Chevy’s 1988-98 OBS (Old Body Style) pickups are getting popular with the autocross and Pro Touring crowd. Jeremy Weckman and Jimmy King from PowerNation TV’s Carcass caught the OBS bug and bought a high-mileage 1989 C1500 to transform into an LS-powered cone carver.
You can see the Pro Touring OBS build on PowerNation TV and see the parts you need to build your own with Summit Racing’s Carcass Pro Touring OBS 1989 Chevy 1500 Parts Combos.
With over 247,000 miles on the clock, the C1500’s stock 305 cubic inch small block was a tired, wheezy thing putting 175 horsepower to the rear wheels. Carcass had their buddies at Engine Power build them a 406 cubic inch LS that made 482 horsepower and 426 pound-feet of torque; you can see the build at PowerNation TV and the parts list in Summit’s Engine Power Track-Ready GM LS 406 Parts Combos.
Jeremy and Jimmy built an exhaust system from a pair of Hedman Headers Muscle Swap LS headers, a Summit Racing Universal Rod Builder Exhaust Kit with three inch pipes, Patriot Performance electric exhaust cutouts, and a pair of Flowmaster 44 Series mufflers.
The accessory drive system features an Lares power steering pump, ACDelco A/C compressor, and a Summit Racing™ OE Replacement Alternator mounted on the engine using ICT Billet brackets.
Supplying fuel to the engine is the job of a FiTech Go in-tank electric fuel pump in an OE replacement fuel tank. The last piece of the engine puzzle is a pair of Perma-Cool 12 inch diameter electric fans pulling a total of 3,200 CFM of air through the radiator.
The Chevy arrived at the Carcass shop with a 700R-4 automatic transmission, but inspection revealed it came with a five-speed manual from the factory. Jeremy and Jimmy wanted a manual anyway, so they installed a Tremec T-56 six-speed. This combo includes the transmission; a Summit Racing Manual Transmission Safety Bellhousing; a Centerforce Dual-Friction clutch kit; an American Powertrain Hydramax hydraulic throwout bearing; and a Centric Parts clutch slave cylinder.
Carcass had a Ford 9 inch rear axle built to their specifications. This combo includes a Currie Enterprises axle housing with 31-spline axles and a Currie third member with 4.11 gears and a TwinTrac limited slip differential to build a rear axle very close spec-wise to the one used in the build.
You can’t dodge cones or take sweepers at high speed in a C1500 with the stock suspension. Carcass rectified the problem with a coilover suspension setup.
This combo includes a QA1 Level 3 front coilover conversion kit with double-adjustable shocks and tubular control arms; a pair of Bell Tech two inch drop spindles; a QA1 front sway bar; and Energy Suspension sway bar bushings.
Out back is a three-link designed and built by Jeremy and Jimmy. The upper link is a torque limiter similar to the ones used in asphalt oval track cars. They also built a cantilevered shock setup using RideTech HQ Series coilovers. That meant cutting a hole in the bed to clear the shocks, a small price to pay for awesome handling.
The Chevy sits on 18 x 12 Rocket Racing Attack Titanium wheels mounted on 335/30-18 Continental ExtremeContact Sport Tires; our combo includes 335/30-18 BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S 1.5 tires. Stopping power is provided by Wilwood disc brakes–Forged Superlite 6R front brakes with 12 inch rotors and six-piston calipers and Forged Dynalite rear brakes with 12 inch rotors and four-piston calipers.
Jeremy and Jimmy decided on a two-tone paint scheme of Summit Racing 2-Stage Cappuccino Metallic paint and Summit Racing 3.5 VOC 2-Stage Gold Rush Metallic paint mixed with Summit Racing 3.5 VOC 2-Stage Mocha Metallic. They sprayed three coats of paint plus two coats of satin Summit Racing 2.1 Low VOC Clearcoat.
The bed got a generous coating of Summit Racing Premium Urethane Bedliner. Jeremy and Jimmy bolted on a shiny chrome Sherman Parts front bumper and grille plus an OE replacement Coast to Coast International front valance. They also replaced the window and door weatherstripping; the combo includes weatherstripping kits from Fairchild Industries.
The Chevy’s cabin was a mess, with grimy carpet and a beat-up bench seat. Carcass deep-cleaned the dash and panels, replaced the rug (this combo includes OER molded carpet in basic black), and pitched the bench for a pair of Procar Sportsman bucket seats. The factory steering wheel was replaced with a JOES Racing aluminum wheel. A new shifter was bolted to the Tremec T-56 under the transmission tunnel; our combo includes a Lokar shifter.
This combo has the parts used to finish up the Chevy’s exterior—Dorman door handles, Sherman Parts replacement taillights and side marker lenses, and K-Source OE replacement sideview mirrors. We also included a set of Bushwacker fender flares, Auto Ventshade window deflectors, and a nice AIM Industries billet aluminum bowtie emblem for the grille.
COMPANY DETAILS |
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Summit Racing Equipment |
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Contact |
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Phone |
(800) 230-3030 |
Address |
P.O. Box 909 |
Akron, OH 44309 |
Summit Racing Equipment was founded in 1968 as a part-time parts business in Stow, Ohio. Today, Summit Racing Equipment is one of the world’s largest supplier of automotive-performance-equipment company, and offers thousands of performance parts, aftermarket accessories, OEM parts, tools and garage equipment. Summit Racing’s goal is to give customers the parts they want at a fair price, deliver those parts fast, and back them with the best customer service on the planet.
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