1964 Chevy Shortbed - Son's 1st Truck

Though the powerplant's a...        read full caption Though the powerplant's a stock '03 350ci GM RamJet, father and son dressed the engine with Jake's Racing custom valve covers, a K&N filter-protected custom air intake, and Doug Thorley tubular headers. Notice also the N.O.S. Chevy truck HVAC system.

Father and son installed the...        read full caption Father and son installed the oak and stainless stringer-comprised bed floor. The fuel filler for the 13-gallon No Limit Engineering aluminum fuel tank is also apparent.

When reminiscing about our first vehicles, some of us have tales of woe. Others are fortunate to drive very cool rides as soon as they get their license.

Such is the case for Jacob Smith, a 16-year-old whose first truck is light-years beyond nice. When we asked his dad Dan why he and Jake built the PPG 2-stage Black beauty '64 Chevy shortbed, Dan simply replied, "It's my son's first truck."

Five years ago, Dan bought four '64 Chevy trucks from the horror flick What Lies Beneath. He traded three of the longbeds for one shortbed and kept the other longbed for his wife, Kimberly. Father and son wasted no time in taking apart the shortbed and sandblasting the frame. They utilized Classic Performance Products 2-inch drop spindles and a 1 1/8-inch sway bar and Doetch Tech front shocks to renew the stock IFS. Improving the steering and stopping came by adding '70 Chevy-truck disc brakes and the '70's power-steering unit. CPP 4-inch lower rear springs and 2-inch lowering blocks brought the tail down nicely, especially since the rear wheels were moved back 1.25 inches to center in the wells. The restored 10-bolt differential received CPP custom disc brakes and new Doetch Tech shocks in addition to a NASCAR-style 7/8-inch-diameter rear sway bar. D&J blew apart the mocked-up chassis and applied PPG's DP90 to all appropriate frame components.

Selected for reliable daily driving duties, D&J installed a '03 Chevy Performance RamJet 350ci crate engine within the enhanced front framerails. A 1,900-stall converter and No Limit Engineering trans cooler-improved '80s 700-R4 trans was rebuilt to back the 350-horse engine. Apart from the No Limit-installed one-piece side windows, father and son performed most of the Chevy's bodywork. Chief among their masterful metal massaging, they removed the stock fuel filler and made a custom bedbox. After all the exterior panels fit spot on, the hobbyists artfully applied the PPG 2-stage Black paint job, achieving bodyman-black perfection.

Before D&J took the pickup to the auto trimmer, they modified the stock wiring harness to wire the truck with all its custom additions. They installed a Rockford Fosgate CD/DVD/MP3 player, complete with a 9-inch video screen, two JL Audio 300-watt amps, a JL Audio 500-watt amp, four JL Audio 6.5-inch subwoofers within their custom-crafted enclosure behind the seat, and two 6.5-inch Diamond speakers in custom-made kick panels beneath the dash. From the outside, Jake's '64 shortbed looks like an extremely well-restomoded ride. Upon further inspection one appreciates all the custom work that went into the creation of the Chevy. Superior fit and finish, attention to detail, and nuance are all elements that comprise the best custom classic pickups. Jake and Dan's '64 Chevy 1/2-ton is an emphatic example of a most worthy CCT cover truck. And that, gracious readers, speaks volumes.

A covered dash, an owner-fabricated...        read full caption A covered dash, an owner-fabricated center console, and custom wool carpet are a few items trimming the tastefully executed interior. Gray leather wraps the rim of the Budnik polished-billet aluminum steering wheel.	Gray leather also trims the...        read full caption Gray leather also trims the Glide Engineering seat.	Silkscreen on the stock gauge...        read full caption Silkscreen on the stock gauge panel could fool anyone into believing the instrument panel was not a full-on custom item. A North Hollywood speedometer complements the factory tach.
Cupholders and a 9-inch video...        read full caption Cupholders and a 9-inch video monitor fill the owner-fabricated center console.	Delta Flow mufflers are part...        read full caption Delta Flow mufflers are part of the custom exhaust system. Starting with the Chevy's carefully constructed chassis, father and son Smith are to be commended for a job very well done!	Including the gray leather...        read full caption Including the gray leather and wool carpet trimming the custom door panel, the upholstery work throughout the Chevy's interior is superlative.