The Journey HQ Boys Built It Their Way

Some trucks just have that pull, you know, not because of shiny paint or big chrome, but because they’re built with real history under the hood. For Chase Calloway and Russell McClendon out of Palestine, Texas, their ‘83 GMC C10, “Old Mac,” is that kind of rig. It’s not just another slammed long bed. It’s a truck tied to their roots, their hometown, and years of backroad stories.

Old Mac rolled off the lot at Chase’s granddad’s dealership way back in the day. Later on, it became the first ride for Russell’s best buddy in high school. After plenty of nights cruising and raising hell, the truck sat for years until an old neighbor, not knowing the story behind it, offered it back up to Chase. Once it hit the floor at Journey HQ, the mission was clear. This wasn’t gonna be just a pretty face; it was gonna be a runner.

Journey HQ ain’t some fancy shop taking customer work. Chase and Russell started it to build what they wanted, show it off, and have a good time doing it. No customers, no suits telling ‘em how to build—just two guys wrenchin’, filming, and raising a little dust online.

Old Mac isn’t about chasing trophies;  it’s about building what  you love, beating on it, and having a blast —just the way real truck guys like it.

At first, they dropped the C10, slapped on some wheels, and called it a shop truck. That lasted ‘til a burnout cooked the stock motor. After that, Old Mac got serious. It soon received a junkyard 5.3 LS, twin VS Racing turbos, Holley intake, Terminator X Max tuning, and a side-exit exhaust out the old gas doors. Friends told ‘em not to punch the turbos through the hood, but they did it anyway, and man, it makes the truck.

It’s rough around the edges but built to move. They backed it up with a full QA1 suspension, a custom 9-inch rearend from LaFitte Fabrication, Baer brakes, and big JTX wheels—22s up front and 24s out back. The engine? Straight-up junkyard gold. They cleaned the cylinders with sandpaper, dropped in a cam and springs, buttoned it up, and it’s been hittin’ hard ever since.

Inside, it’s DIY cool, with stock seats wrapped in vinyl and cow print from Hobby Lobby and a full Memphis Mojo audio setup pounding tunes. This truck has been to LS Fest, C10 Nationals, Goodguys, and burnout pits everywhere.

Old Mac isn’t about chasing trophies; it’s about building what you love, beating on it, and having a blast—just the way real truck guys like it.

“Build what makes you happy,” Chase said. “That’s the whole point.”

 

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OWNER
Chase Calloway and Russell McClendon

• 1983 GMC C10
• Palestine, TX
• Journey HQ

ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN

• 5.3L LS (junkyard special)
• VS Racing twin turbos
• Summit camshaft
• Trick Flow valvetrain
• Holley intake
• Holley Terminator X Max
• Custom side-exit exhaust through original fuel doors
• 4L80E automatic transmission

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

• QA1 C10 crossmember with double adjustable coilovers
• QA1 truck arm rear setup
• Custom 9-inch rear by LaFitte Fabrication
• WHEELS, TIRES & BRAKES
• 22- and 24-inch JTX Forged wheels
• Street performance radials
• Baer 6P brakes all around

BODY & PAINT

• Original patina preserved and cleared
• Turbo hood exits, exhaust through original fuel doors

INTERIOR & AUDIO

• Stock frames wrapped in vinyl and Hobby Lobby cow print fabric
• Full Memphis Mojo Pro system (4 subs, mids, tweeters)
• Handmade door panels, custom-stitched headliner, cow print dash cap