Project Rocky Gets a Complete Suspension Makeover

Chris Hamilton . September 17, 2026 . Blood Sweat and Gears .

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AS SEEN IN OUR JUNE 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Living the Life and Printing the Passion

Well, it’s officially the end of an era that didn’t last long for Project Rocky. Our 2-wheel-drive lifted Chevy C10 is an impressive piece of custom truck culture, but unique styles often come with unique annoyances. In the case of Rocky, adding a beefy suspension under a somewhat light truck with a short wheelbase provided a high level of frustration while trying to go on a long cruise with my wife. The steering is a little loose due to the oversized wheels and tires, the upper control arms tend to bottom out over decent-sized bumps, and the rear end rides similar to a 60-year-old forklift thanks to the beefy leaf spring packs needed to raise the body in the air. All that, combined with a healthy amount of hate on social media being directed at the wheels and the lift on a 2WD, had us really considering making a change. But there are a few downsides that we had to consider.

So here’s the plan. We’re going to redo the complete suspension system with something that is specifically designed for this make and model truck…

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For one, this might be the only immaculately restored 2WD squarebody that’s lifted, LS-swapped, and is a full frame-off restomod that will never have a twin pull up to it at a red light. That’s a hard feat nowadays, but there’s more to consider. Have you seen the prices of fully restored custom C10 trucks lately on the TV-broadcasted automotive auction events? We’re talking north of $100,000! Could this truck bring that amount? Will we lose value by slamming it? Do any of those factors even matter? We built this truck from the ground up. Every bolt, every panel. So, when does the sentimental value outweigh the monetary value?

On top of all that, this truck was originally purchased for $1,500 as a rust-covered birthday gift from my amazing wife. How could I possibly sell it? Would you?

So here’s the plan. We’re going to redo the complete suspension system with something that is specifically designed for this make and model truck—a suspension that is designed to carve corners, sit the truck down in a menacing stance, and have enough adjustability to road trip comfortably or compete in any parking lot cone-cornering competition. Interested in our plans? Subscribe now and don’t miss a single step in the swap—starting with our next issue!

See you then!

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Chris Hamilton

Chris Hamilton is an automotive journalist, editor, and lifelong truck enthusiast with extensive experience covering custom truck builds, fabrication, performance upgrades, aftermarket products, and a ...

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