Thumping Special - 2008 GMC 2500HD

Phil Alarcon of San Diego, California, wanted to build something that would be recognized as a truck that gets your adrenaline going when you see (or hear) it. We can happily report that he has exceeded his own lofty goal.

The ’08 GMC 2500HD can pull up to the stoplight anywhere in the country and know the driver won’t see anything even close to this truck in detail and execution. Knowing his vehicle is one of a kind is important to Phil, as he doesn’t want to drive a cookie-cutter truck. Plus, he kind of likes the idea of winning the informal “who has the better whip” contest.

“The thought of just putting on aftermarket parts straight out of the box is just not good enough,” Phil told us. “Putting the bling and detail in is where it’s at.” Being one step ahead of the game matters most to a lot of guys with lifted HD trucks.

One of the areas ignored by a lot of custom truck builders is the interior. Phil went the extra mile here, with the help of Soundelux Car Audio in Chula Vista, California. Phil emphatically states that Kenny Albertini at Soundelux is the most knowledgeable audio tech in Southern California. The truck’s cab was completely covered with Dynomat before any work commenced. Then Kenny made up some blue suede inserts with black leather and double stitching for the seats and console. The headliner is also blue suede. The truck has two 12-inch JL W7s that cut through the cab and bed. It runs Focal highs and an Alpine deck with Alpine amps.