Cars to us are more than just steel on wheels that take us from one place to another. They are machines full of history and memories that we keep with us and will never forget.
My first car was a 1964 Chevy II. My dad, who passed away when I was a teenager, helped me build this car. We weren't mechanics or builders, but just working on something together as father and son. The Chebby II was the car that got me started wrenching and street racing. Its the car that I first raced and met Farmtruck in. Its the car I went on first dates with. It's the car I cruised Route 66 in on Saturday nights here in Oklahoma City.
Selling the Chevy II always felt like a mistake. I was at a time in my life where a lot was changing and selling the car felt like the right thing to do. Well, I should have never sold it! haha. Luckily I have an amazing friend and mentor in Farmtruck, that helped me track the car down. He brought the Chebby II back home to the 405.
Fast forward a bit and into my life enters, Chuck Church Jr, from Church Boys Racing. Chuck gets a hold of me and we talk about doing some minor work to the car. Some suspension and maybe a mini tub to put some small tires on it. THATS IT! Chuck, his father and son come to OKC to pick up the Chebby II and take it back to their home to Ohio to get started.
Little did I know that while the car was in their possession, the plans we're actually to rebuild the car from the ground up. During the year and half that the car was with them Farmtruck and Lou (405 Photo) worked closely with Chuck without my knowing. They were gathering information on the car build. Down to every detail, they lied and lied to me, doing anything they could to lead me away from the trail. Slowly the car came together and Farmtruck hatched a plan on how to surprise me with the new and improved Chebby II.
The plan was simple. Farmtruck had found an old Chevy II wagon and he just had to have it! We were in the area for a No Prep Kings race, so we veered off our path to go "look at this wagon"
I was definitely NOT impressed! haha! It was a cool old wagon but it needed a ton of work. I could not understand why Farmtruck was so interested in it. The seller said he had another wagon in the garage, so we headed that way.
We walked in the garage and there were 2 cars there under car covers. I could see the wheels of the car closest to me and they immediately grabbed my attention. Farmtruck saw my reaction to the wheels and immediately pulled off the car cover before I had time to start putting anything together.
There she was. The Chebby II. She looked exactly how I wish I could have finished building her with my father. Down to every detail. Farmtruck, Lou, Chuck and Sammy gave me one of the biggest surprises of my life. And the best part is that I had NO clue what they had worked on for me.
The cherry on top of the whole build was the engine. I had been talking to Sammy Maloof for a couple of years about building me a mill for the Chebby II and I just never had the time or money to really make it happen. Farmtruck knew this and as part of the surprise, he coordinated the build with the Maloofs and Church Boys Racing and made it happen! My car came complete with my dream mill, a 440ci, naturally aspirated SBC built by the Maloofs.
I will never let the world forget what my friends did for my out of pure heart and love.
Here are the build specs!
Front Suspension:
CBR (Church Boys Racing) fabricated/modular bolt on front end
Rack and pinion (manual) with Ididit steering column
PhaseII DOM upper and lower control arms
PhaseII arms come with screw in Howe Racing ball joints for easy adjustments and rebuildable
Viking Drag tuned single adjustable coil overs 350# springs
Wilwood Dynalite brakes
Rear:
Church Boys Racing triangulated 4-link
Ride tech drag tuned single adjustable coil overs with 175# spring rate
Fabricated 9" built by Moser to CBR specs. (note they did not want any thing to do with helping on the project)
33 spline axels, Wave trac posi, rear end narrowed 2" per side
Aluminum carrier with pinion support and 1350 series yoke
Wilwood dynalite brakes
DSE mini tubs
Body:
The following panels/parts provided by Golden Star
Replaced passenger quarter panel
Rocker panel
Rear tail light panel
Front and rear bumpers
Front Fenders
Trunk pan
Tail light assembly
front turn signal and head light bezels
PPG Red paint
Painted by CBR painter Coty Black
CBR designed frame tie connectors
Dakota Digital HDX dash with custom 405 logo inside the face
American Auto Wire harness
6 point DOM Roll cage tig welded and hidden from sight
Billet Specialties Win Lite Wheels
17x6 front
15x10 rear 275 Mickey Thompson Drag Radial
Transmission:
Abruzzi Transmissions
Engine:
-Maloof Racing prepped 440" SBC
So Cool & Wonderful, it literally brought a tear to my eye
You are so fortunate to have such loving friends.
That’s one awesome build you got there! Not to mention a hell of a friend who looks out for you. I have a 86 Elcamino that my dad and I built when I was a teenager, all though he’s gone now the car still sits under the pole shed in hopes I will be able to do the same with it! Congrats Azn and Farm truck you are a hell of a friend! Street 4 Life!
I missed you at the fire house I hope to meet both of you at gateway race in June
That’s awesome!
for all the pleasure you have given us who watch the show, i couldn’t be happier to see this done for you . congrats.
bigb