1973-87 Chevy squarebody pickups have gained the respect they deserve as scorching rod and {custom} challenge materials. They’re extra reasonably priced than the uber-popular 1967-72 vans (for now) and there are many restoration and improve components out there to construct one to your liking.
Take Dez Ferrell’s 1978 C10 Cheyenne Tremendous. Because the proprietor of Nessy’s Kustoms in Glendale, Arizona, she wanted a truck to do components runs and such. And since it could be a rolling billboard for the store, it needed to be an attention-getter.
Since we’re curious varieties, we requested Dez why she named the store Nessy’s Kustoms.
“It comes from a nickname I used to be given,” she mentioned. “Folks mentioned my perspective was just like the Loch Ness monster—solely few have seen it. Any time I had an perspective I used to be known as Nessy. I figured you want that edge and a little bit of perspective to achieve success, so I named the store Nessy’s Kustoms.”
Which makes the Cheyenne the Loch Ness C10, we suppose.
The squarebody isn’t Dez’s first traditional truck rodeo. She did the physique and paint work on a number of {custom} vans, together with a 1956 GMC, a 1956 Chevy, and a 1955 Ford F-100. The Ford was a radical {custom} constructed as a homage to the legendary George Barris’ ‘Kopper Kart’ ’56 Chevy pickup.
The Cheyenne construct additionally served as a hands-on challenge for girls who needed to find out about constructing scorching rods and moving into the new rod trade.
”I used the truck to as a instructing software to indicate college students find out how to work on vehicles and likewise to indicate ladies that this trade is nice and we are able to construct some wonderful issues,” Dez informed us.
Dez discovered the C10 on Craigslist for $1,200. We’re certain you’ll be completely shocked that it wasn’t precisely as described.
“I used to be informed it solely wanted a carb and some minor components,” she defined. “I towed it to my store and discover out the engine was utterly trashed and the transmission wanted a full rebuild. The physique was additionally worse than I anticipated. So as an alternative of simply constructing a pleasant store truck I needed to do a whole restoration.”
Dez tore the Cheyenne down and set to work. She introduced the physique again to life and added some delicate {custom} touches like a gasoline filler door moved to the bedside nook pocket, a metal rear roll pan, and a shaved firewall. Dez then broke out the paint weapons and sprayed the Cheyenne two-tone black and mint inexperienced with some metalflake added for further sparkle.
The truck was dropped 4 inches within the entrance utilizing QA1 Road higher and decrease management arms, McGaughy’s reducing springs, and McGaughy’s shocks. Dez added a QA1 entrance sway bar to enhance the Cheyenne’s dealing with.
The rear of the truck was dropped six inches utilizing new leaf springs; McGaughy’s C-notch, flip, and rear shackle kits; and McGaughy’s shocks. The Cheyenne rides on 275/40-ZR20 tires mounted on 20-inch American Racing Salt Flat wheels painted black to match the truck.
The engine state of affairs didn’t go as easily as the remainder of the construct. Dez purchased a used 350 cubic inch small block Chevy to switch the dangerous motor the truck got here with, however after teardown she discovered that it was junk as nicely. She determined to go the crate engine route with a remanufactured lengthy block. Dez additionally had a set of GM 487X heads redone and fitted with Proform curler tip rocker arms. The 350 is topped with a Holley Sniper throttle physique system mounted on a Summit Racing Stage 1 twin aircraft consumption manifold.
A rebuilt Turbo 350 automated transmission is mated to a TCI Breakaway torque converter. It sends energy again to a GM 10-bolt rear axle outfitted with a Yukon Gear 3.08 ratio gear set and Dura Grip restricted slip differential.
Dez didn’t neglect the Cheyenne’s inside. She changed the manufacturing unit gauges with custom-designed gauges from Basic Devices fitted in an Autometer Direct-Match sprint panel. The cigarette lighter panel was transformed to a charging station for telephones and different digital gadgets. The truck’s bench seat was reupholstered in black vinyl with teal inserts, and the headliner was painted in black metaflake to color-coordinate with the outside paint.
You may be taught extra about Dez and her store on this Sizzling Rod Podcast interview on YouTube. It’s value testing.
Have a GM squarebody challenge of your personal? Check out among the components Dez used on her ’78 Cheyenne.
Engine
SUM-K8800 Summit Racing Professional SBC Cam Package
SUM-150123 Summit Racing Hydraulic Curler Camshaft Set up Package
SUM-1457200 Summit Racing Chromoly Pushrods
PRO-66906B Proform Curler Tip Rocker Arms
MIL-18755 Milodon Oil Pump, Commonplace Quantity
MIL-23050 Milodon Oil Pump Driveshaft
SUM-226012 Summit Racing Stage 1 Consumption Manifold
SNE-550-511 Holley Sniper EFI System
SNE-565-300 Holley Sniper EFI HyperSpark Distributor
SNE-556-151 Holley Sniper EFI Hyperspark CD Ignition
SUM-889009 Summit Racing 8.5mm Ignition Wires
Engine Equipment
SUM-G9006 Summit Racing Lengthy Tube Headers
EMS-MS108-15MB Eddie Motorsports Valve Covers
AAF-ALL81345 Allstar Efficiency Wire Separators
SUM-239433B Summit Racing Air Cleaner
SUM-384018-KIT1 Summit Racing Efficiency Match Radiator and Fan Package
SUM-340400BL Summit Racing Serpentine Accent Drive
Chassis and Suspension
QA1-52602 QA1 Road Higher Management Arms
QA1-52601 QA1 Road Decrease Management Arms
QA1-52896 QA1 Sway Bar
MMC-33128 McGaughys Entrance Coil Springs, 2-inch drop
MMC-1350 McGaughys Entrance Shocks
MMC-1850 McGaughys Rear Shocks
MMC-33152 McGaughys C-Notch Package
MMC-33156 McGaughys Rear Flip Package
MMC-33131 McGaughys Rear Spring Shackles
Inside
ATM-2137 Autometer Direct-Match Sprint Panel
OER-14031898 OER Sprint Pad
Misc. Components
SUM-760222 Summit Racing Energy Brake Conversion Package
PTP-7-1907-BL Prothane Engine and Transmission Mount Package
AWW-510347 American Autowire Basic Replace Wiring Harness
TCI-24090 TCI Breakaway Torque Converter
YGA-24492 Yukon Gear Ring and Pinion Gear Set, 3.08 ratio
YGA-26016 Yukon Gear Dura Grip Differential
