HOMETOWN HEROES – A collection of great reader rides

A GLIMPSE AT OUR READERS’ CUSTOMS

A Clean C-20

BRUCE HAUSER’S ’67 CHEVROLET C-20 HAS BEEN WITH HIM SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. Considering Bruce is 68 years young, the dedication he’s had to his truck is nothing to scoff at. In amazing shape today, and with the work done by the owner himself, it is easy to see that this C-20 has been well loved.

Featuring a 350-ci Edelbrock motor with aluminum intake and double pumper Holley, this ’67 has power under the hood. The Chevy also features a TH400 turbo-hydraulic transmission with a race shift kit and downshift kit. Hedman headers with 3-inch stainless dual exhausts exit from the rear, giving the truck an extra touch of style. The C-20 sits pretty on American Racing Baja wheels and Goodyear Duratrac tires. The interior features a hands-free Bluetooth Sony radio as well as a Boss-powered subwoofer with Alpine R series speakers. The floor has been fixed with Dynamat and outfitted with new carpet to keep in all of that sound.

Despite how clean this C-20 build is, Bruce has further plans. He’s already looking to install one-piece door windows and an American Autowire Power Plus 20-wire loom.

Bruce and his Chevy have been together almost since the start, and we can wait to see where they end up.

Second-Chance Chevy

THIS ’71 CHEVROLET C-10 LONG-BED HAS BELONGED TO DAVID CACH FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, MAKING HIM THE TRUCK’S THIRD OWNER. When David bought the Chevy, the truck hadn’t run in more than two years. Since he has taken ownership, the C-10 has made an incredible transformation worthy of being Hometown Hero.

The C-10’s stock 307 engine has been brought back to life with a fresh TH400 transmission behind it, putting the Chevy back in running condition. After setting things right in the engine compartment, David rebuilt the rearend and started on the bodywork, completely stripping it to bare metal and reskinning the doors.

After the body was brought back into shape, David started to work on the interior, reupholstering the factory bench seat on his own. While rebuilding most of the suspension system, he lowered the ’71 to a 5- to 6-inch static drop, adding style to the revamped classic ride. The suspension setup was topped off with a set of American Racing Torque Thrust wheels in Nitto rubbers.

Every month we will select a “Hometown Hero,” and two runners-up. Get a chance to see your pride and joy in print. To enter, please send a high-resolution photo and your vehicle information (name, year, make and model of truck, engine/performance, exterior, suspension, wheels/tires and interior) to streadersrides@engagedmediainc.com or mail to 17890 Sky Park Circle #250, Irvine, CA 92614.

Matte White Chevy

AS A YOUNG KID BORN AND RAISED IN IOWA, BEN HAGEN MOVED AROUND A LOT BEFORE EVENTUALLY LANDING IN MASON CITY. It was around the age of 13 when he fell in love with everything automotive. By 18, he was hired as a detailer at a body shop and soon became the head painter before leaving to start his own shop. Fast forward to 2018, he has personally painted more than 650 motorcycles with a base in car/truck work.

Ben originally bought this ’52 Chevrolet 3100 from a friend’s dad for only $800 after it had spent 10 years with its previous owner. “I bought a cab, doors, hood and fenders and a good title. From there I found a used 1949 short-box and an old, abused ’93 S-10. I used the S-10’s frame with hand-made body mounts. I also made the radiator support, cut down the inner fenders, made the firewall, bead rolled it, and then I assembled the whole thing from the ground up.”

This old Chevy has Dakota Digital gauges, Vintage AC, power steering, power brakes and rides on Stern Beast 20-inch wheels with 245/40/20 Hankook tires.

The engine is a 4.8 LS with a 4L60e transmission. “I also handmade a nice exhaust exit.” Speed Engineering headers and 40 series Flowmaster mufflers with 2.5-foot tubes were used for the exhaust. “I used GM Linen White matte clearcoated with gloss black accents. I did everything myself. Hope you like my pictures!”—We love them, Ben. Thanks for sharing.

Custom 1966

CALEB VOIROL’S ’66 CHEVY C-10 CUSTOM CAB IS NOT JUST A PROJECT, IT HAPPENS TO BE HIS DAILY DRIVER.

The truck has mostly original paint and an uncut dash along with the original bed wood floor. Caleb personally built the 355-ci motor last fall starting with a bored, honed and decked 1970 four-bolt main steel crank motor. An added Edelbrock 1405 600-cfm carb and Edelbrock’s Performer EPS intake work alongside the Lunati VooDoo 60102 camshaft and lifters. He used 11.5:1 fl at-top aluminum pistons, Summit Racing 202-style iron heads, a Melling high-volume oil pump and a Moroso 7-quart oil pan. A custom-machined aluminum pulley spacer was needed to run the original 283 pulley setup on a 350 crank with a short water pump. The stock 1966 C-10 air cleaner sits on top with a Summit Racing fl at base and a GM L79 327 filter element. Before bolting it in, the motor was painted with the original 327 green, and clear-coated bare steel 283 valve covers top it off.

