For years, Jack Weaver, the owner of Acme Chop Shop in Grand Junction, Colo., had difficulty finding skilled automotive technicians and artisans to restore classic cars. So, in 2019, he created a five-month workshop for aspiring young techs. That project to inspire the next generation of car builders became Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop.
Shop now for classic Chevrolet pickupsThe non-profit, formed in 2020, restored a 1954 Chevy truck that sold at Barrett-Jackson in January for $137,500.
Valuable Skills and a Lot of Pride
Shelby Robison from Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop with the truck at the Barrett-Jackson auction.
Every year, the workshop provides hands-on hot-rod restoration training for up to five students. First, Weaver selects the vehicle and chooses the design and gear. When the students arrive, they get to work learning from Weaver and his team.
The dash sports an updated set of gauges.
The students learn critical tasks like bodywork, engine rebuilding, welding, painting, and electrical skills. After completing the workshop, they receive a certificate of completion in hot rod restoration and a starter set of shop tools. The program boasts 12 graduates, and 11 are working in the auto restoration industry.
Carson Tadevich, a 2022 workshop graduate, loved learning to weld.
He said:
When I first saw the 1954 Chevy truck, I knew we would have our hands full. I was overwhelmed. But once we developed a plan, it wasn’t so bad.
Tadevich said walking across the Barrett-Jackson stage with the truck was a thrill, especially when it sold for big bucks. After graduating, Tadevich returned to his native Minnesota and found work in a collision repair shop.
Learning from Old Trucks
The 3100 was in rough shape when acquired.
Weaver found the 1954 Chevy truck in a Colorado field. As expected, it was rusty and needed major work. Nearly every part needed replacing. Under his guidance, the students installed a Chevy LSA 6.2-liter engine with a supercharger. It’s mated to a six-speed Chevy 6L80 automatic transmission.
The bench seat has a modern look with plaid inserts.
The students crafted a custom chassis from a Mustang II front end and a four-link rear end. They added air conditioning, disc brakes, and a new exhaust, and wired a new sound system. The students also completed upholstery work to spruce up the interior. The result was a gleaming Ethereal Candy Red beauty, which they showed off at last year’s SEMA Show.
The supercharged Chevrolet LSA V-8 fits nicely in the 3100’s engine bay.
The companies that donated products to the workshop for the 1954 Chevy truck include Corsa, Keyston Bros., RainGear Wiper Systems, Retro Sound, Speed Wiring Products, and Steele Rubber. Other brands offered parts at a discount.
Working Toward Perfection
The truck drew plenty of admirers while on display at the SEMA Show.
Because the donor truck sat for years exposed to the elements, the most demanding part of the workshop was fixing the body.
Weaver has been in the restoration business for more than 30 years. Over the years, many people approached him wanting to learn the craft. But it wasn’t feasible to take on new talent, train them, and then have them leave to work elsewhere.
The workshop gives him a chance to train the next generation of technicians and give back to the hot rod industry. Given the high winning bid of the workshop’s 1954 Chevy truck sold at Barrett-Jackson, his students must be doing something right.
The Educational Workshop’s 1954 Chevy truck has a wicked stance.
Last year, three students were offered scholarships covering about $11,500 in tuition. Proceeds from the 1954 Chevy truck sale provide scholarship funds and help finance the 2023 build.
