Time ‘N Half

A Trooper with a Bow Tie

JEFF Wallace’s 1976 Chevrolet C10 Bonanza is the ultimate dream rig, built to tackle life’s rough patches with style. Hailing from Vancouver, Washington, Jeff is a state trooper by trade and a proud member of the C10 Club Nomads. With the unwavering support of his wife Bonnie, Jeff poured a year and nearly $55,000 into transforming this old-school hauler into a head-turning street beast.

The truck’s exterior keeps it classic with some clever upgrades. Originally a longbed, the truck now rocks a shortbed, giving it a tighter, sportier profile. Slosh Tubz front fenders were added for clearance, and high-performance headlights from LMC Truck light up the night. Cody Byran, a.k.a. CodyRojo, handled all the paint and bodywork—blending the new bed perfectly with the original panels and spraying it in a rich Spring Green from Limco. The natural Bonanza vibe stays alive, but with just the right modern edge.

Under the hood, this C10 flexes with a 2007 5.3L LM7 LS engine fully rebuilt by EFI Solutions in Vancouver. This bad boy packs LS connecting rods, flat-top pistons, and a BTR Truck Norris camshaft, plus LS1 heads for added flow. With FlowTech Shorty headers, a 2.5-inch MagnaFlow exhaust, and a custom wiring harness, the engine roars to life with ease thanks to EFI Solutions’ fuel injection system.

Power hits the pavement through a 4L60E transmission from a 2002 Chevy truck that is  outfitted with a Beast sun shell, Corvette servo, and a trans shift kit. A new two-piece driveshaft from I-5 Driveline hooks up to a Chevy 12-bolt rear axle. Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners, paired with a Speedway Motors master cylinder, bring everything to a halt in style.

The chassis is where this build shines. Jeff went with a Choppin’ Block Extreme Air Chassis, slammed on Slam Specialties airbags with AccuAir management. Rack-and-pinion steering and splined sway bars dial in the handling, while Corsart Kingpin wheels—22×10.5 in the rear and 22×8.5 up front—wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber give it a killer stance.

Inside, Jeff worked with Phil Cato in Salt Lake City to create a custom bench seat using the original frame. Dakota Digital VHX gauges, an NK1 steering wheel, and RetroSound stereo keep it stylish and functional. Custom door panels and Bonanza emblems tie it all together, while a CTP ashtray neatly holds the AccuAir touchpad.

Jeff’s future plans include shaving the passenger firewall, adding coilovers, and spraying the firewall in matching Spring Green. For Jeff, this build has been a labor of love, proving that even a tough cop can have a soft spot for an old truck.

With FlowTech Shorty headers, a 2.5-inch MagnaFlow exhaust, and a custom wiring harness, the engine roars to life with ease thanks to EFI Solutions’ fuel injection system.

OWNER 

Jeff Wallace
1976 Chevrolet C10 Bonanza
Vancouver, WA
C10 Club Nomads

TRUCK SPECS

CHASSIS

• Choppin’ Block Extreme Air Chassis with rack-and-pinion steering
• Splined sway bar
• QA1 adjustable shocks
• Choppin’ Block 4-link setup
• Slam Specialties airbags
• AccuAir system with touchpad controller

DRIVETRAIN

• 5.3L LM7 LS V-8 from a 2007 Chevy
• Flat-top pistons
• LS1 heads
• BTR Truck Norris camshaft
• FlowTech Shorty headers
• EFI Solutions fuel injection system
• 4L60E from a 2002 Chevy truck with Beast sun shell, Corvette servo, and shift kit
• Chevy 12-bolt rearend with 3.73 gears

BODY & PAINT

• Custom shortbed conversion
• Slosh Tubz front fenders
• LMC Truck high-performance headlights
• Painted in Spring Green by Cody Byran (CodyRojo), matching the original Bonanza style

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Cato’s Custom bench seat using the original frame
• Dakota Digital VHX gauges
• NK1 steering wheel
• RetroSound stereo
• Squarebody Syndicate tilt steering column
• CTP custom ashtray.

WHEELS & TIRES

• Corsart Kingpin 22×10.5 (rear) and 22×8.5 (front)
• Pirelli P Zero tires

Photo Credit: BRETT MACADAM