Everyone needs a good work truck. Something that’s beefy and that can pull a trailer down the highway. It’s a bonus if it’s a super cool work truck like this 1978 C30, single-cab, long-bed dually. At first glance, this looks like a really nice, original squarebody Chevy Dually. However, upon closer inspection, you find this is an immaculate restoration with some killer features. It’s custom but for all the right reasons. Nicknamed “Elwood”, after the “Blues Brothers”, this may be the quintessential working man’s highway hauler.

Cruising the highway in a Cummins-swapped 1978 C30

An All Out Original

Built by Empire Fabrications, in Ventura, California, the mandate was to keep this squarebody looking all original. It is used as a regularly driven tow rig and has about 4,000 miles on it since the restoration. It features an original 1978 paint scheme in the original hues of blue. All of the body panels are original steel that was meticulously worked and straightened. It also features the original trim. The grill started out stainless and was chromed, but all of the inserts are original to a ’78 Chevy. It even carries reworked and chromed original bumpers.

You might notice the lowered stance. Empire used the original 1978 chassis, but they do a notch kit on the rear that wraps the frame all the way around and has built-in overload bags for the drop. In the rear, Empire builds a cradle with a hide-a-hitch. Inside the cradle are dual compressors and dual tanks. The truck features on-board air management by Logiq Air Suspension, which automatically level-loads when you hook up a load.

Elwood rides low thanks to Empire’s fab work and Logiq Air Suspension

Under the hood is where things get very interesting. A new, remanufactured 1998-and-a-half, 24-valve Cummins diesel was dropped in for power. Believe it or not, they make motor mounts that allow for the 24-valve to bolt right into the squarebody. It’s nothing radical because it is built to work. However, it does sport a Banks Hot Side Boost Tube on the turbo and a Banks Monster-Ram. The four-inch exhaust runs the length of the truck to a Banks Monster Muffler. The engine is a stock build that is meant to be a reliable worker, and not set a speed record. It clocks in at a reasonable 300 horsepower with 550 pound-foot of torque. Empire did some beautiful fabrication under the hood, with their aluminum work and custom water-to-air intercooler.

The power gets transferred through a custom-built 6-speed Allison transmission. They kept it an automatic to allow for easier towing and cruising. “Elwood” can cruise the highway comfortably at 75mph.

The wheels stand out on this build. They look like they belong, but they are custom. The wheels started as 22 1/2-inch Kenworth semi-truck wheels. Empire machined them down to 22 inches and designed an eight to ten-lug adaptor. They even billet-machined the hub caps to look exactly like the stock 1978 Chevy hubcaps, but able to fit the big KW wheels.

Empire also made all-new billet badges that look like Chevrolet originals. The C30 badging coordinates with the truck’s blue paint scheme, but Empire utilized the original looking orange and yellow colors for the “Empire Special” badging to reflect the original “Camper Special” or Trailer Special” badge from 1978.

Another key component of this build is the lighting. All of the electronics run through a MoTeC power distribution system. Including the addition of underrail lighting in the bed. This is an addition that should be on all trucks.

It’s just a stock work truck that we went way too far on. — Sean Ramage, owner of Empire Fabrications.

Everything about this truck is done well. It’s done so well that you may not notice how nice this truck truly is if you pass it on the highway. But, that’s what makes “Elwood” special. It’s “just” a work truck.