Published: 3/3/2022

The C10 Slayer is Built for Boost

Author: DAN HODGDON

Photos: LUCAS PRIAMO

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It's a build that seems preposterous, ludicrous, perhaps even absurd. It makes gobs of power and looks a little bit like a toy you'd pick up off the shelf of your local department store. But it works, and it works well.

"We just wanted to build a truck that was different than everything," Brad DeBerti says.

It's a build that seems preposterous, ludicrous, perhaps even absurd. It makes gobs of power and looks a little bit like a toy you'd pick up off the shelf of your local department store. But it works, and it works well.

"We just wanted to build a truck that was different than everything," Brad DeBerti says.

Brad DeBerti (left) and father Doug at the 2021 SEMA Show.

"We just like building crazy stuff."

He's speaking about the aptly named C10 Slayer, a six-wheeled 1965 Chevrolet C10 that Brad and his father, renowned custom builder Doug, built at their shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. It's the latest in a long line of custom, one-off creations from DeBerti Designs which have achieved massive followings on social media and have even been featured in video games.

The C10 Slayer made one of its first public appearances in the HP Tuners booth during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas last fall, after a massive crowd watched its unveiling.

"We just like building crazy stuff, whether people love it or hate it, everyone's talking about it," Brad DeBerti says. "This one's fun because it's just pure American muscle^* but it really has a lot of new-generation style things like a wide body and crazy aero."

The C10 Slayer's highlights include are a wide body and a massive wing.

Among those uniquely American elements^* is the Chevrolet Performance LSX376-B15 crate engine^† under the hood topped with a Whipple supercharger. The engine features an LSX cast-iron block, an all-forged rotating assembly capable of supporting up to 15 pounds of boost, and high-flow, LSX-LS3 six-bolt rectangular-port heads.

Per Chevrolet Performance, the engine makes 473 horsepower and 444 lb.-ft. of torque. However, power adders can raise that output significantly.

While it's common to see custom builds like the C10 Slayer utilize specially built power plants from engine shops, DeBerti has multiple reasons to prefer a crate engine.^†

"The most important reason is that with the LSX-B15, literally right out of the box you can make over a thousand horsepower really easy, and the second reason is you're not going to go spend 40, 50, 60 thousand dollars doing it," he says. "You can just get a factory LS motor, right from Chevrolet Performance, you bolt it in, and right out of the gate you can be at a thousand horsepower in like one day."

The C10 Slayer features a Chevrolet Performance LSX376-B15 crate engine^* topped with a Whipple supercharger.

"With the LS, I know the testing that they go through."

Brad DeBerti has competed in vehicles ranging from the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series, to NASCAR Late Models, to rallycross, and in that time has learned firsthand the benefits of reliability.

"With the LS, I know the testing that they go through," he explains. "That's the other biggest thing, is when this truck goes on tour with HP Tuners we have to make sure that we're not having to bring spare engines and things. The truck's gonna go through a lot of abuse, but the reliability is there."

The DeBertis bought the truck in South Carolina after being told it would be rust-free (which was less than accurate). At first, they planned to simply replace the chassis and envisioned a rat rod. However, the goal quickly changed.

"We just wanted to have a fun, quick project, "Brad DeBerti says. "But that's just not the way we build. So with that, we restarted and nine months later this is what the C10 Slayer looks like."

The intricacies of the two-axle C10 Slayer are readily apparent behind the cab.

The most obvious feature of the C10 Slayer is the second axle. The DeBertis built the truck utilizing two nine-inch rear ends making everything forward-driven and functional. The second axle is thus far from just a trailing axle. The Michelin rear tires are 14 inches wide, meaning they will create a lot of smoke during wild burnout sessions.

DeBerti says the goal from the engine back was to make everything as bulletproof as possible. That includes a 4L80-E four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, along with a QA1 full carbon-fiber driveshaft to feed the first axle, and a second driveshaft to feed the second.

Brad and Doug (who Brad often refers to as "Pops") did nearly all of the extensive body and mechanical work in their shop, painstakingly utilizing a variety of custom parts to maintain the distinctive body lines of the original C10, but also creating a unique and intriguing wide stance in the process. They worked with Scott's Hotrods to design the custom chassis for the dual-axle truck.

All wiring is hidden, as are a variety of cooling components to give the truck an extremely clean look. The firewall is completely blank as well.

The C10 Slayer has a mean stance and incorporates ideas from both Brad and Doug DeBerti.

The truck features a matte black exterior with red trim and an open bed to highlight the intricacies of the build. However, it includes a tailgate to honor the look of the original C10.

The truck also utilizes hydraulics for an adjustable ride height and adjustable suspension settings for the ability to go racing. The functional interior maintains the race car theme with a full roll cage and no carpeting.

Brad DeBerti believes that building the truck with his father created a perfect mix of ideas from two generations. Doug offered a variety of ideas as to how to produce the raw power with the LSX engine and blower, while Brad's input included styling elements like the wide body and six wheels.

The two have long worked together; the father-son team was originally based in California and recently relocated to North Carolina to reopen the family business selling aluminum race parts.

In addition to the DeBertis' major presence on social media, they have also been featured on two television shows: "TwinTurbos" on Discovery and "Spoolin' Up with the DeBertis" on MotorTrend.

The C10 Slayer is just one of the DeBertis' many impressive custom builds.

"We've always been about Chevy Performance."

Throughout their careers, the DeBertis have worked with multiple OEs and built vehicles from a variety of makes and models. However, they have a special affinity for the Bowtie Brand.

"My dad did quite a few (Chevrolets) back in the day," Brad DeBerti says. "We like working with all the OEs but we've always been about Chevy Performance. We do love, love Chevy. I've had many race trucks that have had factory LS motors and they're probably one of my favorite power plants because of the reliability."

Now, the C10 Slayer is taking LS power to a whole different level.

Keep watching The BLOCK for more wild builds featuring engines and components from Chevrolet Performance.

^*Of globally sourced parts

^†Because of their effect on a vehicle's emissions performance, these engines are intended exclusively for use in competition vehicles. These engines are designed and intended for use in vehicles operated exclusively for competition: in racing or organized competition on courses separate from public streets or highways. Installation or use of these engines on a vehicle operated on public streets or highways is likely to violate U.S., Canadian, and state and provincial laws and regulations related to motor vehicle emissions.

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