This 1982 Chevy C10 Was Rebuilt to Conquer the Desert

AS SEEN IN OUR Tread Sept/Oct 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Chris List’s 1982 C10 Prerunner

The Chevy C10 is a popular platform in the street truck world, and for good reason. These pickups look great slammed to the ground with big wheels and clean paint, but Chris List of San Dimas, California, had very different plans for his 1982 Chevy truck. What once served as a trusty workhorse for his family’s business was transformed into a prerunner that outperforms what GM could have ever imagined for its iconic 1973-1987 squarebody truck model.

There are still some remnants left behind of Chris’s C10 that calls back to what it started out as. The unmistakable boxy grille shell and doors give all the clues needed to identify its heritage, and there’s some of the original chassis still in use in the truck’s current rendition. The rest of this pickup has been redesigned to fulfill his heart’s desire to create a rig capable of delivering pure exhilaration in an expansive desert landscape. It’s as fast and agile as any stalking predator, but Chris’ main objective was to simply have fun in his Chevy—no harm, no foul.

Chris reached out to BTF Fabrication, also located in San Dimas, to help bring his vision to life. At the heart of the build is a 1988 Chevy 400 ci V-8 that has been slightly modified, of course. While the truck was in the shop, it was outfitted with custom stainless headers by BTF Fab, along with a one-off 3-inch exhaust system finished with a Black Widow Neighbor Hater muffler—a free-flowing, straight-through unit that gives the engine a beastly growl, which does tend to piss off timid bystanders. A Holley Double Pumper 750 carb, updated roller rockers, and a more aggressive cam have also found their way onto the Chevy small-block. Maximum Transmissions in Hesperia, California, was then tasked to back it all up with a built 1982 TH400 that features a reverse manual valve body, a shift kit by Moreno Valley Transmission, and a CBR cooler to keep the operating temperature in check.

BTF specializes in off-road suspension and custom fabrication, and Chris was keen on having the crew construct a platform that would make it a formidable force. Now, there’s only about three feet of the original frame remaining underneath the cab. The rest of the chassis is fully custom and features a front bulkhead and center-mount control arms. The C10 received a total of six inches of lift and utilizes King springs all around with 3.0 x 14-inch front coilovers and 3.0 x 14-inch bypasses and 3.0 x 16-inch coilovers and 3.0 x 18-inch bypasses in the rear. JE Reel supplied a custom driveshaft, and 40-spline axles are present, as are Camburg full-float rear hubs. BTF also worked in an RCI fuel cell to keep the truck gassed, and a Howe power steering rack was included as well.

The project was picking up steam, and to capitalize on the forward momentum, the BTF team placed their attention on properly stopping the C10—with Wilwood Superlite braking components, that is. Dual Jamar master cylinders and a hanging pedal assembly also lend assistance in slowing the Chevy’s roll. 17-inch Method Racing beadlock wheels and 40-inch BFG tires provide excellent sources of contact with earth, whether Chris is truckin’ on sand or paved roads.

Another important portion of the build was addressing the looks of this C10. Chris did want to add custom touches in the way of Hella Rallye headlights and KC HiLiTES auxiliary lights above the windshield to allow for more illuminating nighttime rips in the desert. But one of the most important modifications was applying a faux patina finish to the doors and cab to honor the truck’s history of being the family work truck. Travis Line, also in San Dimas, wielded his trusty airbrush to magically give the appearance of a genuine weathered surface. The look adds a ton of old-school character to the vintage Chevy squarebody without having to worry about any future issues with cancerous rust down the line.

Inside of the cab, a set of PRP bucket seats were bolted in, and BTF Fab put together a custom roll cage composed of a mixture of 2-, 1.75-, and 1.5-inch .120-wall DOM material. Those major upgrades, along with an impressive custom aluminum dash/console, AutoMeter Pro-Comp instruments, 5-point harnesses, a PCI Race Radio comms unit, and a Switch-Pros panel, give the C10 the form and function of a legit off-road rig that is ready for a weekend of heavy action.

While some trucks are fully redesigned and assembled in an unbelievably quick timeframe, Chris took his time to ensure that he didn’t regret any of the steps after they were complete. His faux rust-ridden squarebody has taken 4 years to complete, but it was worth every day spent waiting and working to pour more time and funds into each next phase. BTF Fabrication was a game-changing partner for Chris to have along for the ride, and the team was monumental in delivering a worry-free machine designed to take on the future at full speed.

Leaning into the Chevy’s blue-collar past was also a major milestone in preserving Chris’ sentimental value for the old family work rig. Just looking at this truck is a good time, and we can only imagine the level of pride Chris must feel every time he mashes the gas pedal.