Chuck's Chevy Truck Pages

Chuck's Chevy Truck Pages - My History

How I got Started....

Back in 1979, it all started. My father bought a bare bones Jeep CJ5 brand new. This is where my sickness began. Without any mods at first, this Jeep had gone where I never thought possible. It seemed unstoppable. Just point it and go. River beds, muddy banks, STEEP muddy banks, it went right up. At 11yrs old, I was fascinated by this new car we got. We spent a lot of time 4 wheeling around here. Gradually we traveled more of our state (NJ), seeking trails. The first place we ever went was behind a restaurant/bar, in East Hanover, NJ. The place was Poor Henry's. It was right on the bank of the Passaic River. Talk about gumbo mud!! It adhered to anything and everything. I'll never forget the smell of it baking on an exhaust system. It may sound crazy, but I got to liking that smell *grin*. The stock Jeep tires, caked up way to easily. Another place we went, we called "the Caldwell trails". It was Power company property, and some private too, I think. It was in Caldwell, NJ. Most of the trails followed power line towers. It also led to the Passaic river. When traveling on RT 280 west bound, after you pass the Eisenhower Office Complex, Caldwell was on your right hand side, and behind the complex too. About a few hundred yards up the road you'll go over the Passaic river, and on your left is the Poor Henry's trails. Soon after buying the Jeep, we found out a friend of my mother's had a boyfriend with a 4WD shop. It was called The New Frontier Off Road Center, in Belleville, NJ. This guy, had a Chevy blazer, with 36"tires on it. A show winner, yet it saw a ton of offloading. The truck had tube bumpers, he welded end caps on them, with an air chuck on one end of each. This was so he could store air in his bumper, since most of his wheeling was in sand, and he drained the tires for better traction. He could air them back up before leaving the sand. He used to organize all night runs to the pine barrens south of us. Usually about 20 trucks, and dirt bikes, and two Honda Odyssey FL 250's with CB's on them. We would leave at 11pm, and wheel all night. Dad's Jeep was outfitted with a 3,000lb winch up front, and Goodyear tires. His trips went to Exit 74, on the Garden State Parkway. Known as "Forked River". This place was huge. Miles and miles of trails, open space, ravines, the works. As I got older, more friends started buying trucks. We found another place to go. It was Exit 88 off the GSP. I think it was "Lakewood". A huge sand pit, major hills, dunes. It REALLY is a shame, that NONE of these places are accessible anymore. I assume we were trespassing anyway. The next place we found was more recent. Back in 1990. It was in Manahawkin, NJ. A place called "Kalsch's Pit", it was great, but again private. The owners didn't mind. A friend had been riding there for years. Soon after we started going, there were too many "Pit Rats". Idiots that think they're wheeling alone. A few major accidents, an air lift to the hospital or two, and they closed that pit as far as wheeling goes. I haven't heard about it in years. It may be open again.
Since places to wheel got scarce, less friends bought trucks. For many, it was a phase. For many also, like me, it was a sickness. I was stricken with it. We still own 4x4's. Ready for the worst, always modifying. It's just now, there really isn't anywhere close to go. New Jersey is quickly changing from "The Garden State", to "The Asphalt State". Now my Father drives a Jeep Cherokee. He's had one every few years since 86. He loves them. He's owned 3 so far. Since he bought his first one, he stopped wrenching and wheeling. I'm not sure how much he remembers about 4 wheeling, or fixing the CJ what seemed like every weekend. His tools are dusty. He doesn't even change his own oil anymore. He sold the CJ5 to Eddie in 1991, for $500. It had new 33" Fun Country ties on it then. He also has had a 1979 Honda CB 1047 for a long time. Honda built them for racing, but they were way too heavy. They made them from 79-81.1979 CB1047Six cylinders, 6 carbs. An inline 6 at that, with double overhead cams. Look at how much the motor sticks out on each side in this pic.

WHO OWNED WHAT

MY STUFF
1974 CHEVY NOVA, STRAIGHT 6, 250cu in-first car I ever owned.
1979 CHEVY LUV 4 X 4-my first truck, it was fun, but way underpowered on the road. Great off road though.
>1977 CHEVY K/20 PICK-UP-This IS my BABY Chuck's Chevy
1982 HONDA ODYSSEY FL250-I had a blast with this thing, but my back still hurts me every time I think about it!
>1980 GMC K/25 PICK-UP-this is my work truck. It has a Meyer Plow on it.

