Pete Moye’
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Cerritos College auto technology students are working on a project to trick out a 1965 Chevy Longbed truck that will be featured in a Car and Truck Magazine and be displayed next year at one of the top trade events in the world, the Sema Show in Las Vegas.

Four classes in the auto technology program will share the workload and each student who participates in the project will have his name and total hours worked listed among all other contributors and donors.

“I feel great about the opportunity,” Paul Woodrome, a political science major, said. “It opened a lot of doors for me. It’s going to get recognition for the school and it’s going to be great for the (students) too. It’s going to help expand their resumes to get jobs later.”

Woodrome, who will be rebuilding the truck’s motor and transmission by himself, said he is now a sponsored mechanic because of the project. The vehicle’s owner sent out letters to various car manufacturers requesting sponsorship and they approved.

The sponsors will donate parts and paint to help the students complete the project, which they expect to finish in a year.

Currently, the truck rests in the auto technology center’s lot without the bed or motor and with extensive rust damage.

“The owner is always going on missionary trips and feeding the homeless,” Woodrome, who is an Iraq war veteran, said. “He never has money because he’s always helping people so I asked if I can help him.”

So far, the bed has been pulled off and repainted, and the motor is awaiting complete overhaul. Students are also going to replace the interior, and modify the vehicle’s shocks from coils to airbags so the owner can raise and lower the truck.

Students also have to replace the roof because of the rust and they will finish the job by painting the truck pearl white and several components, including the engine, candy apple red.

“It’s going to be very classy and fresh looking with poppy colors,” Woodrome said. “But we want to keep the truck as original as possible.”

Production, however, is on hold for two weeks until parts come in.

The truck’s owner chose Cerritos College students for the job because he had heard about an earlier project students completed with a 1966 Chevy El Camino as a father’s gift for his son, a returning service member, according to Charles Robertson, auto technology instructor.

“Every semester we have some people who don’t have many options in getting their vehicles fixed,” Robertson said. “They become our patrons, students learn how to fix their cars and the auto body club receives donations to support student activities.”