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ON T H E COV E R:

A Word on t he Ve ne ra ble S m a l l-B lo c k

T r u e r wo rd s we re n e ve r u t t e re d I ’ m c o n f i d e n t t h a t yo u a n d I h ave m a n a g e d b o t h T h e re a re p e r i o d s wh e n t i m e i s o f t h e e s s e n c e a n d t h e re a re t i m e s , h o p e f u l l y m o re o f t h e s e , wh e re i t ’s m o re a b o u t h av i n g a g o o d t i m e . W i t h o u t a m o m e n t ’s d o u b t i n my m i n d s o m e o f t h e b e s t t i m e s I h ave e n j oye d a re t h o s e s t re t c h e s wh e n I wa s d r iv i n g my ro a d s t e r a c ro s s c o u n t r y. T h o s e d r ive s o n i n t e r s t a t e h i g hway s o r d ow n t h e b a c kc o u n t r y ro a d s we re ( a re ) s o m e o f my l i f e ’s b e s t t i m e s . I t ’s a l way s g re a t t o d r ive my ro a d s t e r e ve n o n s h o r t j a u n t s b u t i t ’s t h e l o n g d r ive s t h a t yo u t r u l y re m e m b e r Now, I s h o u l d a l s o p o i n t o u t t h a t wh i l e a l l o f u s h ave o u r favo r i t e p owe r p l a n t t h e s m a l l b l o c k C h e v y h a s b e e n a ro u n d fo r a l o n g t i m e I c a n re m e m b e r s o m e ye a r s b a c k wh e n I wo u l d h e a r “ a n o t h e r s m a l l b l o c k u n d e r t h e h o o d ” I t wa s a d e ro g a t ive co m m e n t A n d I ge t i t , a s yo u c a n o n ly s e e s o m a ny o f a ny t h i n g , b u t i n my e ye s e a c h ro d d e r i s e n t i t l e d t o h i s ow n “ j oy, ” a n d i f t h a t ’s a s m a l l b l o c k s o b e i t S o m e wh e re i n t h e l a t e ’ 9 0 s t h e L S b e g a n t o “ t a ke ove r ” a s t h e p owe r p l a n t V 8 o f c h o i ce Fo r t h e n e x t 2 0 ye a r s i t b u i l t u p a h e a d o f s t e a m t o t h e p o i n t i t i s t h e p owe r p l a n t o f c h o i ce I t ’s a m u s i n g b u t wh i l e i t h a s n’ t b e e n re p l a ce d , we a re s e e i n g t h e LT g a i n i n g s t e a m a n d , o f co u r s e , t h e l a t e s t “s m a l l b l o c k ” Acco rd i n g t o C h e v ro l e t , t h e n e w C o r ve t t e Z 0 6 w i l l b e a n a t u ra l ly 5 5 L ( 3 3 5 c u b e s ) f l a t p l a n e t w i n c a m V 8 . S o u n d s e xo t i c , a n d i t i s , a n d i t w i l l a l s o b e w i n d u p t o 9,0 0 0 r p m . T h i n k a b o u t t h a t , a 9,0 0 0 r p m n a t u ra l ly a s p i ra t e d V 8 ! I ’ m s u re I w i l l s e e o n e o r t wo o f t h e s e V 8 s i n a h o t ro d s o m e wh e re a l o n g t h e way t h i s co m i n g ye a r b u t fo r n ow i t l o o k s l i ke t h e L S i s t h e “ h e a r t b e a t ” o f c h o i ce .

I f I h a d my d r u t h e r s , I wo u l d t r u l y e n j oy h av i n g a re a l 3 2 7 I g e t a l l g i g g l y wh e n I l o o k a t m i n e , c o m p l e t e w i t h i t s c a m e l h u m p h e a d s a n d c ro s s r a m i n d u c t i o n S o m e t h i n g t h a t yo u m i g h t h ave s e e n o n t h e c ro s s r a m m a n i f o l d e q u i p p e d Z /2 8

I also have a 32 7 that was found in a ’68 Corvette It’s a 32 7 but it’s what is re ferred to as a large journal (350 inches), but it will accept a stroker crank yielding a 3 83 Now that’s cool, a 32 7 looking V 8 that is packing 3 83 inches That’s a hot rod motor

O f t e n c a l l e d t h e “ b e l l y b u t t o n” V 8 , t h e s m a l l b l o c k C h e v y i n a ny n u m b e r o f c o n f i g u r a t i o n s i s a n d w i l l a l way s b e t h e h o t ro d d e r ’s c h o i c e M R

The always reliable and highly desir able 327. In a monochro matic appearance there’s no denying the “camel hump” heads holding up a Tri power setup featuring Rochester 2G carbs. Old time looks and performance that are still worth the effort today

There’s no mistaking the more modern LS is an amazing motor capable of producing staggering horsepow er, great driveability, and totally reliable. Yet , it just doesn’t strike the same chord as the old timey SBC.

Nowadays the old timey SBC takes on a more modern appearance, produces a crazy amount of power, but it’s still fami ly. This one is a ZZ4 with a Borla eight stack and I can’t imagine a hot rodder around who wouldn’t want this beauty sitting under the hood.

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Goodguys is Texas Motor Speedway Bound

G o o d g uys Ro d & C u s t o m A s s o c i at i o n , t h e wo rl d ’s l a rge s t h o t ro d a s s o c i at i o n a n d p ro d u ce r o f c a r s h ows , h a s m ove d it s o f f i ce h e a d q u a r t e rs f ro m P l e a s a nt o n , C a l i fo r n i a , t o i n s i d e t h e 1 0 s t o r y L o n e S t a r Towe r ove rl o o k i n g T u r n T wo o f Te x a s M o t o r S p e e dway i n Fo r t Wo r t h , Te x a s . T h e m ove m a rk s t h e e n d o f a t wo d e c a d e l o n g re s i d e n c y i n t h e B ay A re a , d u r i n g wh i c h t h e co m p a ny e x p e r i e n ce d t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a nt p e r i o d o f g row t h i n it s 3 9 ye a r h i s t o r y. N i c k n a m e d “ T h e G re at A m e r i c a n S p e e dway, ” t h e fa c i l it y i n Fo r t Wo r t h p rov i d e s a m o re s y n e rg i s t i c l o c at i o n fo r t h e e x p a n d i n g a s s o c i at i o n , wh i c h b e g a n it s eve nt s e r i e s i n 1 9 8 3 a s a o n e d ay ge t t oge t h e r fo r B ay A re a b u i l d e rs . W h i l e n ew t e n a nt s t o t h e s p e e dway, 2 02 2 i s t h e 2 5 t h ye a r G o o d g uys h a s h o s t e d a s h ow at t h e ve n u e T h e G o o d g uys eve nt s e r i e s h a s s i n ce e x p a n d e d t o h o s t 1 5 2 2 m u l t i d ay eve nt s n at i o nw i d e , at t ra c t i n g a p p rox i m at e ly 5 0,0 0 0 s h ow c a rs a n d 5 0 0,0 0 0 s p e c t at o rs a n n u a l ly T h e eve nt s h ave a l s o evo lve d t o fe at u re a n i n c re d i b ly d ive rs e ra n ge o f ve h i c l e s a n d m o t o rs p o r t s o r i e nt e d a c t iv it i e s , i n c l u d i n g e x h i b it i o n s , c r u i s e s , a n d a f u l l a u t o c ro s s s e r i e s T h ey a re a l s o fa m i ly f r i e n d ly, w it h fo o d , e nt e r t a i n m e nt , a n d a c t iv it i e s fo r a l l a ge s .

Fo r m o re i n fo r m at i o n o n t h e h i s t o r y o f G o o d g uys a n d u p co m i n g eve nt s , v i s it go o d g uys .co m . M R

T h e l a t e G a r y M e a d o r s ( b e h i n d t h e w h e e l ) , h i s w i f e M a r i l y n n ( p a s s e n g e r ) , a n d s o n , M a r c ( b a c k s e a t ) , C E O, r e p r e s e n t t h e f o u n d a t i o n a n d p r e s e n t o f t h e G o o d g u y s a s s o c i a t i o n .

The Barrett-Jackson Cup for 2023 Scottsdale Event

B a r re t t Ja c k s o n i s n ow a cce p t i n g a p p l i c at i o n s fo r it s wo rl d c l a s s c u s t o m c a r a n d t r u c k co m p e t it i o n , t h e B a r re t t Ja c k s o n C u p, h e l d d u r i n g t h e 2 02 3 S co t t s d a l e Au c t i o n at We s t Wo rl d o f S co t t s d a l e , Ja n u a r y 2 1 2 9, 2 02 3 Fo r t h e t h i rd co n s e c u t ive ye a r t h e B a r re t t Ja c k s o n C u p, wh i c h re cog n i z e s t h e t a l e nt a n d c ra f t s m a n s h i p o f c u s t o m c a r a n d t r u c k b u i l d e rs , w i l l b e a p a r t o f B a r re t t Ja c k s o n’s f l a g s h i p a u c t i o n a n d t he m o s t a nt i c i p at e d a u t o m o t ive eve nt o f t h e ye a r, w it h a l l 5 0 e nt r i e s s h owc a s e d t h ro u g h o u t t h e e nt i re t y o f t h e eve nt A s w i n n e rs o f t h e M o d e r n Ro d d i n g T r i p l e C row n o f Ro d d i n g c at e go r i e s , a l l t h re e re c i p i e nt s w i l l re ce ive i nv it at i o n s t o co m p e t e .

T h e B a r re t t Ja c k s o n C u p w i l l fe at u re 5 0 c u s t o m b u i l d e rs wh o w i l l co m p e t e fo r t wo awa rd s : t h e cove t e d “ U l t i m at e B e s t i n S h ow, ” s e l e c t e d by t wo d i s t i n g u i s h e d b u i l d e rs , B o b by A l l oway a n d T roy T re p a n i e r, a n d t h e “ Pe o p l e ’s C h o i ce Awa rd , ” vo t e d o n by B a r re t t Ja c k s o n fa n s wo rl dw i d e v i a s o c i a l m e d i a

T h e 5 0 e nt r i e s , wh i c h w i l l b e s e l e c t e d by B a r re t t Ja c k s o n f ro m t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f a p p l i c at i o n s s u b m it t e d , w i l l b e i nt ro d u ce d t o a u c t i o n go e rs v i a a p a ra d e a c ro s s t h e wo rl d fa m o u s a u c t i o n b l o c k d u r i n g Fa m i ly Day o n S at u rd ay, Ja n u a r y 2 1 , b e fo re b e i n g d i s p l aye d i n s i d e t h e S o u t h S h owc a s e t h ro u g h o u t t h e e nt i re we e k . O n t h e m o r n i n g o f S u p e r S at u rd ay, Ja n u a r y 2 8 , t h e f ive f i n a l i s t s fo r t h e “ U l t i m at e B e s t i n S h ow ” w i l l b e a n n o u n ce d o n s t a ge a n d t h e w i n n e r, a s we l l a s t h e w i n n e r o f t h e “ Pe o p l e ’s C h o i ce Awa rd , ” w i l l b e c row n e d p r i o r t o t h at d ay ’s co l l e c t o r c a r a u c t i o n

To a p p ly fo r t h e 2 02 3 B a r re t t Ja c k s o n C u p, p l e a s e v i s it b a r re t t j a c k s o n c u p co m T h e a p p l i c at i o n d e a d l i n e i s Nove m b e r 2 1 , a n d t h e c h o s e n e nt r i e s w i l l b e n o t i f i e d by D e ce m b e r 1 . M R

W i n n e r s o f t h e t h r e e Tr i p l e C r o w n o f R o d d i n g c a t e g o r i e s i n c l u d e B e s t S t r e e t R o d , w o n b y S o n n y F r e e m a n f o r h i s ’ 3 2 F o r d h i g h b o y c o u p e ; B e s t S t r e e t M a c h i n e , w o n b y B r a d S a y h e r f o r h i s ’ 6 9 F i r e b i r d ; a n d B e s t S t r e e t C r u i s e r, w o n b y D a n D u f f y f o r h i s ’ 6 1 I m p a l a

1. W.I.D.E. CON TAC T BA N D JOI N S DA KOTA DIG I TA L T E A M

D a k o t a D i g i t a l h a s b e e n a d i s t r i b u t o r o f W I D E d o o r c o n t a c t s s i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n i n 1 9 9 5 u s i n g t h e t r a d e n a m e M a g n u m S h o o t e r s , b u t h a s s i n c e p u r c h a s e d t h e p r o d u c t l i n e c o m p l e t e l y

T h e W. I . D. E . C o n t a c t m o d e l s a r e o f f e r e d i n a r a n g e o f a n u m b e r o f c o n t a c t s , b o t h w i t h a n d w i t h o u t p i n s w i t c h e s f o r d o m e l i g h t a c t i v a t i o n . D a k o t a D i g i t a l w a s b u i l t a r o u n d t h e i d e a o f a d d i n g m o d e r n a n d c o n v e n i e n t f e a t u r e s t o a c u s t o m v e h i c l e.

