You won’t find another 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 regular cab like this anywhere. This remarkable, custom-built, 3.0-liter Duramax-powered rig was crafted by Top Notch Garage in Van, Texas. It was no easy task. In fact, three or more technicians logged two months of 14-plus-hour days to bring it to life. The result of all the hard work and engineering is a spectacular, off-road-ready truck with a muscular stance and mission-focused capability.
A Combination Of Several Trucks
The truck’s configuration was never offered by Chevy, so the team had to get creative. Josh Harris, founder of Top Notch Garage and an off-roader with more than 20 years of experience, shared some details. “This was a full custom build. We purchased a wrecked double cab, regular bed donor truck for the drivetrain and interior. Also, we purchased a brand-new regular cab, regular bed, four-wheel-drive frame from our local dealer and found a good, un-wrecked regular cab at a salvage yard in Florida. We removed all the wiring and modules from the donor truck, and after a lot of fabrication, modification, powder coating, bodywork, and paint, we were able to make a home for the double cab components in the regular cab body and frame,” he says. Additionally, a set of axles from a wrecked ZR2 truck was obtained and integrated.
Modern Truck Hurdles
The build process came with plenty of hurdles. For example, every inch of factory wiring had to be installed so the modules, sensors, and related components could “talk” to each other. Fun fact: since the wiring came from a double cab truck, the rear door modules had to be installed in the regular cab for the system to function correctly. Those rear door modules now live on the truck’s B-pillars.
Compound Twin-Turbo 3.0-Liter Duramax
Top Notch Garage specializes in diesel trucks, so a diesel powerplant was a given. Under the hood sits a 3.0-liter Duramax I6 that’s been heavily reworked. It now runs a compound twin-turbo setup designed by Ohio-based Jstar Fabrications. Supporting mods include a G&R Diesel billet aluminum intake manifold, a PPE air-to-water intercooler kit, and an intercooler coolant heat exchanger, along with a custom NWT ECM tune.
The truck has not seen the dyno yet, but Josh says they are targeting 500 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Power flows through a 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission with an NWT custom tune for higher line pressure and sharper shift points. A stock two-speed transfer case routes power to the axles.
ZR2 Axles, Long-Travel Suspension, And More
The Chevy’s axles were sourced from a wrecked Silverado 1500 ZR2, so each is equipped with standard ZR2-spec electronic locking differentials and 3.23:1 gearing. Upgrades include Wilwood six-piston calipers and larger rotors up front and a PPE diff cover out back.
Up front, an LSK bolt-on long-travel suspension widens the track by 3.5 inches per side. The setup includes King coilovers, bypass shocks, and bump stops, and delivers 13 inches of usable wheel travel.
Out back, a leaf-spring setup pairs LSK-spec, Deaver-built springs with King 3.0 16-inch-travel bypass shocks and bump stops. The bed floor was modified so the shocks could pass through and tie into an LSK bed cage.
Meaty 40×13.50R17LT Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires put power to the ground and are mounted on 9-inch-wide Thret 602 Maze cast-aluminum beadlock wheels.
Take note of the eye-catching finishes on the suspension components, wheels, and frame. That detail work ensures the truck looks as good as it performs. Powder coating credit goes to Prismatic Powders.
Fiberglass Fenders And Bedsides, Modified Bumpers
Many elements come together to give the Chevy its standout look. Beyond the inherent cool factor of the regular cab, shortbox configuration, nothing on this truck happened by accident. Fiberwerx fiberglass front fenders and bedsides were added, each with a 2-inch rise and 4-inch bulge. The Addictive Desert Designs front bumper was tweaked at the ends to align with the front fenders. The rear bumper was modified to eliminate unused holes. The truck is finished in San Marino Blue, a BMW color. Rounding things out is a full complement of forward- and rear-facing Baja Designs LED lights.
Inside Bits
Inside, the truck sports Katzkin leather seat upholstery, an Edge Products CTS3 monitor on a vehicle-specific mount, and other mods.
The Bottom Line
We put Josh on the spot and asked for his favorite mod. His answer was immediate: “The compound turbo setup, because it really wakes up the engine and makes the truck a lot of fun.”
Least favorite? Probably since his go-to wheeling spots include Moab, Utah, and Texas’ Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area, he says, “The fancy paint, because it makes me worry about scratches.”
Build management/Design by Truck Guru
Photos by Dale Martin Photography and Ken Brubaker
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