Vehicle Description
Cruisin Classics is excited to present this 1963 Chevrolet C-10
known as "Grand Slammed"! This one-of-a-kind truck was built by the
well-respected Canadian builder Don Gasiunas, who likes to refer to
this creation as a Pro-Tour Rat Rod. For this build, he started
with a '63 C-10 that spent its life as a garbage truck for a
2,000-acre California ranch. Years of rough daily use in the hot
California sun gave this long-box truck just the right natural
patina look that Don was seeking for this project. Once Don had
found the truck, he set to work with the goal of combining modern
technology, high horsepower, and sophisticated handling to make
this ride like something "not been seen before" - and looking at
the finished product, he certainly achieved what he set out to do.
Let's dig a little deeper into this impressive and unique
C-10...
The exterior of this truck is truly unparalleled and unforgettable!
The body is dressed in a blend of worn light green paint, primer,
faded lettering, and corrosion, and it proudly wears a whole
collection of "battle scars" from its years on the ranch. The
patina was neither "optimized" nor touched up, though some very
cool custom touches have been added to the body. The grille and
front bumper have been given a fresh coat of matte black paint, and
the headlights have been upgraded to Sick HID lights. Two sets of
black louvers have been added to the hood for both looks and
improved ventilation. Rising from an opening in the center of the
hood is a black "angry duck" with bloodshot eyes and a cigarette in
its mouth. Making the duck even cooler is the fact that there's a
switch in the cab that makes his red eyes light up! Bright wiper
arms and door handles really pop against the rustic body. All of
the glass, rubber, and seals have been replaced and look fantastic.
Both fenders still wear their original "10" bowtie badges, and both
sides of the truck sport once bright side mirrors that now show
five decades of age. The driver's side features a distinctive beer
bottle gas "cap" just behind the door - one of Gasiuna's trademark
finishing touches. In the rear is a wood bed floor assembly that
can be raised and lowered via Dakota Digital automatic actuators
that are operated by a unit in the corner behind the driver's seat.
Raising the bed floor exposes a frame-mounted Boyd Welding EFI gas
tank with an Aeromotive in-tank pump as well as the air-ride system
and Optima battery. The tailgate features a custom-made air spoiler
(a nod to NASCAR) and hook & chain closures. The tailgate is
flanked by bright taillights, and beneath it is another matte black
bumper. Just ahead of the rear wheel openings on each side of the
bed are twin exhaust outlets framed by riveted sheet metal. Wheel
and tire treatment are an excellent fit for this truck with black
TSW "Monaco" wheels (18" front, 20" rear) all wrapped in black wall
Mickey Thompson Street Comp tires.
Now that we've talked about the body of "Grand Slammed", let's take
a look at what's hiding underneath. After the truck was initially
disassembled, the original frame was treated to a whole host of
bolt-on parts courtesy of PB Fab (PorterBuilt Fabrication) and
AccuAir. These modifications include a PB Fab drop system, upper &
lower tubular control arms, drop spindles, power steering rack,
transmission cross-member, rear chassis, rear drop-member with
trailing arms, and panhard bar. The AccuAir air ride suspension
includes dual ViAir 400C chrome compressors, a VU4 manifold,
4-corner ride height sensors, and programmable ride height settings
on a handheld controller in the cab. Needless to say, the ride
quality of this C-10 is first-rate!
As soon as you lift the hood of this truck, your heart will start
beating faster! This C-10 has said goodbye to its original
straight-6 and is now powered by an LS-A all-aluminum supercharged
6.2-liter 376ci V-8 that was sourced from a wrecked 2012 Cadillac
CTS-V. As if that wasn't enough by itself, a Lingenfelter blower
pulley and a performance tune were added to raise the horsepower
from 556 to 600, providing an intense power-to-weight ratio for
this 3,200 lb. truck. The big V-8 is mated up to a Tremec T-56
6-speed manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch that came out
of the same Cadillac as the engine. The 6-speed sends power through
a custom 2-piece high-strength aluminum driveshaft to the stock
12-bolt rear end housing, in which all gears and spindles have been
upgraded to modern high-strength pieces to handle up to 700 hp.
Exhaust flows through a custom 3" dual system with Flowmaster
mufflers and an electric bypass for open exhaust when desired.
Keeping the engine cool is a Champion 4-core aluminum radiator with
overflow cannister and a Derale electric cooling fan assembly. Also
attached to the fan system are separate cooling radiators for the
A/C system and the supercharger. With all that power, some serious
stopping ability is required, and this truck has that covered with
a Wilwood 4-wheel power disc brake system with red 6-piston
calipers and drilled & slotted rotors. Additionally, the truck has
been outfitted with a Lokar emergency brake assembly. Other items
of note under the hood include a Spectre air cleaner, an Aeromotive
fuel pressure regulator and filter, and a Holley oil pan.
The exterior of "Grand Slammed" may be rustic, but inside the cab
is a whole different world! While the outside of the truck was left
alone, the interior was blasted to the bare metal and painted light
silver. There is a freshly padded bench seat covered in beautiful
light tan leather that just begs you to hop in and go for a drive.
The floor is covered in new-looking tan hook & loop carpet that's
kept looking good with brown carpeted floor mats. Rising up from
the center of the floor is a Hurst dog-leg shifter with a white
pattern ball for the 6-speed transmission. The driver is treated to
a leather-wrapped Lacarra banjo-wire steering wheel on an Ididit
tilt column that frames a Dakota Digital instrument cluster with
VHX gauges. There are gauges for fuel, volts, temp, and oil, as
well as a speedometer and tachometer. The odometer reads 4,507
miles, and we believe that those are miles since the restoration.
Behind the gauges, all new wiring was customized, starting with an
American Wire harness for absolute reliability and driveability.
Beneath the gauges are knobs for the lights and working wipers, a
battery cut-off button, the ignition, and a push-start button from
a Ford GT40. Mounted under the dash, beneath the ignition, there is
a switch for the exhaust cut-outs. In the center section of the
dash, you'll find an ashtray, a KP Components dual needle air
pressure gauge, controls for the Vintage Air system, and an
original-looking push-button AM radio (inop.). The Vintage Air
system utilizes the original LS-A compressor and offers cold A/C
and hot heat with a strong fan on demand. The air is delivered
through four under-dash mounted vents. Ahead of the passenger is a
glovebox with "Grand Slammed" emblazoned on it. In the corner
behind the driver's seat are a switch for both an under-hood LED
light and a series of LEDs under the bed floor, a switch for the
"angry duck" eyes, and a series of buttons to operate the lift-up
bed floor. On the front seat is the aforementioned hand-held
controller for the air ride system. Lastly, this C-10 comes with a
color copy of an article written about it that appeared in Canadian
Hot Rods magazine in 2016.
If you like old trucks, a comfortable ride, going fast, and
standing out in a crowd, then "Grand Slammed" is just what you're
looking for! This truck is like a rolling piece of art, and it is a
testament to creative automotive restoration! There i...for more
information please contact the seller.