F o r m o r e i n f o , c h e c k o u t D a k o t a D i g i t a l b y c a l l i n g ( 8 0 0 ) 8 5 2 3 2 2 8 o r v i s i t d a k o t a d i g i t a l . c o m .

2. BEAUTIFUL CURVES

E n g i n e e r e d C o m p o n e n t s ( E C I ) o f f e r s v e r s a t i l e t u b i n g b e n d e r s w i t h t h e i r 4 i n 1 t u b i n g b e n d e r, c a p a b l e o f b e n d i n g 3 / 1 6 , 1 / 4 , 5 / 1 6 , a n d 3 / 8 i n c h t u b i n g u p t o 1 8 0 d e g r e e s a t a 1 i n c h c e n t e r l i n e r a d i u s T h e 2 i n 1 t u b i n g b e n d e r h a n d l e s 3 / 1 6 a n d 1 / 4 i n c h t u b i n g a n d b e n d s 1 8 0 d e g r e e s a t a 5 / 8 i n c h c e n t e r l i n e r a d i u s . B o t h u n i t s c a n m a k e “ z e r o l e a d o r o f f n u t ” b e n d s . T h i s f e a t u r e a l l o w s y o u t o s t a r t b e n d s d i r e c t l y o f f t h e t u b e n u t . O f f e r e d w i t h a n o p t i o n a l t h r e e d i m e n s i o n a l b a c k g a u g e s y s t e m t h a t a l l o w s t h e u s e r d u p l i c a t e e x i s t i n g b e n d s , f a b r i c a t e r e p e t i t i v e p r o d u c t i o n b e n d s , o r j u s t a i d i n h o l d i n g a n d p o s i t i o n i n g f o r u n m a t c h e d a c c u r a c y V i s e m o u n t e d f o r e a s e o f o p e r a t i o n a n d f e a t u r e s a 1 8 0 - d e g r e e s c a l e w i t h i n d i c a t o r f o r o n e s t o k e o p e r a t i o n

F o r m o r e i n f o , c h e c k o u t E n g i n e e r e d C o m p o n e n t s b y c a l l i n g ( 8 6 0 ) 8 7 2 7 0 4 6 o r v i s i t e c i h o t r o d b r a k e s c o m

3. B E T T E R STOPPI NG W I T H DI S C B R A K E S FOR ’50S FOR DS

S p e e d w a y M o t o r s o f f e r s t h e s e t w o 1 1 i n c h d i s c b r a k e k i t s t o i m p r o v e s t o p p i n g f o r ’ 4 9 5 3 F o r d s a n d M e r c u r y s ( P N 9 1 0 3 2 0 0 3 ) a s w e l l a s ’ 5 4 5 6 F o r d s ( P N 9 1 0 3 2 0 0 0 ) T h e s e k i t s w i l l g r e a t l y i m p r o v e s t o p p i n g p o w e r a s w e l l a s w o r k w i t h y o u r 1 5 i n c h w h e e l s B o t h k i t s f e a t u r e 1 1 i n c h c a s t i r o n r o t o r s , l o a d e d m e t r i c c a l i p e r s , s l i d e b o l t s , b r a k e h o s e s , c r u s h w a s h e r s , d u s t c a p s , a n d a l l s e a l s , b e a r i n g s , a n d h a r d w a r e C o m p l e t e i n s t r u c t i o n s a r e a l s o a v a i l a b l e T h e ’ 5 4 5 6 k i t w i l l a l s o f i t t h e ’ 5 4 F o r d C r e s t l i n e ; ’ 5 4 5 6 C u s t o m l i n e a n d M a i n l i n e ; ’ 5 5 5 6 F a i r l a n e, V i c t o r i a , a n d C r o w n V i c t o r i a ; a n d ’ 5 5 5 7 T h u n d e r b i r d .

F o r m o r e i n f o , c h e c k o u t S p e e d w a y M o t o r s b y c a l l i n g ( 8 0 0 ) 9 7 9 0 1 2 2 o r v i s i t s p e e d w a y m o t o r s . c o m .

Be f o r e t h e S U V a n d t h e m i n i v a n t h e r e w a s t h e s t a t i o n w a g o n . O n e c a n a r g u a b l y s t a t e t h a t w h e n i t c o m e s t o t h e s t a t i o n w a g o n A m e r i c a h a s d o n e i t b i g g e r a n d b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e e l s e O r i g i n a l l y c o n c e i v e d a s a d o o r l e s s p e o p l e a n d c a r g o m o v e r o n a t r u c k p l a t f o r m i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 0 0 s , b y t h e m i d d l e o f t h e 1 9 2 0 s Fo r d h a d a d d e d s o m e c i v i l i t y t o i t w i t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e Wo o d i e . T h a t r e f i n e m e n t c o n t i n u e d a f t e r Wo r l d Wa r I I a s w o o d e n b o d i e s g a v e w a y t o s t e e l p a n e l s a n d a f o u n d a t i o n b a s e d o n p a s s e n g e r c a r c h a s s i s B y v i r t u e o f t h e i r p a s s e n g e r c a r u n d e r p i n n i n g s , b y t h e m i d ’ 6 0 s m a n y o f t h e s e w a g o n s s h a r e d t h e f r o n t c l i p s w i t h t h e m u s c l e c a r o f f e r i n g s o f t h a t e r a . I f y o u ’ r e i n t o m u s c l e c a r s a n d h a v e a

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a s f a r a s c o m p l e t i n g o n e s i d e o f t h e c o n v e r s i o n w h e n t h e ’ 7 2 O l d s m o b i l e V i s t a C r u i s e r p o p p e d u p o n h i s h o r i z o n i n 2 0 1 4 . “ M y b r o t h e r, A n t h o n y, f o u n d t h e w a g o n o n C r a i g s l i s t , ” h e e x p l a i n s “ H e s a i d i t w a s c o o l a n d I s h o u l d g o a n d l o o k a t i t a n d b u y i t b e c a u s e i t w a s c h e a p . ” I t t u r n e d o u t t h a t i t w a s a l o c a l l i s t i n g a n d i t d i d n ’ t t a k e h i m l o n g t o c u t a d e a l o n i t a s a b o n u s m a n y s p a r e p a r t s a n d a w e l l w o r n ’ 7 2 O l d s m o b i l e C u t l a s s H o l i d a y C o u p e w e r e i n c l u d e d

O r i g i n a l l y s o l d n e w i n Wa s h i n g t o n , a t s o m e p o i n t i t m i g r a t e d t o O r e g o n , w h i c h i s w h e r e t h e p r e v i o u s o w n e r p u r c h a s e d i t f r o m b a c k i n 2 0 0 9 . To m e x p l a i n s , “ H e f o u n d i t o n l i n e , s o h e f l e w o u t

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A f e w m o n t h s a f t e r i t w a s d e b u g g e d , h e d e c i d e d t o t a k e i t t o t h e n e x t s t e p. H e n o t e s , “ I w a n t e d t o k e e p t h e e x t e r i o r u n t o u c h e d b u t w i t h a n i c e i n t e r i o r T h e w o o d g r a i n h a d a n i c e p a t i n a b u t t h e y c u t i n t o i t wh e n t h e y s p r ay e d t h e r e a r q u a r t e r s a n d I r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e y w e r e n’ t s av a b l e . ” At t h a t p o i n t h e d e c i d e d t o m o v e a h e a d w i t h t h e b o d y w o r k . A l s o, i n f u l l s t r i d e b y t h a t t i m e w a s t h e C OV I D 1 9 p a n d e m i c , a n d a s a s c h o o l t e a c h e r w i t h n e wl y i m p o s e d l o c k d o w n s s o m e e x t r a t i m e w a s m a d e av a i l a b l e t o g e t t h e b o d y d o n e A s h e e m b a rke d o n t h e f i n a l s t e p, t h e b o dy a n d f ra m e we re o n ce a g a i n s p l i t . “ T h e c a r wa s n’ t i n t o o b a d o f s h a p e b e c a u s e I h a d a l re a dy d o n e s o m e o f t h e m e t a lwo rk , s o i t t o o k m e a b o u t fo u r m o n t h s t o ge t i t p r i m e re d a n d we t s a n d e d , ” h e e x p l a i n s At t h a t p o i n t i t wa s s e n t o f f t o h i s b ro t h e r A n t h o ny ’s g a ra ge t o l ay d ow n t h e 2 0 1 9 P P G C o r ve t t e A rc t i c W h i t e b a s e co a t /c l e a rco a t . O n ce t h a t wa s b u t t o n e d u p, s t i l l

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What Do

Kyle, Randy, AJ, Talbert & Bobby Have In Common?

T h e y, l i k e s o m a n y o t h e r t o p b u i l d e r s , t u r n t o A r t M o r r i s o n E n t e r p r i s e s f o r c h a s s i s a n d c o m p o n e n t s O v e r t h e y e a r s , t h o u s a n d s o f e x e m p l a r y c a r s a n d t r u c k s h a v e b e e n b u i l t u s i n g A M E ’s t r e n d s e t t i n g G T S p o r t c h a s s i s w h i c h a r e a v a i l a b l e w i t h a m u l t i t u d e o f s u s p e n s i o n o p t i o n s . M o r r i s o n ’s a d v a n c e d e n g i n e e r i n g a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g e x c e l l e n c e a d d s t o t h e p e r f o r m a n c e a n d v a l u e o f a n y b u i l d .

AME has custom built chassis for a huge variety of applications ranging from a tin y Metropolitan to a huge Cadillac hearse and can engineer one to your requirements with suspension options including coil-o vers, air springs and our Multi-Link IRS. Nobody has a wider selection than AME!

