



here comes a time in many enthusiasts’ lives when they reach a crucial fork in the road. Is it possible to stretch every single dollar in the bank account in order to have a truck built by someone else, or is putting a vehicle through “college” just not in the cards? While paying a shop to do all the work does have its advantages (steady progress, quality of workmanship, and so on), the recurring bill that comes along with it can easily break the decision. The only other viable alternative to building the same truck is pursuing the DIY approach. While that may be a daunting idea for a lot of folks who may not think they have the required knowledge to handle certain jobs, there are plenty of enthusiasts who become seasoned builders this way. Learning new skill sets is something we should all strive to do more often, and every now and then we all need to hear some positive affirmation and have a role model to look to for inspiration. Consider this story a check for both of those.


It’s apparent that Randy doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, which is a must when forced to take the DIY route. For years, he drove his ’66 daily, but after accumulating parts for the next phase, he was finally given an opportunity to jump back into the project. “My good friends Dave “Garbz” Garber (RIP), Bill Wilson, and Kevin Stone helped repair my truck’s rusting roof by grafting in a fresh one,” he says. “Another buddy, Mark Iverson, helped with the finishing bodywork. I enjoyed the quick taste of making progress on the truck, but I would be mostly on my own from this point on.”
Al Osterloh, another helpful friend, recognized that Randy required more workspace than the stall behind his apartment to begin the next part of the project, so he offered up some valuable square footage in his warehouse in San Fernando, California. “[Osterloh] was sympathetic of my plight and let me tear the truck apart there while I worked on swapping in a new engine and suspension configuration,” Randy states. “I estimated a 4- to 6-month timeframe would be enough to box in the chassis, weld in the 1996 Corvette C4 Grand Sport front and 1991 Corvette Dana 44 IRS rear suspension systems, with the help of mounting kits from Flat Out Engineering, install the Progressive Automotive tubular crossmember, front Speedway Engineering sway bar, and QA1 adjustable coilovers, too. Of course, I also had full C4 braking kits to throw in—not to mention mounting 18-inch Detroit Steel “Mack” wheels, along with modified repop Mustang GT Rally wheel caps to pay proper homage to late-’60s style.”






To increase performance, and coax a rowdier growl from the new 5.0, Randy proceeded to add Ultimate Headers into the mix, as well as a custom 3-inch stainless steel dual exhaust system complete with Borla XR1 mufflers. “My friend Jeff Jones TIG-welded my exhaust after I fabricated and tacked it all together,” Randy adds. “That was really the only help I had while installing the engine and 2016 Mustang GT 6R80 six-speed transmission. I learned to get creative with my cherry picker. I got used to utilizing tie-down straps and floor jacks to move those too-big-to-lift items.” Luckily, throwing on the Boss 302 intake, Walbro fuel pump, S&B JLT-II cold-air unit, dual 12-inch Champion electric fans and radiator, and all the other bolt-on goods was well within Randy’s abilities.

Moving into the cab, Randy delegated the job of recovering the 1966 Mustang seats in dark green vinyl to his friend Julian in Long Beach, California. Randy came through with the assist, as he wrapped the dash, door panels, kick panels, and headliner in the same dark green material. He then moved onto fabricating a custom console made from two ’63 Falcon consoles cut and welded together for a cool waterfall-like effect to surround the Lokar shifter. Next, Randy threw in a Dakota Digital 10-function remote module to properly control the power windows and door locks and power bed cover.
“I never set out to build a ‘show truck’,” Randy admits. “I just wanted it to be fun, dependable, and something I could be proud of and share with others. I couldn’t be more honored and humbled by the way this process has been a catalyst to meet so many more friends and enjoy new experiences in life. It’s just been so freakin’ awesome, and I’m beyond grateful.”
