This 2015 GMC Denali Wasn’t Stock for Long

Javier Gomez has always loved trucks: they’re pretty much all he’s ever owned and driven. When his love of all things custom in the automotive world really got ahold of him, he knew he just had to get involved in the industry somehow. So he started selling custom wheels and tires out of his garage at home. He did that for seven years until the business got so strong that the neighbors were complaining; then Javier realized it was time to open up a dedicated shop.

That was 15 years ago. The brick and mortar version of Gomez Custom Wheels & Tires has been in Fontana, California, since 2000 and it has been growing nearly every year. Maybe that’s because they don’t just sell wheels and tires, they install them, align them and so much more. We’re talking work as serious as lift kits and accessories—anything you can think of. If you want it on your truck, Gomez will sell it to you and put it on for you. It’s a one-stop shop, that’s for sure.

SHOWCASE GMC

So how do you let people know that this is what you do? In Javier’s case he builds an awesome truck using the products he likes the best. It’s a great way to show off what the shop can do. While his first custom truck was an ’84 Chevy 1500 single cab, a most recent custom ride was an ’07 GMC Sierra, all done up in black, lifted with big wheels and tires. And then he bought this ’15 GMC Denali. It didn’t get many miles on it before Javier pulled it into the shop and started its transformation that might never end. (He’s changed the wheels and grille on it twice already!)

SUSPENSION

The foundation of this truck is the CST 8-10- inch lift kit with hand-fabricated knuckles and a gusseted drop center link (with Heim supports to reduce lateral wear on the idler and Pitman arms). The kit from CST included a tubular upper control arm with one-inch Uni-Balls and closed cups to reduce exposure to the elements. Dual shock brackets allowed for two CST Dirt Series 2.0 shocks with black billet clamps to hold the remote reservoirs. CST’s Extreme-Duty tie rods are way bigger than the factory units, and CST also provided a steering stabilizer with the lift kit. The rear suspension was lifted with a set of Atlas springs, new leaf spring plates and zinc-plated U-bolts. Another set of CST Dirt Series 2.0 shocks were installed in the rear end. The CST kit came with a new, longer CV drive shaft and a shift linkage bracket to make everything work as expected.

With the big lift installed, Javier could fit a lot more tire and wheel on the truck than it came for so he opted for a set of 22-inch polished American Force Blade SS8 wheels and 37-inch Toyo Open Country tires. The combination of the lift, wheels and tires is what really makes this truck stand out.

ALL THE RIGHT STUFF

But Javier wasn’t going to stop there: He added a chrome grille from RBP, but first he took it to the paint shop and had it color-matched to the truck on the perimeter of the shell. Javier tapped RBP again for the exhaust tip.

With the truck so high up in the air, it isn’t all that easy to get up into the cab, so Javier installed a set of Amp research electric steps. Now even the most diminutive passengers can hop right in. The steps hide away when the doors are closed, so there are no ground clearance issues.

The foundation of this truck is the CST 8-10-inch lift kit”“The foundation of this truck is the CST 8-10-inch lift kit”

A 50-inch Rigid light bar assures that Javier will never struggle to see what’s on the road in front of him, and a Lund Industries Tri-Fold Genesis Elite tonneau cover makes sure prying eyes have no idea what’s in the bed.

This ’15 GMC is a good example of a truck that can be built for multi-purpose use and remain street practical. Javier can’t stop talking about how awesome the ride is: He just likes to go, GO, GOOOO! UDBG