Chevy Truck Triple Play

Some of Our Favorite All-Time Chevy Trucks

By Chuck Vranas – Photography by the Author

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There’s nothing better than looking through the decades to showcase some of our favorite Chevy trucks knowing that this is just a start since there are so many cool ones out there. Regardless if you’re working on a ‘40s-era truck or one well into the ‘70s…even the ’80s! One thing is for sure, each one is a blank canvas ready for your performance upgrades, exterior customizing and interior details. Selecting just the right engine and transmission combination will add plenty go while suspension changes can make your truck handle like it’s connected to the street on ‘rails. Let’s take a look into this first grouping to see how the owners added their own personal touch to each one.

Chassis: 9-inch Ford Rearend

Bob DiTomaso of Saugus, Massachusetts nails the perfect look with his 1948 Chevy hauler.

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TCI Engineering frame; boxed with custom crossmembers. Out back a Currie Enterprises 9-inch rear features Moser Engineering 31-spline axles and 3.50 gears. It’s suspended n place by an adjustable custom four-link, RideTech coilover shocks and antiroll bar. Up front a TCI Engineering IFS features tubular control arms, 2-inch drop spindles, RideTech coilover shocks and antisway bar. For a classic look, 15-inch chrome artillery wheels from the Wheelsmith wear wide whites from BFGoodrich/Coker.

Engine & Trans: Chevy 454 & Holley Carb

Chevrolet Performance ZZ454ci crate engine with a forged steel crank and rods linked to forged aluminum pistons getting bumped by a hydraulic roller cam. High-flow oval-port aluminum heads with 110-cc combustion chambers and 9.6:1 compression are matched to a Chevrolet Performance intake and a Holley Street Avenger 770cfm carb with custom air cleaner. A GM 700R4 trans meets a North Shore Axle & Machine driveshaft.

Body & Interior: Spies Hecker Jet Black & Classic Instruments Gauges

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Karpenko Kustomz and number of local artisans added custom body updates including frenched headlights, 1959 Cadillac taillights and louvered body panels. Derek Karpenko metal finished everything and added the Spies Hecker Jet Black gloss with a complimenting Bed Wood & Parts custom-finished wood bed floor. Inside the stock dash is filled with Classic Instruments gauges. An ididit column wears a 1940 Ford wheel complimented by a Lokar shifter and Vintage Air. Kustom Kreations added black leather rolls and pleats to a Glide Engineering seat along with black square-weave carpeting.

Chassis: Corvette C4 IRS

Peter Bourikas of Quincy, Massachusetts injects plenty of venom into this 1957 Chevy pickup.

Stock frame; Hot Rod Services (HRS) boxed and C-notched along with Progressive Automotive crossmembers. In back a refreshed C4 Corvette IRS with RideTech ‘bags and HRS antiroll bar were installed with conversion parts from Progressive Automotive. Up front a restored C5 Corvette IFS features 2-inch drop spindles with RideTech ‘bags and HRS antiroll bar.  Adding style; Foose Nitrous-model wheels sized 18×8 front and 20×10 rear wear rubber from Nitto.

Engine & Trans: Chevy 355 & Kinsler EFI

Reid’s Automotive assembled a 355ci mill packed with a Scat forged steel crank linked to matching H-beam rods topped with Sealed Power hypereutectic slugs with thump from a COMP Cams roller stick. Air Flow Research Eliminator aluminum heads meet a Mooneyes cross-ram intake with custom Kinsler fuel injection, Holley 42lb injectors and Holley HPE EFI Management system. A Triangle Transmission TH400 trans meets an HRS driveshaft.

Body & Interior: Sherwin Williams Red & Classic Instruments Gauges

With perfect factory steel, Peter added custom updates including 1958 Corvette grille teeth, Matt Hotch flush-fit gas cap, flipped the rear bumper and metal finishing the cab and bed. George Bourikas laid down the mile-deep coating of Sherwin Williams Rocket Fire Red. The dash packs dials from Classic Instruments with a restored factory wheel on the original column. Shifts come from Lokar; Vintage Air adds a breeze and tunes are from Clarion and Rockford Fosgate. The original bench was recovered in red and white vinyl by HRS who also added the black loop carpet.

Chassis: GM 12-bolt Rearend

Corbin Martin, East Freetown, Massachusetts laid-out his wicked 1972 Chevy C10.

Stock frame; boxed with custom crossmembers. In back a GSI Machine & Fabrication rear air ride kit features four-link, RideTech ‘bags, and 10-inch notch.  Up front a GSI Machine & Fabrication IFS includes tubular control arms, CPP 2 ½-inch drop Modular spindles, and RideTech ‘bags. Linking it to the street are a 20-inch Intro Exposed 5-Series Vista II wheels with rubber from Kuhmo.

Engine & Trans: Chevy 350 & Holley Sniper EFI

Al’s Engine Works built a 350ci V-8 filled with a Scat cast iron crank linked to matching 4340 steel rods wearing SRP forged aluminum pistons bumped by a Crane cam. Massaged iron heads meet an Edelbrock Performer intake crowned by a Holley Sniper EFI Quadrajet.  An FTI Performance Stage II TH400 links to a Long Plain Service driveshaft.

Body & Interior: PPG Red & Dakota Digital Gauges

Starting with a clean cab and bed, custom updates include shaved door handles and gas door, 1970 C10 bumpers, LMC Truck two–piece billet grille and 1967 Chevy C10 side moldings from MAR-K. Pat O’Brien of Procision Industries prepped the steel for a coating of PPG Viper Red and Titanium Silver. Inside the dash has Dakota Digital gauges to monitor the vitals matched to the stock steering wheel, column and shifter. The original bench was treated to a black diamond cover from LMC Truck with matching side panels and black loop carpet. CTP

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