Goodguys 2023 Dakota Digital Truck of the Year Late!
Congratulations to Rod Parsons for winning the Goodguys 2023 Dakota Digital Truck of the Year Late title with your 1967 Chevy C10 built by Fiber Forged Composites and Zrodz and Customs! We’ll see you and your vehicle in Scottsdale, Arizona November 17-19, 2023 at the 26th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals as part of our 2023 Top 12 display!
After building a custom ’67 C10 several years ago, Rod Parsons wanted to do something new – and extreme. While collaborating with his build partner Zach Ingram of Zrodz and Customs, the subject of carbon fiber came up. The Zrodz crew had been working with outside sources on some carbon components but wanted to bring the capabilities in-house. Together, Rod and Zach formed Fiber Forged Composites. With that, it was go time for their scheme to build a completely carbon fiber street machine C10.
An original ’67 was used to make many of the molds for the carbon components, which include the doors, bed floor and sides, fenders, and the cab. Other pieces were crafted from 3D scans, talented CAD draftsman, and good ol’ hot rod ingenuity combined with the tenacious attitude to do it right.
The carbon bed floor was raised, a trick front spoiler extends in front of the custom bumper, with a rear spoiler positioned to add downforce to keep the rear end planted. Flush glass was planned along with a custom grille, door latches, and handles before the entire truck was sealed in clear with the cab top and lower belt line painted by Zrodz in a custom BASF maroon.
Knowing full well that this truck was going to see serious track time, Rod and Zrodz designed a chassis equipped with Detroit Speed components fore and aft to deliver street sensibilities yet with track tunability and performance. Brembo brakes are at all corners with Billet Specialties 225 wheels wearing 325/30/19 Continental tread.
Power comes through a stout Mike Moran-built 434c.i. LS-Next Dart block with Mast heads and an MSD Atomic Intake manifold – a combination that puts out 850 horsepower. Fuel delivery and spark controls are programmed through a Motec controller which shares its data to a flat screen gauge assembly fit into the dash. Gears are pulled through an air shifter controlling the Sadev transmission coupled to a Tilton clutch package. It’s serious stuff, all of which is surrounded by one-off carbon fiber panels and firewall.
The interior follows suit with the carbon fiber treatment throughout including the dash, door panels, and custom console which houses the power windows, locks, and the mirrors. The Momo seats and door panels were stitched by Riggs Upholstery and a Level 7 column is topped by a Sabelt wheel with built-in paddle shifters and controls. A complete roll cage frames the interior adding safety and rigidity to the truck.
Rod, Zrodz, and Fiber Forged Composites pulled off this incredible feat of street machine engineering, and we can’t wait to see what this truck will do on the track!
Photos by John Jackson & Damon Lee