The suspension has been lowered 2 inches in front and 4 inches in the rear using CPP springs and a pan-hard bar setup. Wheel Vintiques 15×8 smoothies are bolted in the rear with custom hubcap adapters, while stock 15×6 steel wheels ride up front with original 1967 C-10 hubcaps. “This truck is a reliable and fun daily driver.”— Thanks, Caleb.

Every month we will select a “Hometown Hero,” and two runners-up. Get a chance to see your pride and joy in print. To enter, please send a high-resolution photo and your vehicle information (name, year, make and model of truck, engine/performance, exterior, suspension, wheels/tires and interior) to streadersrides@engagedmediainc.com or mail to 17890 Sky Park Circle #250, Irvine, CA 92614.

Unibody Goals

THIS KILLER NATURAL PATINA ’61 FORD F-100 UNIBODY IS OWNED BY SOLOMON LUNGER FROM MIAMI. He has a truck and a goal, which is usually a winning combination. His plan is to lay the body and tuck the wheels. We can’t wait to see it when it’s complete. Solomon will be doing most of the work with his @unibodyunion crew, with some help from @i95motorsports. Check them out on Instagram.

RONNIE LUECK HAILS FROM WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, AND WITH TONGUE FIRMLY IN CHEEK, HE’S DUBBED HIS TRUCK THE GREEN TURD. Although the name might lead you to believe that Ronnie doesn’t sufficiently respect his ’05 GMC Sierra, he’s gone to some trouble to polish it. The truck wears a vertical billet grille and TYC projector headlights with DDM Tuning high, low and fog lights up front. In the rear, the tailgate has been shaved, and a license plate box has been frenched into the center. The truck also boasts a custom-built center console, green LEDs, two Memphis M6 12s, and Memphis amps and components. As we speak, The Turd is in the shop getting fitted for Air Ride and American Force 24×9 and 26x12s wheels.

SHAWN “NOK” HERNANDEZ IS NOT ONLY THE PROUD OWNER OF THIS ’07 CHEVY AVALANCHE, HE’S ALSO A CARD-CARRYING MEMBER OF NOKTURNAL CAR CLUB. As it stands now, most of the truck’s mods have been cosmetic, with Moe’s Customs spending time color-matching the steering wheel, L&N Upholstery designing and installing the alligator interior and DC Designs focusing its expertise installing the two Crossfire V2 15-inch subs and blow-through speakers. Custom paint and airbrushing courtesy of Byrdman Customs keeps the outside looking sharp, and the 30-inch Corleone three-piece forged wheels definitely set this Avalanche apart from the rest.

Every month we will select a “Hometown Hero” and one or two runners-up. Earn bragging rights and see your truck in the magazine! To enter, please send a high-resolution photo and your vehicle information (name, year, make and model of truck, engine/performance, exterior, suspension, wheels/tires and interior) to chamilton@engagedmediainc.com or mail to 17890 Sky Park Circle #250, Irvine, CA 92614.

The One and Only

WHEN A MAN HAS A PLAN, USUALLY NOT MUCH CAN STOP HIM. That’s was the case for Arizona native Ronnie Blain and his one-off build he calls C-10 Revival. This truck started its life as 2016 Chevy Silverado before Ronnie and his man Taylor Hoffman at Blain’s Body Shop in Lepanto, Arkansas, got a hold of it.

The idea grew from a desire to have the look of an old truck that rides and drives like a new one, along with all of the modern conveniences like cab room, quietness, ABS, airbags, gas mileage and A/C that actually works reliably. Re-skinning the 2016’s doors and cab corners with ‘67 C-10 door skins was task number one. By just re-skinning, they were able to maintain quietness and tight fi t of cab. The 1967 C-10 door handles were modified to use the factory latch, power locks and key fobs.

The bed is a from a ‘67 that was saved from a salvage yard and modified to bolt on the Silverado frame rails. The bed fl oor was raised 4 inches to give Ronnie the suspension clearance he needed. New steel bed floor and tubs were installed along with the lower front half of the bed sides. A 1967 factory installed tailgate and a custom fit roll pan fnished out the bed.

The front clip is all new ‘67 sheet metal with a used original radiator support and grille from salvage yard. Both fenders were modified and shortened to bolt in all the factory Silverado locations on the cab. The hood was shortened and then rolled to fit the curve of the windshield and also widened in back to accommodate the new cab. Ronnie and his team hand built the wiper cowl to look like original ‘67 and with fully functional wipers.

In the end, Ronnie and his crew have a truck with an old school C-10 look but is actually a 2016 that can take you anywhere you want to go, in comfort. Trust us when we say it draws a crowd anywhere it goes!

Every month we will select a “Hometown Hero” and one or two runners-up. Earn bragging rights and see your truck in the magazine! To enter, please send a high-resolution photo and your vehicle information (name, year, make and model of truck, engine/performance, exterior, suspension, wheels/tires and interior) to chamilton@engagedmediainc.com or mail to 17890 Sky Park Circle #250, Irvine, CA 92614.