GT Sport Chassis

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1947 53 Chevy/GMC

1949 54 Chevrolet

1953 56 Ford F100

1953 62 Corvette

1955 57 Chevrolet

1955 59 Chevy/GMC

1959 64 Chevrolet

1963 67 Corvette

1964 67 GM A body

1967 69 Camaro

1967 72 Chevy C10

1968 72 GM A body

Talbert Goldman Mike Goldman Customs 1965 Chevelle

Kyle Kuhnhausen - Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts 1964 Cor vette

Randy Borcherding - Painthouse 1951 Chevy truck

Bobby Alloway - Alloway Hot Rods 1958 Cor vette

AJ Schwachtenberg - Goodfellows Classic Cars 1967 Chevelle

It ’s b e e n 4 0 y e a r s t h a t t h e S h a d e s o f t h e P a s t C a r C l u b h a s p r e s e n t e d t h e H o t R o d R o u n d u p . T h i s y e a r w a s i t s 3 9 t h ( l o s t a y e a r d u e t o C OV I D 1 9 ) a n d t h e l a s t o n e I t w a s o n e o f t h e p r e m i e r e v e n t s i n t h e S o u t h m a n y w o u l d s a y t h e c o u n t r y. W h i l e t h e H o t R o d R o u n d u p w a s h o s t e d t h i s y e a r a n d f o r t h e p a s t d o z e n y e a r s a t D o l l y w o o d ’s S p l a s h C o u n t r y i n P i g e o n Fo rg e , Te n n e s s e e , t h i s “ r o u n d u p ” h a s s e e n v a r i o u s l o c a t i o n s a s i t s h o m e , a l w a y s g r o w i n g a n d a l w a y s g e t t i n g b e t t e r T h e n e e d s o f D o l l y w o o d f o r e x p a n s i o n a n d t h e n e e d s o f t h e c l u b h a v i n g c h a n g e d l e d t o a m a t c h o f “ n e e d s ” a n d t h e S h a d e s o f t h e P a s t C a r C l u b h a s o p t e d t o b r i n g t o a c l o s e a w e l l d o c u m e n t e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d c h a p t e r o f A m e r i c a n h o t r o d d i n g . K n o w n f o r i t s m a n y u n i q u e f e a t u r e s , s u c h a s a y e a r l y g i v e a w a y h o t r o d , t h e 5 0 / 5 0 d r a w i n g t h a t o f t e n t i m e s l e d t o t h e w i n n e r t a k i n g h o m e $ 2 0,0 0 0 p l u s , o n e o f t h e p r e r e g i s t e r e d e n t r a n t s h a v i n g t h e i r n a m e p u l l e d f r o m t h e d r u m a n d b e i n g g i f t e d a n o t h e r $ 1 0,0 0 0, a n d c o u n t l e s s c h a r i t i e s t h a t h a v e b e n e f i t e d o v e r t h e y e a r s . O f c o u r s e , a l l o f t h i s i s g r e a t b u t t h e a t t e n d i n g r o d d e r s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n p r i v i l e g e d t o e n j o y a n e v e n t t h a t r e c o g n i z e s n u m e r o u s c a t e g o r i e s o f w i n n e r s w i t h a w a r d s f o r e a c h t o t a k e h o m e W h i l e t h e n a m e o f t h e e v e n t i s t h e H o t R o d R o u n d u p i t i s r e p e a t e d l y c a l l e d b y i t s n i c k n a m e “ S h a d e s ”

S h a d e s h a d c o m e t o b e r e c o g n i z e d f o r i t s To p 2 5 . To b e r e c o g n i z e d a s o n e o f t h e 2 5 m e a n t y o u h a d t o b u i l d a n o u t s t a n d i n g h o t r o d . R e p e a t e d l y, a s I w o u l d t r a v e l t h e c o u n t r y, I w o u l d s p e a k w i t h r o d d e r s w h o w o u l d t e l l m e a b o u t t h i s o r t h a t h o t r o d a n d h o w c o o l i t i s . S o m e w h e r e i n t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n t h e s t o r y t e l l e r w o u l d b r i n g u p i t w a s a p a s t To p 2 5 w i n n e r a n d t h a t ’s a l l t h a t w o u l d n e e d t o b e s a i d . E v e r y o n e k n e w y o u m e a n t t h a t i t h a d e a r n e d a To p 2 5 f r o m t h e H o t R o d R o u n d u p p r e s e n t e d b y S h a d e s o f t h e P a s t C a r C l u b I t ’s a l w a y s b e e n r e c o g n i z e d t h a t s h o u l d y o u r e a p a To p 2 5 y o u t r u l y h a d a h o t r o d t h a t w a s w o r t h y a n d c o u l d “ s t a n d t a l l ” a n y w h e r e i n t h e c o u n t r y a t a n y c o m p e t i t i o n

T h e L a s t Ro u n d u p It ’s t h e we e ke n d a f te r L a b o r Day s o t h e re ’s s u re to b e ro d de rs f ro m a l l ove r t h e S o ut h a n d a g row i n g nu m b e r f ro m ot h e r fa raway c it i e s a n d tow n s co m i n g to S h a de s T h e re wa s lot s o f t a l k o f “ ra i n o ut ” t h i s ye a r b ut t h e t wo d ay eve nt p rove d to b e l u ck y F r id ay, wh i le ove rca st , wa s d r y a n d t h e re wa s p le nt y to do a n d s e e. A s h a s b e e n t h e ca s e fo r ye a rs, t h e t wo d ay eve nt b eg i n s o n a F r id ay a n d w rap s u p o n a S at u rd ay S at u rd ay d id e x p e r i e n ce a l i g ht ra i n u p t i l l n o o n whe n t h e “ l i q u id ” s t o p p e d , a n d a ve r y p le a s a nt S at u rd ay a f te r n o o n fo l lowe d

A s i n re ce n t h i s t o r y t h e H o t Ro d Ro u n d u p h a s b e e n t h e h o m e fo r t h e T r i p l e C row n o f Ro d d i n g ( B e s t S t re e t Ro d , B e s t S t re e t M a c h i n e , a n d B e s t S t re e t C r u i s e r) s p o n s o re d by M o d e r n Ro d d i n g m a g a z i n e . T h e t r u ly a m a z i n g t ro p h i e s we re d e l ive re d t o t h e g ro u n d s by S t e ve T ra c y o f Adva n ce d P l a t i n g , o n e o f t h e fo u n d i n g co m p a n i e s o f t h e awa rd . T h e y a re a l s o re s p o n s i b l e fo r t h e p l a t i n g , p o l i s h i n g , a n d a l l t h e a s s e m b ly. T h e s t u n n i n g wo o d e n c ra t e s t h a t a re c u s t o m m a d e t o h o l d t h e t ro p h i e s a re o n ce a g a i n wo rk s o f a r t i n t h e m s e lve s M a ny t h a n k s t o Jo h n M c L e o d o f C l a s s i c I n s t r u m e n t s fo r b u i l d i n g t h e c u s t o m wo o d e n c ra t e s , a s h e h a s e ve r y ye a r R i c k L ove o f Vi n t a ge A i r i s a l s o i n s t r u m e n t a l i n m a k i n g a l l o f t h i s h a p p e n a n d h e a n d Vi n t a ge A i r o n ce a g a i n s t e p p e d u p O f co u r s e we wo u l d n’ t b e a ny wh e re i f i t we re n’ t fo r B o b by A l l oway a n d h i s j u d g i n g s t a f f wh o p i c k s a l l t h e awa rd w i n n e r s C l e a rly a g re a t d e a l o f t i m e i s s p e n t o n t h e T r i p l e C row n o f Ro d d i n g f i n a l i s t s T h e “ wo rd i s o u t ” a n d s i g n i f i c a n t c a r s f ro m o t h e r p ro m i n e n t s h ows f ro m a ro u n d t h e co u n t r y a re a p p e a r i n g a n d v y i n g fo r o n e o f t h e t h re e T r i p l e

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7 • 2 02 2

Winner of the Best Street Rod portion of the Triple Crown of Rodding went to this ’32 highboy Ford three window coupe belong ing to Sonny Freeman It also took home a Top 25 and a Magnificent 7 as well as an automatic entry into the Barrett Jack son Cup at the January 2023 auction in Scottsdale, AZ.

Winner of the Best Street Machine portion of the Triple Crown of Rodding went to this ’69 Fire bird belonging to Brad Sather of Texas. It also took home a Top 25 and a Magnificent 7 as well as an automatic entry into the Barrett-Jackson Cup.

Winner of the Best Street Cruiser portion of the Triple Crown of Rod ding went to this ’61 Impala belonging to Dan Duffy of Georgia It also took home a Top 25 and a Magnificent 7 as well as an automatic entry into the Barrett Jack son Cup.

M i ke B a r i l l a r o, a lo c a l r o d d e r, w a s o n h a n d w i t h h i s c h a n n e le d a n d f e n d e r le s s ’ 3 2 f i v e w i n d o w co u p e t h a t w a s f e a t u r e d i n t h e

A p r ’ 2 2 i s s u e o f Modern Rodding T h i s h o t r o d p o s s e s s e s a g r e a t lo o k

T h i s ’ 6 0 C h e v y b e l o n g i n g t o S t a n P a r n e n o f M a r y l a n d h a s t h e r i g h t s t a n c e a n d o v e r a l l a p p e a r a n c e , m a k i n g i t t h e p e r f e c t r i d e

L o n n i e J o h n o f O h i o w a s o n h a n d w i t h h i s 4 i n c h c h a n n e l e d G i b b o n s f i b e r g l a s s ’ 3 4 F o r d c o u p e b o d y T h e C o o l m i n t p a i n t c o v e r s t h e ’ 5 3 M e r c F l a t h e a d p o w e r e d h o t r o d

We c o u l d n ’ t p a s s t h i s n i c e l o o k i n g ’4 1 W i l l y s … a l s o f r o m t h e g a r a g e o f D o y l e T h o m a s .

T h i s ’4 2 C h e v y b e l o n g i n g t o C a r l o s B i c k e r s o f C u s t o m s & C o l o r o u t o f G e o r g i a i s n i c e l y c u s t o m i z e d I t h a s a n i n l i n e s i x f o r p o w e r w i t h s p l i t e x h a u s t , a n E d m u n d s i n t a k e w i t h a p a i r o f c a r b s

M a r t h a H i n s o n o f N o r t h C a r o l i n a w a s p r e s e n t w i t h h e r ’ 6 7 C h e v y I I N o v a w a g o n I t h a s a s m a l l b l o c k V 8 f o r p o w e r t o p p e d w i t h F i Te c h E F I . T h e w h e e l s a r e s h o d w i t h M i c h e l i n r u b b e r.

N e a l a n d R o x i e M u n n f r o m S o u t h C a r o l i n a b r o u g h t o u t t h e i r ’ 6 0 C h e v y w a g o n i n i t s r e d a n d w h i t e c o l o r s I t i s p o w e r e d b y a C h e v r o l e t P e r f o r m a n c e R a m J e t 3 5 0 a n d s t o p s v i a i t s W i l w o o d b r a k e s y s t e m

B r u c e S u g g s o f N o r t h C a r o l i n a w a s o n h a n d w i t h h i s c h o p p e d t o p ’ 3 9 F o r d p i c k u p t r u c k w i t h w i d e w h i t e s o n r e d s t e e l i e s t r i m m e d w i t h c a p a n d r i n g s

T h i s ’ 6 4 F o r d G a l a x i e 5 0 0 X L b e l o n g s t o R o b b i e S m i t h o f G e o r g i a We l i k e t h e g o l d c o l o r t r e a t m e n t .

T h e C a n d y R e d ’ 5 7 C h e v y p i c k u p b e l o n g s t o B r i t t S p r i n g s o u t o f N o r t h C a r o l i n a a n d i s p o w e r e d b y a n S B C

N o d o u b t c l a s s i c t r u c k s a r e t h e h o t p r o p e r t y a n d t h i s ’ 7 1 C h e v y C 1 0 o w n e d b y D o y l e a n d K a r e n T h o m a s o u t o f Te x a s h a s t h e r i g h t “ l o o k ”

T h i s ’ 5 5 F o r d b e l o n g s t o R a n d y We a v e r o f G e o r g i a a n d i s p o w e r e d b y a 4 2 7 F o r d w i t h t w i n f o u r b a r r e l s .

