As it stands now, General Motors has no factory answer to the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram Rebel TRX, two high-performance off-roaders pairing serious under-hood firepower with impressive rough-stuff capability. Without a proper GM response to these two pickups, some GM fans have expressed feeling left out in the cold. However, that isn’t stopping GM Authority reader Jeff from turning his Chevy Silverado Trailboss into a bonafide Raptor and TRX rival.
Regular GM Authority readers may recognize Jeff’s 2020 Chevy Silverado Trailboss LT from a Readers Rides feature we published in April of last year. In the time since, Jeff has made a few adjustments to his build, starting with something big under the hood.
To help his Chevy Silverado keep up with the likes of the F-150 Raptor and Rebel TRX, Jeff supercharged his ride with a new 3.0L blower from Whipple, which looks great on the 5.3L V8 L84 thanks to some fat intake pipes and a five-spoke pulley inscribed with the Whipple branding. We also hear the supercharger sounds pretty sweet, so stay tuned for a follow-up on that.
Speaking of tuning, the Chevy Silverado’s ECM was unlocked using HP Tuners, and now, the setup is good for a claimed 550 horsepower – not too shabby, especially when considering the factory spec is rated at 355 horsepower, which means the blower is adding just under 200 ponies to the mix. Harnessing all that muscle is the factory 10-speed automatic transmission.
While big power numbers are great, Jeff also saw fit to upgrade his Chevy Silverado with the right suspension pieces, including a 2.5-inch BDS coilover lift kit with Fox remote reservoir shocks. The whole shebang rides on Fuel wheels, sized at 18-inches by 9-inches, with a -12mm offset. The black wheels are wrapped in 305/70/18 BFGoodrich rubber, and Jeff tells us the truck sports an 85-inch width with the lift and new tires.
Outside, the styling gets kicked up a notch with fender flares paint-matched by Air Design USA, as well as Go Rhino RB 20 running boards, and extra LED marker lights in front and in back.
Of course, it bears mentioning that we’ve previously caught prototypes of the upcoming 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 testing in the real world, although the ZR2 won’t be a true rival to the F-150 Raptor and Rebel TRX. For something like that, it’s gonna need more power. To that end, we think a supercharger would suffice – something tells us Jeff would agree.
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Comments
😂😂😂 okay a drop bracket lift…… sure it runs with the Raptor, dude should have addressed the suspension with real Baja control arms from Baja kits / dirt king
It ran rhe Baja 1000 route both directions and ran great , agree a Dirt king or Baja kits long travel set up would be better , maybe the next add with Fiber Werx wide body mods !!!
Nice!!!!! Leave it to the “Hot Rodder” in us, to build what the Factory won’t! Nice color too. Now, GM needs to build it in the factory, AND in a Regular cab short box version too! They would sell like ice cream on a 100 degree day. Just sayin’
unfortunately rcsb is dead and buried when can not get a rc above a w/t trim that tells you something. I will die with my 04 rcsb stepside with every available option unless someone offers me totally stupid money for it. I hear nice truck everywhere I go.
You are a lucky man. Short box & a Stepside too! Had all Stepsides till this last one. All were Black and loaded. Now have a 3500HD. Just not the same tho. GM is really missing the boat. They make Short boxes for export but not for here. Makes NO SENSE at all. We can only hope!!!!!
and the best thing about it I got it on an ebay auction for $14800 in 05 w/3000 miles on it,msrp was $32000 plus they put on $3000 worth of accessories on it.it was in rural OK. and after signing on the dotted line I asked him why did you not send this to auction you would have gotten more for it and he admitted they were taking a bath on it,but the auction is to far away we will have to make it up on the next guy.god bless america
raced a cc 6.2 and beat him put that in your pipe and smoke it
nice rig. at the power limit for stock rods and pistons for me.
Going head-to-head with your competition *makes sense* & does not require intellectual thought. Hey GM, please hire Jeff & a few other GM Authority posters as consultants. Your customers have some great ideas, maybe listen to us instead of spending so much time, energy & money redesigning GM’s logo.
Nice!,loving the Black Silverado!!