10-4 Magazine February 2024

12 10-4 Magazine / February 2024 Keith has added or accentuated. The “Mr. Horsepower” sticker on the vent window was gifted to Keith by Jake Bast, as Keith has always had a love of hot rods. The cab and sleeper have the original paint from when Jerry owned it. The hood was extended because Keith decided the truck needed a Caterpillar 3408 in it, which was necessary, to accommodate the space this big V-8 engine would require. Keith opted for a 3408 in the truck for two reasons: because he always wanted a hot rod, and to be different (hardly anyone has them anymore). Keith and Clyde “Mayor of I-80” Green (November 2022 feature trucker) found a radiator shroud that they just started cutting away at, until it fit. Keith fabricated a lot of things on this truck including the clutch linkage, the steering column, and even the exhaust. He had to make the exhaust (turbo to the Y pipe), because no one had the exhaust for a V-8 for a truck this old. He also built the bottom radiator mount and the light bar across the back of the truck. Every air valve and all the plumbing and wiring on this truck is new, and Keith said the truck is currently about 80 percent done. It was in June of 2023 when that “80 percent complete” benchmark was reached. At that point, Keith still thought the truck was just going to be for fun, but Clyde found him a nice little gig that he couldn’t pass up, and that “just for fun” truck officially became a work truck. For those that don’t know, Clyde owns Equality State Transport, Inc. out of Cheyenne, WY. Coming on board with Clyde also meant representing Clyde’s company by putting the name on his truck. The “Equality State Transport, Inc.” on Keith’s truck was done with a mix of powder and paint which is a trick Keith learned from his sign painting days. It is applied very dry, so it skips, giving it the appearance that it has been on there for a very long time. Prior to going to work, Keith and his truck went on their maiden voyage together to the ATHS National Convention and Antique Truck Show last year in Reno, NV. Everyone has someone they look up to, a person that has influenced and or supported them in their ventures, but for Keith, there is more than one person he’d like to thank. To his father (picture framed photo Keith is holding), who was everything to him including respecting