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Images By THE AUTHORoung gun truck aficionado Dakota Straw of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, remembers the exact moment he wanted to build a Squarebody truck of his very own. “I was always into cars and trucks as a kid. When I was 18, I was watching Stacey David on his Gearz TV show, building what would become the ‘Knuckle Buster’ truck. I knew at that minute I wanted to build up a C10 just like that one. I was hooked.”
Though purchasing the truck was something that Dakota had on his mind for some time, there were other factors that pushed him to buy the C10. “This project was going to be a father-son build. For years, my dad, Mike, and I wanted to build something together to go to shows with and be proud of. Growing up, we always worked on cars side by side, and this truck was going to be our project and my first step into the automotive restoration industry.”
Those early days in the family garage with Dad helped Dakota decide to choose bodywork and paint as his specialization. “I started in the automotive business at 16 when I got my license. First, I was sweeping floors and cleaning up at the local shop. Next, I graduated to prepping cars, cleaning, and buffing. Then I progressed to painting. Initially, I was just edging parts. However, when the shop’s painter quit, they pushed me ahead and let me paint cars.”
Dakota struggled with the small-block from the start, trying over and over to get it to run properly. It led to his nickname for the C10. “I call her ‘Stingy Bitch’ because this truck just gave me trouble since that first day I started working on her.” It took some time, but the young gun finally got the motor running consistently. However, he knew then and there this engine wasn’t going to last long in this truck.
And Dakota was right on with his prediction. “About a month later I pulled the small-block and prepared the engine bay for the powerplant that would take its place. I sold the 355ci and used the cash to purchase an LM7 5.3L out of a 2002 Silverado.” Next, he tore into the engine, breaking it down to its core and getting the block machined. New bearings and piston rings were added to the LS and then it was built back up with its stock crank, rods, and pistons, as well as the stock heads. It did, however, get a bigger cam, LS7 lifters, trunnion upgrade, and a Summit Racing prefab intake with Holley 102mm throttle body and 36-pound injectors to add some extra performance to this rodder’s recipe.
Once completed Dakota and his dad dropped the engine and its matching TH400 trans in the engine bay. “My dad was so excited to see that engine in the truck. This was something we always wanted to do together,” he says. However, as the duo put the finishing touches on the drivetrain, tragedy struck the Straw household. “My dad had a history of heart problems. He suffered a major heart attack and [died] just a week after we worked on the truck. It was a devastating blow to my family.”
The body was stripped down to see how its sheetmetal had held up to 40 years of New Jersey salt and grime. Once it was bare, Dakota realized that the truck’s fuselage needed some work. “I did the cab corners over as well as the rockers, which were both full of corrosion. The past owner gave me new fenders and the hood when I purchased the truck. I had also previously bought a new Stepside bed from Auto Metal Direct. Later on, I decided to go to a Fleetside and sold the first bed to my good friend and mentor Glenn Sinon. Once I installed the Fleetside, I finished off the bodywork and readied her for paint.”
When it came to the exterior, Dakota knew what he wanted. “I was set on an orange. I really wanted it to stand out, and really pop out in the sun. So, I went with a sterling silver tri-coat base and then added PPG Radiance Collection Orange Glow candy over it. From there I shot it with three coats of PPG Deltron DCU2021 urethane clear to get the gloss I desired.”
Once the body was set, Dakota went back to the chassis to get the suspension up to snuff. Lucky for him, the past owner had redone the frame, blasting it and finishing it off in black powdercoat. “It was still in great shape, so I didn’t mess with it.” The chassis was then built up with several choice add-ons from Belltech, including 2-inch lowering springs and 2.5-inch lowering spindles. Out back, a 4-inch drop shackle kit works in conjunction with the stock leaf springs to give Dakota the stance he desired. He also reused the front disc brakes and rear drums that came with the truck, and added a master and booster, the latter painted to match the color scheme of the truck. The truck’s GM 12-bolt was refurbished and kept with the truck as well.
Dakota forged forward with the project, tackling the interior next. “I ordered an interior kit from TMI, which I installed. The original truck had a tan interior, but I wanted to change it up, and I didn’t want black because then it would look like a ‘Halloween’ pickup, so I went with a more natural color combination. I think it accents the orange perfectly.” The C10 now sports a Dakota Digital gauge cluster, which you can track your quarter-mile time with. A RetroSound radio with Bluetooth cranks the tunes through door speakers and a flat mount subwoofer. To get this ride into gear, Dakota chose a Lokar floor shifter to handle the duties.
For the correct amount of bling at the corners, Dakota chose Rocket Attack wheels in Titanium finish, 18×8 up front and 18×10 in the rear. They are shod in Nitto rubber up front in 255/45-18, while the big rims out back sport Mickey Thompson GT Street SS tires in 305/40-18. Fuel delivery is achieved by a Boyd Welding tank out back, pushed by an MSD inline fuel pump and return system. A custom hidden fuel filler in the taillight and fabbed by Dakota himself helps clean up the truck’s flanks. Spent gases are removed swiftly by Speed Engineering 1-7/8 long-tube headers, which feed a 3-inch X-pipe with cutouts. Mini race Billet mufflers give Dakota the rumble that this truck needed.
“I have to thank the guys from Colours and PPG for being such good role models for me: Glenn Sinon, Ed Pienta, Jamie Holzschuh, and Bob King. If it wasn’t for those four guys, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. Also, thanks go to my buddy Kyle Burke who came up a few times when I needed an extra hand doing the lowering and finishing up the prepwork on the inside of the bed. A shout-out goes to Shawn VanWhy for helping prep the underside of the hood with me and assemble the bed. Many thanks go to my Uncle Tim Straw (my dad’s brother) who helped me out after my dad [died]. He got me back on track with the truck, he helped with the wiring of the Holley Terminator X system, and wire tucked all the wires. He also bench-bled and installed the new master cylinder. Thanks to Bernie Kelly for tuning the truck; it runs great and I recommend everyone to him. I also want to thank my entire family and loved ones who helped out with the build.”
Lastly, Dakota gives thanks for the time he got to spend with his dad on this build. Though he didn’t get to see it to fruition, Dakota knows his father, Mike, would have been proud of the way he handled the build. “I wish he was here to see what’s happened. Every time I get in that truck it feels like my dad’s sitting next to me with a huge smile.”.