A s wa s t h e c u s t o m o f D o l ly wo o d ’s S p l a s h C o u n t r y, t h e awa rd w i n n e r s we re g a t h e re d a ro u n d t h e wa t e r p a rk ( d ra i n e d fo r t h e w i n t e r) a n d o n d i s p l ay a l l d ay S a t u rd ay. A s i d e f ro m t h e To p 2 5 , t h e M a g n i f i ce n t 7 a n d t h e T r i p l e C row n w i n n e r s a re t h e re a s we l l a s n u m e ro u s o t h e r awa rd w i n n e r s

Of course, the big prize the attending rodders are waiting for is to s ee who goe s home with the ’32 Ford highboy roadster built at Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop. This year it was Tim Thrasher of South Carolina whose entry number (# 955) was selected He “wedged” his body behind the wheel and drove the highboy roadster home. There is als o the winner of the 50/50 giveaway This year the prize was bas ed on $53,720, with Steve Owen taking home $26,860. The winner of the early pre registered drawing was Rodney E dwards (# 133) who took home his $10,000 prize In the 2021 2022 time frame the Shade s club has given funds to 22 separate charities Now that’s giving back

T r i p l e C r ow n o f Ro d d i ng A s i d e f ro m t h e m o s t a m a z i n g t ro p h i e s t h a t a re g ive n t o e a c h o f t h e t h re e c a t e go r y w i n n e r s t h e re i s a n a d d e d b e n e f i t Fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e t h e s e w i n n e r s re ce ive d a n a u t o m at i c i nv i t a t i o n t o t h e B a r re t t Ja c k s o n C u p h e l d a t t h e B a r re t t Ja c k s o n Au c t i o n Ja n u a r y 2 1 2 9, 2 02 3 , i n S co t t s d a l e , A r i z o n a T h e re a re o n ly 5 0 ve h i c l e s a cce p t e d fo r t h e co m p e t i t i o n a n d e a c h ye a r t h e T r i p l e C row n w i n n e r s w i l l re ce ive a u t o m at i c i nv i t e s Ve r y co o l H e re ’s a c h a n ce t o n o t o n ly b e i n co m p e t i t i o n fo r a n o t h e r o f t h e i n d u s t r y ’s t o p awa rd s b u t t o a l s o h ave yo u r c a r fe a t u re d o n t e l e v i s i o n d u r i n g t h e s h ow

To w i n t h e T r i p l e C row n yo u r h o t ro d m u s t f i r s t wo rk i t s way t h ro u g h t h e awa rd s g a u n t l e t . Yo u r r i d e m u s t m a ke t h e To p 2 5 , t h e n t h e M a g n i f i ce n t 7, a n d t h e n f ro m t h i s g ro u p i n g t h e T r i p l e C row n w i n n e r s a re s e l e c t e d

T h i s g r a y p a i n t e d a n d t r i m m e d w i t h r e d i n t e r i o r, e x t e r i o r t r i m , a n d r e d s t r i p e t i r e s i s a n a m a z i n g l o o k i n g ’ 5 5 t h a t b e l o n g s t o R o g e r J e n n e l l e o u t o f V i r g i n i a T h i s o l d t i m e l o o k i n g h o t r o d ’ 5 5 i s L S p o w e r e d

T h e M a g n i f i ce n t 7 wa s m a d e u p o f B ra d S a t h e r a n d h i s ’6 9 F i re b i rd ( f u t u re M o d e r n Ro d d i n g fe a t u re ) , A l e x S h o r t w i t h h i s ’ 5 8 C h e v y p i c k u p, C h a rl i e S wa n s o n a n d h i s ’6 8 Ro a d r u n n e r ( p a s t M o d e r n Ro d d i n g cove r a n d fe a t u re , M ay ’ 2 2 i s s u e ) , S o n ny F re e m a n w i t h h i s ’ 3 2 Fo rd ( f u t u re M o d e r n Ro d d i n g fe a t u re ) , D a n D u f f y w i t h h i s ’6 1 C h e v y I m p a l a ( f u t u re M o d e r n Ro d d i n g fe a t u re ) , M i ke P a s co e w i t h h i s ’ 5 6 C h e v y ( f u t u re M o d e r n Ro d d i n g fe a t u re ) , a n d G a r re t t K i t c h e n w i t h h i s ’ 3 3 Fo rd ro a d s t e r ( f u t u re M o d e r n Ro d d i n g fe a t u re )

O u t o f t h i s g ro u p i n g t h e T r i p l e C row n w i n n e r s fo r 2 02 2 a re S o n ny F re e m a n a n d h i s ’ 3 2 Fo rd h i g h b oy co u p e t a k i n g h o m e t h e B e s t S t re e t Ro d , B e s t S t re e t C r u i s e r t o D a n D u f f y w i t h h i s ’6 1 C h e v y I m p a l a , a n d B e s t S t re e t M a c h i n e we n t t o t h e ’6 9 F i re b i rd b e l o n g i n g t o B ra d S a t h e r.

A B i t o f H i s t o r y

T h e c l u b c a m e a b o u t a f t e r a m e e t i n g Jo e B a i l e y, D o n H u t s e l l , To m C l a rk , J R C a r n e s , a n d C a rl H o l m e s h a d i n 1 9 76 . I t wa s a t t h i s m e e t i n g t h a t B a i l e y o f fe re d u p t h e n a m e “ S h a d e s o f t h e P a s t ” a n d t h e o t h e r s a g re e d

I t ’s n ow 1 9 8 1 a n d t h e S h a d e s c l u b h e l d t h e i r f i r s t a n d s e co n d e ve n t i n M a r y v i l l e , Te n n e s s e e I re m e m b e r D a n D ra p e r, t h e c l u b’s t re a s u re r a n d ro d r u n c h a i r m a n , o n ce t e l l i n g m e t h a t t h e c u r re n t d ay ro d r u n c a m e a b o u t a s t h e c l u b t r i e d t o re s u r re c t t h e o l d G a t l i n b u rg e ve n t b a c k i n 1 9 8 3 . T h e y e x p e c t e d 3 0 0 4 0 0 c a r s … 1 ,0 0 0 s h owe d u p ! I t wa s h e re t h a t t h e ge n e s i s o f t h e To p 2 5 wa s b o r n T h e To p 1 5 we re c h o s e n .

A n o t h e r c o o l l o o k i n g ’ 7 2 C h e v y C 1 0 t h a t b e l o n g s t o J o e H a r t m a n o f O h i o w i t h s m a l l b l o c k V 8 p o w e r

T h i s ’ 5 7 C h e v y c o m e s b y w a y o f I n d i a n a u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f o w n e r R o n P o w e l l T h e L S p o w e r p l a n t i s e i g h t s t a c k i n j e c t e d a n d a m a z i n g l y w e l l d e t a i l e d I t t o o k h o m e To p 2 5 a n d To p 5 h o n o r s a t t h e 2 0 2 2 D a n c h u k Tr i F i v e N a t i o n a l s

T h i s ’ 6 5 P o n t i a c GTO c o n v e r t i b l e b e l o n g s t o D i c k B a l e s o f N o r t h C a r o l i n a . I t i s p o w e r e d b y a C h e v y s u p e r c h a r g e d LT 4 . L o o k f o r t h i s To p 2 5 w i n n e r i n a f u t u r e i s s u e o f Modern Rodding

T h i s ’ 6 6 N o v a i s o w n e d b y T i m B r a s h e r o f A l a b a m a a n d i s p o w e r e d b y a n L S w i t h F i Te c h E F I

B a s e d o n a S p e e d s t a r r o a d s t e r b o d y t h i s ’ 3 3 F o r d b e l o n g s t o G a r r e t t

K i t c h e n o f O h i o b r o u g h t h o m e a To p 2 5 a n d M a g n i f i c e n t 7 a w a r d s . I t w a s a l s o a f a v o r i t e a t t h e D e t r o i t A u t o r a m a

H o t R o d R o u n d u p a n d wh a t a h o m e i t p rove d t o b e A L o o k i nt o t h e F ut u r e We l l , l i f e d o e s g o i n c i rc l e s a s n ow i t ’s t i m e t o e n d o n e c h a p t e r a n d b e g i n a n o t h e r. B o b b y A l l oway w i l l b e h o s t i n g t h e T r i p l e C row n o f R o d d i n g e ve n t g o i n g f o r wa rd I n T h e G a r a g e M e d i a ( M o d e r n Ro d d i n g ) w i l l c o n t i n u e t o c ove r t h e T r i p l e C row n o f R o d d i n g a n d m u c h m o re . To t h i s i l l u s t r i o u s g a t h e r i n g t h e re w i l l a l s o b e m u l t i p l e s u p e r awa rd s g ive n t o e a rl y ( ’4 8 6 5 ) a n d l a t e ( ’ 6 6 9 3 ) c l a s s i c t r u c k s . T h e re w i l l a l s o b e o t h e r s p e c i a l t y awa rd s a n d , o f c o u r s e , t h e re w i l l b e 5 0 / 5 0 d r aw i n g s ; e a rl y wo rd s ay s t h e re m ay a l s o b e a g ive away ve h i c l e o f s o m e s o r t a n d , o f c o u r s e , l o c a l c h a r i t i e s w i l l b e n e f i t A s yo u ’ ve d o n e f o r t h e p a s t yo u s t i l l h ave a p l a c e t o g o t h e we e ke n d a f t e r L a b o r D ay, a s a l l o f u s h ave d o n e s i n c e 1 9 8 7

My m o m u s e d t o t e l l m e , “ I n o rd e r t o e n j oy a g re a t s u n r i s e yo u h ave t o e x p e r i e n ce a g re a t s u n s e t ” T h e S h a d e s C a r C l u b h a s p u t t o re s t a g re a t e ve n t b u t n ow i t ’s t i m e t o e x p e r i e n ce a n e w b e g i n n i n g M R

A To p 2 5 a n d M a g n i f i c e n t 7 w i n n e r i s t h i s ’ 6 8 R o a d r u n n e r b e l o n g i n g t o C h a r l i e S w a n s o n ( Modern Rodding M a y ’ 2 2 i s s u e )

A lex S h o r t wa s o n h a n d w i t h h i s ’ 5 8 Fo rd p i c ku p t h a t to o k h o m e a To p 2 5 a n d a M ag n i f i ce n t 7 awa rd s Yo u m u s t s e e t h i s p i c ku p to b e li e ve t h e wo r k m a n s h i p a n d d e ta i l . I t wa s s h ow n t h i s yea r a t t h e N S RA N a t i o n a ls B u i ld e r s ’ S h o w c a s e

T h e l a s t H o t R o d R o u n d u p g i v e a w a y c a r w a s t h i s ’ 3 2 F o r d h i g h b o y r o a d s t e r b u i l t a t A l l o w a y ’ s H o t R o d S h o p I t e n d s 4 0 y e a r s o f r o d d i n g h i s t o r y T i m T h r a s h e r (left) o f S o u t h C a r o l i n a w a s t h e l u c k y e n t r a n t t o h a v e h i s n u m b e r s e l e c t e d a n d t h e r o a d s t e r p r e s e n t e d t o h i m b y B o b b y A l l o w a y (right)

1 J o h n W i n t e r h a s a v a r i e t y o f m e t h o d s t o m a ke h o t r o d s e a t s . H e r e h e u s e s a b a n d s a w t o c u t b l o c k s o f f o a m i n t o c u s t o m s e a t c u s h i o n s .

2 . H e r e a r e t h e p a t t e r n s W i n t e r u s e d t o m a k e c u s h i o n s f o r W i l l y s J e e p s t e r s e a t s W h e n c u t o u t e a c h p a t t e r n w i l l b e u s e d t o m a k e t w o s e c t i o n s o f a c u s h i o n

3 . O n c e c u t t o s h a p e t h e i n d i v i d u a l p i e c e s w i l l b e g l u e d t o g e t h e r t o m a k e o n e c u s h i o n

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Ba ck i n t h e O c t ’2 2 i s s u e o f Mo d e r n Ro d di n g we i nt ro d u ce d Jo h n Wi nte r. A s we e x p l a i n e d t h e n , Wi nte r wa s lo o k i n g fo r a m e a n s o f u p h o l ste r i n g h i s ’ 32 Fo rd co u p e t h at wo u l d n’ t de m o l i s h h i s b u i l d i n g b u d ge t Not b e i n g a f ra id o f a ch a l le n ge, Wi nte r b o u g ht a n ap p rop r i ate s ew i n g m a ch i n e, a go o d p a i r o f s h e a rs, a few ya rd s o f m ate r i a l , a n d st itch e d t h e co u p e ’s i nte r i o r h i m s e l f. S i n ce t h e n , h e h a s u p h o l ste re d h i s ’ 3 6 Fo rd T u do r s e d a n a n d a va r i e t y o f ot h e r ve h i cle s fo r f r i e n d s

W h i le t a l k i n g to Wi nte r h e o f fe re d a few t ip s a n d t r i ck s h e ’s p i cke d u p wh e n it co m e s to s e at s i n a h ot ro d . T h e f i rst e x a mp le we ’ l l s h ow h e re i s m a k i n g a s e at f ro m s c ratch w it h b lo ck s o f p o ly u re t h a n e fo a m . Wi nte r b eg i n s by m a k i n g a p at te r n o f h ow t h e c u s h i o n s s h o u l d b e s h ap e d T h e fo a m r u b b e r i s t h e n c ut o ut o n a b a n d s aw a n d t h e n t h e i n d iv id u a l b lo ck s a re g l u e d toge t h e r to m a ke a c u s h i o n . Fo a m co m e s i n a va r i e t y o f de n s it i e s, s o t h e c u s h i o n s m ay b e s o f t o r s u r p r i s i n g ly h a rd it ’s n ot u nu s u a l to m a ke t h e s e at b ot to m s a n d t h e b a ck re st s o ut o f d i f fe re nt de n s it i e s to s u it i n d iv id u a l p re fe re n ce s.

