crossbreed - the truck that defined ssmc
Crossbreed began life as a 1986 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with a tired 305 small block. When I found it, the engine had a noticeable knock, the transmission was an unknown, and while it would move around the yard under its own power, it was obvious the truck had seen much better days.
Interestingly, I would later learn that Crossbreed had already crossed paths with my family years before. A relative had previously restored and repainted the truck, something I had no idea about when I first bought it. In a way, it felt like the truck had found its way back home.
At the time, we had just begun reviving GMT800 trucks, so Crossbreed spent longer waiting for its turn than I had originally planned. Other projects moved ahead of it, but when the time finally came, it became the perfect opportunity to tackle something we had never done before—our very first LS swap.
The donor truck came apart the weekend after Thanksgiving. In a single day, the engine and transmission were removed, and over the next few days everything was cleaned, resealed, repainted, and prepared for its new home. Within a week, the drivetrain was ready to install.
A good friend, Ryan McCauley of McCauley’s Performance, happened to be in the area and offered to lend a hand. Together, we lowered the freshly prepared LS engine into Crossbreed, marking a huge milestone in the project.
A week or two later, my brother came down, and we finished plumbing the fuel system. The moment of truth had finally arrived. Hearing an LS engine come to life inside a 1986 square body for the first time was something I’ll never forget. It was proof that everything we’d spent weeks preparing had worked exactly as planned.
Like many passion projects, Crossbreed would sit a little longer before receiving the attention it deserved. But around that same time, Signature Series Rigs began to take shape. We started documenting the build, sharing the journey online, and connecting with a community that appreciated bringing old trucks back to life.
From that point forward, Crossbreed gained momentum.
What began as a worn-out square body with a knocking engine evolved into something none of us expected. It became a beautifully restored, LS-powered truck that looked factory-inspired while driving like a modern vehicle. More importantly, it became the build that gave Signature Series Rigs its identity.
Crossbreed proved what was possible.
It showed that with the right vision, patience, and attention to detail, an old truck that many people would have overlooked could become something truly special. In many ways, Crossbreed wasn’t just another project—it became the standard we would strive to meet with every build that followed.