AS SEEN IN OUR DIESEL WORLD SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

A True DIY C50 Project

There is plenty to take in when first looking at this truck. A ton of work has gone into crafting it; that much is obvious, but what isn’t clear is what exactly was done to transform this 1967 Chevy C50 into a conversational piece wherever it goes. It’s hard to imagine what this truck could’ve looked like before it was severely customized, so we’ll take a deep dive into what Jr. Patron of Tulare, California, did to build what could quite possibly be the craziest truck you’ve seen in a while.

Now, there is a lot of speculation about this C50’s physique, so let’s start there. This truck didn’t come equipped with a crew cab. Jr. fabricated the back portion of the existing cab using a 1967-’72 Suburban roof and two full-size doors for the back. The rear window is also from the same Suburban, which gives him plenty of rearward vision while on the road. Of course, the floorboards are fully custom as well. Jr. welded factory boards together to achieve the proper length he needed. The front end has been stretched approximately 6 inches from stock, which includes the lower body panel as well as the hood. This portion of the build took some time to complete, and once the metalwork was finished, Jr. applied a vibrant shade of orange paint to capture the truck’s custom take on GM nostalgia. While that was a considerable investment of time and effort, the job was a necessity due to an upcoming modification that would set this project far apart from the pack.

Aside from building a truck that looked great, Jr.’s main objective for the project was to ensure that it was as reliable as possible to drive around daily and work comfortably when needed. To accomplish this feat, a 2004 Chevy Duramax dually platform, including the factory chassis and drivetrain, was secured for an interesting switcheroo. All the custom bodywork that Jr. completed was done so to pull off a seamless body swap, and by the looks of things, we’d say that mission was an overall success.

When the hood is popped, you can clearly see why the front-end extension was mandatory. The Duramax diesel mill had no chance of fitting without creating the extra space. Since the chassis is still in factory condition, Jr. can still take advantage of every convenience a 2004 model has to offer, which includes fully functioning A/C, heat, cruise control, and towing mode, which is essential to how he intended to use his truck. The factory Allison transmission is also still in place, so the drivetrain operates exactly how GM designed it—a huge win because on any given day, you might catch this truck pulling a 1-, 2-, or 3-car trailer. That all depends on what Jr. is up to as he operates Patron Transport, his business that caters to the custom car-building community.

With the majority of the C50’s real-world functions well taken care of, Jr. was then able to focus on its form. Attaining a stylish, well-balanced stance was of utmost importance, especially with heavy loads in tow, so the best course of action was installing a full air-ride suspension system. Jr. ran with Slam Specialties SS8 bags, a Level Ride air management setup, and Fox shocks to provide a comfortable ride quality with an on-the-fly adjustable height. To better complement the truck’s newfound aggressive cruising altitude, a set of Alcoa wheels was milled down to 22 inches in diameter and covered in Venom tires. The bed was then raised to accommodate the modern chassis below.

The interior, which is still awaiting a full overhaul, has been upgraded slightly with a Power Acoustics 10-inch screen and aftermarket speakers. Jr. plans to keep the 2004 Silverado factory seats, but he might have them reupholstered based on the direction he decides to take inside the cab. On the exterior, Jr. peppered 17 United Pacific lights he sourced from A&L Truck Supply along the running boards, rooftop, and side mirrors, which adds to the C50’s oversized charm.

Jr. estimates that he has sunk more of his time into the project than cash, but as the saying goes, time is money! He spent approximately a year and a half on the project, and he handled most of the build in his home garage, which is an impressive accomplishment!

“To be honest, the whole build was a pain in the ass,” Jr. admits. “Having to stretch the front end to properly fit the Duramax was the toughest part, but I just had to think outside of the box and come up with a solution. The only advice I could offer to anyone else starting any type of project is to have fun with the process. Don’t build something so nice that you can’t even enjoy it; build it to make memories with.

Hopefully, you have developed a deeper appreciation for this Chevy, knowing what went into putting it together. Passion and creative craftsmanship are on full display here, and the fact that a truck of this caliber is used for heavy-duty hauling purposes and was built by its owner makes it that much more respectable.