4 . T h e J e e p s te r s e a t i s a s p l i t t w o a n d o n e d e s i g n N o te t h e i n d i v i d u a l p i e ce s a r e n u m b e r e d . T h e r e a r e t h r e e i n d i v i d u a l p i e ce s i n t h e s i n g le s e a t a n d s e v e n i n t h e d u a l s e a t

5 T h i s s e a t c u s h i o n i s m a d e f r o m o n e p i e ce o f f o a m w i t h a n a d d i t i o n a l b a n d o f f o a m w ra p p e d a r o u n d t h e m a i n s e c t i o n a n d g l u e d i n p l a ce .

6 . A n e a s y w a y t o t r i m f o a m i s w i t h a n e l e c t r i c c a r v i n g k n i f e N o t e t h e m a r k s o n t h e f o a m (arrow) t h a t s h o w t h e a r e a t o b e t r i m m e d

7. A n o t h e r way o f s h a p i n g fo a m i s by s a n d i n g H e re t h e e d ge s o f t h e a d d e d fo a m h ave b e e n ca ref u lly ro u n d e d w i t h a n a i r p owe re d a n g le g r i n d e r w i t h a n a b ra s i ve d i s c

A n o t h e r o p t i o n i s t o m a ke t h e s e a t c u s h i o n s o u t o f o n e l a rge s h e e t o f fo a m . I n s o m e c a s e s , a n e x t ra “ b a n d ” o f fo a m i s w ra p p e d a ro u n d t h e f ro n t a n d s i d e s o f t h e c u s h i o n t o h e l p t h e e d ge s ke e p t h e i r s h a p e . T h i s e x t ra m a t e r i a l m ay b e m a d e f ro m t h e s a m e m a t e r i a l a s t h e s e a t c u s h i o n d e n s i t y o r fo a m t h a t i s s l i g h t ly “ h a rd e r ” t o a c t a s l e g a n d s i d e s u p p o r t b o l s t e r s

O n ce t h e c u s h i o n s a re m a d e , p a t t e r n s fo r t h e u p h o l s t e r y a re n e x t Wi n t e r h a s s e ve ra l m e t h o d s o f m a k i n g p a t t e r n s . O n e i s t o m a ke p a p e r p a t t e r n s t h e n t ra n s fe r t h o s e d i m e n s i o n s t o i n d iv i d u a l p i e ce s o f p l a s t i c t h e n o n t o t h e fa b r i c b e i n g u s e d . A n o t h e r t r i c k Wi n t e r h a s l e a r n e d i s t o m a ke p a t t e r n s w i t h t h e s t i c k y t ra n s fe r p a p e r u s e d t o m a ke v i nyl s i g n s .

Regardle ss of the material used to make patterns, it’s important to allow what is called seam allowance. That is the area between the edge of the fabric and the line of stitches in other words, the pattern must be made larger than the finished piece will be Winter sugge sts allowing 3/8 to 1/2 inch seam allowance for all the individual piece s that will be sewn t o ge

t h e r

RON C E R I D ONO PHOTO G R A PH Y BY JOH N W I N T E R

8 . F or the Jeepster seats Winter made paper pat terns then transferred them to plastic, adding material for the seam allowance

9. A n o t h e r m e t h o d o f p a t t e r n m a k i n g i s w i t h t r a n s f e r p a p e r N o t i c e t h e l i n e s w h e r e t h e t w o p a t t e r n s j o i n T h e s e a r e a l i g n m e n t m a r k s t o e n s u r e t h e t w o p i e c e s a r e s e w n t o g e t h e r p r o p e r l y

1 0 . H e r e t w o o f t h e p i e c e s o f t h e J e e p s t e r s e a t s a r e b e i n g s e w n t o g e t h e r T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n s t i t c h l i n e a n d t h e e d g e o f t h e m a t e r i a l i s t h e s e a m a l l o w a n c e

1 1 . This is the single seat for the Jeepster The pleats were made by sewing thin foam to the material (see the first installment to see how this is done)

1 2 In the Jeepster example the seat covers were simply wrapped around the metal seat bottoms and backs and were glued in place.

1 3 . A b e f o r e a n d a f t e r s h o t o f t h e s e a t s i n W i n t e r ’ s ’ 3 6 F o r d . O n t h e f a r s i d e i s a n o r i g i n a l H H R s e a t c o m p a r e i t t o t h e r e u p h o l s t e r e d v e r s i o n c l o s e r t o t h e c a m e r a

1 4 . W i n t e r b e g a n r e j u v e n a t i n g t h e H H R s e a t s b y r e m o v i n g t h e c o v e r s a n d l a b e l i n g a l l t h e p i e c e s

1 5 . A t h r e a d r e m o v i n g t o o l w a s u s e d t o c u t t h e s t i t c h i n g h o l d i n g t h e s e a t c o v e r t o g e t h e r

1 6 . L i k e m a n y n e w c a r s , t h e H H R s e a t s u s e d p l a s t i c r e t a i n e r s t o s e c u r e t h e c o v e r s t o t h e s e a t f r a m e s T h e y w e r e r e m o v e d a n d s e w n t o t h e n e w c o v e r s

1 7. T h e s e a

e t h e i n d i v i

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s e a t c o v e r s T h e y w i l l b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e n e w v i n y l m a t e r i a l

1 8 . F o r a p l u s h f e e l , a l l t h e n e w p i e c e s o f t h e s e a t c o v e r s w i l l b e s e w n t o f o a m b a c k e d m a t e r i a l

r

d

f t h e H H R

2 3 . H e r e t h e s i d e s o f t h e s e a t c o v e r h a v e b e e n f o l d e d b a c k b e f o r e b e i n g a t t a c h e d t h e m o l d e d f o a m c u s h i o n .

2 4 . W i n t e r r e p a i r e d a s p l i t i n t h e m o l d e d f o a m H H R s e a t c u s h i o n w i t h d r y w a l l t a p e a n d f a b r i c t o p a d h e s i v e

W h e n Wi n t e r n e e d e d s e a t s fo r h i s ’ 3 6 Fo rd s e d a n h e c a m e u p w i t h a u n i q u e s o l u t i o n . H e u s e d t h e f ro n t b u c ke t s e a t s a n d t h e re a r b e n c h f ro m a C h e v ro l e t H H R . B u t ra t h e r t h a n j u s t b o l t t h e m i n p l a ce , h e t o o k t h e cove r s o f f t h e s e a t , t o o k t h e m a p a r t a t t h e s e a m s , t h e n u s e d t h e i n d iv i d u a l p i e ce s a s p a t t e r n s fo r n e w, c u s t o m cove r s .

L i ke m a ny m o d e r n fa c t o r y s e a t s , t h e H H R c u s h i o n s we re m a d e f ro m s o l i d p o ly u re t h a n e fo a m T h e y a re m a d e by i n j e c t i n g a c a t a lyz e d fo a m m i x t u re i n t o a m o l d , t h e m a t e r i a l e x p a n d s , a n d t o f i l l t h e co n t o u re d c av i t i e s o f t h e m o l d t h e fo a m s o l i d i f i e s a n d t h e re s u l t i s a s e a t c u s h i o n .

A l t h o u g h m o l d e d s e a t c u s h i o n s a re t o u g h , t h e fo a m i n u s e d s e a t s o f t e n d e ve l o p s p l i t s t h a t re q u i re a t t e n t i o n B u t we ’ ve fo u n d Wi n t e r l i ke s a c h a l l e n ge a n d h e h a s co m e u p w i t h a u n i q u e m e t h o d o f re p a i r i n g s u c h p ro b l e m s H e u s e s a co m b i n a t i o n o f d r y wa l l t a p e a n d v i nyl t o p a d h e s ive t o re p a i r d a m a ge d a re a s , a n d i n s o m e c a s e s j o i n s e c t i o n s o f c u s h i o n s t o ge t h e r

A f t e r m a k i n g re p a i r s t o t h e fo a m f ro m t h e f ro n t s e a t s , a d d i n g fo a m t o t h e s i d e s o f t h e H H R re a r s e a t t o f i t a ro u n d t h e wh e e lwe l l s o f h i s s e d a n , h e a l s o m a d e t h e t wo p i e ce re a r s e a t i n t o o n e p i e ce by g l u i n g t h e m o l d e d fo a m c u s h i o n s t o ge t h e r. O n ce t h a t wa s d o n e Wi n t e r s t i t c h e d n e w v i nyl cove r s fo r t h e f ro n t a n d re a r s e a t s , a d d i n g p l e a t e d i n s e r t s i n t h e ce n t e r o f t h e s e a t i n g a re a s fo r a c u s t o m l o o k . Wi n t e r ’s p a t i e n ce , p e r s i s t e n ce , a n d w i l l i n g n e s s t o t r y s o m e t h i n g n e w p a i d o f f w i t h a g re a t l o o k i n g , co m fo r t a b l e , a f fo rd a b l e i n t e r i o r fo r h i s ’ 3 6 Fo rd T h e b e s t p a r t i s h e c a n s ay h e d i d i t h i m s e l f. M R

2 5 To f o r c e t h e a d h e s i v e i n t o t h e m e s h t a p e , W i n t e r u s e s a p l a s t i c s p a t u l a H e r e h e j o i n e d t h e t w o s e c t i o n s o f t h e H H R s p l i t b a c k s e a t f o a m i n t o o n e

2 6 . The seat back was slipped over the molded seat back foam the plastic retainers can be seen at the bottom of the cushion

2 7. Hard to believe this is one of the junkyard seats Winter started out with. The result is comfortable, good looking, and affordable.

Model A

Coupe in a Mere Six Years

Th e “ b a c k s t o r y ” o n j u s t a b o u t e ve r y h o t ro d i s wh

K l e p a d l o o f S o C a l i s n o d i f fe re n t

re a l s t o r y o n h i s ’ 3 0 Fo rd f ive

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co u p e b e g a n ye a r s a go F ra n k i e ’s ’ 3 0 Fo rd c h o p p e d a n d c h a n n e l e d co u p e h a s f i n a l ly m a d e t h e ro a d a f t e r s i x ye a r s o f p a i n s t a k i n g e f fo r t B u t t h e b a c k s t o r y t e l l s u s i t b e g a n a l o n g t i m e b e fo re t h a t . I t ’s b e s t t o h e a r t h i s s t o r y f ro m F ra n k i e h i m s e l f

“ T h i s i s t h e s t o r y o f my ’ 3 0 Fo rd c h o p p e d a n d c h a n n e l e d f ive w i n d ow co u p e T h e c a r i s n a m e d ‘ T h e S i x Ye a r C o u p e ’ fo r t h e o bv i o u s re a s o n t h a t i t t o o k s i x ye a r s t o co m p l e t e t h e b u i l d B u t t h i s M o d e l A re a l ly s t a r t e d b a c k i n 1 9 93 I wa s 5 ye a r s o l d a n d a n av i d c a r co l l e c t o r H o t W h e e l s c a r co l l e c t o r, t h a t i s . My d a d wo u l d t a ke m e t o l o c a l c a r s h ows i n S o u t h e r n C a l i fo r n i a . We wo u l d wa l k a ro u n d a n d t a l k a b o u t t h e c a r s t h a t we wo u l d b u i l d o n e d ay Fo r my d a d m o s t o f t h e t i m e i t wa s a n a l l b l a c k ’ 5 5 C h e v y o r a ’ 3 2 Fo rd co u p e . B u t fo r m e i t wa s a lways t h e M o d e l A . I t ’s c ra z y t o t h i n k t h a t a l m o s t 3 0 ye a r s l a t e r I a c t u a l ly b u i l t t h e c a r we o n ce d re a m e d a b o u t .

