Porterville, California, is a small town located about 50 miles north of Bakersfield, on Interstate 65, and it has had more custom trucks built there in the past 50 years than any other place on the planet. Here are two of Porterville's latest.
We know the '67-'72 GM trucks have always been among the favorites of early-model custom-truck enthusiasts. The straight, smooth, and simple bodylines make a clean canvas for whoever wishes to partake in a fairly effortless creation. Just drop it, add wheels and tires, body, paint, and interior. They are a timeless generation of American iron.
Mark McDonald Jr. from Porterville shared the first buildup of the '69 GMC with his dad, Mark Sr., as a father and son project after Mark Jr. bought it in 1993. After years of cruisin' and showin', it was retired for some updated modifications. The revision consisted of sending the truck to the crew at KRZ Customs in Fresno, where it was disassembled down to the bare frame. The front suspension crossmember was raised 3 inches and fitted with a pair of custom-built lower control arms. To achieve a rocker-scrapin' stance, a pair of Early Chassis 2-inch drop spindles were fitted between the custom lower and stock upper control arms. The front stopping power is handled by an Early Classic disc-brake conversion kit.
A pair of Nitro Drop gas shocks were relocated on the framerails. The stock transmission crossmember was removed and replaced with a raised transmission crossmember. These frame and suspension modifications were all major factors in the slammed suspension equation. To finish it off, a pair of Firestone pneumatic 'bags were installed. The front suspension rolls on a pair of Boyd Coddington Smoothie 20x8-inch aluminum wheels, which were then wrapped with Continental P245/40R20 rubber.
To achieve a slammed four-corner stance, the factory framerails were cut off just behind the cab. New 2x4-inch rear framerails were designed with major 14-inch step notches, allowing the 12-bolt rear-end housing that was stuffed with 2:73 gears and new five-lug Early Chassis 31-spline axles ample clearance when the 'bags are fully deflated. The rear framerails were spud-welded for insured strength and rigidity. KRZ Customs fabricated custom brackets for the four-link Panhard bar rear suspension. A pair of Pro Shock absorbers were teamed up with a pair of Firestone pneumatic 'bags, that are huffed and puffed by two Viair compressors with 3/8-inch valves and hard lines to give Mark the ability to perform its rocker scraping athleticism. A pair of chubby Goodyear Eagle P275/45R20 rear tires provide the grip on the power end.
The center of the grille was painted titanium gray to match the wheel center spokes. Mark runs with stock dual headlights, amber turn indicators, and a stock bumper from Early Classic. | 
To get the rockers to lay out and suck up those Coddington 20s, a new back-half frame was fabricated with a 14-inch rear step-notch. A trapdoor size clearance hole was cut into the raised white oak bed floor, then framed, and the plank stringers were all painted graphite gray. The factory wheel tubs were widened 3 inches in the center. Mark must make frequent fuel stops with a small Mooneyes 7-gallon fuel tank that feeds the thirsty small-block. |
The red-on-red interior was stitched by the local crew at Big Daddy's Custom Upholstery in Porterville. The factory bench seat was covered in leatherette Red to match the headliner and door panels. Mercedes-Benz Loop Red carpet matched the interior perfectly. | |