The Chevy Gets a Heartbeat
This week has been a busy one on the Adrenalin Fix truck build. The bench seat is together and ready to mount in the cab. The Triumph Foundation offered to sponsor the 5.3L V8 engine and automatic transmission to be put in and Astro Auto Wrecking stepped up and helped out with a great engine and transmission package for the build.
Over the weekend, my neighbor -- that just so happens to be a professional upholsterer -- gave up part of his Saturday to help me finish assembling the bench seat for the truck. In the original parts haulings from Lancaster, I took inventory of a large amount of brand new parts already purchased by the previous owner in his pursuit to rebuild the old girl. A brand new seat cover, both pieces of foam and the seat frame still in their boxes were among the parts scored.
My awesome neighbor, and equally awesome upholsterer, Edward Jimenez schooled me how to assemble the parts as he worked with ease on it all. He even used some of his own materials in the assembly. Edward also fixed a tear in the vinyl seat cover that miraculously appeared in some fashion a while back, of which I know nothing about.. really! None the less, he worked his magic on his sewing machine and you can’t even tell there was ever any damage.
With some sun-soaking to soften the material and some vigorous tugging and stretching, the seat was ready to be bolted together. I made my way to the local Home Depot and picked up some, dare I say it, sexy stainless steel bolts to attach the backrest to the seat base and voila!
As an addition to all the work on the seat, I will soon be receiving the remaining parts from the powers that be at LMC Truck. LMC Truck is one of the largest classic truck parts retailers in the country and have a catalog I could pretty much build an entire truck from. I have ordered some odds and ends parts from them and have a “laundry list” of items yet to order.
They have a sidebar website for people to show off their own builds called “LMC Truck Life” and a couple weeks back I set up a profile of my own. Within 24 hours, I was contacted by one of their web developers in interest of showcasing Adrenalin Fix on the site (www.LMCTruckLife.com/Domonic-Corradin) for the month of April. I am honored to have this project highlighted on a website associated with such an awesome company. I look forward to seeing it next month.
With that, it means game on! Now, I really have to knuckle down and make some serious progress on the old work horse. Which brings me to the next item of killer news. One of the main reasons for doing this build in the first place is to be able to haul handcycles to clinics and events that I organize with the Triumph Foundation. Since mid-2013, I have taken the reigns of their handcycling program and together we have made it grow and bring more and more people into the sport and joy of handcycling. Check out the Triumph Foundation’s website (www.Triumph-Foundation.org) for more information on the clinics.
I digress, back to the news.. With our growing relationship, Triumph Foundation has agreed to help out the Adrenalin Fix project even more by purchasing the engine and transmission package to give it life, literally. Triumph Foundation worked with the guys at Astro Auto Wrecking in Wilmington, CA to take the power plant from a left-for-dead 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe and transplant it into a needy recipient.
With this 5.3L V8 engine and 4L60e automatic transmission, Adrenalin Fix will have ample power to haul gear in its bed and a trailer if by some chance more space is needed. Being a late-model, fuel-injected engine, it will provide reliability and good fuel economy, with less emissions than the old pumper. The donor truck unfortunately has seen its demise at the hands of another, but its heart pumps life into another. Rather poetic, don’t you think?
It is going to be a lot of hours, late nights, long days, but we are on our way now, folks! Stay tuned for updates, photos and maybe even some videos soon!
I want to send out a special thanks to those who have provided for and supported this project so far. I have been so fortunate to have these great people behind me and my dreams. I could not do it without you. It truly takes a village..
Edward Jimenez – Valencia, CA (661) 964-7176
LMC Truck – www.LMCTruck.com 15450 West 108th Street Lenexa, KS 66219
Triumph Foundation – www.Triumph-Foundation.org 17186 Hickory Ridge Court Canyon Country, CA 91387
Astro Auto Wrecking – www.Astro-Used-Parts.com 1002 Schley Avenue Wilmington, CA 90744