A Short Term Project goes for Four Years – but this custom 1954 Chevy was worth the wait
When Jeramiah Allen decided to switch careers as a custom fabricator to a pipeline welder, it didn’t mean he was done building hot rods. In fact, the change gave him a bit of a boost and brought back the fun of building hot rods and customs as a hobby, not as a livelihood. Better yet, he still has buddies at Born Vintage Hot Rods to lend a hand or borrow a tool now and then!
When he first came across this 1954 Chevy, it was a forlorn project, stripped down to nothing and already set up with an air bag suspension. Jeramiah thought it would be a good short-term project to add some custom touches and get back on the road easily. Alas, once he started digging into the project, he realized that whatever work had been done, it just didn’t meet his standards and end-goal, so he basically started over by reworking, rewelding, and refabbing everything.
The factory chassis was revised with a Mustang II front suspension and treated to a Gambino C-notch kit and rear four-link connected to an axle from a ’55 Chevy. As for the drivetrain, Jeramiah thought about an LS, as well as a 348, but to keep the budget in check (and traditional flavored) he chose to go with a small-block Chevy – in the form of a very stout 383c.i. example from West Coast Engines fueled by a carb and backed by a 700R4 trans.
The body is where Jeramiah focused his fab time and experience along with the help of his pal Sean McDougall. They chopped the top 2.5-inches, shaved all the emblems and handles, blended in ’55 Chevy headlight eyebrows, frenched the taillights, fabricated a new firewall, and perfected every panel and gap. Another friend, Brandon Gross, prepped the body and laid on the PPG green finish.
The interior also received a serious custom touch in the form of a ’59 Impala dash and gauge set that look right at home. There’s a Restomod A/C system that is barely detectible inside or under the hood, while Lokar pedals and shifter highlight the leather interior stitched together by Ron Mangus using the original seats. Square weave carpet completes the tasteful interior.
In the end, Jeramiah’s 1954 Chevy took about four years longer than planned, but admittedly, he refused to compromise when it came to the form, fit, and finish of the custom work – and rightfully so! Those high expectations, along with the shared vision of his hot rodding friends, are the reason his custom Chevy stands out and scored a finalist position for the Scott’s Hotrods Custom of the Year.
Photos: Terry Lysak
