BIG GUN - Trey & Heather Caravetta's 1964 C-10 Shortbed was Built for One Purpose: To Blow You Away

story by

Toby Brooks

ne look is all it takes. The unfettered, steel-gray sides look just as tough and muscular as they did the day it rolled off the line for the first time. Up front, the massive mechanical components reaching skyward have an all-business look that you wouldn’t want to mess with. Out back, the handcrafted steel skeleton shows an attention to detail and an obviously heavy dose of

O

78

photos by

Will McDougal

good ol’ fashioned American craftsmanship.

Except we aren’t talking about the USS Alabama.

We’re talking about Trey & Heather Cavaretta’s stunning 1964 C-10 shortbed.

“I have owned the truck for the past 10 years,” Cavaretta began. “But believe it or not the truck you see here was pretty much built in 8 months,” he added.

That whirlwind build all began in New Mexico, where close friend Joel Bushman

june 2016 | RPM Magazine

READY....AIM...FIRE IT UP! It isn’t easy to make an incredible piece of machinery like the USS Alabama look even MORE imposing, but this classic Chevy parked out front sure adds to the scene!

Booth 3107

Pit Mat

Dedicated to Safety Since 1959 “WHERE WE TAKE YOUR SAFETY SERIOUSLY” Like our Page at www.facebook.com/rjsrace

Visit our website at www.rjsracing.com

844-904-RACE (7223)

www.rpm-mag.com | june 2016

79

BIG GUN

TOWER OF POWER of Overkill Racing & Chassis started on a full chromoly skeleton. A talented fabricator himself, Cavaretta assisted in completing the highly detailed chassis with more custom touches than you can count.

The more you look, the more you see.

Up front, 2-inch main bars articulate with custom AJE struts with Powerhouse bags and Camaro dropped spindles for an incredible slam. However, the real beauty sits out back, where an

80

unbelievably trick cantilevered setup suspends the narrowed TDS quick change housing that has been stuffed with 3.73 gears and shortened 33-spline axles. Virtually every bracket, gusset, and random doodad affi xed to the chassis has been crafted with a sexy curved radiused edge, lending an almost organic feel to a chassis that seems to have flowed into position as much as it was crafted there.

Once completed, the fully TIG’ed creation was treated to a rich Gloss Blue Hawaiian

june 2016 | RPM Magazine

As if 588 cubic inches of Chevy Rat motor hue thanks to Xtreme Powder wasn’t enough, its Coating and outfitted with selocation in the killer lected matte charcoal accents, chassis coupled with including the coolest arched the 4-inch intercooler, wishbone track locator you’re 12/71 Littlefield blower, likely to ever lay eyes on. Othcarb adapter plate, dual er high-detail touches like the hand fabricated aluminum Demon 750-cfm blower fuel cell by 3G Fabrications carbs, and twin spun lend further evidence to the aluminum velocity stacks fact that Cavaretta didn’t do gives the Cavarettas’ anything the easy way on this C-10 a Battleship-meetsbuild.

Jenga vibe sure to instill Still not convinced? fear...and to muscularly Consider the reserve tank for obstruct vision from the the air ride system. Look all you want. You won’t find one. driver’s seat.

www.rpm-mag.com | june 2016

81

BIG GUN

82

june 2016 | RPM Magazine

SEXY CURVES Look closely. You’ll see that nearly every piece of the chromoly chassis has some sort of curve, bend, or radius. It is by design, giving the powder coated skeleton a fluid, organic feel that is unmistakably pleasing to the eye. Add in the off-the-charts cool factor of the exotic cantilevered air bag suspension, the hugeby-enourmous rear tires and wheels, and the custom built fuel cell and it is no wonder Cavaretta decided to build the bed with no floor in order to show it all off!

Cavaretta and Bushman actually utilized portions of the tube chassis to create the equivalent of two 5-gallon cylinders within the frame.

With a chassis this cool, things like an engine or a body are mere afterthoughts. However, that doesn’t mean either is any less noteworthy.

