Senior Bryce Rasch has taken on the job of fixing an old family truck. Handed to him by his grandfather, the 1997 Dodge 2500 had fallen into disrepair over the years. But now, with Rasch’s passion for auto body and an appreciation for his grandfather, the vehicle is being revived.

Rasch received the truck in September and has spent hours restoring it with his friends, senior Jacob Arceo and junior Carter Salinas. Most of the repairs were aesthetic work, a new experience for Rasch. 

“I grew up working around engines and putting things on cars,” Rasch said. “That part of it wasn’t that hard, but painting and doing bodywork was.

Rasch, Arceo and Salinas got rid of dents in the truck’s panels before priming and painting the body. Primer requires a specific mixture and even layers so the final coat looks clear. The process also involved a paint gun, something Rasch wasn’t familiar with.

“A couple of times I got too close to [the body] and created a couple of paint runs, but once I sanded those down it looked nice,” Rasch said. “It’s a cool experience to figure out the different ways of painting and the techniques you need to have.”

Rasch replaced old parts with aftermarket parts, or parts not made by the original manufacturer, resulting in a fully functional truck. Although his grandpa still pays for the insurance, Rasch hopes to own the truck himself one day.

“I plan to do a bunch of engine modifications in the future,” Rasch said. “Just trying to get the truck to go faster and making the outside look better.”

Instead of going to college, Rasch hopes to join the Southern California Edison Partnership Program. The apprenticeship will pay him for 18 months of training before hiring him in the field he works best in.