It all started at a young age. My passion for trucks came from my dad. He was always working on something, and I was right there with him. He was a truck guy and it stuck with me my whole life.

I bought my first truck when I was 16, and with my dad’s help we got it running, and from there the passion only grew stronger. I bought a 1953 Chevy 3100 Pickup in 2016. It didn’t run when I got it, but with what I learned from my dad I got it running. It was like he was right there helping me all over again. It had a small block Chevy and Turbo 350 automatic transmission with a Camaro sub frame. It didn’t take long to figure out it needed upgrades to make it roadworthy, as it was only good for short distance driving. I kept it running through the years while I saved money to make it roadworthy.

In August of 2020 my daughter wanted to use it in her wedding. All her wedding pictures were taken around this truck.

In 2021 I finally had most of my parts to start my dream truck, which I call “Ole Boy”. I was also blessed with another surprise, I was going to be a grandfather. So I made it a goal to take this truck apart and put it back together and have it running before my grandson was born. There were a lot of sleepless nights and weekends, but with the help of good friends on Thanksgiving Day of 2021 I test drove “Ole Boy” and off to the Turkey Rod Run we went. On November 30th my grandson Boden Wright Cates was born.

“Ole Boy” is now powered by a 500hp LS3 engine with a 4L65E transmission that I purchased from GM Performance (one of their Connect & Cruise powertrain systems for optimal compatibility and performance). It also now has a custom chassis from Davenport Motorsports with a Mustang 2 style front end and a 4-link in the rear (all powder coated), along with Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes. The custom charcoal metallic gray paint was purchased from Higgs Auto Paint & Body Supply in Holly Hill, Florida. With a good friend, I had help with the paint and body. For the finishing touch I had a custom interior crafted by Schreck’s Rod & Custom Upholstery in DeLand, Florida and it came out great.

This all started with a dream, along with the passion for trucks that I got from my dad many years ago as a young boy growing up. Now I am enjoying cruising in “Ole Boy”, attending various car shows and cruise-ins, and making lots of friends along the way. CN