Classic square body Chevrolet trucks have become prime candidates for pro touring builds, blending vintage truck styling with modern drivability. Jason and Lucia Taylor’s 1986 Chevrolet C10 short-bed is a textbook example — a purpose-built cruiser that has already proven itself on thousands of road-trip miles, including the 2025 Pavement Pounder Events Route 66 cruise to the SEMA Show.
Jason purchased the truck in 2020 during the height of COVID. “I bought it as a father-and-son project,” Jason says. “But it quickly turned into more of a father project when my son’s interests leaned toward newer cars.”
The price was right and the truck’s body was rust-free with original sheetmetal. While it technically ran and drove, Jason describes the trip home as “adventurous.” The brakes were barely functional, and the small-block under the hood threatened to quit more than once before he made it safely back home.
Once home, the teardown began. The factory 350 small-block and TH350 automatic transmission were replaced with a built 383 small-block from Skip White Performance and a fortified TH700-R4 automatic transmission with overdrive. The goal was simple: more power and highway-friendly cruising.
Initially, the 383 relied on a carburetor. But Florida’s summer heat quickly led to vapor lock issues. Jason responded by converting to a Holley Sniper EFI system, eliminating the problem and significantly improving drivability. A Holley mid-mount front accessory drive system cleaned up the engine bay and enhanced belt alignment and packaging.
The suspension received equal attention. Up front, CPP tubular control arms combine with Wilwood 2-inch drop spindles and Ridetech 2-inch drop springs. In the rear, 2-inch drop leafsprings and 2-inch lowering shackles level the ride, providing a low stance without C-notching the frame. Ridetech shocks control ride quality at all four corners.
Braking performance was upgraded dramatically with Wilwood 6-piston calipers and 14-inch rotors up front. The truck rides on 22×9 Ridler wheels in the front and 22x10s in the rear, wrapped in Nexen Roadian tires, giving the square body an aggressive, road-ready presence.
The truck was completed in late 2023, and Jason and Lucia have wasted no time putting it to use. Between the annual C10 Nationals in North Carolina and the inaugural Pavement Pounder Events Route 66 cruise to the 2025 SEMA Show, the square body has already logged serious road miles.
The truck has proven reliable, with only one minor issue along the way — the electric vacuum pump supplying the brake booster failed during the Route 66 drive. A quick roadside reroute to engine vacuum had the brakes functioning properly again, and the journey continued.
That is exactly what this truck was built to do: drive. Next on the agenda for Jason, Lucia and their square body is the 2026 Pavement Pounder Events cruise from Detroit to Wheel Hub Live.