Fantastic Phantom The great feature about the DeLillo phantom grille is that unlike most other phantom grilles, which require cutting the radiator core support wall for headlight recessing, this grille installs just like any billet grille insert. |
Installation requires removal of the stock egg-crate grille shell. DeLillo service technician Steve Chirrick took out our factory grille shell in no time flat. |
Chirrick turned the OEM grille shell over and used an air-powered hacksaw to remove the factory egg-crate portions of the grille. |
With the upper and lower portions of the egg-crate sections removed, Chirrick smoothed out the rough edges left by the air-powered hacksaw. |
After Chirrick drilled the proper-size holes in the factory grille shell, he installed the new phantom grille with the provided screws. |
Once the new phantom grille was fully attached to the factory shell, Chirrick reconnected the turn-signal indicator bulbs to their respective housings. |
No custom grille installation would be complete without a billet Bow Tie. Chirrick removed the plastic factory Bow Tie and replaced it with a polished piece, also available from DeLillo. |
With all the factory turn signals and running lights reconnected, Chirrick reinstalled the OEM shell and phantom grille. |
Our unique DeLillo Truck Center phantom grille adds that extra custom touch to the front end of our 1996 Chevy Project Daily Driver. |
Ready To Tow Many people with daily-driven pickup trucks sometimes need towing ability from their rides too, and were no exception here at the magazine. So we decided to install a DeLillo hidden trailer hitch and spare tire relocator. The new hidden hitch tucks up nicely behind the previously installed roll pan. |
The spare tire relocator moves the stock spare tire closer to the front of the truck. |
Chirrick was gracious enough to mount up our tow accessories. Installation of the spare tire relocator required dropping down the spare tire from under the truck. Chirrick positioned the long mounting bracket between the rear framerails and reconnected the tire hoist cable to the frame crossmember with the provided DeLillo hardware and bolt extenders. |
The DeLillo hidden hitch is a simple bolt-on affair. Chirrick lifted the hitch assembly up between the rear framerails and inserted the mounting bolts through the factory-drilled holes in the framerails. |
Once the hidden hitch was installed, Chirrick cut out the rear portion of the fiberglass roll pan and installed a flip-up license plate assembly. |
Shaved Good Looks Achieving good, clean looks while maintaining a truly daily-driven street truck is tough. But we knew we had to rid the tailgate of its handle, so we flipped it inside with a DeLillo tailgate handle relocator kit. Chirrick removed the stock plastic trim and handle from the factory clips that held the linkage to the tailgate handle assembly. |
Using the provided DeLillo instruction sheet as a template, Chirrick outlined where the cut in the backside of the tailgate would be made. He then made the necessary cuts with an air-powered cutting wheel. |
fter removing the inner piece of metal, Chirrick installed the DeLillo handle relocator. He secured it with the provided sheetmetal screws, reinstalled the handle assembly, and reconnected the handle linkage. |
In the last instasllment of the Project Daily Driver buildup, our 1996 Chevy three-door go from a mild-mannered driver to a truckin terror. With very few engine modifications, weve managed to make our truck dragstrip-worthy.
But even with the engine modifications complete, we were still a long way from achieving the ultimate sport truck. Setting our truck apart from the the impressive pack of show trucks we encounter at events across the country involves coming up with fresh ideas and methods to accelerate the truck into new areas of modifications. And, after all, no self-respecting sport truck owner could be satisfied with just a few minor body modifications. These ideas are totally trick and are sure to establish Project Daily Driver as a serious show truck while keeping it an ultracool, daily-driven vehicle.
DeLillo Truck Center was kind enough to lend us the use of its facilities to make our truck go from mild to wild. In addition to selling some of the hottest trucks and parts in the sport truck industry, the company also offers installationso it was more than willing to help us out with our Project Daily Driver.
One option that DeLillo offers is a new, radically designed billet phantom grille. This grille installs just like a regular billet piece but adds the phantom look we desired. The remainder of the modifications are designed to make our Daily Driver just thatdaily-driver friendlyand at the same time produce the true sport truck look. These mods include a hidden hitch assembly, a spare tire relocator, and a tailgate handle flip kit.
Next time well show the completion of the body modifications and fill you in on some tricks of the sport truck trade that make a customization truly unique, offering truck owners individuality and simplicity.