My name is William Estrada, and this is my 1956 Chevy 3100.
I purchased the truck back in April of 2011. Like a lot of classic truck projects, it started simple enough, a Chevy small-block 350 paired with a 700R4 transmission. At the time, the goal was just to get it on the road and enjoy it. But as often happens with builds, one unexpected moment changed everything.
An engine fire ended that first chapter and sparked the beginning of a completely new vision.
A Fresh Start from the Ground Up
After the fire, I decided not to just rebuild—I wanted to rethink the truck entirely. That led me to a TCI full chassis setup, complete with a four-link rear suspension and independent front suspension. From there, the truck started to evolve from a classic cruiser into something with serious performance potential.
One of the standout upgrades was the fuel system. I went with a CPP gas tank and fuel pump kit, and the experience couldn’t have been better. Everything in the kit was well thought out and bolted in exactly as it should.
Even with the TCI chassis, there were no headaches. No cutting, no modifications, everything bolted right up. That’s the kind of installation experience every builder hopes for, and it honestly exceeded my expectations.
Built in the Garage, Built with Friends
All of the work was done in my garage with the help of a good friend of mine, Kevin Kline. There’s something special about building a truck that way—turning wrenches late, solving problems as they come up, and watching the project slowly come together piece by piece.
It wasn’t about rushing or farming the work out. It was about building it right and enjoying the process.
More Than a Show Truck
I love going out to autocross tracks. I don’t race competitively, but I do photography work for racing events, and every once in a while they’ll let me take the truck out for a few laps. That’s where this build really shines.
The truck has a lot of potential. It’s not just something to look at, it’s something to drive. Hard.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just a project or a collection of parts.
It’s my truck.
