Back in the early 1970s, mass-produced four-door pickups were not a thing. Two-door regular cabs were the norm. So what’s up with this four-door 1970 Chevy K10 4×4? Is it the reincarnation of a GM design exercise that somehow escaped the crusher? No. This truck was built by JPs Customs in Taylorsville, Utah.
The 13-year-old shop specializes in frame-off restorations. John Pickering, the company’s owner, gave us the details on the truck, which is an incredible feat of engineering that’s packed with attention to detail. It’s also powered by a built Cummins turbodiesel that delivers big power. John says he built the truck “because nobody has built a 1967–1972 to this caliber.”
Its Foundation Is A TCI Pro 2 Chassis
The truck’s foundation is a Total Cost Involved (TCI) Pro 2 chassis. It uses a triple-rail frame called Boxed Beam. Compared to the frame found under second-generation Chevy trucks, the framerails are widened ahead of the cab and narrowed behind it. This design creates more room for exhaust headers and steering components. It also allows the rear shocks to be mounted outside the framerails to maximize roll stiffness among other things. The Pro 2 chassis adds upgraded brakes and a steering stabilizer. To fit beneath the long Chevy Crew Cab, the team at JPs Customs stretched the chassis 33 inches at its midpoint.
Cummins Power, Beefed 4L80E, Atlas T-Case
The truck is powered by a 5.9-liter, 12-valve Cummins turbodiesel I6 sourced from a 1998 1-ton Dodge truck. Performance Diesel rebuilt and modified the engine to produce 500 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Fuel is supplied by a custom 25-gallon tank with a filler tucked behind the driver-side taillight.
A 4L80E transmission is bolted to the Cummins. The four-speed automatic came from an early 2000s Chevy pickup and features a Compushift standalone controller, tuning by Premier Performance, and a 2,800 rpm stall torque converter.
Power is routed to the axles through an Advance Adapters Atlas 2 transfer case with a 3:1 low-range ratio, controlled by an Advance Adapters twin-stick setup.
Currie 44 And 60, Truetrac Diffs
The truck rides on Currie axles front and rear. Up front is a high-pinion Currie 44, paired with a high-pinion Currie 60 in the rear. Both axles are loaded with 4340 chromoly shafts, an Eaton Detroit Truetrac limited-slip differential, 1350-series pinion yokes, and 4.56 gears.
Stopping power comes from 13-inch-diameter Wilwood Superlite rotors at each corner. Six-piston Wilwood Superlite calipers handle braking up front, while four-piston calipers do the work out back. The steering system includes a Borgeson steering box and RockJock high-steer forged knuckles.
Four-Link Suspension With Coilovers
The truck runs a four-link suspension with coilovers at all four corners. Each corner is equipped with a Fox 2.5 Performance Series remote-reservoir coilover offering 12 inches of travel, supported by a Fox 2.0 Race Series bump stop. The link bars are built from 2-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall tubing and are fit with RockJock Johnny Joints.
Traction comes from meaty 37×12.50R18LT Toyo Open Country R/T tires mounted on 9-inch-wide JTX Forged BD-212 wheels.
Body Building
The truck’s body blends factory, modified, and aftermarket components. The core structure combines a 1970 three-door Suburban and a Chevy truck of the same model year, both sourced from Idaho. A fourth door was fabricated from scratch. The bed sheetmetal and tailgate came from Premier Street Rods.
Exterior features include aftermarket bumpers, Ringbrothers billet door handles, Ford Mustang outside rearview mirrors, and amber roof marker lights. Additionally, Trique Manufacturing door latches, K10 factory trim, custom rear-door trim, and Volvo Terra Brown paint. Wiring duties are handled by American Autowire.
An Interior Safe And More
The truck’s interior carries the same level of detail and originality seen throughout the build. One standout feature is a custom-fit, flush-mounted safe hidden behind the rear seat. The Liberty Safe unit offers keyed or touchless entry and internal LED lighting, giving the owner a secure place to stash valuables on the road. “It’s rad, and I’ve never seen it done,” John says.
Interior upgrades also include Dakota Digital gauges, Slosh Tubz seats, and upholstery by Darrell Burton Custom Auto Interiors. The rear seat started life as a factory K10 front seat and was rebolstered and reupholstered. Finally, there’s Relicate Leather carpet and a Sparc Industries steering wheel.
Built In Only Three Months
Here’s the kicker: the truck was built in just three months. The work was handled by John, his 18-year-old son Lincoln, and 25-year-old Zachary Anderson. Considering the level of engineering and detail packed into the build, that timeline is nothing short of impressive, just like the truck.
Photos: MiaKoda Photography and Ken Brubaker
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