“ I n e a rly D e ce m b e r 2 0 1 5 I h a d j u st s o l d my ’2 7 Fo rd ro a d s te r a n d d e c i d e d I wa nte d t o b u i l d my n e x t c a r f ro m t h e g ro u n d u p I st a r te d lo o k i n g fo r a n o r i g i n a l ste e l b o dy a n d ca m e a c ro s s t h e p e r fe c t st a r t o n a n e B ay l i st i n g T h e s e l le r e n de d u p b e i n g a re a l ly co o l g uy a n d we wo rke d o ut a de a l fa ce to fa ce My b u i l d o f f i c i a l ly b ega n o n D e ce m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 5. At t h at t i m e, I wa s co nv i n ce d I wo u l d b e d r iv i n g t h e ca r by t h e fo l low i n g s u m m e r. I o n ly m i s s e d t h e m a rk by f ive ye a rs. ”

S e e , t h e b a c k s t o r y i s re a l ly wh e re t h e s e e d fo r t h i s b u i l d b e g a n , a n d i t wa s m u c h l o n ge r t h a n f ive ye a r s a go O n ce a g a i n , i t i s f u n t o h ave F ra n k i e t e l l u s t h e s t o r y i n h i s ow n wo rd s o n wh a t c a m e n e x t : t h e c h a s s i s .

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BY B R I A N B R E N NA N PHOTO G R A PH Y BY W E S A L L I S ON

“ L i t t l e d i d I k n ow t h i s wo u l d t u r n o u t t o b e a h u ge n i g h t m a re I we n t b a c k a n d fo r t h o n wh e t h e r I wa s go i n g t o fa b r i c a t e s o m e t h i n g mys e l f o r u s e a f ra m e t h a t wa s ava i l a b l e A f t e r d o i n g s o m e re s e a rc h I fo u n d a g uy i n C o l o ra d o wh o s a i d h e s p e c i a l i z e d i n c u s t o m M o d e l A c h a s s i s We we n t ove r e ve r y t h i n g i n d e t a i l a n d h e t a l ke d a go o d g a m e O n ce t h e p a r t s s h owe d u p a n d I a s s e m b l e d t h e c h a s s i s i t wa s n’ t e ve n c l o s e t o wh a t we d i s c u s s e d . I t r i e d wo rk i n g w i t h h i m t o re s o lve t h e i s s u e , b u t i t e n d e d u p b e i n g a ye a rl o n g b a t t l e t o ge t my m o n e y b a c k .

“ Now t h a t I wa s b a c k o n t ra c k , I h a d t o f i n d s o m e o n e wh o co u l d a c t u a l ly b u i l d t h e c h a s s i s I h a d i n m i n d . L u c k i ly, I c a m e a c ro s s D e re k a n d t h e g uys a t B o l i n g B ro t h e r s I b ro u g h t my b o dy a n d wh e e l s t o t h e i r s h o p a n d r i g h t away t h e y p u t e ve r y t h i n g o n a j i g t o s t a r t f i g u r i n g o u t t h e co r re c t s t a n ce fo r t h e c a r D e re k u n d e r s t o o d e x a c t ly wh a t I wa s a f t e r, a n d t h e o u t co m e o f t h e c h a s s i s wa s a b s o l u t e ly p e r fe c t ”

T h e B o l i n g B ro t h e r s p owd e rco a t e d c u s t o m c h a s s i s fe a t u re s a 14 i n c h k i c k u p i n t h e re a r a n d a 5 i n c h k i c k i n t h e f ro n t . S t i l l i n f ro n t o n e c a n s e e t h a t t h e ’ ra i l s p i n c h i n a n d co m e t o re s t j u s t b e h i n d t h e D e u ce g r i l l e s h e l l . Wo rk i n g w i t h a S O C A L S p e e d S h o p 4 i n c h d ro p I b e a m a x l e , e a rly Fo rd s p i n d l e s , S u p e r B e l l s t e e r i n g a r m s , a Pe t e a n d Ja ke s l e a f s p r i n g m o u n t e d b e h i n d t h e a x l e , S O C A L c h ro m e t u b e s h o c k s , a Ve g a s t yl e s t e e r i n g b ox , a n d S p e e dway M o t o r s s p l i t w i s h b o n e s a n c h o re d i n t h e re a r t h ro u g h t h e f ra m e . F ro m h e re a L i m e Wo rk s s t e e r i n g co l u m n i s u t i l i z e d I n b a c k a Jo h n’s I n d u s t r i e s 9 i n c h re a re n d i s u s e d a l o n g w i t h l i m i t e d s l i p d i f f w i t h 3 . 5 0 ge a r s a n d 3 1 s p l i n e a x l e s . O t h e r re a r a p p o i n t m e n t s i n c l u d e a B o l i n g B ro t h e r s P a n h a rd b a r a n d a p a i r o f Q A 1 1 0 i n c h re a r co i l ove r s h o c k s . T h e ro l l i n g s t o c k i s b a s e d o n ve n t e d L i n co l n d r u m s i n f ro n t a l o n g w i t h L i n co l n d r u m s i n b a c k , a S p e e dway M o t o r s m a s t e r c yl i n d e r, a n d a Wi lwo o d p ro p va lve a l l p re s s e d i n t o s e r v i ce by a Ro a d s t e r S u p p ly p e d a l T h e wh e e l s a re ’ 3 5 Fo rd 1 6 i n c h w i re s t h a t a re b l a c k p owd e rco a t e d a n d e nve l o p e d w i t h C o ke r/ F i re s t o n e b i a s r u b b e r, m e a s u r i n g 6 0 0 1 6 i n f ro n t a n d 7. 5 0 1 6 i n t h e b a c k .

Re s t i n g o n t h i s c u s t o m h o t ro d c h a s s i s i s a ’ 3 0 Fo rd s t e e l b o dy t h a t h a s u n d e rgo n e t h e e s s e n t i a l h o t ro d m o d s . T h e t o p i s c h o p p e d a n d t h e b o dy c h a n n e l e d a m a t c h i n g 4 i n c h e s wh i l e t h e g r i l l e a n d i t s s h e l l we re c u t d ow n 3 i n c h e s . T h e w i n d s h i e l d a n d a l l o t h e r g l a s s a re c u s t o m t o f i t t h e b o dy wh i l e t h e ro o f fe a t u re s a b l a c k S t ay fa s t ro o f p a n e l ( i n s e r t ) . F ro m h e re t h e b o dy wo rk wa s h a n d l e d by Ju a n H u r t a d o wh o a l s o a p p l i e d t h e P P G ( t wo s t a ge ) c u s t o m m i x O x B l o o d m a ro o n . T h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e b o dy i s co a t e d i n D e fe n d e r b l a c k .

Powe r fo r t h i s Mo de l A h ot ro d co m e s by way o f a 3 5 0 i n ch s m a l l b lo ck C h ev y w it h a p o l i s h e d “s h o r t ” wate r p u mp a n d a Wa l ke r c u sto m fo u r row ra d i ato r. It i s top p e d w it h a S t ro m b e rg 9 7 T r i p owe r s e t u p m atch e d to Ve lo c it y b a lo n ey c ut st a ck s, re st i n g o n a n O f fe n h au s e r i nt a ke. Mo re ca r b a cce s s o r i e s i n cl u de a L o k a r t h rot t le ca b le a n d S t ro m b e rg p rog re s s ive l i n k a ge, Ho l ley f u e l p re s s u re reg u l ato r, a n d E de l b ro ck e le c t r i c f u e l p u mp T h e s p e nt ga s e s e x it v i a t h e c u sto m ce ra m i c co ate d L a ke s st yle h e a de rs. Mo re e n g i n e a cce s s o r i e s i n cl u de O f f y p o l i s h e d va lve cove rs a n d b re at h e rs, a Powe r m a ste r Powe r G E N a lte r n ato r a n d h i g h to rq u e st a r te r. F u r t h e r m a s s a g i n g o f t h e i g n it i o n co m e s by way o f a n M S D P ro B i l le t d i st r i b uto r, 6 A L d i g it a l i g n it i o n b ox , B l a ste r co i l , a n d c u sto m v i nt a ge lo o k i n g s p a rk p l u g w i re s T h e p owe r t h at t h e S B C ca n mu ste r u p i s m atch e d to a C h ev y T H 3 5 0.

This belly button “tall” hot rod feature s a highly detailed and well thought out interior All the stitchwork comes by way of Budy Built Handcrafted Interiors Inside are a pair of custom bomber seats and lap belts, interior panels and headliner are covered in Hyde s buffalo distressed brown leather, while under the Relicate tan G erman square weave carpeting you will find a liberal amount of Dynamat. Upon closer inspection you will see a LimeWorks steering column with their ’32 drop and one of their own ’40 Ford steering wheels The Deuce dash is holding onto a five pack of Auto Meter gauge s in Antique Beige. Re sting between the

steering and the dash is a Lokar 23 inch neck Nostalgia shifter Other interior appointments include a LimeWorks key and headlight switch, Lokar e brake, and a Bob Drake ’37 Ford rearview mirror Hidden from view but not from enjoyment is the Vintage Car Radio operated by Bluetooth along with a JBL 8 inch BasePro SL subwoofer and two JBL GX502 speakers (hidden under the dash)

You know the old saying about “it takes a village ” Well, it also takes a garage full of friends to get a hot rod project completed Frankie leaned on his wife, Cate, his two sons, Ford and Kayce, and his dad. From here it also took the likes of Steve and Lianne Budy of Budy Built Handcrafted Interiors, Derek and the crew from Boling Brothers, and Kevin from PAC Coast Powdercoating For those who did make it by this year’s SEMA show, you probably saw this outstanding coupe at the Mother’s Polish booth. Frankie’s idea for his perfect Model A hot rod may have been around for nearly 30 years, but this relatively fast build took six years it’s the re sults that count and they are spot on. M R

Part 1: How to Cut the Tedious Labor Associated With Chopping a Top

BY C H R I S SH E LTON PHOTO G R A PH Y BY B R I A N B R E N NA N

Th e wo rl d re a l l y d o e s n’ t n e e d ye t a n o t h e r t o p c h o p s t o r y o r s o I t h o u g h t . T h e n o l ’ E d i t o r B r i a n B re n n a n v i s i t e d D e a n L ive r m o re a t H o t R o d s b y D e a n a n d b ro u g h t h o m e t h e s e p h o t o s o n t h e c h o p p i n g o f a ’ 3 3 Fo rd D e L u xe c o u p e

I t wa s n’ t t h e c h o p i t s e l f t h a t c a u g h t my a t t e n t i o n i t ’s a m o d e r a t e c u t ( 2 1 /2 i n c h e s ) o n a s o m e wh a t c o m m o n c a r R a t h e r, i t wa s t h e way N i c k S i n i o r i s p l o t t e d h i s c u t l i n e s t o m i n i m i z e e f f o r t a n d m a x i m i z e a c c u r a c y t h a t s t o o d o u t We l d i n g s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e p re p a r a t i o n f o r we l d i n g re a l l y e a t s u p t i m e S t ro n g we l d s t h a t d o n’ t d i s t o r t f avo r t i g h t , c o n s i s t e n t g a p s . W h i l e n e a rl y a nyo n e c a n g e t s u c h a g a p a l o n g a s h o r t r u n , i t t a ke s a f a i r a m o u n t o f s k i l l a n d t i m e t o g e t t h a t k i n d o f g a p ove r, s ay … a f o o t o r 2 . To g e t t h o s e t i g h t , c o n s i s t e n t g a p s ove r t h a t l a rg e a re a u s u a l l y re q u i re s c u t t i n g a l i t t l e w i d e o f t h e s c r i b e l i n e s t h e n c re e p i n g u p o n t h e m w i t h s n i p s a n d f i l e s . A n d t h a t k i n d o f f i t u p u s u a l l y re q u i re s m a k i n g t a b s t o s u p p o r t t h e p a n e l s d u r i n g t h e t r i m m i n g p ro c e s s T h e f i t , t r i m , a n d re p e a t c yc l e t a ke s a l o n g t i m e .

