Will Gehrke’s 1965 GMC 1000

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Issue

July 2025

Owner

Will Gehrke

Ride

Miss Kay
(1965 GMC 1000)

Meaning Behind the Name

In honor and remembrance of my mother, Donna Kay Gehrke

Ride Details

Original Cost

$11,000

Build Cost

$45-$50k (so far, not including purchase cost)

What was the inspiration?

I grew up a kid that always loved customs vehicles, especially trucks. During the late 90's through early 2000's I had a custom mini-truck and had so much fun in that scene and at shows. After a long break from being in that scene due to other happenings and the ups and downs of life, I had wanted to get back into the scene for quite some time. After getting married and starting a family, life had other priorities still to come with the birth of my first son Owen, who had complications After being born and fighting for his life for some time in the NICU, he was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, several vision issues as well as extensive list of other conditions all as a result of bilateral grade IV brain bleeds due to medical malpractice. So his care has been priority to my wife Amy and I. We also have a second son named Liam. Who is 4 years younger than Owen. He is very bright and smart. After having our hands full with caring for them. I had decided that it would be nice to get back into the scene and go to car shows like I had in the past. In May of 2018, I was faced with the sudden loss of my mother. Working on this truck in the garage gave me something constructive and positive to do while mourning her. The project also helped with some bonding with Liam and I when he wanted to be in the garage with me. As well as my Dad, Wayne and I whenever he has visited from out of state.

How long did it take you to build?

Still on-going, but on and off for 4 to 5 years as time and funds would allow to get it to this point

How long have you been building?

As a third generation wrencher, who was too broke to have others fix my vehicles when I was younger. I had to do repairs and swaps starting in my late teens. Even spending a few years working in a shop, doing some custom builds but mostly bolt-ons. Doing that every day, then doing side jobs for years once I left that industry, that had burned me out a bit. After taking a break from doing that type of work for a while. I eventually got inspiration to want to have a project or build for myself again. Although the mini-truck is had years ago had lots of mods, this 65 GMC is the most extensive work I've done to a single vehicle while tearing it down from a relatively stock truck to rebuilding it from a empty shell.

Club Affiliations

Severed Ties (Petitioner)

Your future plans?

A more powerful engine, bed work including rear tubs, sheet metal and hinged raised bed floor. Additional interior work, A/C, body work with more body mods and paint.

Vehicle history

I don't know much about it's past. I bought it from a gentleman here in Southern California. He said it came from a previous owner in central California if I remember correctly. The truck could not be driven home and had to be trailered when I purchased it.

Thanks to

My wife Amy for putting up with me not being in the house helping with our kids while I was in the garage with it. My youngest son Liam for helping out by going around and making sure nuts and bolts were tight, my dad for being supported of the build and helping out when visiting, Brian Goude(Gtv) for helping me get all the Porterbuilt parts used on the front end, the Level Ride air management system, and being a good ear to bounce ideas off of. Other family for their support and interest.

Previous Rides

1990 S-10 fully shaved and bagged 2004 Subaru Impreza with nearly 300 AWHP and all supporting mods

Engine Details

Make

Chevrolet 1979

Cylinders

Displacement

A completely rebuilt chevy 267ci bored .030 over

Engine Mods

Melling cam w/Z28 valve springs, Melling high volume oil pump, Edelbrock dual plane intake manifold, Edelbrock AVS2 500 CFM 4 barrel carburetor, block hugger headers, double roller timing chain. Painted "Cast Coat Aluminum" silver.

Engine Add Ons

Chrome stainless ARP hardware, chrome engine dress-up kit, k&N air filter, HEI distributor, Edelbrock electric fuel pump, Holley fuel pressure regulator, full dual 2.5" exhaust with H-pipe and Flowmaster Super HP-2 mufflers made by me. 250 amp alternator, chrome CPP power steering pump and brackets with custom made lines feeding the CPP rack and pinion, aluminum Champion radiator w/ Spal electric fan. Boys Welding aluminum fuel cell.

Driveline Details

Torque Converter

C4 Corvette 700R4 transmission with corvette servos and slightly higher stall speed than stock

Transfer Case

Custom 2 piece drive shaft w/slip yoke and upgraded U-joints

Axle

Moser Engineering custom axles

Gears

3:73 gearswith Eaton Limited Slip Differential inside of a mid 90's Chevy Caprice housing with 9C1 disc brake option found on police cars

Chassis Details

Chassis

Front half of the frame is stock.

Mods to Frame

Front suspension mods; Porterbuilt Fabrication level 3 full front crossmember, suspension and sway bar. All powdercoated gloss black. Modified CPP center crossmember with CPP billet center support driveshaft bearing. Rear back half fabricated by Ikon Industries in Ontario, CA. Finished by me.

Drop or lift inches

Dropped; all of the inches!

