, five-gear planetary, B&M tranny cooler, 2800 rpm stall converter
Rear axle:	Currie 9-Inch Prerunner housing, 4 inches wider per side than stock, disc brakes, Currie nodular iron third member with Detroit locker and 5.14 gears, 35-spline axles
Front suspension:	KibbeTech long-travel kit with 20 inches of travel (10 inches up and 10 inches down), gold-anodized billet upper A-arm, boxed lower A-arm, 10-inch-stroke 2.5 Fox coilovers, 2.5 Fox hydraulic bumpstops
Rear suspension:	Spring-under Deaver F87 leaf springs, stock shackles, KibbeTech-reinforced spring hangers, 2.5 Fox hydraulic bumpstops, 16-inch-stroke double-bypass shocks, KibbeTech bed cage
Steering:	KibbeTech rod end steering, 5 inches wider per side to match the suspension
Brakes:	Wilwood proportioning valve under the seat, KibbeTech weld-in master cylinder fittings and reservoir, brake lines by DMP Fasteners
Tires/wheels:	37x12.50R17 BFGoodrich Baja KR on 17-inch Method Standard wheels, KibbeTech custom lug nuts
Interior:	Factory Chevy interior
Exterior:	Glassworks front fiberglass fenders reinforced on the inside with Line-X, Trailer Products 6-inch-wider-per-side rear bedsides reinforced with Line-X, KibbeTech bumpers and skid plate
Other Parts:	Full aluminum radiator, electric fans from ’08 Escalade, KibbeTech spare tire mount and trailer hitch, Chip’s Muffler custom exhaust with Magnaflow stainless-steel muffler, Line-X in bed