By Scotty Lachenauer – Images by the Author
When truck enthusiast Michael Phillips needed a heavy-duty workhorse pickup to help out with the daily grind, he took a good look around to see what was available. “I really wanted a cool truck for our business, Phillips Farms in Cary, North Carolina, so I searched all over for something that I could use not only here on the homestead but also to tow our other show-quality 1976 C10 to the big shows we attend across the country,” Michael states.
So, he got to work searching marketplace sights as well as social media for the truck that would fit the bill and cover both needs. After a thorough investigation, he hit the jackpot. “I was searching through some Websites and located the truck I wanted. It was out at Hot Rods and Customs by Jack in Sierra Vista, Arizona. I made a deal sight unseen for the 1973 C30 Camper Special Dually that proprietor Jack Kattke had on hand. I always wanted one and it piqued my interest when I saw the color combo. It was the model I needed to do the things I needed to do.”
So, the next step was getting the truck to where it needed to be. It was an easy decision for Michael to send the C30 directly to Blue Sky Performance and Restoration in Andover, New Jersey. “Jesse Barratt and Jeff Manzella at Blue Sky had already built me my beautiful C10, so it was a no-brainer to get them onboard to do this one as well. I really wanted the truck done by the Goodguys show in Columbus, which was at this point just 2 months away. I also wanted them to drive it there, and then I would pick it up and drive it home. [Barratt] and [Manzella] were game to see that idea come to fruition, so I shipped the truck up to Jersey to have it completed into the hauler I needed it to be.”
Blue Skies Ahead
The truck’s condition was a little less than perfect but certainly worth the money spent, but the engine bay was a mess. “It had a tired 350ci small-block backed by a Turbo 400 transmission. Everything underhood needed some attention, which included the firewall that was ready for a cleanup and a fresh rewiring,” Michael says. But there was certainly an upside to this ride. “The interior was mostly redone, and it had suspension upgrades. The truck also had that great patina that formed on its medium olive-colored skin.”
Once the truck arrived at Blue Sky, the crew got down to brass tacks. “We had talked the build over with Michael thoroughly. He wanted the truck to be a workhorse, but a good looking one at that. The patina was staying so no body and paint was needed, but it also needed some suspension TLC, interior add-ons, and, of course, some Chevy big-block muscle to go along with it,” Barratt says. The guys decided on a classic, stroked-out big-block Chevy engine for muscle, along with a tow-ready automatic to help add to the truck’s hauling capabilities.
So, the guys at Blue Sky mulled over the situation and got to it. “We knew it was asking a lot to get this done in less than 8 weeks, as we have a dozen cars on here already being worked on. It was certainly going to be a challenge to give the truck what it needed in this time frame and have it up to our standards,” Barratt states.
The crew tackled the chassis first. They got in deep underneath and inspected all the pertinent parts and pieces. Luckily, most of the suspension was in good shape and reused, as it was already set up with helper bags and onboard air, along with drop spindles and lowering shackles. Blue Sky checked out the truck’s Dana 70, which was built with 3.73 gears, and determined it was up to the task and ready to tow anything Michael could throw its way. The truck was also C-notched previously to help get the stance the past owner desired.
Once the underside was finished, the guys jumped on the interior. The C30 had some previous work already done in the cockpit, which was a big help. The bench seat was brand new and upholstered with stock upholstery. The matching door panels were in good shape and reused for the rebuild. Blue Sky worked on the dash and stuffed it with new Dakota Digital gauges to keep track of the vitals. An Ididit shorty steering column from Squarebody Syndicate, along with a stock steering wheel help keep this ride pointed in the right direction. Vintage Air controls the HVAC to keep the cockpit comfy inside on those steamy Carolina summer days. Oh yeah, that “custom” console sitting on the bench is actually a vintage Igloo armrest/drink holder that Michael just couldn’t live without. “It’s just a cool vintage piece that just has the vibe I’m going for in my vehicles,” Michael states.
Next, let’s look at the powerplant that motor-vates this ride. “We ordered up a BluePrint Engines 496ci big-block Chevy and went to work on it. It was torn down and painted with new add-ons to make it look like an original early-’70s Chevy mill. Inside, nothing was touched, and mechanically it’s as delivered by BluePrint,” Barratt says. The engine is 600 hp right out of the crate and features a cast-iron standard deck block, forged steel crank, hypereutectic pistons, and a hydraulic roller cam. Topped with a set of BluePrint Engines Muscle Series aluminum heads, a dual plane intake, and Holley 850-cfm double-pumper, this 10.1 compression monster is the perfect stump puller, able to tow a big load, all wrapped up in a bright Chevy orange package.
Like any tow vehicle, the transmission is a very important part of the powertrain recipe. “We chose a Bowler Performance–built 4L80E trans to do the shifting. It’s built specifically for towing with a triple disc converter and has a trailer mode for towing. Behind it is a heavy-duty, 4-inch aluminum driveshaft to help deliver the big-block’s power out to the rear,” Manzella states. From there the crew added a 10,000-pound-rated hitch and a REDARC trailer brake controller to help with pulling those heavy loads. Spent gases flow through a set of Hooker 2-inch primary long-tube headers and into FP Performance mufflers by way of an X-pipe and 3-inch exhaust. Stock brakes were rebuilt and an electric Tesla iBooster was used for push. For a dose of mega bling is a set of flat-faced 22×9 Alcoa wheels with weighted center free-spin hubs to help set this Dually apart from its peers.
Dual-Purpose Dually
Without time to spare, Blue Sky finished up the Dually and brought it out to Columbus for the unveiling. Michael was stoked to see his new truck, which was built up exactly the way he wanted it. “I had not seen the truck in person yet. I thought it came out amazing, and I plan to drive it almost daily. So far, I’ve had it on the farm and around the community and up in Ohio at Columbus. Everyone seems to like it and I plan on knocking out a good clearcoat over the top of it to keep that patina and that nostalgia that seems to be popular. We call it “Rowdy Moss” because of its aggressive looks and earthy green color.”
Michael continues: “I usually do the opposite of what I did on this truck. I normally get paint and body and everything else done and then try to go back and get the engine bay and everything else superclean. But this one I really like the patina outside, and I liked all the old emblems. It just had all the nostalgia that I was looking for and when I presented it to Blue Sky Performance and Restoration, they did the full motor setup, firewall cleanup, new electrical, and new transmission and just made it a monster for towing the whole crew.” We say mission accomplished.
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