All Green Lights and Hard Work Converted This $300 Project Into a Twin-Turbo C10 Pick-Up
You might not think looking at Kainen Hall’s 1977 Chevrolet pick-up that it started as a three-hundred-dollar project. “My dad and I have built everything on our truck,” Kainen said. “We have turned every bolt and nut, so I think knowing it inside and out is a big advantage to using it in a drag-and-drive.”
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“My dad was always a dirt racer, and had hot rods and 4 x 4 trucks,” continued Kainen. “Drag-and-drive just seemed like the next thing to do, which started with this truck and a junkyard turbo LS engine.”
Done in time to participate on Hot Rod Drag Week in 2021, the truck only had 1.5 miles, but Kainen and his dad survived the tasks. “Somehow we completed the trip, with only 1 mishap of a broken wire,” Kainen said.
In 2022, Kainen completed his second Hot Rod Drag Week, improving his 12.81 average from the previous year to a 10.83. Kainen hoped to continue the improvement in 2023, and he started out great with personal-best runs on the first two days, including a 10.04 at 136 mph on day two. But a lack of oil pressure on the final pass of day two ended their Drag Week earlier than expected.
Kainen also did his first drag-and-drive as a co-pilot, as wife Tessa participated in Nostalgia Nights last year. It had enough of an event that they plan to return to the event this year, and Kainen may also add Sick Summer to his fourth Hot Rod Drag Week appearance.
To do battle in 2024, the truck will be powered by a Dart Machinery-based 427 cubic inch LS powerplant, with twin turbochargers onboard. A Jake’s Performance 4L80 automatic transmission with overdrive connects to a 9-inch rear end.
“We can’t wait to be hanging with and meeting new people and friends again at our next drag-and-drive,” said Kainen. “Car and hot rod people, I think there’s no better crowd.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Kainen Hall.
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