Front Shocks

KYB

Rear Shocks

Bilstein

Spindles

CPP modular drop spindles

Four Link

Custom fabricated

Compressor Info

Dual Viair 485 compressors

Valve Info

Level Ride Bluetooth pressure and height controlled ECU and manifold system

Airbag Info

Airlift D2600 air bags on all 4 corners, Airslammit polished spun aluminum 5 gal tank, chrome AVS water traps

Other Mods

Dual Odyssey AGM Batteries,power brakes featuring a CPP big brake kit with aluminum master cylinder. Custom made brake line throughout

Wheels Details

Front Wheel Type

US Mags Rambler Chrome

Rear Wheel Type

US Mags Rambler Chrome

Front Wheel Size

22x9

Rear Wheel Size

22x11

Front Tire Size

265/35ZR22

Rear Tire Size

305/30ZR22

Paint Details

Color

Unknown color changes from metallic grey to dark blue under different lighting with a purplish redish hugh in bright direct sunlight

Paint Type

Metallic

Painted By

Unknown, when owned be a previous owner

Graphics By

Body Details

Body Drop

Yes, bottom of rockers with pinch mouldings removed and plated flate with shoot metal

Hood

Stock GMC specific hood with clear lenses

Grille

Stock GMC specific period correct grille

Bumpers

Stock chrome

Addon Accessories

Complete LED lighting throughout with white/amber switch backs up front

Body Mods

Shaved and painted firwall, Porterbuilt cowl hood hinges with gas shocks, Self made Fab custom bead rolled raised front inner fenders. Shaved antenna, Shaved bed trailer stake pockets, Shaved mouldings, Shaved mirrors, all areas painted black, firewall, inner fenders backhand etc. Finished and painted by me.

Body Mods by

Unknown, previous owner

Interior Details

Dashboard

Stock GMC specific dash

Gauges

Dakota Digital HDX, Billet gauge bezel adapter to fit Chevrolet C10 into the GMC dash. Dakota Digital radiator fan controller

Steering Wheel

Billet Specialties- Vintec w/black leather wrap

Head Unit

Pioneer Bluetooth

Speakers

Rockford Fosgate 6.5" & 6x9"

Stereo Installed by

Shifter

CPP steering column with billet levers

Seats

Snowden Customs black pleated seat with side boaters and adjustable sliding brackets and matching removable cup holders

Upholstery Description

Black ACC plush cut carpet and custom matching floor mats. Driver and passenger side sun visors added. Nu-Relics power window kit. Full sound deadening from under dash to back wall.

Upholstery Description

Full LED lighting with under dash courtesy lights. Complete rewire using a modified 21 circuit American Autowire universal kit as well as 0/2 custom front to rear battery cables and grounds done by me

Upholstery By

All installed by me

“Miss Kay”

When you see Miss Kay laid out and gleaming in the sunlight, it’s easy to get caught up in the chrome, big wheels, and slick paint. But for Will Gehrke out of Yucaipa, California, this custom 1965 GMC 1000 is way more than just a cool truck. It’s a personal tribute, a way to reconnect with the custom scene, and a healing project that helped him through some of life’s toughest moments.

Named in honor of his late mother, Donna Kay Gehrke, Miss Kay is a rolling memory with deep meaning—and a whole lot of attitude.

From the Garage to the Heart

Will’s no stranger to custom rides. Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, he was rolling in a fully shaved and bagged S-10 and living that mini-truck life. But after stepping away from the scene to focus on family—especially caring for his son Owen, who was born with serious medical complications—Will put his wrenching passion on pause.

In 2018, after suddenly losing his mom, Will found himself back in the garage, looking for something to focus on. That “something” became Miss Kay. It started as a rough project that needed to be trailered home and has slowly evolved into one seriously cool street cruiser—built with love, late nights, and help from his youngest son Liam, who loves hanging out in the garage and tightening bolts.

Five Years, Countless Hours, and One Killer Build

This build wasn’t rushed—and it shows. Over 4-5 years, Will turned a stock truck into a one-of-a-kind low-slung custom. The engine is a 1979 Chevy 267ci V8, rebuilt and modded with a bunch of old-school cool: Melling cam, Edelbrock intake and carb, block hugger headers, Flowmaster exhaust, and tons of chrome and polish under the hood.

The drivetrain’s no slouch either, with a Corvette 700R4 trans, custom driveshaft, and beefy Moser axles stuffed in a Caprice 9C1 disc brake rear end. Everything’s held together by a frame that’s been seriously worked over with Porterbuilt front suspension, a custom back-half by Ikon Industries, Air Lift bags, Level Ride air management, and dual Viair compressors.

Oh, and yes—it’s dropped. Like, all the way down.

Clean Outside, Comfy Inside

The exterior is a mix of subtle mods and custom touches. Will shaved the moldings, antenna, mirrors, and trailer stake pockets. He even did his own custom inner fenders and firewall work. The color? A mystery metallic that shifts from gray to blue to a hint of purple depending on the lighting—painted by a previous owner but totally working with the truck’s vibe.

Inside, the cab’s rocking a Snowden Custom seat, Dakota Digital HDX gauges, Billet Specialties steering wheel, Rockford Fosgate audio, and Nu-Relics power windows. It’s clean, functional, and built to cruise—complete with sound deadening, custom wiring, and attention to detail everywhere you look.

Built With Love (and Some Serious Help)

Will’s quick to shout out the people who’ve helped him along the way—his wife Amy for being patient, Liam for being his mini wrench-turner, his dad Wayne, and buddies like Brian Goude (GTV) for helping source Porterbuilt parts and just being a solid friend. This build is a family effort, and it shows.

What’s Next?

Miss Kay’s still a work in progress. Will’s got plans for more interior upgrades, bed mods, a bigger engine, AC, and maybe even paint and body refinements down the road. But honestly, even now—it’s already a showstopper.

Owned by: Will Gehrke

Photos by: Cheri Delgadillo