The 588 ci Rat motor started as a tall deck Chevy big block that was stuffed with a full Crower rotating assembly, including a stroker crank, billet rods, and 8.5:1 blower slugs. A solid roller blower cam was chosen, and Brodix aluminum heads were

mated to an aluminum blower intake. A massive 12/71 Littlefield supercharger pushes 10 pounds of boost through a custom water-to-air intercooler.

Fuel delivery is handled by an Aeromotive electric pump pushing the liquid fossil remains to a pair of Demon 750 CFM blower carbs.

Electronics and ignition are all managed by MSD components, and a pair of 3G Fabrications headers direct the spent fumes rearward. Custom spun aluminum velocity stacks crown the whole towering pile of awesome, and the engine bay

www.rpm-mag.com | june 2016

83

BIG GUN

FABBED-TASTIC The incredible cage work continues into the cockpit, where gracefully sculpted chromoly abounds above, within, and around.

AutoMeter gauges, a Kilduff shifter, and a billet steering wheel partner with suede racing buckets for an incredible look.

The most exciting thing in air cleaners...well, since the air cleaner!

#141-834

#141-835

84

june 2016 | RPM Magazine

#141-830

#141-831

#141-832

Factory Performance™ Parts

TREY & HEATHER CAVARETTA’S PRO STREET 1964 CHEVY C-10 PICKUP

includes the massive Rat, monstrous meats, curvy chassis bars, and room for little else.

Backing the big Chevy is a fortified TH 400 that has been equipped with a Stage II kit with Kevlar plates and a full manual reverse valve body. A TCI 4,800-stall converter helps with the truck’s street manners.

The goal with the paint and body on the truck was to retain as

much of a factory look as possible while massaging and improving almost every inch of the factory sheetmetal. We’d say mission accomplished.

A smoothed hood highlights a factory-fresh grille and front bumper. Factory door handles were retained, too. The stock bed was completely reworked sans-floor to showcase the rear chassis, which required

custom mounts that were also treated to the smoothed-andcurved theme present throughout.

Once the body was fully prepped by Cavaretta’s One Off Customs crew as well as Livadais Design, it was sprayed by the latter utilizing DuPont Chroma Premiere Diamond Graphite basecoat/clearcoat.

Devoid of any graphics or other over-the-top

Chassis Type & Mods: Full chromoly TIG welded custom tube chassis by Overkill Racing & Chassis.

Suspension & Brakes: FRONT: Custom AJE struts with Camaro dropped spindles and Powerhouse air bags. REAR: Custom cantilevered setup with Powerhouse air bags and one-off radiused wishbone. Entire chassis powder coated Blue Hawaiian gloss by Xtreme Powder Coating.

Body & Paint: DuPont Chroma Premier Diamond Graphite supplied by Mike & Jerry’s. Smoothed hood, molded roll pan, complete custom bed with no floor and hidden mounts. Stock bumper, grille, and handles used. All paint and body by Livadais Design and One Off Creations.

Engine: 588 ci tall deck BBC with Crower 8.5:1 pistons, Crower rods, and Crower crankshaft. Custom ground solid roller camshaft. Brodix cylinder heads.

Induction & Fuel System: 12/71 Littlefield blower pushing 10 pounds of boost through custom water to air intercooler and aluminum blower manifold. Dual 750 Demon carburetors with custom spun aluminum velocity stacks.

Electronics: MSD 6-AL box and full MSD ignition.

Transmission & Converter: Turbo 400 stage II kit with Kevlar plates. TCI 4,800-stall converter.

Di˜ erential: TDS by Speedmaster housing with 3.73 gears and quick-change setup.

Exhaust: Full custom headers by 3G Fabrications.

Tires & Wheels: FRONT: 22x8.5 Raceline with Pirelli P-Zero 245/30-22 tires. REAR: 24x15 Raceline with 405/25-24 Pirelli tires.

With Pro Line Racing Engines and Diamond pistons, Q80 Racing team resets quarter-mile doorslammer record at 5.46 seconds and 272mph “Diamond’s contributions have been invaluable.”

Doug Patton, Pro Line Racing Engines

Diamond’s turbo pistons make big power and combat heat and pressure.

