Jason Torchia isn’t afraid of a little attention. In fact, when he’s behind the wheel of his ’66 Chevy C10, all eyes are on him. And it’s not hard to see why — how often do you see a laid-out classic sporting copious amounts of big bass-boat gold flake?
It took Jason about five years to get his truck to the point you see here, and by his own admission, it wasn’t easy. But Jason was no stranger to custom trucks, having built a bodied, show winning ’99 F-150 a few years ago, among many others. Lots of nights and weekends went into this latest build, and things didn’t always go as planned. Between waiting for parts to show up on his doorstep, which caused its own delays, to changing the game plan a few times, every step had a hurdle. Not one to give up easily, Jason powered through the lows and slowly but surely made some magic happen!
One of the first steps was to ditch most of the factory frame, which was cut off right at the firewall in order to weld in a custom rear section. This allowed the cab to sit lower, and also gave the rear axle plenty of room to tuck up into the raised bed floor. The frame then received some quality suspension bits from Porterbuilt Fab to finish off the bulk of the chassis fabrication.
The powertrain was upgraded to a 2004 Chevy LS6 out of a C5 Z06, with a built Turbo 350 bolted on the backside. In stock form, the engine was good for 405 horsepower, but Jason couldn’t leave well enough alone. To get more of an old school flair and simplify things a bit, Jason bolted on an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake and a Summit Racing carb, and a GM Performance ASA cam. Three-inch Flowmaster single-chamber mufflers were then welded up behind a set of Hooker headers and between sections of fresh piping for just the right tone.
Of course, the thing about Jason’s truck that grabs everyone’s attention right away is that unique paint job. And sure, the Nason brand base color is smooth as silk, but it’s the Tropical Glitz gold mega flake that stops people dead in their tracks. In fact, people often don’t even notice the myriad of mods underneath the finish, which includes a molded bed, shaved doors, shaved drip rails and lots of other details that kind of get lost under the gloriousness of the flake, which Jason happened to spray himself! Topping off the “this truck just can’t get any better” vibe that the ’66 is puttin’ out is a set of 22-inch GM transport wheels with 275/35R22 Kumho tires.
But then you get to the interior, and somehow it does get even better. Using a brown TMI Interiors split bench as the foundation, Jason also dropped in a TMI center console, Intellitronix gauges and a mid-60s Impala steering wheel. As simple as this combination seems, it totally transformed the once mundane interior’s look.
Looking back, Jason appreciates his C10, which he has named “Goldmember,” all the more because of the hiccups and struggles he encountered while putting it together. That being said, here’s hoping the next one isn’t nearly as complicated!
Jason TorchiaCartersville, GA1966 Chevy C10Acrophobia Truck & Car Club
Tech Specs
Chassis/SuspensionWork performed by ownerCustom 3/4-length frame from firewall backPorterbuilt suspension armsCustom fuel cell
Wheels/Tires22×9 GM Transport wheels275/35R22 Kumho tires
Engine/Drivetrain2004 GM LS6 longblockBRP Hotrods mount kitLSSimple accessory relocation bracketsEdelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifoldSummit carburetorGM Performance ASA camshaftARP rod bolts and head studsHooker headersCustom Flowmaster exhaust with 3-inch piping
Body/PaintWork performed by ownerShaved bedShaved doorsShaved drip railsShaved fuel filler neckShaved firewallCustom wheel tubsCustom wood bed floorNason basecoatTropical Glitz gold flakeNason clearcoat
InteriorTMI Interiors custom split bench seatIntellitronix digital gaugesImpala steering wheel