By Harry Wagner Featured in JP Magazine on June 1, 2011
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).

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