TRUCK SPECS
OWNER
Isaias Vega
1969 Chevrolet C-10 Ukiah, CA
Ground Zero
ENGINE
Installation and wiring by Jimmy Ellison GM Performance LS3 430 hp, 424 lbs-ft torque
Hedman headers Custom exhaust by Norcal Tires Magnaflow performance muffler Green air filter and custom intake tubing KMJ Performance valve covers
RAB Performance polished pulleys and drive accessory 4L65E auto transmission Two-piece driveshaft Boyd fuel tank
CHASSIS & SUSPENSION
Porterbuilt front Dropmember system, upper and lower control arms
CPP 2-inch drop spindles
Ridetech TQ shocks Air Lift Dominator 2600 ’bags
Rear 4-link with Watts link
10-inch C-notch
Rear CPP 12-inch disc brake conversion
CPP hydroboost Powder-coated frame
WHEELS & TIRES
20x9 and 20x10
Intro polished Split 5 wheels
255/35R20 and 285/30R20 Toyo tires
BODY & PAINT
House of Kolor Lime Time Pearl
Airbrush detailing by Isaias Vega
Factory front bumper Aftermarket 1969 grille with Chevrolet logo deleted
Shaved handles Mar-k wood floor Once-piece Products window kits (flush mount front and rear glass, one-piece side glass)
United Pacific headlights
Slosh Tubz
INTERIOR & STEREO
Shop: Daniel’s Custom Upholstery
Leather seating by Tea’s Design
Custom door panels AVS steering wheel Infinity Reference series speakers JL Audio amp
Optima battery
SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “Thanks to my dad, my best friend Jimmy Ellison for all his hard work on the engine install and help throughout the build, and to all my other friends who helped with what they could.” the frame coming together, I was able to look forward to moving on to the rest of the truck.” Being a body and paint man by trade, Isaias was in a great position to bank on his valuable knowledge of straightening metal panels and spraying professional grade layers of color and clear. Nothing that doesn’t belong has been added to the exterior of the truck, which was purely intentional. Aside from shaved handles and mirrors, custom glass and some nicely executed sheet metal shaping in the bed and cab, the C-10 maintains a clean, factory appearance, which is worth more than thousands of dollars of bolt-on accessories. To seal the deal on the bodywork, Isaias selected House of Kolor Lime Time pearl to coat the freshly massaged panels. The solid green shade keeps the Chevy looking classic, and the pearl really takes things into a whole other dimension under the right lighting.
So far, Isaias was tailoring his build to his
exact standards of a classic truck with judiciously selected modern conveniences. Although sticking with a vintage engine could’ve been more cost effective, he was designing the truck to be a driver. That fact stuck in the back of his mind as he began scouting around for a new power plant. “I was going to install an LS1 out of a Camaro, but the truck was looking way better than I had planned, so I felt a little guilty about wanting to install an older engine. Instead, I upgraded to a brand-new
LS3 from GM Performance, along with a new 4L65E transmission.” That was a smart move for more reasons than one. For starters, the truck will fire up with ease; and second, it’s an LS. If Isaias ever wants his truck to go even faster than it does now, there’s a whole world of performance products that have been developed especially for that exact engine. To ensure the fresh crate engine would fire at optimum power, Jimmy Ellison was recruited to handle all of the installation and wiring.
In this day and age, a lot of guys subscribe to the theory that bigger is better. Well, it might not be everybody’s idea of “better,” but moderation is sometimes king. Isaias could have easily chosen a set of 22s for the front, and perhaps stuffed 24s into the rear, but he opted to keep the
size of the wheels within reason. “I kept the wheel size smaller at 20 inches. I could have gotten away with more, but I didn’t want to overdo it. The overall idea of this truck was to modify it in a way that kept everything looking as subtle as possible so the truck could hold on to that timeless vibe while still having touches of modern appeal.”
The truck’s interior is a prime example of Isaias’ approach. He turned this portion of the build over to Daniel’s Custom Upholstery and Tea’s Design for a truly custom leather split bench seat. Throw in a shaved and painted dash, updated gauges, aftermarket steering wheel, plush carpet, door panels, etc., and you’re left with a well-rounded custom truck fit for show and the open road.
It might not be flashy or outfitted with a DVD player, GPS navigation or heated seats, but this C-10 hits the marks that truly matter. It’s lean and clean, and with all of the nondescript, yet highly desirable, components stashed away, Isaias’ truck is most definitely mean. The Chevy has been updated where updates matter most. Introducing frills for their own sake just wasn’t part of the game plan. Old stuff can be successfully blended with new stuff, as long as the formula is properly balanced.