1996 Chevy Silverado

“2nd Rate”

Ed Testerman’s 1996 Chevy Silverado is a one-of-a-kind truck that has been given a new lease on life. This incredible build has been featured in the February 2022 issue of Gauge Magazine and for good reason. The truck was initially passed around to a few owners before JC Millette and Ziggy’s Airbrushing painted it, did some work on it, and eventually sold it to Ed. Since then, he has improved on the truck and made it even better.

The inspiration for the build was to improve on the truck and give it everything it deserved. The truck took about two years to get to its current point, and Ed has been building and modifying S10’s since 1992. The build cost was $29,000, which is a testament to the quality of work that went into this truck.

The Chevy Silverado has been dropped on an airlift 3p and features a stock floor body dropped frame. The truck is powered by a Chevy 96 engine with 8 cylinders and 5.7 displacement. The engine has been fitted with a cold air intake, MSD ignition components, headers and exhaust, and a JET programmer. The valve covers have been polished, and the alternator is chrome 205 amp.

The wheels on this build are Raceline and measure 20×8.5 inches. They are wrapped with 255/35/20 tires. The frame has been modified with a 2-link and panhard bar, and the suspension has been fitted with dual 480 viair compressors, Airlift 3p valves, and Airlift 2600 airbags. The truck has also been fitted with a four-link setup and Rancho shocks.

The paint job on the Silverado is nothing short of spectacular. The blue, orange, yellow, blue, purple, silver, grey, and a few other colors are combined to create a unique look. The paint type used was PPG and a few other brands. The graphics are old-school cali graphics with lots of airbrushing. JC Millette and Ziggy’s Airbrushing painted the truck and did the graphics.

The body of the truck features a 3″ send drop and has been modified with a Cadillac Escalade hood, grille, and bumpers. The taillights have been shaved with frenched in lets in the roll pan, and the door handles have been shaved. The Legacy sliding ragtop, roll pan, and body mods were done by JC Millette and Ziggy’s Airbrushing.

The interior of the truck is just as impressive as the exterior. The dashboard was done by JC Millette, and the gauges are US Speedo. The steering wheel is Raceline, and the head unit is Kenwood. The stereo was installed by David Withrow, and the amps and speakers are Planet Audio. The shifter is billet aluminum, and the seats are factory covered by Tyler Smith. The upholstery is custom black vinyl with suede blue insets and was done by Tyler Smith.

Ed Testerman’s 1996 Chevy Silverado is a true masterpiece and a testament to the quality of work that goes into custom truck builds. The truck has been featured in Gauge Magazine, and it’s easy to see why. With its stunning paint job, unique graphics, and impressive modifications, this Chevy Silverado is sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

Owned by: Ed Testerman

Photos by: Chris Gosda