1986 Chevy C-10 Pickup * Jeremy Barrett * Gretna, NE
After an accident had rendered his previous '80 C-10 totaled, Jeremy Barrett had to have another. Jeremy is in school studying mechanical engineering, and works in a facility that designs and tests turbochargers. He searched for a truck model he could transplant the wrecked truck's drivetrain into. Once he found the right truck, this '86 Chevy C-10, Jeremy knew he wanted to experiment with a turbo system of his own. "I can't tell you how exciting it was to see the needle on the boost gauge pass zero for the first time," Jeremy writes. He is jealous when he hears of people enjoying their project cars, and hopes his being published in PHR will help get him motivated again.
| By The Numbers |
| Engine: | 383-inch turbocharged small-block Chevy |
| Transmission: | 4L80E |
| Suspension: | Prothane bushings, traction bars |
| Brakes: | Hydroboost with disc front |
| Rear: | GM 12-bolt with 3.73 gears and True-Trac posi |
| Wheels: | American Racing aluminum |
| Tires: | BFG Radial T/A |
1991 Firebird * Bill Thompsen * Punta Gorda, FL
Bill Thompsen Jr. is submitting this car in our reader projects issue for his father. Bill writes: "He's a quiet, modest man, with an abundance of talent. He would never send in photos of his project to the magazine for himself, so I had to step in." Bill's dad has helped him build many cars over 35 years. He was trained in the art of bodywork early in his teen years. At the time he just saw it as work, and has learned to appreciate his father's help in his smarter years. Bill Jr. found this '91 Firebird in 100 percent stock condition, a rare find. It's a 305 TPI small-block car with no T-tops; this was exactly what Bill Jr. wanted. The original Maui Blue paint was rough, so father and son plan to re-shoot it in the backyard.
| By The Numbers |
| Engine: | 305 TPI small-block Chevy |
| Transmission: | 700-R4 |
| Suspension: | WS6 (front and rear) |
| Interior: | original A/C, new weather stripping |
| Body: | repaint Maui Blue |
| Wheels: | restored WS6 |
| Original Miles: | 157,000 |
1950 Chevy Sedan * Paul Williams * Gillette, WY
This two-door sedan was originally ordered by Paul Williams' parents in 1949. It lived with them in southwest Iowa until Paul got his hands on it in 2000. It was being stored in his parents' garage, which was falling down around it. Paul sold his '70 Chevelle to make room for the relic, and planned the build to be the muscle car of 1950. He gave it a brutal 468-inch big-block Chevy that earned this rod 12-second passes at the dragstrip in Douglas, Wyoming, which has a higher elevation than Denver. While it's still being built, the old Chevy wears hot rod satin black paint, but is going to be painted the same color as Paul's old Chevelle: Cranberry Red.
| By The Numbers |
| Engine: | 468ci big-block Chevy |
| Transmission: | Borg Warner T10 |
| Suspension: | '78 Nova stub (front and rear) |
| Brakes: | '78 Nova |
| Rear: | 8.5-inch GM 10-bolt with 3.42 gears and posi |
| Wheels: | Crager chrome (15-inch) |
| Performance: | high 11-second (corrected e.t.) |