ithout going as far as saying there’s an actual “blueprint” when it comes to building the quintessential classic truck, as we have so many different options and avenues in which to choose from these days, there are the basics when it comes to making a classic truck sit, look, and, most importantly, perform just right.

For Jared Hancock, who’s been building cars for the past two decades (J-Rod & Custom in Black Diamond, Washington), he’s learned a thing or two when it comes to choosing those fundamental components. With Micheal Petramalo’s ’54 Chevy, the foundation of choice was quite simple: forego the stock chassis and replace with a complete roller from Art Morrison Enterprises (AME). Why AME, you might ask? Well, beyond the fact that they’re local to J-Rod & Custom geographically, AME has gone through all the trouble and done their homework when it comes to each and every chassis they manufacture, including the popular ’47-54 Chevy/GMC platform—from the road-tested and proven geometry to having all the necessary body/sheetmetal mounts pre-configured, there’s no going wrong with an AME chassis, period. Combine that with a bulletproof LS3/4L65E/9-inch drivetrain (not to mention a set of Forgeline wheels with a quartet of Baer brakes), as Hancock has done with the ’54 and, suffice it to say, this truck’s going to spend more time on the road than in the garage that’s for damn sure.