1998 GMC Sonoma

Owner: Ryan Michaels

​Vehicle: 1998 GMC Sonoma​

Engine: 355ci BluePrint Crate Engines

​Dyno Results: 421 WHP

So I always wanted a truck for my first vehicle to haul my dirtbike around. My dad had found my 98 GMC Sonoma incredibly cheap in 2003. He never wanted me to have a fast vehicle at 16 for obvious reasons so what better than a stock 2.2L. We went and looked at it and jumped on it right away. I had never driven a manual and as soon as we got the keys my dad threw them to me and said I better learn fast! Had to drive it 25 minutes home. Shortly after, with only 55k on the truck, it needed a new clutch.

All my friends were into import cars due to the The Fast And The Furious recently coming out. I was always wanting to be different and found a magazine called Minitruckin Magazine which opened me up to the crazy possibilities of modifying an S10. I started to add neon lights, CD player, and subwoofers to make it mine. I stickered it up and painted whatever I could. I was 17 and proud of the budget vehicle I had made. I always went to the local meets Friday and Saturday nights, but parked on the outside knowing it wasn't anything special. It was to me and that's all that mattered. I looked up to the local guys who had crowds around their vehicles and that's who I wanted to be. When I graduated in 2004, my graduation present was a new paint job. I wanted half lime green and half black. Next thing I knew, it was sent to my cousin's paint shop to get fully painted, fully shaven, caddy tails, a V8 swap, and everything I saw in Minitruckin Magazine. How does a 18 year old kid afford this? He doesn't. My cousin and my dad, who was completely living vicariously through me, helped me out 100%. I don't deny I didn't pay for everything in the beginning. My said two things: every time you look at the truck you'll remember me when I'm long gone and if you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly. Everything seems great, right?

​

So my first motor, we put it in from an engine shop that "rebuilt it". Started the truck up and valves floated, pistons were spent. I got screwed over. 

​

On to the next motor! A new certified rebuilt 350, decent power for a stock 350. At this point, I'm in college, away from the truck, broke as hell, and no time to work on it. So, it sat for a few years, unfinished, dusty, and quickly losing motivation. After I graduated I got around to saving up pennies and getting it drivable. Everything is looking up! Next thing I knew the motor died. Let's start this all over again. This time I get a bored .60 over vortec 350. The motor is running great! Finally! 12 years after this journey began, I got a great running truck, I taught myself how to wire, weld, paint, modify, and most importantly, to have patience. A year later, disaster struck. I took the truck in for a routine alignment. I dropped it off and then went home. I told them to call me when it's done and I'd come pick it up. So I patiently waited to pick it up to go to a car meet. I noticed coolant flowing like a waterfall out of the overflow tank. No worries, it was 100° out but it was pegged at 240° when I turned it on. I drove about a 1/4 mile and parked it. To make a long, but painful story short, the shop drove my truck without the fans on and overheated the block causing it to crack. I decided to save up for a crate motor even if it meant sitting out a few years until I could afford something I wanted. Finally, the time came to buy my brand new Blue Print Crate Engine. I put it in and it was time to make up for lost time. So far, so good.

In it's current condition, it is the stepping stone to my ultimate evolution in this build. Coming soon will be a fully built T56 transmission and a push rod type rear suspension. Throughout the last 17 years, it's been through multiple wheels, suspensions, motors, themes, etc. I don't think I've done anything revolutionary nor groundbreaking, but what I hope people take away from my story is that if you never lose focus of what you want, be willing to take a few loses, and teach yourself some new skills, anything is possible. 

Exterior:

PPG lime green (custom mixed)

Shaved door handles/3rd brake light

Cadillac DeVille taillights

Envoy headlight/bumper conversion

2.5in Goodmark cowl hood

Checkmate bed cover

StreetScene rear step shaver and rollpan

Trendz billet grille

Retrofit Harley Davidson fog lights

Handmade carbon fiber mirror deletes

Custom vent side step

Carbon fiber vinyl wrap

Hand made rear spoiler

Hand made front splitter 

Interior:

Stripped interior panels besides doors

Carbon Fiber accessories

Fiberglassed dash 

Autometer Gauges

ProCar racing seats with 4pt harnesses

Wink Mirror

Engine Bay & Drivetrain:

T5 camaro trans 

Modified X member

powdercoated aluminum valve covers, etc

Hose Candy dress up kit

JTR v8 swap mounts

Holley 670 street avenger carb

Custom delete panels

Blazer rear end with disc brake conversion

Custom made pigtails for wiring

Canton remote oil set up

Dual 3in black widow widowmaker exhaust

Custom modded ceramic coated heddman headers

Suspension:

Qa1 adjustable coilovers

QA1 upper and lower tubular control arms

Pro forged tall ball joints

Pro forged tie rods, end links, etc

DJM drop spindles

Belltech drop leads

Belltech blocks

JTR set back plates

Shortened driveshaft

Wheels & Tires:

16x8 & 16x10 Diamond Racing Wheels on custom offset

Powdercoated Cherokee Bronze

225/50 Kumho Estcas

255/50 BFG Comp II