Turbo LS Chevy C10 Built to Run and Show

Joe Acevedo Jr . February 03, 2026 . c10 .

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What Doesn’t Kill You

In the heart of Edinburg, Texas, where the streets hum with truck culture and late-night wrench sessions are a rite of passage, a 1968 Chevy C10 named Venom has been turning heads and dropping jaws. Owned by Lionel Rios, Venom is more than a build; it’s a family heirloom, a high school memory, and a testament to patience, vision, and perseverance.

Chevy C10

“This truck was originally my brother’s,” Lionel tells us. “We had it back in high school. But once he got a new one, the C10 ended up just sitting at my dad’s place for years.” What was left was a forgotten shell—weathered, worn, and waiting. When the time came for his brother to sell it, Lionel stepped in. “I ended up trading him a running car just to keep it. I told myself I’d build it one day.”

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Chevy C10

That “one day” turned into years of planning, wrenching, and dialing in every detail. What started as a humble LS swap and wheels spiraled into something much more aggressive. The build snowballed into a full-on “show and go” truck that’s just as comfortable cruising with the family as it is pulling up to a local meet.

Chevy C10

Venom doesn’t whisper; it growls. Equipped with a turbocharged 6.0L, thanks to the help of Kike at KHP Performance out of Pasadena, Texas, the C10 packs serious power with a dialed-in motor setup that’s built to run strong and stay clean. “Kike helped out big with parts and motor work,” Lionel says. “I owe him for keeping this project on track.”

Black chevy c10

The truck also sports a beautifully fabricated stainless steel exhaust, all TIG-welded and custom-piped, by Steven Macias of Wicked Fab in Alvin, Texas. Every bend and weld screams craftsmanship, giving Venom the kind of underbody detail usually reserved for high-end show builds.

Chevy C10

But for Lionel, this project wasn’t just about stacking parts or chasing trophies. It was about creating a memory machine—a truck he could cruise in with his wife and kids and a reason to spend late nights in the garage doing what he loves. “It took many long nights and weekends,” he says. “But my wife and kids supported me through it all. That means everything.”

And of course, no build story is complete without a nod to the crew that rides with you. “Big shoutout to Cesar and Cris! They are my boys—my cruising buddies. I couldn’t have done this without good friends around.”

Venom is more than steel and horsepower. It’s proof that some things are worth the wait. It’s a story of family, friendship, and the drive to turn an old shell into a street legend.

Keep your eyes peeled in South Texas, because you just might hear Venom before you see it.

1968 Chevy C10 QA1 coilover conversion kit