There are plenty of heavily modified classic trucks with enormous power figures, immaculate paint, and build sheets that cost as much as a new sports car, but this 1970 Chevrolet C10 comes from a very different philosophy.
Its faded factory paint hasn’t been replaced, the rear brakes are still drums, and the suspension isn’t some elaborate custom setup. The money instead went toward making an old pickup fast, usable, and entertaining enough to drive regularly.
The truck belongs to 23-year-old Scott Perez, who works at Walker Customs alongside his boss doing LS and LT swaps. The pair worked on the C10 during their spare time, with Perez funding the project using whatever extra cash he could put toward it.
Perez recently brought his home-built Chevy to Autotopia LA, where the details behind the understated truck quickly revealed just how serious it is. Underneath that old body is a supercharged, manual-transmission setup putting more than 600 hp to the wheels.
A Supercharged 5.3-Liter LS Makes Over 600 WHP
Perez’s C10 uses a 5.3-liter LS V8 fitted with a TorqStorm supercharger running around 10 pounds of boost. Fueled by E85, he says the combination produces a little over 600 hp at the wheels.
The engine itself was already installed when Perez bought the truck roughly three and a half years ago, although the installation left plenty of room for improvement. He described loose radiator fans and messy wiring, prompting him and his boss to clean everything up and turn it into a dependable driver.
Perez drove the truck in naturally aspirated form for years and even took it drag racing before adding the supercharger roughly eight months ago, an upgrade that approximately doubled its previous horsepower output.
A T56 six-speed manual now sits behind the LS, replacing the automatic transmission the truck previously used. Perez says he bought the gearbox cheaply from a friend and was told it originally came from a Camaro associated with Transformers 5.
It’s Built To Be Driven, Not Displayed
Power reaches a Chevrolet 12-bolt rear end with a Positraction differential and aggressive 4.10 gearing. Unsurprisingly, Perez says it’ll happily do burnouts.
The chassis setup is surprisingly straightforward, using lowering springs and shocks rather than an expensive bespoke suspension. Front disc brakes are paired with rear drums, while an inline hydraulic handbrake adds another element of fun.
A square setup of 15×10-inch wheels wrapped in chunky 295/50R15 tires gives the C10 its old-school NASCAR-inspired stance. Perez specifically wanted identical wheels and tires at all four corners so they could be rotated and swapped around.
The original behind-the-seat fuel tank has also disappeared. A rear-mounted stainless fuel cell holds roughly 15 to 20 gallons and feeds E85 through a pair of Walbro 450 pumps.
Even The Side Pipes Have Racing History
Perez experimented with five different exhaust configurations while chasing the sharper, raspier tone he wanted. The final version is fully TIG welded, with an X-pipe positioned shortly after the collectors and a pair of mufflers feeding side-exit pipes.
Those side pipes have an interesting story of their own. Perez says a friend gave them to him after they had previously been used on an early-1990s Indy car powered by a turbocharged Cosworth engine.
The body retains its aged original finish, which Perez simply cut and buffed rather than repainting. What started as a long-bed C10 has also been converted to short-bed proportions using factory short-bed sides and a modified bed floor.
600 WHP Doesn’t Stop It Being A Daily Driver
The cabin remains largely original, although it now has Vintage Air with an electric A/C compressor, a full audio system, and a 10-inch subwoofer underneath the seat. Perez even adjusted the pedal arrangement to make heel-and-toe downshifts easier.
Most importantly, this isn’t a truck that spends its life parked at shows. Perez has driven it to the beach, Santa Clarita, and Big Bear, while also taking it through canyons and to local cruises.