MY BROTHER
ANDREW "COWBOY"
1980 CHEVY C/10 "BIG 10"-beat it into the ground, his first truck
1980 CAMARO Z-28-did engine mods, and sold it
1979 DODGE SNO COMMANDER 4WD PICK-UP-bought it to start Landscaping/snowplowing business.
1991 DODGE W 150 4WD PICK-UP-replaced the 79, after he beat it into the ground.
1995 DODGE RAM 1500 4WD
PAST TOYS....
1977 YAMAHA YZ 80, WITH A DG HEAD-beat till dead
1978 SUZUKI RM 125C-beat till dead
1980 HONDA XR 80-could'nt kill !! (though he tried)
1983 HONDA CR 125-beat to death
1986 KAWASAKI KLR 250 ENDURO-ground up two transmissions, riding wheelies, and shifting gears while keeping the front wheel up.
1983 HONDA CR 250-was always broken, or being fixed, and rigged by me too.
1991 HONDA CR 250-almost learned his lesson, didn't kill.
1996 YAMAHA XT 350 ENDURO -didn't own long enough to kill.

HIS CURRENT WATERCRAFT (Sold Summer 2001)
1995 YAMAHA WAVE RAIDER 1100 - WITH A 98 GP 1200 MOTOR, HEAD, RIVA EXHAUST STRAIGHT OUT THE REAR, BUCKSHOT 48mm RACING CARBS (3),
SOLAS PROP, V FORCE REEDS, PRO TEC INTAKE PORTED, PRO TEC RIDE PLATE AND INTAKE GRATE, RIVA EXTENDED STEERING NOZZLE, GP 1200 PUMP, UMI STEERING SYSTEM, PRO TEC ADJUSTABLE SPONSES, KEVLAR SEAT COVER, HYDRO TURF MATS, CYLINDER COMPRESSION:210 PSI, est. 167 HP@7,400rpm. TOP SPEED CLOCKED AT 70MPH, WITH STALKER RADAR GUN. YAMAHA PICS (Snow Mobile too)

GREG "WHEAT"
1970 CHEVY 4WD PICK-UP, SHORT BED,36" MUDDERS - with a Warn 12,000lb winch up front, he was the one everyone called, to get them unstuck.. This truck went from a "tow truck" with a tow truck front bumper, to a show truck. It took a few years......then the rot got bad. REAL BAD. That's when the Monte Carlo on a truck chassis idea was born. Yes, we did it ! He once rolled this truck onto the drivers side. Slid sideways across the road, when it hit the curb, it flipped into the woods. He was not hurt, and didn't even break the mirror. He did get pelted with all the tools and stuff in the center console though.
1977 CHEVY MONTE CARLO 4WD CUSTOM-this has it's own page.....
1977 CHEVY MONTE CARLO (SEE ABOVE)
>1979 CAMARO Z-28- (still my site) Greg's page
>1979 CORVETTE- (still my site) Greg's page
1969 FORD LTD-a $50 beater. He put a kill switch on the dash, so he could make it backfire at will. Sounded like gunshots driving down the road. This was the car that would appear in front of your house, Frank getting out and pouring bleach on the rear tires, or motor oil. They would leave in such a cloud of smoke, it looked like a house fire. I plead the 5th Amendment on the rest of this car's escapades ;-).
197? CHRYSLER CORDOBA-another $50 beater, replaced the LTD, but was nothing compared to it. I have no idea how it ended up, upside down, in a river ;-).

GENE
1970 CHEVY 2WD PICK-UP - thought he had 4wd. Got stuck a lot, but would try and try. Got to places some 4wds couldn't, and wouldn't try going. Head first into whatever, he had confidence, I give him that.

>1984 Chevy Blazer

EDDIE "PUPPET, FAST EDDIE, GROVER, CRAZY EDDIE"
1979 CJ7,WITH 37"HAWGS - his first lifted truck. Had Quadra Trac, he hated it, nothing but trouble.
1983 TOYOTA 4WD PICK-UP, WITH 36" SWAMPERS - bought it after the Jeep. It was stock. Many mods over the years. With bald Swampers, it idles through, in 2wd, what others with bigger trucks, with bigger tires, have a hard time getting through. I think he still has it. He got his start racing a YZ 80, at a young age. Lots of trophies. Closest I know to a Pro. He runs circles around local pros in the dunes. Loves to do things with your bike or quad, or 3 wheeler, that you can't do. Hence "Crazy Eddie, Fast Eddie", "Dartman". You can find him wheelin' in Manahawkin and on Long Beach Island. NJ.

FRANK "SLICK ANK"
EARLY 70'S INTERNATIONAL 4WD PICK-UP - you'd try to get him to pull you out, before calling Greg. I've never seen a truck do what this one did. This truck was the definition of heavy duty. Dana axles, a V8 (340?). Had a cement filled steel pipe, welded to the frame ends up front, as a bumper. (lolly column). The 8' bed floor, and walls were 1/8"diamond plate steel, original sheet metal on the outsides. It was bought new, by a Road Dept. Passed through a few people in a short time.
1974 CHEVY BLAZER, WITH 40"MUDDERS - was a phase. Loved to stomp the gas, then back off, the gear drag made the 40's chirp. Blew lots of U-joints doing it. Ended up selling it to Melton.
1973 BLAZER, STOCK (FRANKS BEATER) - I plead the 5th again !!!
1986 CHEVY K/10 PICK-UP, 36"SWAMPERS - He always babied it, this truck was built, he bought it new, and did everything except the motor. With only a few thousand miles, the 10 bolt GM rear blew. (not his fault) He waited till the warranty was up before he lifted it. After doing it all, when it was done and as long as he owned it, he never took it 4 wheeling. It was his baby.

