It should be noted that Chris and A.J. Schwichtenberg, of GoodFellows Classic Cars out of Phoenix, got together and decided what the ’37 Chevy pickup needed to come to life. The ’37 Chevy had spent some 20 years locked up in a Conex shipping container before the two did some idea swapping. Chris and Schwichtenberg were talking, as he had already worked on one of Chris’ other cars, when the idea was hatched to ship the Bowtie pickup to Phoenix and have it put together once and for all. Now Chris was going to have the hot rod truck he had always wanted. (I, too, was wondering how a hot rodder who lives in Alaska gets hooked up with a builder in Arizona. Now I know.)

Let’s start off under the hood and prove our point. Resting between the ’rails and beneath the hood is a Chevrolet Performance LS376. The V-8 boasts the use of an ASA camshaft (0.525 lift) and a 10.7:1 compression that yields a 6.2L LS that pumps out 525 hp. The air intake is a custom piece built at Schwichtenberg’s shop. Other engine appointments are Chevy Performance along with the custom plug wires from Schwichtenberg. To complete the list of engine accessories take note of the Lokar dipsticks, an Aeromotive fuel pump, American Billet pulleys, and a Fluidampr harmonic balancer. Maintaining the V-8’s cool is a Wizard radiator and a pair of electric fans. The headers are based on stainless steel 1-3/4-inch primary tubes that dump into full stainless steel 3-inch exhaust pipe that runs back to a pair of SpinTech mufflers. Backed up to the LS376 is a 4L75-E transmission. Rated for 650 lb-ft of torque capacity, it’s a great alternative to the 4L80-E when engine swap space is at a premium. In other words, a great choice for a hot rod engine bay. The 4L75-E is outfitted with a Ground Zero 3,000-rpm stall speed converter with the internal mods handled at GoodFellows. A Chevrolet Performance engine and transmission computer are used. All this horsepower and torque is delivered back to a Ford 9-inch rearend that is equipped with a Strange Engineering pumpkin fitted with 3.50 gears and Strange axles.

What’s very cool about this truck and truly makes the entire package come together is the use of Roadster Shop framerails. Here we can see Afco coilover shocks at the corners, Wilwood brake package all the way around, and Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering, rolling on rubber supplied by Nitto in the shape of NT555 G2 315/35R17 tires wrapped around American Racing Salt Flat wheels.

It should be noted that Chris and A.J. Schwichtenberg, of GoodFellows Classic Cars out of Phoenix, got together and decided what the ’37 Chevy pickup needed to come to life. The ’37 Chevy had spent some 20 years locked up in a Conex shipping container before the two did some idea swapping. Chris and Schwichtenberg were talking, as he had already worked on one of Chris’ other cars, when the idea was hatched to ship the Bowtie pickup to Phoenix and have it put together once and for all. Now Chris was going to have the hot rod truck he had always wanted. (I, too, was wondering how a hot rodder who lives in Alaska gets hooked up with a builder in Arizona. Now I know.)

Let’s start off under the hood and prove our point. Resting between the ’rails and beneath the hood is a Chevrolet Performance LS376. The V-8 boasts the use of an ASA camshaft (0.525 lift) and a 10.7:1 compression that yields a 6.2L LS that pumps out 525 hp. The air intake is a custom piece built at Schwichtenberg’s shop. Other engine appointments are Chevy Performance along with the custom plug wires from Schwichtenberg. To complete the list of engine accessories take note of the Lokar dipsticks, an Aeromotive fuel pump, American Billet pulleys, and a Fluidampr harmonic balancer. Maintaining the V-8’s cool is a Wizard radiator and a pair of electric fans. The headers are based on stainless steel 1-3/4-inch primary tubes that dump into full stainless steel 3-inch exhaust pipe that runs back to a pair of SpinTech mufflers. Backed up to the LS376 is a 4L75-E transmission. Rated for 650 lb-ft of torque capacity, it’s a great alternative to the 4L80-E when engine swap space is at a premium. In other words, a great choice for a hot rod engine bay. The 4L75-E is outfitted with a Ground Zero 3,000-rpm stall speed converter with the internal mods handled at GoodFellows. A Chevrolet Performance engine and transmission computer are used. All this horsepower and torque is delivered back to a Ford 9-inch rearend that is equipped with a Strange Engineering pumpkin fitted with 3.50 gears and Strange axles.

What’s very cool about this truck and truly makes the entire package come together is the use of Roadster Shop framerails. Here we can see Afco coilover shocks at the corners, Wilwood brake package all the way around, and Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering, rolling on rubber supplied by Nitto in the shape of NT555 G2 315/35R17 tires wrapped around American Racing Salt Flat wheels.

We mentioned that the Chevy pickup is good looking and while it may look stock there are a few alterations to enhance the overall appearance. Giving a fresh, crisp appearance is the grille and trim treatment from Chevs of the 40’s. Before the paintwork, plenty of Steele Rubber Products were used on the doors and glass areas of the cab. Once all the GoodFellows bodywork was handled, a PPG custom color called Desert Storm was sprayed on. Back to the bodywork scene, note the widened front fenders, a custom gas filler door, the rear fender exhaust ports located right behind the rear tires, a roll pan with a frenched license plate mount, and the nifty script on the “Chevrolet” treatment on the tailgate.

Inside the interior features more handiwork from GoodFellows as well as some very nifty stitchwork from Unique Upholstery. The bench seat is custom as is the center console and both are wrapped in brown leather. The steering column is more Flaming River fare with a Billet Specialties wheel, while a B&M shifter is used along with a Vintage Air A/C system and Classic Instruments gauge package. Making sure the pickup comes to life is an American Autowire system that was installed while at GoodFellows and runs through an Odyssey battery and a Powermaster starter.

When it comes to trucks you have to like the way this ’37 Chevy looks. We can tell you, it runs like a hot rod should.