This is Jason's personal truck that kind of started the restoration business. He has owned, maintained, rebuilt, and worked this truck for almost 25yrs. This 1982 W900A extended hood is currently equipped with a twin turbo, variable timed K19 Cummins, backed with a 5×4 double over set of Spicer boxes. It has had several makeovers and has had 3 different engine configurations over the years from a 3406C to a 3408B to the current Cummins. All built & maintained by Jason.
They say idle hands are the devil’s playground and this 1980 W900A extended hood is a perfect example. In-between rounds to the coast with the ‘82 Jason completely restored this truck from the ground up over the course of 7years. All new body panels, hood, interior and a monster twin turbo variable timed K19 with steel pistons. Also backed by a double over 5×4.
Adam Stutzman’s W900A Extended hood in its factory colors and drivetrain was meticulously restored here. Every nut, bolt, rivet, wire, body panel was replaced along with rebuilding the drivetrain.
Jeremy Gouge took over a partially built project and gave Jason free reign. The end result was this 1974 extended hood chromed out HOT ROD! Packing heat with an HVT twin turbo K Model backed by an 18 speed and enough chrome to make anyone envious. The Gouge family are repeat customers and friends who have had several builds here.
Pete Gouge and his heavy haul A. We started with only a cab… then we stripped it to a skeleton.
From new body panels, frame rail, a brand-new signature 600 Cummins 18spd with a 4 speed auxiliary and on the tail is a brand new Neway suspension. The Gouge family has been a valued repeat customer for the last 8yrs.
Adrian Al-Amine brought us his big A Model he had partially finished to stretch the frame, wire, and get the bugs worked out of his 3408 before he sent the truck for paint.
Our Story
Keeler Custom Restoration was founded from a deep passion for preserving the timeless appeal of classic trucks. With four generations of family history in the trucking industry, the transition from maintaining over-the-road trucks to fully restoring A Model Kenworths was a natural evolution. Jason, the driving force behind the business, spent years restoring his own 1982 A Model while continuing to use it on the road. When time and resources allowed, he began work on his 1980 A Model, and when he couldn’t find the parts he needed, he would either make them himself or have them custom-made. Over the course of a seven-year, part-time project, his dedication to craftsmanship and attention to detail became evident, and his work was recognized within the industry.
An opportunity arose when Jason was asked to build a custom A Model for a friend, marking the turning point where his passion for trucks evolved into a full-fledged business. With the support of his family, Keeler Custom Restoration was born. Jason and his father, Don, reunited to work side by side on restorations, while Jason’s mother, Leila, contributed her years of experience in finance to manage the business side. Jason’s wife, Lori, has also joined the team, focusing on the rapidly growing parts division. Together, the Keeler family continues to bring their vision to life, one restoration at a time.
About Jason
Jason’s career in trucking began in 1992, and even on his graduation night, he was on his way to Chicago with his father—much to his mother’s dismay. Eager to leave school behind, Jason was driven by a single passion: to get behind the wheel of an extended-hood A Model truck. His love for trucking is in his DNA as he hails from a long line of truckers with deep roots in the industry. His great-grandfather, Walter E. Keeler, started with school buses and early dump trucks, including chain-driven models. His grandfather, Walter D. Keeler, ran a fleet of dump trucks throughout the 1950s and 1960s before opening his own road service business, and Jason often accompanied him on road calls from a young age.
Jason’s father, Donald J. Keeler, was an influential figure in his life, hauling swinging beef from the Midwest to New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, before transitioning to coast-to-coast runs. It was during this time that Jason’s passion for A Models was truly ignited. Many of the drivers his father worked with came from their hometown near Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and the area was known for its fleet of high-horsepower rigs, often with two transmissions. As a boy, Jason was regularly recruited to help wash, polish, and maintain these iconic trucks, learning firsthand about the intricacies of Seattle packages, V8 Cats, Double Eagles, and K Model Cummins engines. These early experiences left a lasting imprint on his heart and mind, shaping his approach to both his trucks and his career.
Throughout his trucking years, Jason primarily drove old extended-hood A Models, many of which he built himself in his own backyard or along the fence row at home. His reputation grew for not only how his trucks looked and sounded, but for their reliability and performance. Whether the paint was faded or fresh, Jason became well-known for running and maintaining a clean, “cool” ride—one that turned heads and commanded respect as it cruised the highways across the country.