I n ove r s i m p l i f i e d t e r m s , S i n i o r i s c u t t h e t o p o f f, s l i d i t d ow n u n t i l t h e b a s e ove rl a p p e d t h e t o p, d r i l l e d t h ro u g h t h e ove rl a p p e d a re a f o r t e m p o r a r y p a n e l f a s t e n e r s , t h e n p i n n e d e ve r y t h i n g t o g e t h e r. T h a t l e t s t h e l i d f a s t e n t o t h e b o d y w i t h o u t s e p a r a t e t a b s o r b r a c ke t s

T h o u g h n e a t , t h e a b i l i t y f o r t h e t o p t o s e r ve a s i t s ow n f i x t u re i s a s e c o n d a r y b e n e f i t t o S i n i o r i s ’ m e t h o d T h e c u t e d g e o f t h e ove rl a p p i n g p a n e l d o u b l e s a s a g u i d e f o r s c r i b i n g a n d /o r t r i m m i n g t h e u n d e rl y i n g p a n e l C u t r i g h t o n t h a t g u i d e o r c u t t h ro u g h b o t h p a n e l s s i m u l t a n e o u s ly a n d yo u ’ l l g e t a p a n e l g a p t h a t m e a s u re s e x a c t l y t h e w i d t h o f t h e c u t t i n g b l a d e . C l o s e u p t h a t g a p f o r GTAW/ T I G p ro c e s s a s S i n i o r i s d i d o r l e ave i t o p e n f o r G M AW/ M I G .

4 . T h e s m a l le s t a n d s i m p le s t 2 1 / 2 i n c h s e c t i o n o f t h e A p i l l a r s h a n g s o u t j u s t b e lo w t h e a r e a w h e r e t h e l i n e s s t ra i g h te n o u t A g a i n , n o te t h e p a ra l le l h o r i z o n t a l l i n e s

2 . S i n i o r i s p lo t te d h i s c u t l i n e s a t p o i n t s w i t h t h e le a s t s h a p e c h a n g e . T h a t m e a n t h o r i z o n t a l l y t h r o u g h t h e s i d e s o f t h e w i n d o w a n d j u s t a b o v e t h e b e l t l i n e C o n n e c t i n g t h o s e t w o r

3

h o r i z o n t a l c u t l i n e s T h e y ’ r e m e a s u r i n g 2 1 / 2 i n c h e s a p a r t , t h e d i s t a n ce t h a t t h e to p w i l l co m e d o w n

5 . S i n i o r i s c u t a lo n g t h e p lo t te d l i n e s t h e n r e m o v e d t h e to p Fo r t h e t i m e b e i n g , h e c u t o n l y o n e s i d e o f t h e p a ra l le l h o r i z o n t a l l i n e s n o te d i n e a r l i e r s te p s

e s u l t s i n t h e v e r t i c a l c u t l i n e to t h e r i g h t o f t h e w i n d o w

. T h e m a i n c u t l i n e f o l lo w s t h e b e a d u p to t h e a r e a w i t h t h e le a s t a r e a a n d s h a p e c h a n g e N o te t h e p a ra l le l

6 . Af te r r e m o v i n g t h e to p, S i n i o r i s r e t u r n e d to c u t a lo n g t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e p a ra l le l h o r i z o n t a l l i n e s

7. T h e s e s c ra p s r e p r e s e n t t h e a m o u n t o f f i c i a l l y c h o p p e d f r o m t h e r e a r w i n d o w, s i d e b e a d , a n d A p i l l a r

8 T h i s i s h o w t h e t o p l o o k e d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r i t c a m e o f f t h e c a r N o t e w h e r e t h e p r i m e r s t a r t s r e l a t i v e t o t h e c u t l i n e

9. T h e c r e w s l i d t h e u p p e r p a r t o f t h e to p d o w n i n to t h e b o d y b y 2 1 / 2 i n c h e s , co n ce a l i n g t h e b a r e a r e a a lo n g t h e c u t l i n e T h e n t h e y d r i l le d t h r o u g h t h e a r e a s t h a t o v e r l a p p e d a n d p i n n e d t h e p i e ce s w i t h te m p o ra r y p a n e l fa s te n e r s T h e y t r i m t h e o v e r l a p p e d a r e a i n a l a te r s te p

1 0 1 1 T h e y t a c ke d i n s o m e te m p o ra r y b ra c ke t s to s e c u r e t h e r o o f T h e y e x i s t o n l y f o r a l i g n m e n t

1 2 . T h e to p t a p e r s to w a r d i t s c r o w n , a n d b e c a u s e S i n i o r i s m a i n t a i n e d a l i g n m e n t o f t h e r e a r s e c t i o n , t h e A p i l l a r s l a n d s h o r t . S o m e le n g t h e n t h e to p to co r r e c t t h i s

1 3 . B u t o t h e r s c h a n g e t h e a n g le o f t h e A p i l l a r s to r e a l i g n t h e m w i t h t h e to p T h i s i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e s o c a l le d B o n n e v i l le C h o p, a d e s i g n p i o n e e r e d b y t h e S p a ld i n g b r o t h e r s a n d A le x Xy d i a s , a m o n g o t h e r s S i n i o r i s b e g a n b y s e v e r i n g t h e p i l l a r s e n t i r e l y

1 4 . M o d i f y i n g t h e to p s k i n r e q u i r e s a cce s s to i t s b a c k s i d e . S i n i o r i s c u t a w ay p a r t o f t h e i n n e r s t r u c t u r e a t t h e u p p e r co r n e r s

1 5 . S i n i o r i s t h e n s p l i t t h e to p s k i n a b o v e t h e w i n d s h i e ld a n d a b o v e t h e d o o r j a m b t h e n p u l le d t h e to p ’s co r n e r s f o r w a r d H e c u t t h e p i e s h a p e d h o le to m i n i m i z e i n te r f e r e n ce

1 6 . Pu lli n g t h e to p to m e e t t h e p i lla r s o p e n e d ga p s to o w i d e to we ld to ge t h e r S o, S i n i o r i s s h a p e d a re p la ce m e n t p a n e l to f i t .

1 7. H e t r i m m e d t h e p a n e l to co v e r o n l y t h e e s s e n t i a l a r e a s t h e n u s e d i t a s a te m p l a te to s c r i b e a n d t h e n c u t t h e to p s k i n R e m o v i n g t h e i n n e r s t r u c t u r e g av e S i n i o r i s a cce s s to t h e p a n e l’s b a c k s i d e s o h e co u ld s t r e tc h t h e w e ld b e a d s

1 8 . T h e w i n d s h i e ld p o s t s s t a r te d l i f e a t 7 1 3 d e g r e e s N o w t h e y le a n b a c k 5 m o r e d e g r e e s to m e e t t h e to p ’s n e w lo c a t i o n

1 9. T h e w i n d s h i e ld p e r i m e te r n o lo n g e r l i n e d u p a f te r c u t t i n g a n d p a s t i n g a n d t h e t i g h t a r e a m a ke s i t d i f f i c u l t to r e s h a p e S o, S i n i o r i s m a d e t h e s e d i e s to f i t t h e p o w e r h a m m e r

2 0 . T h e f i n i s h e d p r o d u c t r e s to r e s t h e g e n t le ra d i u s t h a t o r i g i n a l l y m a d e u p t h e w i n d s h i e ld co r n e r s

2 1 . O n ce w e ld e d i n , t h e p a n e l m a ke s a s e a m le s s t ra n s i t i o n a m o n g t h e m o d i f i e d p a r t s A l l t h a t r e m a i n s a t t h i s p o i n t i s w e ld i n g t h e i n n e r s t r u c t u r e b a c k i n p l a ce

Because the top tapers toward its crown, the pillars misalign when chopped (the top emerge s too short, lengthwise) One correction method extends the lid part of the top lengthwise to realign the posts That maintains the windshield angle, which preserves the windshield’s seal.

The other method leans the windshield posts back Doing that streamlines the windshield, which made it a popular technique in landspeed racing in the middle of the last century (see the Spalding brot hers’ and SO CAL Speed Shop’s coupes for example s). You’ ll sometime s hear people re fer to it as a Bonneville chop, and it’s how Sinioris chopped this top

Along the way you’ ll see a few other techniques that improve a chop’s integrity. For example, Sinioris uses a fixture to preserve hinge pin alignment during reassembly, s omething that ensure s that the doors will open and shut without binding. He also fabricated a lot of internal structural elements, like a tubular support that bridge s the doorjambs and ties them into the top and inner fenderwells.

This is the first in a two part s eries showing how Sinioris and the Hot Rods by Dean crew dropped a lid. Though s ome techniques are specific to Model 40 coupes, most of the process translate s to other makes and models of the period, if only because they’re built largely the same way.

I still stand by my ass ertion that the world has enough top chopping stories But as I’ve learned, for every rule there’s an exception. And so long as fabricators find those ways to improve the proce ss and reduce the e ffort, we’re all eyes. M R

We m u s t a l l t a ke a m o m e n t t o b e t h a n k f u l fo r a l l t h e

t a l e n t e d h o t ro d d e r s wh o a p p re c i a t e o u r yo u t h s ’ “d re a m c a r s ” a n d u s e t h e i r t a l e n t s t o m a ke s u re

t h e y d o n’ t va n i s h T h e n u m b e r o f re s t o ra t i o n s a n d t r i b u t e c a r s we ’ ve a l l s e e n ove r t h e p a s t fe w d e c a d e s s h o u l d a l l ow a l l o f u s t o e n j oy t h e c a r s o f o u r d re a m s o r a l l ow u s t o s e e c a r s we wo u l d h ave n e ve r o t h e r w i s e s e e n . O n e m o re t o a d d t o t h e co l l e c t i o n o f h i s t o r y b ro u g h t b a c k t o l i fe i s t h e D i c k Wi l l i a m s ’ 2 7 Fo rd c h a n n e l e d ro a d s t e r o r i g i n a l ly b u i l t i n 1 9 5 1 5 2 Wi n n e r o f t h e t i t l e A m e r i c a’s M o s t B e a u t i f u l Ro a d s t e r f ro m t h e 1 9 5 3 Na t i o n a l Ro a d s t e r S h ow i s b a c k o n ce a g a i n a n d i n a l l i t s fo r m e r g l o r y. ( T h e f i r s t s h ow wa s h e l d o n Ja n u a r y 1 9, 1 9 5 0, a t t h e O a k l a n d E x p o s i t i o n B u i l d i n g a n d t h e wo rd “G

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Fa l k , by p l a c i n g i t o n t h e cove r

I t wa s t h e n p u rc h a s e d by B l a c k i e G e j e i a n , a n d h e a d d e d i t t o h i s co l l e c t i o n t h a t fe a t u re d s e ve ra l A M B R w i n n i n g ro a d s t e r s . W h i l e u n d e r G e j e i a n’s c a re t h e ro a d s t e r re m a i n e d f u n d a m e n t a l ly u n c h a n ge d b u t d i d b e g i n t o g a i n i n i t s p rove n a n ce . T h e ’ 2 7 Fo rd c h a n n e l e d ro a d s t e r a p p e a re d a t t h e Pe b b l e B e a c h C o n co u r s d ’ E l e g a n ce , a n d wa s fe a t u re d i n T h e Ro d d e r ’s J o u r n al , S t re e t Ro d d e r , a n d M o b il i a m a g a z i n e s , a n d co f fe e t a b l e b o o k H o t Ro d M il e s t o n e s

That brings us back to current times when the Myers family wanted the car restored to its original 1953 AMBR winning appearance in its powder blue color (originally a lacquer based paint). The original chassis is key to this car’s history, so Roy Brizio oversaw the project with Team Brizio (Jack Stratton, Jim Vickery, Dan Hall, Lenny Ernani, Jair Valle, Cary Buck, Andrik Albor, and Dan Carrol) to maintain so much of its original character The original chassis made by Williams was from 2 1/2 inch od chromoly steel tubing as were the front, center, and rear crossmembers He also used the suspension from a ’48 Ford as the basis for the front and rear suspension and a ’48 Ford pickup steering box with a homemade steering arm Also employed is a Model A rear spring For the time, the indispensable magnesium centersection Halibrand quick change was used, as it is still in place today At the corners there are Kinmont disc brakes (also known by their original manufacturer’s name, Kinmont Safe Stop Disc Brakes) and Houdaille 50 50 shocks A ’40 Ford master cylinder is used along with the pedal assembly out of a ’39 Ford More corner appointments include the use of steelies wrapped with BFGoodrich Silvertown/ Coker rubber measuring 8 20x15 in back (with parallel cross grooves cut into the tread) and Firestone/Coker 5.50x15 in front. The 15 inch wheels are reversed ’50 Merc centers with ’50 Ford outer rim in front and Lincoln outer rim in back.

