Student: Lucas Justice
School: Millard Area Technology Center, Pikeville, KY
Ride: 1986 Chevrolet C-10
Instructor: Danny Akers
 
Having shown and expressed interest in trucks at an early age, Lucas Justice received his 1986 Chevrolet C-10 pick-up from his father on his 14th birthday as a hobby project.  

Since he still had two years before he could drive the truck, he had two years to plan and dream of how it would look and perform when the time came that he could drive it.  Lucas, who attends the automotive technology program at Millard Area Technology Center in Pikeville, KY, is continuing the custom work to his truck and learning more about automobiles.

“After getting my truck in the fall of 2005, I immediately began cleaning and planning. When I got the truck, it was 100% original. I have been planning and working toward a more custom look,” Justice said.

The engine is powered by the 305 original block. It has a new Crane Cam, Comp-Double roller timing chain, Eldebrock EPS intake manifold, Mallory HEI distributor, 750 Holley 4-barrel carburetor, Dyno Max headers, True-Duals Flowmaster exhaust, Taylor 8mm plug wires, and chrome valve pan covers and breather from Bob Hooks.
 
“The next summer, Dad and I took it to a couple of car shows without much success,” he said. “The truck had the 20-year-old paint with a redone engine. In knowing that, I thought it was time for a fresh coat of paint.

“As the winter got closer, I started looking for a painter. Then the truck started coming apart. The painter wanted the truck in pieces, saying, ‘There’s not that much room in my shop and it will be easier to work on.’”

Justice said the inside of the bed was stripped to the metal with aircraft stripper.
“The painter put fresh black primer with two to three coats of paint and three to four coats of clear,” he said. “When the bed was done, I took the rest of the truck over there to his shop. We took the front and back glass out of the truck along with the doors and fenders. I also bought a new 2” cowl hood from Christians Classics.”

Justice said it has taken a year to paint the truck, but it was worth the wait because now comes the fun of driving.
“I’m going to hit a few car shows this summer and cruise-ins,” he said. “I have to give a special thanks to my parents for buying me the truck, Greg Hall for painting the truck and friends who have been along and gave me some good ideas.”

While he’s attending Millard Area Technology Center, he is building a 350 4-bolt main engine to put in the truck. “The engine will get new pistons, rings, cam, double roller timing chain and Vortec heads that have been machined to accept old-style intake, springs, rod and rockers,” Justice said. “I plan to have the engine completed by spring so I can drive it to the Spring Grand Rod Run April 17-19 2009 in Pigeon Forge, TN.