’55 Chevy 3100 with ’85 Trans Am implant parts

Small Budgets and Big Smiles

If you search “Lowla” on Urban Dictionary’s website, she’s defined as really sweet and kind girl who is HOT! She is the leader of her friends and the most popular person in school. You don’t want to mess with a Lowla, especially when she’s someone’s love. In this case, Lowla is a ’55 Chevy 3100 owned by Miranda and Jason Clark in Deland, Florida. Lowla was meant to be a low-budget build with a cap of $6,500 on modifications. The mission was accomplished, and their pride and joy look amazing. 

The biggest issue with this truck was that the engine was useless and had to be replaced. An LS swap or crate engine was for sure out of the budget, so they used their available resources. To replace the factory power plant, they chose a Pontiac V-8 engine out of an ’85 Trans Am that was tuned with port injection. The block was never modified and maintains its stock internals to this day. A custom built, rear dual exhaust with 2-inch stainless piping let the air move free out of the back of the truck. The installed 700R4 transmission and rear drive axle are also from the same ’85 Trans Am with no modifications made to the factory unit. To bring this build to a stop, the complete disc brake system from the Trans Am was utilized along with a Chevy Camaro master cylinder.

The framerails of this truck were modified heavily to sit low and ride great. A Z’d Chevy Camaro subframe was added to the stock rails, and the rear frame braces that were modified to fit the under-bed fuel tank came out of a Chevy C20 van. The suspension setup consists of a CPP rear flip kit and 2-inch drop spindles up front. Along with coilovers all around, an oversized sway bar gives this old girl some new joints. The final things to bolt on are bigger, safer brakes and the stock 15-inch wheels wrapped in Diamond Back Classics tires with thick white walls. We love that look!

The outside of the truck is a natural patina with new aftermarket parts, including a new chrome grille and all new bumpers from a ’55-’59 Chevy truck. To make it a little more custom, the gap between front bumper and front body panel was reduced to look smoother, and a custom-built bed from reclaimed barn wood was created for style. All this professional work was possible thanks to Jason Clarke at 386Kustoms in South Daytona, Florida. If the rest of his work is this clean, we can’t wait to see what he pumps out next.

“Ever since I was a little girl and my dad would take me to car shows, I wanted a classic truck,” said Miranda. “My husband made me a promise that he would build me my dream truck, and her name is Lowla.”

Truck specs

 Owner/BUILDERS 

Miranda and Jason Clark
Deland, Florida
’55 Chevy Second Series 3100
Color: Tropical Turquoise/Axalta basecoat
Engine: ’85 Pontiac Trans Am V-8
Transmission: ’85 Pontiac Trans Am 700R4
Shifter: Lokar Products
Fuel Tank: Chevy C20 van under bed mounted
Axle/brakes: ’85 Pontiac Trans Am stock
Suspension: CPP rear flip kit, 2-inch drop spindles front and rear coilovers
Wheels: Stock 15-inch wheels
Tires: Diamond Back Classics white walls
Modifications: Jason Clarke at 386Kustoms
Interior: Vinyl wrapped stock bench seat by Graham Clarke at Auto Trim Upholstery
Bumpers: ’55-’59 Chevy