Jake Klein’s 1927 Graham Brothers truck, known as the “Nasty Graham,” is a rare and unique vehicle that evolved into one of the coolest father-son projects you’ll ever see. Before diving into the truck’s impressive specifications, though, it’s important to understand how it came into Jake’s life and what went into the build. This has truly been a family project from the very beginning.
For those unfamiliar with Graham Brothers trucks, they’re exceptionally rare because relatively few were produced before the company merged with Dodge Brothers during the 1920s. That essentially makes this truck an ancient Mopar, which is exactly why a modern Gen III HEMI powerplant feels right at home under its hood.
Ironically, the Graham wasn’t Jake’s original project.
His father, Leonard, called an audible that completely changed the direction of Jake’s automotive journey.
“Originally, we had purchased a stripped-down 1972 Duster that we were just going to do a mild restoration on. The goal was just a quick and easy high school street strip car. My dad was interested in finding a project car that would require more all-around work for me to learn on, and decided to move on from the Duster. Thus, the Graham came into play,” Jake says.
The truck was rescued from a family member’s farm field, where several Graham trucks had been sitting for decades. Leonard selected this particular cab because it had more original steel and structural framework than the others.
Even then, the truck was far from complete.
The rear of the cab consisted of sheet metal nailed to a wooden framework, while the roof originally used a wood structure covered by canvas. Because replacement parts for a 1927 Graham Brothers truck simply don’t exist, Jake and Leonard had to fabricate countless body panels, structural components, and custom pieces from scratch.
After hauling the Graham home, father and son got to work.
The original vision for the truck started as a simple sketch Jake doodled on paper. Over the next six years, he and his father transformed that drawing into reality through countless late nights in the shop. Every hour invested paid off, resulting in one seriously impressive hot rod.
People often describe projects as “ground-up builds,” but this Graham truly earns that description.
Jake and Leonard either hand-built or modified virtually every component on the truck. Construction began with fresh frame rails wrapped around an SFI 25.5-certified chassis, where Jake earned plenty of TIG welding experience.
The front suspension features a Mustang II-style setup equipped with Viking double-adjustable shocks. Out back, a fabricated Ford 9-inch rearend loaded with Moser Engineering components, a four-link suspension, and another pair of Viking double-adjustable shocks put the power to the pavement.
Originally, the Graham was powered by a naturally aspirated Gen III HEMI. After talking with Geoff Turk at Blackbird Performance, however, Jake decided the truck needed boost.
The current 392 cubic-inch HEMI was built specifically for forced induction. The factory BGE block houses a stock HEMI crankshaft, MAHLE custom pistons, and Molnar connecting rods. A set of Blackbird Performance-ported Hellcat Redeye cylinder heads is topped with a Whipple 3.8-liter supercharger.
Jake also installed a Blackbird Mach 3 camshaft, billet blower-drive timing cover, timing set, supercharger tensioner, and tensioner bracket from Blackbird Performance. Completing the valvetrain are BTR pushrods and Hellcat lifters. Jake handles the tuning of the Holley EFI system himself with guidance from Geoff Turk.
Once the truck was finally completed, Jake and his father immediately put it to the ultimate test by entering their first-ever drag-and-drive event.
“As we were nearing completion, we decided to attempt Rocky Mountain Race Week in 2022. This would be the first drag-and-drive event that we had ever attended. Thankfully, we finished the truck barely in time, put about 10 miles of street driving on it, loaded it up, and headed for Great Bend in Kansas for day one of Rocky Mountain Race Week. When we unloaded for day one, that would become my first-ever pass down the quarter mile, and the truck’s first-ever pass. We survived that week with no major issues, 1,500 miles of street driving, and made tons of great connections along the way,” Jake explains.
Since then, the Graham has competed in numerous drag-and-drive events and no-prep races, even capturing a victory at Big Sky Race Week. Thanks to the supercharged Gen III HEMI’s abundant horsepower, Jake regularly clocks low eight-second passes behind the wheel.
Completing a project of this magnitude is never easy, and Jake is quick to recognize everyone who helped make it possible.
“I primarily have to thank my dad, mom, and fiancé Josie, who have all helped me through the late nights, hard work, and occasional frustration. However, I also have to thank all of my family and friends who have supported us through these crazy past few years. They know who they are. Lastly, I have to thank Geoff Turk and the Blackbird Performance team for jumping on board, advising, and helping us to be successful making the jump from the naturally aspirated combination to the supercharged setup.”
Jake Klein grew up surrounded by cars and drag racing, and the Nasty Graham perfectly combines both passions. What began as a high school student’s hand-drawn dream evolved into an unforgettable father-son build. The craftsmanship, dedication, and perseverance behind this one-of-a-kind 1927 Graham Brothers truck prove that the journey can be just as rewarding as the finished product.
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