Dial in Your Dream Car
Custom Auto Builds and Upgrades in DeKalb, IL
Custom Builds and Upgrades Packages
Partial Builds and Upgrades
This is Ideal for owners who want to improve drivability, comfort, or appearance without a full teardown. These projects are planned to integrate seamlessly with the existing vehicle while leaving room for future upgrades.
Services May Include:
- Suspension and brake upgrades
- Drive-train modernization
- Interior upgrades and refinements
- Exterior refreshes and paint corrections
- Electrical and lighting upgrades
Full Custom Builds
This is ideal for vehicles that require complete transformation or restoration. Every full build follows a documented process to ensure quality and consistency from start to finish.
Services May Include:
- Complete disassembly and inspection
- Bodywork, metal repair, and paint
- Engine, transmission, suspension and brake systems
- Modern wiring and electrical systems
- Custom interiors and trim
- Final assembly, testing, and detailing
Popular Custom Upgrades
These upgrades are frequently incorporated into Apex builds to improve reliability, comfort, and performance. All upgrades are selected to complement the vehicle’s overall design and intended use.
Services May Include:
- Vintage Air A/C systems
- EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) systems
- Power steering and brake conversions
- Disc brake upgrades
- Modern wiring harness upgrades
- Cooling system upgrades
- Wheel and tire upgrades
- Stereo modern radio, new speakers, or maybe even a little bass in the trunk with a built enclosure
DeKalb, IL’s Choice for Custom Builds and Upgrades
At Apex Auto Restoration, a custom build isn’t a pile of bolt-on parts and fresh paint. It’s built with purpose and finished with pride, with every step planned out, professionally executed, and dialed in with the same attention to detail, whether you’re after a small upgrade or a full custom build. We’ll work closely with you to balance looks, performance, reliability, and budget, because we’re not here to chase trends. We’re here to build a vehicle that fits how you’ll actually use it, looks right, drives right, and holds its value.
CALL (815) 995-0968
Learn More About our Custom Build Process
Consultation and Planning
We start with a real conversation about what you want, how you plan to use the vehicle, what your budget looks like, and what you expect when it’s done. That way, we can recommend the right path from the beginning, not steer you into an upsell you don’t need.
Design and Parts Selection
Once the plan is set, we choose parts that make sense together. Quality, fitment, and long-term serviceability come first, because nobody wants a build held together by guesswork or mismatched systems that fight each other down the road.
Build Phase
We handle the work in stages, with tight attention to detail at every step. You’ll see progress along the way, too, because we document the process, so you’re not left wondering what’s happening behind the scenes.
Final Assembly and Testing
Before delivery, we go through the vehicle top to bottom. Everything gets inspected, adjusted, and tested to make sure it performs the way it should, not just looks good sitting still.
Why Choose Apex Auto Restoration for Your Custom Build
We Know Classic Trucks and Muscle Cars
These builds have their own quirks, and experience matters. We’ve spent years working with classic trucks and muscle cars, so we know how to do it right without cutting corners.
Clean Work and Professional Standards
We take pride in clean, professional workmanship. Details matter, and you’ll see it in the fit, the finish, and the way everything comes together.
Honest Timelines and Clear Communication
We don’t disappear, and we don’t sugarcoat. You’ll get clear communication and honest timelines, so you know what to expect and when.
Documentation From Start to Finish
We document your build from the beginning through the final steps. It keeps everything transparent, and it gives you a record of what was done and how it was done.
Built to Drive, Not Just to Photograph
A great build should be enjoyed. We focus on drivability and reliability, not just appearance, because the goal isn’t to rush something out the door. It’s to build something you’ll actually want to put miles on.
CALL (815) 995-0968
Service Spotlight: 1964 Chevrolet C10
Full restoration and custom upgrades, including bodywork, paint, modern wiring, interior upgrades, and driveability enhancements.
Full Tear-Down and Rust Repair
This C10 came in as a retired farm truck, and once we got into it, we found hidden structural issues, including serious rust in the roof panels. We stripped it down to bare metal and handled the problems the right way.
Dustless Blasting and Epoxy Protection
After dustless blasting, we laid down an epoxy coat to protect the fresh metal. That gave us a clean, solid foundation to build on and kept the truck protected.
Major Sheet Metal Replacement
The roof needed real surgery, so we replaced both the inner and outer front panels and cleaned out old non-correct filler. The inner fenders, core support, and hood were too far gone, so those got replaced with new parts. We also upgraded the bed with a new front panel and tailgate.
Factory-Correct Two-Tone Paint and Finish Work
The truck was finished in 1964 Chevrolet Code 507 Light Blue with a glossy white two-tone, and the final result is deep, clean, and show-ready. That finish came from the full process, including careful trimming and assembly, clear coat, wet sanding from 800 to 2500 grit, and polishing.
Interior Overhaul and Updated Wiring
Inside, we went through the truck top to bottom with a new wiring harness, radio, speakers, and fresh glass all around. It also got custom TMI seats, a center console, and matching door panels and sun visors to bring the interior up to the same standard as the exterior. Also, the interior received a nice satin silver to tie in with the wheels.
Bed and Exterior Details That Make It Look Finished
The bed was finished with a real oak wood floor secured with hidden hardware for a clean look. We added a custom roll pan, polished trim, and a hand-laid silver pinstripe, plus a tailgate check strap kit to replace the factory chains and tighten up the whole rear end visually.
Reliability Upgrades Under the Hood
Even with the original drivetrain still in place for now, we upgraded key components to make it more dependable. The truck got a new radiator, electric fan, battery, blower motor, and updated wiper components, so it’s ready to cruise and ready for the next phase of upgrades. It also received an updated transmission to make driving this truck so much easier.
