RUSTY NUTZ

Brandon Burchfield of Mobile, Alabama, has been immersed in the custom vehicle scene for as long as he can remember. “I’ve been into trucks and cars since I was a kid. My pawpaw was a car guy too and the president of his car club,” recalls Brandon, reflecting on his automotive roots. Over the years, Brandon has owned and built several custom vehicles, finding joy in resurrecting old-school trucks. “I love the old school trucks. To me, they are a dying breed, and I enjoy bringing them back to life. I also like showing people that it doesn’t take much money to have a nice built truck in your own garage. You just have to put in the time and effort.” Although he has owned several trucks, C10s hold a special place in his heart. “The main reason I love older C10s is because my dad owned a 70s C10, and it keeps his memory alive whenever I drive mine or see another one out on the street. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2016.” When this C10 popped up, Brandon knew he had to have it. “The truck was pulled from a cow field, and all of my buddies told me I was crazy for attempting to save the truck. I told them I had a vision and to wait until the end.”

First things first, Brandon got to work on the chassis modifications. Thankfully, the stock frame was in great shape even after being out in the cow field for many years. KC Designs in Lucedale, Mississippi, completed a full custom front half and a rear half with c-notch. While they had the truck completely dismantled, they installed a rack and pinion from a 2002 Dodge Dakota. They also removed the original gas tank and replaced it with an aluminum fuel cell provided by SS Motorsports in Mobile, Alabama. With all of the frame modifications complete, the guys at KC Designs installed the air ride system and buttoned up everything under the truck.

Moving on to the exterior, Brandon decided to bring out the old-school vibe with the patina paint job. When asked what his favorite part of the truck is, Brandon said, “It is so hard to choose a favorite part, but I would have to say it is the patina. There are a few original spots on the truck, but the rest I painted by hand and blended how I felt it would have looked.” Brandon wanted to keep the exterior of the truck pretty close to stock but with some wild changes to the interior and under the hood. Brandon, wanting to add a few subtle modifications to the exterior of the truck, installed a motor with a switch to the spare tire so that it would spin. He also added a set of 17” Summit Racing rat rod style smoothies wrapped in Lexani tires that would tuck hard when he lays the C10 out!

Brandon had some big plans for this ol’ C-10 when it came to the motor. As soon as Brandon fires it up, everyone knows it is putting down some serious power! Brandon along with KC Designs completed an entire motor swap. They bolted up a 2002 5.3 LS V8 under the hood. They upgraded the camshaft to a Stage 2 BTR camshaft and installed some new headers as well. Once the new motor was bolted up, they removed the original exhaust and installed a new Spintech dual exhaust system under the truck. Brandon then installed a custom-made engine cover and valve covers that were painted to match the roof and wheel color. With the extra added horses, Brandon knew he would also need to swap out the transmission. Brandon removed the original transmission and bolted up a 2002 4l60e. He also installed a new Clutch products Driveshaft as well as completing a full CPP front disc brake conversion.

With the engine and chassis modifications well taken care of, Brandon was ready to tackle the interior. He called up Earnest Banks Jr. in Mobile, Alabama, who was able to install a 1988 C10 seat wrapped in tan and brown ostrich with suede and leather inserts. That ended up being the perfect match for the rest of the interior. They then installed a set of digital Intellitronix gauges as well as a Billet steering wheel and Classic Auto air conditioning and heat. To top off the interior, KC Designs also built a custom metal console that fits perfectly inside the C10.

After a long two years, Brandon could finally stand back and see that his vision had come to life. This was not an easy build as Brandon experienced several problems during the process. “I encountered fire three times on this truck, the left rear tire came off while turning a curve, and the fuel pump has gone out two times. All of my buddies call it the trailer queen because I always seem to break down.” For Brandon, these are all memories that make this build special.