Extra Credit

This month’s cool “creation” was not built at all by Clint Moore – it was built by the high school kids at the Clarion County Career Center (CCCC) in Shippenville, PA. The CCCC is a non-profit school that teaches real-world careers to high school students who are interested in learning a trade. The school teaches several different occupations, but the Diesel Technology program, headed by Donnie Doverspike, has went above and beyond for the last few years, building trucks to display at the Paul K. Young Truck Beauty Championships held every March in Louisville, Kentucky.

The kids in the Diesel Technology program at CCCC, whose ages range from 15-18, have built four cool trucks now, each better than the last, but their latest project (known as Extra Credit), is undoubtedly their best one yet.

The original truck, which was supplied by Carl Carstens of Rockwood Products, was just a regular 2004 Pete 379 with a 265” wheelbase, but once the kids got it, they stretched it out to 315 inches. With the help of Carl Carstens and Bud Farquhar of Stars & Stripes, the students were able to secure multiple sponsors to donate various products for this rig, which really helped the kids to step up their game on this one.

After stretching the frame, the kids installed the original FlexAir suspension and a driveshaft that was built at the school, then they installed a new fifth wheel, supplied by Fontaine. Next, they pulled the motor, cleaned it up and painted it. Pittsburgh Power enhanced the ECM and turned the 475 HP Cat into a 600. The sleeper was removed, gutted, chopped six inches, and then sent to the CCCC’s carpentry shop, where it was fitted with custom cabinets and upholstery.

Jones Performance was a great contributor to this project. Not only did they donate a new hood, front fenders, filler panels and really cool rear fenders that flip forward, but they also let the students use their facility to prep the truck for paint. The kids did all of the work (including designing the graphics) except for spraying the paint, which was all donated by PPG.

In addition to supplying the starter truck, Rockwood also provided most of the interior pieces, including the dash panels and floor. Some other donated items were tires from Firestone, side/tool boxes and a bumper from RoadWorks, aluminum rims from ALT Wheels, and 8” stacks from Lincoln Chrome. Other generous sponsors included 4-State Trucks, Outlaw Customs, Hush Mat, Qualitex Seats, Eaton, Lifetime Nut Covers, Air-Tech, Midwest Signtech, Road Skinz, Allstate Peterbilt, and Big Rig Chrome Shop.

There were a total of 38 students involved with this build, and they all went to Louisville to be a part of the presentation. At the show, the kids were given special recognition for their efforts, as well as a nice plaque. Donnie originally came up with the idea to build a “show” truck as a way to get the kid’s attention and to give them a goal. From there, everything just escalated.

This truck, although not built by Clint Moore, is being sold through Kansas City Peterbilt, where Clint works, and comes with a warranty that was donated by Premium 2000. If you are interested or want to learn more, call Clint at KC Peterbilt at (800) 489-1122 or (913) 484-7768. We hope “Extra Credit” goes to a good home because it is extra special! Good job, builders!!