The World’s Most Capable Chevy Colorado?

131 1106 Chevy Colorado V8 4X4 Rockcrawler Front Three Quarter Shot

Jack Stanko has owned plenty of Jeeps, fullsize Chevy trucks, and tube buggies over the years. In fact, he has a bit of a reputation for changing vehicles more often that most of us change oil. Jack’s latest vehicle, built by Nate’s Precision in Reno, Nevada, combines the best qualities of all of these previous vehicles into one. I have always been a Chevy guy, but I bought Jeeps because they fit better on the trails I like to frequent, Jack explained. When Chevy put the 5.3L V-8 engine in the Colorado, I knew I wouldn’t need another Jeep.

Jack started with a less expensive 2WD V-8 Colorado, knowing that the factory axles, suspension, and steering would be scrapped anyway. Then Nate Jensen of Nate’s Precision added an Atlas II transfer case, Currie Iron Jock Dana 60 axles, and a supple suspension to keep the 42-inch Pit Bull Rockers in contact with terra firma. The front uses a three-link with a Panhard bar and Sway-A-Way coilovers, while the rear relies on supple Deaver leaf springs.

With small dimensions, a comfortable interior, plenty of axle and tire, and a Bow Tie on the hood, we expect that this Colorado will be in a Stanko stable for a long time to come.

Tech Specs
2009 Chevy Colorado
Drivetrain
Engine: 5.3L V-8
Transmission: 4L65E 4-spd automatic
Transfer case: Advance Adapters Atlas II
Front Axle: Currie Iron Jock Dana 60, Wilwood brakes, 5.38 gears, ARB Air Locker
Rear Axle: Currie Iron Jock Dana 60, Wilwood brakes, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker
Suspension
Springs & Such: Sway-A-Way 14-inch travel coilovers in front; Deaver springs in rear
Tires & Wheels: 42x15-17LT Pit Bull Rockers on 17x9 Mickey Thompson Classic II rims with OMF scalloped beadlock rings and rockcrawling domes
Steering: PSC
Other Stuff: Custom Nate’s Precision bumpers, fenders enlarged by Car Body Repair, and 12-inch-thick 6061-T6 aluminum skidplates
Cool fact
GM introduced the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon in 2004, but the V-8 engine was not an option until the ’09 model year (in 2WD form only).

The front and rear fenders were opened up over 6 inches by Car Body Repair in Burbank, California, to allow the 42-inch Pit Bulls to fit at full stuff. The modified bodywork allows the front three-link suspension plenty of room to work its magic. The Sway-A-Way coilovers work in conjunction with 2-inch, 0.250-wall DOM lower links that are capped by 11⁄4-inch QA1 rod ends and bent 20 degrees to maximize tire clearance and turning radius. The custom front bumper features rolled 13⁄4-inch, 0.120-wall DOM tubing and Ballistic Fabrication spiked tube caps for a Mad Max appearance. The bumper isn’t only for looks though. In addition to protecting the sheetmetal and radiator, it also houses a Warn Endurance 12.0 winch and a pair of Vision X LED lights.
The front and rear fenders were opened up over 6 inches by Car Body Repair in Burbank, Cal
The front suspension uses 14-inch-travel, 2-inch-diameter Sway-A-Way coilovers with Eibach coil springs on custom tubular mounts. The springs are rated at 250 over 350 lb/in. Also worth noting is the steering box. The Colorado uses rack-and-pinion steering, which Nate’s Precision replaced with a PSC steering box from an early Bronco application that works in conjunction with a PSC hydraulic ram.
The front suspension uses 14-inch-travel, 2-inch-diameter Sway-A-Way coilovers with Eibach
The front axle is a Currie Iron Jock fitted with an ARB Air Locker, 5.38 gears, 35-spline chromoly axleshafts, and Wilwood brakes and six-lug unit bearings on the ball joint knuckles. Steering is handled by a PSC box and hydraulic ram that are connected to the 11⁄2-inch 0.250-wall DOM draglink and tie rod with 7⁄8-inch QA1 rod ends in TIG-welded tube inserts. We aren’t sure why there is not more aftermarket support for Colorados and Canyons, leaving custom fabrication as the only option. Nate’s Precision crafted 1⁄2-inch 6061-T6 aluminum skidplates for the radiator, engine, transmission, transfer case, and factory fuel tank.
The front axle is a Currie Iron Jock fitted with an ARB Air Locker, 5.38 gears, 35-spline

The rear suspension is much more traditional, consisting of 63-inch Deaver F87 leaf springs on custom mounts. The Deavers sit above a Currie Iron Jock with a high-pinion Dana 60 centersection and a rotated cover for maximum ground clearance. The housing is filled with 5.38 gears, a Detroit Locker, 35-spline chromoly axleshafts, and disc brakes.
The rear suspension is much more traditional, consisting of 63-inch Deaver F87 leaf spring
The rock sliders and rear bumper were also fabricated by Nate’s Precision. Both are constructed from 13⁄4-inch, 0.188-wall DOM tubing, and the sliders tie into the frame at the three body mounts and are skinned with dimple-died 1⁄8-inch plate that’s fastened to the body with 14 5⁄16-inch Grade 8 bolts. Out back the tubular rear bumper provides ample ground clearance while protecting the taillights and exhaust.
The rock sliders and rear bumper were also fabricated by Nate’s Precision. Both are constr