Dream Truck – Eric Arvidson’s Cummins-powered ’66 C10
After watching his older brother, Ryan, and their uncle have fun messing around with old cars and trucks, Eric Arvidson decided he wanted to join the fun and build his own custom truck. With his brother’s help they located a ’66 C10 that was within Eric’s budget at the meager price of $1,500.
This was 14 years ago, Eric was just 20, and you can imagine what kind of shape the truck was in. The brothers did drive it home, but beneath six layers of floormats the floor pans were nearly dust. Undeterred by the lack of a floor, the brothers made sure their tetanus shots were up to date and tore into the project.
They pulled the rusty sheet metal away and set about modifying the stock frame with a Porterbuilt front suspension. Then they fabbed a custom step notch in the rear and installed a Porterbuilt Watts link suspension to support the factory rearend. A RideTech air spring system finished the suspension, followed by a set of CPP disc brakes capped with Schott Performance 20×8.5-inch and 22×12-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber.
When it came to a powertrain, Eric wanted something different and an LS or small-block V8 just wasn’t going to cut it. The solution came in the way of an inline-six – a 5.9-liter turbo diesel Cummins six, that is! The brothers rebuilt the short block making sure to O-ring the deck and head to handle the boost from a pair of compound turbos. Everything is nicely detailed, and a 47RH transmission handles shifting duties.
When it came time for sheet metal work, Eric turned to the pros at Z’s Radical Rods, where they smoothed seams, shaved drip rails, tucked bumpers, crafted a custom tailgate flanked by one-off taillamps, and built a custom raised bed floor. The team also worked its magic on the inner fenders and core support before applying a stunning custom-mixed PPG blue finish.
Eric enlisted his brother’s company, Santa Fe Auto Sound, to design the custom door panels and center console, and to install a serious sound system consisting of a flush-mounted Alpine head unit, Focal speakers, and a pair of JL Audio amps with an 8W7 subwoofer that sounds almost as good as the Cummins under boost. Gladstone Auto Trim & Upholstery modified later-model bucket seats and then stitched everything in comfortable Aviator leather. Dakota Digital gauges keep Eric well informed.
It may have taken a little longer than he anticipated – well, a lot longer, actually – but the old Chevy eventually turned into the dream truck Eric imagined and he’s happy to finally be cruising it in style.
Photos by John Jackson & Damon Lee
