1998 GMC Sonoma - 2007 Top Truck Challenge Competitor

Mud is the prevalent obstacle in Missouri, so naturally Harmony Hills resident Jeff Miller built his rig to reign supreme in the gooey brown stuff. With gobs of horsepower, a stout drivetrain, and tires that are all business, he seems to have his game on. He's hoping his rig can show the Hollister Hills terrain a little Missouri misery.

What you're looking at is a '98 GMC Sonoma sitting atop a modified '51 GMC 6x6 chassis. The frame was shortened and lightened up and the visually stock Sonoma body sits on what amounts to a custom 12-inch body lift. Up front there's a MileMarker SE 9500C winch on duty in case the huge 55x18.4-26 Goodyear R16 tractor tires on 26x18 steel wheels can't get traction.	The only stock Sonoma interior pieces are the headliner and the door panels. The dash was custom made from one piece of stainless steel and it holds Sunpro coolant and oil pressure gauges and an Auto Gauge tachometer. In order to ensure that the big-block engine can get all the dry air it needs, Miller mounted the custom engine-snorkel air filter high in the dash. Other interior mods include a quick-disconnect steering wheel and a recovered bench seat.	Under the hood is a Generation 6 GM 502ci crate engine. GM says this powerplant generates 450 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. Air and fuel are mixed via a 770-cfm Holley Truck Avenger carburetor and exhaust gas is passed through Hooker headers and a 3-inch-diameter dual exhaust with Quickflow mufflers. Fuel for the thirsty engine is stored in a custom 28-gallon fuel cell. Power is routed through a custom-built Turbo 400 transmission that rests on custom mounts. The trans is shifted by a B&M shifter and cooled by a B&M cooler. The GMC G506 two-speed transfer case is a divorced unit and is controlled via custom shifters. All three of the Driveshafts Unlimited custom driveshafts have 1410 U-joints.
The stock '51 Eaton axle resides under the front of the rig. It has been upgraded to full hydraulic steering so pointing the big Goodyear tires is effortless. The stock front military leaf-spring suspension is simple and effective.	The rear axle is also a stock Eaton unit and it rides on Rancho front-axle-application 4-inch-lift leaf springs.	Amperage is supplied by a pair of Optima Red Top batteries mounted in-cab.

Specs

Owner name/city: Jeff Miller/DeSoto, Missouri
Vehicle model: '98 GMC Sonoma
Occupation: Small business owner
Engine/aspiration: 502ci V-8/770-cfm Holley Truck Avenger carburetor, 3-inch exhaust, Quickflow mufflers
Transmission: Turbo 400
Transfer case(s): Divorced GMC G506
Suspension (f/r): Military leaf springs/Rancho 4-inch-lift leaf springs
Axles (f/r):Eaton, full hydraulic steering, custom Driveshafts Unlimited driveshaft with 1410 U-joints/Eaton, Driveshafts Unlimited driveshaft with 1410 U-joints
Axle ratio: N/A
Wheels: 26x18 steel
Tires: 55x18.4-26 Goodyear R16