NOAH "J **BOY"
1985 CHEVY BLAZER 4WD, 40"SWAMPERS, 8 HEAD LIGHTS - this truck was bought new, with only a few thousand miles on the truck, the 10 Bolt GM rear blew. (not his fault) He too waited till the warranty was up. His dream for this truck was 8 headlights. He did it, and named it "High Voltage" Built it, and sold when done. Never even 4 wheeled it.
(3) 1970 AMC AMX'S - was obsessed with these cars. Had a 6 car garage he rented. Lots of work was done at "Midnight Auto".
1975 JEEP CJ5, WITH A 304, HOBRECHT TUBE BUMPERS - took his time, this was the perfect combo, the ultimate Jeep. He started driving it before he painted it. Everything else was done, it even had a 304 V8. He was sitting at a red light, late at night. A car was approaching from the opposite direction. It wasn't slowing down, and started veering towards him, head on. He said he thought it was one of us messing with him. Turned out to be a drunk driver. The guy slammed him head on, knocking him back 100ft. It shifted the Jeep body back 2" on the frame, and bent the Jeep frame. What stands out most about this to me, was that the car struck the end of the front tube bumper. The bumper naturally has bends at the ends. The front bumper took all of the impact on the end. Yet it didn't bend more. It held it's original bend. The Jeep frame gave instead.
Now that's a strong bumper!

JEFF "BOYLE"
1969 FORD BRONCO 4WD,WITH 37"ARMSTRONGS - was a phase. He flipped it onto it's roof, going downhill, doing about 40mph, on a 4 lane road. It went clean onto it's roof. Not a scratch on him, or on it anywhere. He was lucky to walk away.... It killed him to watch the towing company destroy the body while up righting it.

MARIO "LIVERWURST"
1993 CHEVY K 1500 PICK-UP - Always overloads, and tows too much weight. Should own a 1 ton. Went through 2 transmissions, and 3 rears, in 130,000 miles. Lost count of how many of clutches replaced. Mario's Chevy

ERIC "BLAUBOY"
1979 DODGE POWER WAGON 4WD(ERIC) - remember him getting stuck, Greg pulling him out. Three tow trucks tried to get back to where he was stuck, and got stuck. They left him there. Greg's truck "walked" back to where he was stuck in a ravine. He had to winch him sideways, then out. I was driving, because Eric had to use his foot to hold the shifter forward, and keep it in 4wd. It would pop out otherwise......(it needed synchros)
1984 PONTIAC TRANS-AM - was too fast for it's own good. Had a worked 400 in it, a custom trans. He sold it to another friend. It ended up spinning out on a highway ramp. The driver almost died, was ejected out the sunroof, and into the side of the 18 wheeler it spun into and under. He lost 6 pints of blood. He's never been the same since. The other 3 passengers were fine. Only minor injuries.

STEVE "HUBBY"
1985 JEEP CJ7,WITH A 95 YJ TUB - I did the tub swap, it's own page coming soon
1997 FORD F 350 4WD POWERSTROKE DIESEL-loved this truck, now I hear he wants to sell it, and buy a 98 Ford Explorer. If you need a Limo in NJ, he's the one to call. Hubby's First Class Limosines.

CRAIG B.
1987 CHEVY K/20 PICK-UP. HD EMIS. - bought brand new, with a 400 HD emission engine. No cats, ran on regular leaded gas. With only a few thousand miles on it, the 14 bolt GM rear blew (not his fault, since we see a pattern here)

MIKE "MELTON"
1986 FORD BRONCO ll-was his 1st car. Killed it in a few months. After buying it new.
1974 CHEVY BLAZER, WITH 40"MUDDERS-bought from Frank, painted it banana yellow, beat it to death, then sold it. He owned it for the Scranton trip.

ANT "LITTLE ANT"
1979 CHEVY C/10 PICK-UP - was his first car. Motor went, Greg and I bought it for parts.

JEFF T. "BRIDGE JEFF"
>1985 F 250 4WD PICK-UP - he beefed this truck a lot on his own, swapping axles, driveshafts. I welded panels in for him, to repair the rotted cab floors.

Here's some pics of the job.
Jeff's Ford

> DENOTES CURRENTLY OWNED VEHICLES

NOTE* I HAVE A TON OF PICS TO SCAN, AND SORT, SOON THERE WILL BE LINKS TO PICTURES OF MOST OF THE VEHICLES LISTED, SOME STUCK IN THE MUD REAL GOOD. SOME SHOWING PROJECTS. HOW MUCH SOME OF THEM EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, IS AMAZING.
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