• Forged from 2618 aluminum with Herculean pin bosses that accomodate tough TP-1 or H13 tool steel piston pins • Lower skirt rigidity maintained by full-circumference designs that boast the strongest-known stiffening ribs • Hard-coat anodizing, ceramic crowns, and moly skirt coatings available • Fastest turnaround time on custom pistons Questions? Knowledgeable Tech Support: M-F, 9AM-5PM EST

Call today: 586.792.6620 or visit diamondracing.net www.rpm-mag.com | june 2016

85

BIG GUN

To Run Like A Pro...

Use The Best

$% ' ' '( #$, ) ) . ' + )' # ( )*% ! + '( , ## # + #) # $) % ' $'" # # *' ! )- $# ) )' / ' $, ' ! ' #(" (( $#( ' * !) $"%! ) !- # , , ) # " ) ' !( # $#) # $+ ' - '( $ . ' , ## # (* (( # #$, $,

body mods, the classic Chevy retains a measure of Dr. Jekyll restraint and class to pair nicely with its Mr. Hyde powerplant and chassis.

Further evidence of the truck’s wild side exists in Cavaretta’s choice

$ %' ( !- " ) ) % ! ) ( $ ) $, ' ! ' #(" (( $#( . !($ $ '( $" %! ) ! # $ %' " *" )$'&* $#+ ') '( ! )$ # ! $'( %$, '

%%! ) $#( ) ( ()' # ) $#+ ') '( # *()$" * !) $'

!$ $' " !! !$ # # ( , ) "*!) %! () ( $ %$, ' '( /

• Available in (12) unique setups with 1.98, 1.80 or 1.69 Straight-Cut 12DPI Super Set Planetaries for unrivaled performance & durability pass-after-pass • Feature a 2-Piece HDT-Coated Reid Case (standard or shorty), PRO-X™ Ringless Input Shaft & Aluminum Gerotor Pump & X-Wide Kevlar Band, plus countless other

• Available in (7) unique setups for Powerglide racers or TCI®

• Utilize a custom-designed steel stator, billet mounting ring, urnace-brazed as well as hand-brazed turbine & pump assembly, three sets of internal bearings & heat-treated & reinforced steel turbine splines 9382k

TRANS HELP™ 1.888.776.9824 • TCIAUTO.COM

86

june 2016 | RPM Magazine

of rolling stock.

A pair of massive 22x8.5 Raceline wheels have been shod with 245/3022 Pirelli P-Zero tires up front. Out back, a pair of 24x15 Racelines have been fitted with absolutely monstrous 405/25-

24 Pirellis. It’s a new-school pro street look that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the only thing more remarkable than the sheer size of the tires and wheels is the fact that the chassis accommodates them all with a full tuck.

The interior in the C-10 is simplistic by design. Other than the wild full cage, the cockpit has been equipped with a Kilduff Machine Lightning Rods shifter and a billet steering wheel. The smoothed and painted factory dash has been fi lled with AutoMeter Carbon Fiber series

instrumentation, and the custom door panels were crafted by 3G Fabrications and Livadais Design. Custom black suede and cloth-covered racing buckets round out the Spartan interior.

The Cavarettas were thrilled to debut the build at the 2014 SEMA show, taking a spot in

the prestigious Meguiar’s Corral of Cars.

And while Trey has heard his share of typical criticism, he shrugs it off with a smile.

“I hear people say I ruined an old truck by cutting it up, or they don’t like the wheels, or whatever, but this represents everything I

like all rolled into one,” he concluded.

That “one” just happens to be an incredible street beast with some of the finest fabrication detail you’re likely to lay eyes on. So what if it isn’t a storied battle cruiser like the USS Alabama.

It’s still one heck of a craftsman “ship.”

The First Choice 1-888-463-2781

NitrousExpress.com

The #1 nitrous components for carbureted or EFI applications

Billet Aluminum and Carbon Fiber solenoids solenoids weigh less and make more power

Billet bottle valve with .500” orifice and .500” piston lift!

Guaranteed to improve the performance of any nitrous kit!

www.rpm-mag.com | june 2016

87