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Chris Cerce Brings This 1983 Chevy C10 to the Next Level
By Chuck Vranas
Photography & Videography by the Author
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othing breeds creativity better than teamwork. The ability for a group of like-minded individuals to freely express their design ideas offers the ability to create something with a fresh, new look. This was the thought that Chris Cerce, of Chris Cerce Customs in Taunton, Massachusetts, had for breathing new life into a recently purchased 1983 Chevy C10 truck project. The concept was to create a new shop truck while engaging all of the team members’ personal ideas on what it would take to make it a bitchin hauler. Chris, extremely well-known on the scene for his razor-sharp fabrication skills, grew up in the area with a deep passion for Chevy trucks, and this was the perfect opportunity to let the creativity flow.

Image of 1983 Chevy C10
Image of title
Chris Cerce Brings This 1983 Chevy C10 to the Next Level
By Chuck Vranas
Photography & Videography by the Author
N

othing breeds creativity better than teamwork. The ability for a group of like-minded individuals to freely express their design ideas offers the ability to create something with a fresh, new look. This was the thought that Chris Cerce, of Chris Cerce Customs in Taunton, Massachusetts, had for breathing new life into a recently purchased 1983 Chevy C10 truck project. The concept was to create a new shop truck while engaging all of the team members’ personal ideas on what it would take to make it a bitchin hauler. Chris, extremely well-known on the scene for his razor-sharp fabrication skills, grew up in the area with a deep passion for Chevy trucks, and this was the perfect opportunity to let the creativity flow.

Image of Dashboard
Image of Gauges
You never know when the chance to check out a potential new project will come to the table. It was fate when Chris received a call from an old friend to advise that he was moving out of state and that he had something stashed away that he might be interested in. A short trip revealed a totally rust-free Chevy C10 that had obviously seen far better days. The truck was not running and was obviously in need of a full revitalization, but through the cobwebs Chris saw the potential for something cool. Without wasting any time a deal was made and the title changed hands, with the Chevy being hauled to the shop for evaluation. Once it arrived, he immediately let the team know that this was going to be the new shop truck and that they would each have a hand in its design to give it a new, signature look.
Image of 1983 Chevy C10's Rear
It didn’t take long for ideas to flow and before long the build-board was honed and ready to go with the new styling, which included a killer stance, classic color scheme, stylish wheels, and a wicked LS packing a huge turbo. The initial teardown proved that the truck was indeed rock-solid with the frame and all of the sheetmetal being sent off to be media-blasted. Once the factory spine was painted, the reassembly commenced, starting with hanging a refreshed Chevy 10-bolt rear out back packing a Detroit Eaton Truetrac with 3.73 gears. To dial in a new stance with improved handling it’s suspended in place by a set of RideTech StreetGRIP composite leaf springs combined with matching HQ-Series mono-tube design shocks and antiroll bar. For a perfect rake up front, the team rebuilt the stock suspension, incorporating the original control arms and spindles while also adding RideTech HQ-Series mono-tube design shocks with lowered ride height, matching StreetGRIP front coil springs, and antiroll bar. When it’s time to drop anchor a factory dual power master delivers fluid through stainless lines to front Wilwood Forged Narrow Superlite 4R Big Brakes with 12-inch drilled and vented rotors wearing four-piston calipers matched to factory drums out back. For a contemporary look, a set of custom-painted Detroit Steel Delray–model wheels, in 20×8 front and 20×10 rear sizes, wearing Michelin performance rubber links it all to the street.
Photo of Engine
When it came time to making a decision on an engine it was unanimous that it’d need to be a tire-frying Chevy LS V-8. Starting with a 2004 6.0L base, Chris delivered the engine to C3 Automotive Machine in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to pack it full of go-fast goods. Once the block was massaged it was filled with a reworked factory crank linked to Callies Ultra I-beam rods wearing Wiseco forged aluminum pistons getting bumped by a custom ground stick from Don Hardy Race Cars. Up top a set of heavy-breathing aluminum heads from Texas Speed make seamless power, especially when combined with a FiTech Ultimate LS EFI, including their intake manifold kit, 104mm billet throttle body, and high-volume fuel rails. The knockout punch comes from a BorgWarner AirWerks 76mm billet turbo complete with custom-fabricated intercooler and plumbing by Chris. A FiTech ignition lights the fire with spent gases dumping thorough custom-fabbed stainless headers to a matching 3-inch exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers, also by Chris. It’s linked to a 2009 Chevy 4L80 trans packed with a shift kit from B&M moving the goods through a custom driveshaft by Brookline Machine Company in Waltham. The combination’s good for a solid 600hp, which is more than enough to keep the local tire outlets in business.
Image of Seating
Image of Chevy C10
Image of FiTech
Thankfully when it came to addressing the factory sheetmetal it was all in solid condition with no rust repairs required, thanks to its California lineage. It did however spend its life as a workhorse requiring the team, including Chris, Marc Hanood, Noah Raposa, Eric Camara, and Brandon Martins, to roll up their sleeves and get busy ironing out the panels to perfection. Once everything was gapped and ready for paint the team decided on a classic combination of Axalta Hawaiian Blue with Stark White accented by School Bus Yellow to bring it all to life through Chris’ spray gun. Final assembly included a bevy of fresh parts from LMC Truck, including chrome bumpers, grille, lights, door handles, and trim. To complete the business office a new dashpad and trim from LMC were filled with LED digital Bargraph gauges from Intellitronix while a steering wheel from CON2R carves the course, with shifts moving through a factory column stick. Cool breezes come from a Vintage Air unit while tunes flow thanks to a Retrosound and Rockford Fosgate installed by Martins who also rewired the entire truck. For comfort, Carello Auto Upholstery of Warwick, Rhode Island, refreshed the factory bench with light brown leather accented by black German square-weave carpeting and new door panels from LMC Truck to complete the look.

This is one wicked shop truck that’s seeing plenty of miles, thanks to the creative vision of the team at Chris Cerce Customs.