"I think that if some high-up dude at General Motors got behind the wheel of this thing, and got to experience how amazing it is, they'd be trying to figure out a way to put this truck back into production. It's that good," said Jeremy Gerber, co-owner of Roadster Shop. After seeing all the carefully-engineered details of this 1976 Chevy Silverado crew cab build, we can understand that sentiment. It blends some of our favorite aspects of a classic "square body" Chevy truck with the turbodiesel power, smooth ride, and creature comforts of a new vehicle.
Roadster Shop's "Big Iron" Legend Series Build
If you're familiar with Roadster Shop by now, you should be. This Illinois-based company builds some of the coolest high-end resto-mod vehicles in the industry. We previously wrote an article about a regular cab short bed '79 C10 built on their Legend Series platform. This time around, we're looking at a Legend Series K20 — GM truck enthusiasts should recall that code stands for four-wheel-drive (K) and 3/4-ton (20).
The truck started out as a crew cab long-bed with a 454ci V8 (not original to the truck) under the hood. Roadster Shop removed the body and started with an all-new frame, which was adapted to mount a 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 producing 450hp and 900 ft-lbs of torque. The engine is backed by an Allison automatic transmission.
Exterior mods are relatively minimal. The bed was chopped down to a short configuration, and a set of old-school KC Hilites auxiliary lights were added to the front bumper. A backup camera was also hidden in the rear bumper.
Going by the mantra "bigger, badder, and heavier-duty," the Roadster Shop team equipped the truck with 37-inch tires and Legend Series wheels drilled out for an 8-lug pattern. Original-style Chevy center caps were used to maintain a classic appearance.
The chassis is equipped with modern GM 2500 torsion bar front suspension with Roadster Shop custom-fabricated control arms, as well as GM 1500 tow-package rear leaf springs. Fox 2.5-inch remote reservoir shocks provide a smooth ride, and a set of dual helper bags in the rear allow for towing and hauling heavy loads.
Speaking of towing and hauling, the owner of this truck wanted to use it to pull his horse trailer, so it's equipped with a fifth-wheel gooseneck hitch in the bed. Clearly, this truck isn't just for show, it was made to be used for real work.
No Roadster Shop build would be complete without a luxurious custom interior. Modern GM bucket seats and middle jump-seat/console were sourced for an OEM feel, but they were reupholstered in a blue-gray distressed leather and suede that match the exterior nicely. The door panels and dash pad retain their weathered wood-grain trim, which is a nice throwback to the '70s.
This Duramax-powered '76 K20 is one of the coolest square body Chevy builds we've seen in a long time. Purists and off-roaders might prefer a solid front axle, but given the daily-driver and tow rig needs of the owner, independent front suspension will offer a smoother ride on the highway.
Check out the full video from Roadster Shop's YouTube channel below, or go to their website for a gallery full of photos of the build.
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