SHORTY - THE COAL MINER’S TRUCK
Shorty was a one-owner 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 that had spent its life as a coal miner’s truck. It was purchased locally, and the moment I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted it to become.
The truck had been incredibly well cared for. Inside the center console were old CDs and DVDs from artists like Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams, along with a few coal mining documentaries. It was like opening a time capsule that told the story of its previous owner.
Unlike many of our builds, Shorty didn’t need to be reinvented—it just needed to be refreshed.
We installed factory-style fender flares, a leveling kit, new shocks, 16x10 bullet-hole wheels wrapped in 285 mud terrain tires, and finished it off with a dual exhaust system that gave it the sound to match its classic appearance. The goal was simple: build a truck that looked like GMC could have offered it that way from the factory.
Just when we thought the project was wrapping up, Shorty decided to teach us a lesson.
It developed a persistent misfire under load on cylinders three and four. We chased ignition components, fuel delivery, and every obvious possibility. After exhausting nearly every option, we were close to pulling the cylinder heads.
Then we noticed something unusual.
We removed the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail and found gasoline inside the hose. The regulator’s diaphragm had failed, allowing raw fuel to be pulled directly into the intake near those cylinders. Replacing the regulator instantly solved the problem.
That truck taught us a lesson we’ll never forget: sometimes the smallest, most overlooked component can create the biggest headache.
Once complete, Shorty became exactly what we had envisioned—a clean, tasteful GMT800 that honored its history while giving it a second life. It wasn’t the flashiest build we’d ever completed, but it remains one of the best examples of how thoughtful upgrades and attention to detail can transform an already great truck into something truly special.