T h e p owe r fo r t h e ch a n n e le d ro a d ste r co m e s by way o f a v i nt a ge F l at h e a d m e t i c u lo u s ly p ut toge t he r by t h e st a f f at H & H F l at h e a d s. T h e 2 8 5 i n ch i ro n Me rc V 8 ( ’4 8) ga i n s it s d i s p l a ce m e nt by b e i n g b o re d to 3 5 / 16 i n ch e s a n d st ro ke d to 4 1 /8 i n ch e s a n d r u n s a Howa rd F 1 0 ca m . T h e re a re a l s o ch ro m e d “ W ” st yle c u sto m e x h au st h e a de rs ; n o mu f f le rs a re u s e d W h i le t h ey lo o k l i ke t h e o r i g i n a l s, i n fa c t , t h ey a re re c re at i o n s by Ja ck S t rat to n o f B r i z i o’s. It i s t h e n d re s s e d fo r s u cce s s w it h a n E de l b ro ck i nt a ke top p e d w it h fo u r S t ro m b e rg 9 7 ca r b s ( fe d by a C a r te r e le c t r i c f u e l p u mp) a l l s it t i n g o n a p a i r o f a l u m i nu m Nava r ro h e a d s. B e ca re f u l , b e cau s e o f t h e e n g i n e s e t b a ck t h e fo u r t h ca r b ( re a r) re st s u n de r t h e cowl a n d at f i rs t g l a n ce yo u m ay m i s s it . L o o k fo r t h e n o t c h i n t h e t o p o f t h e cowl t h at le a d s dow n to t h e re a r m o st ca r b u re to r A n ot h e r fe at u re t h at i s u n iq u e to t h e ro a d ste r i s t h e Wi l l i a m s m a de d u a l co i l s, E ch l i n t w i n 6 V co i l s, o n e e a ch m o u nte d low a n d i n f ro nt o f e a c h o f t h e m o t o r m o u nt s a n d s o l i d co re p l u g w i re s F ro m h e re a Ko n g I g n it i o n C h a mp i o n s h ip Mo de l i s u s e d . T h e i g n it i o n t i m i n g ca n b e lo cke d dow n v i a a s e t s c rew i n m e a s u re d deg re e s o f a dva n ce o r re t a rd . B a cke d u p to t h e v i nt a ge F l at h e a d i s a ’ 3 9 Fo rd t ra n s m i s s i o n w it h a 2 5 to ot h Z e p hy r ge a r cl u ste r.

Wi lli a m s b u i lt a c h a s s i s f ro m 2 1 /2 i n c h c h ro m o ly t u b i n g . N o t i ce h ow t h e f ra m e f la re s o u t f ro m t h e f i re wa ll to f i t t h e ’ 27 T roa d s te r b o d y Two 9 1 /2 ga l lo n f u e l ta n ks a re n e s t le d b e twe e n t h e f ra m e ra i ls . T h e f ro n te n d , s te e r i n g , a n d rea r e n d a re a ll co u r te sy o f a ’4 8 Fo rd I n t h e rea r a M o d e l A s p r i n g i s u s e d s o i t s h i g h e r k i c ku p ca n c lea r t h e H a li b ra n d q u i c k c h a n ge B ra ke s a ll a ro u n d a re K i n m o n t d i s c ty p e a n d s h o c ks a re Fo rd H o u d a i lle s .

W i l l i a m s p r o u d l y s h o w s h i s m o t h e r t h e r e s u l t o f 2 1 / 2 y e a r s o f w o r k c a r r i e d o u t i n h i s B e r ke l e y g a r a g e .

N o t e t h a t t h e e n g i n e s i t s w e l l b a c k i n t h e c h a s s i s i n f r o n t o f a c h r o m e d f i r e w a l l . T h e ’ 5 0 M e r c w h e e l s a r e r e v e r s e d ( t h e r e a r s u s e w i d e b a s e d L i n c o l n r i m s ) , c h r o m e d , a n d w i t h ’ 5 0 M e r c h u b c a p s We c a n ’ t b e c e r t a i n b u t t o o m a n y c l u e s ( h e a d e r s u p t h e s i d e o f t h e b o d y, q u i c k c h a n g e r e a r e n d , K i n m o n t d i s c b r a ke s ) s e e m t o i n d i c a t e t h a t D i c k W i l l i a m s w a s i n f l u e n c e d b y t r a c k r o a d s t e r s . W h e n D i c k F a l k p u r c h a s e d t h e c a r, h e c h a n g e d t h e s t e e r i n g w h e e l . W h e n B r i z i o s e t a b o u t t o r e s t o r e t h e c a r F a l k s t i l l h a d t h e o r i g i n a l w h e e l a n d p r o v i d e d i t t o B r i z i o T h e w h e e l i s b a c k h o m e !

I n t h e ’ 2 7 Fo rd ro a d s t e r, b o t h d o o r s a re we l d e d s h u t T h e ’ 3 2 g r i l l e s h e l l wa s o r i g i n a l ly c h a n n e l e d 3 i n c h e s ove r t h e t u b e f ra m e A l t h o u g h c h a n n e l e d , Wi l l i a m s wa s c a re f u l t o m a i n t a i n t h e o r i g i n a l b o dyl i n e s s o m e t h i n g t h a t t h e B r i z i o s h o p wa s s u re t o m a i n t a i n T h e re i s s o m e a m a z i n g m e t a lwo rk o n t h i s ro a d s t e r, m o s t o f i t fa l l i n g t o A n d r i k A l b o r o f B r i z i o’s O f n o t e i s t h e f u l l a l u m i n u m b e l ly p a n ( n o t e s h ow n ) t h a t wa s e x p e r t ly re s t o re d a t B r i z i o’s A l t h o u g h n o t s e e n , re s t i n g b e n e a t h t h e b o dy a re a p a i r o f 9 1 /2 g a l l o n g a s t a n k s m o u n t e d l ow w i t h i n t h e f ra m e ra i l s , o n e o n e a c h s i d e A l l t h e b o dy a n d p a i n t wo rk c a m e t h ro u g h Vi n t a ge C o l o r S t u d i o u n d e r t h e c a re f u l ly a i m e d s p ray g u n o f D a r r yl H o l l e n b e c k T h e f re s h co a t o f p a i n t i s n ow a P P G E nv i ro b a s e wa t e r b o r n e p owd e r b l u e wh i l e o r i g i n a l ly i t wa s l a c q u e r. ( Fa l k t e l l s u s t h e o r i g i n a l co l o r wa s c a l l e d a ro b i n’s e g g b l u e )

I n s p e a k i n g w i t h H o l l e n b e c k , h e t e l l s u s t h e s t o r y o n t h e co l o r l i n e a ge o f t h i s h o t ro d w i t h l o t s o f i n p u t f ro m Fa l k H e a l s o m a d e t h e E l mwo o d Au t o C l u b p l a q u e t h a t a p p e a r s o n t h e b a c k o f t h e ro a d s t e r T h e ro a d s t e r u n d e r we n t a h a n d f u l o f co l o r c h a n ge s b e fo re i t s o r i g i n a l co l o r wa s re s t o re d by H o l l e n b e c k . I n fa c t , t wo p owd e r b l u e co l o r s we re d e r ive d a n d Ro s s s e l e c t e d t h e o n e h e fe l t wa s t h e c l o s e s t Acco rd i n g t o t h e g a t h e re d d a t a a n d h i s t o r i c p h o t o s i t a p p e a r s t h e s e co n d co l o r wa s a t u rq u o i s e , t h e n a re d d i s h o ra n ge , t h e n t h e ro o t b e e r b row n m e t a l l i c , a n d t h e n t h e C a n dy Ap p l e Re d I t s e e m s t h a t m o s t h o t ro d d e r s re m e m b e r t h e c a r i n i t s o r i g i n a l p owd e r b l u e o r t h e C a n dy Ap p l e Re d

I n s i d e yo u w i l l s p o t t h e r u l e r s t ra i g h t p l e a t s s t i t c h e d i n b l a c k Na u g a hyd e by S i d S h ave r s U p h o l s t e r y wh i l e t h e c h ro m e d d a s h s h ows o f f a f u l l co m p l e m e n t o f S t e wa r t Wa r n e r g a u ge s t h a t i n c l u d e : ( l e f t t o r i g h t ) g a s , o i l t e m p e ra t u re , p re s s u re , t a c h , va c u u m , s p e e d o m e t e r, o i l p re s s u re , wa t e r t e m p e ra t u re , a n d a m p. T h e g a u ge s a n d a l l o t h e r w i r i n g we re d o n e i n a v i n t a ge l o o k i n g c l o t h by J i m Vi c ke r y o f B r i z i o’s T h e h o t ro d s t e e r i n g co l u m n ( 1 1 /2 i n c h c h ro m e t u b e ) s p o r t s t h e o r i g i n a l B e l l s t e e r i n g wh e e l .

We l l , t h e re i s a go o d c h u n k o f h i s t o r y o n o n e o f o u r h o b by ’s m o s t m e m o ra b l e h o t ro d s . A s a lways , i f yo u ge t t h e c h a n ce t o s e e t h e Wi l l i a m s ’ 2 7 Fo rd c h a n n e l e d ro a d s t e r i t i s t i m e we l l s p e n t Re m e m b e r t h a t t h e i d e a a n d e xe c u t i o n wa s d o n e ove r 70 ye a r s a go I t wa s a h o t ro d a h e a d o f i t s t i m e M R

T h e e n g i n e i s a 2 8 5 c i ’4 8 M e r c e q u i p p e d w i t h N a v a r r o h e a d s , E d e l b r o c k f o u r - c a r b m a n if o l d , H o w a r d c a m , a n d W i l l i a m s h o m e m a d e d u a l c o i l i g n i t i o n H e a d e r s a r e W t y p e l e a d i n g t o l o n g s i d e p i p e s w i t h r e m o v a b l e m u f f l e r s f o r s t r e e t u s e

BY C U RT I SE L I PHOTO G R A PH Y BY CODY WA L L S

In o u r l a st i n st a l l m e nt o n D o u g Me l s o n’s ’4 7 D o d ge, we de lve d i nto t h e co u p e ’s h i sto r y a n d t h e s o m ewh at b u mpy ro a d it ’s t rave le d e n ro ute to b e co m i n g a n i ce ly re st yle d h ot ro d . Wit h o ut re co u nt i n g eve r y go r y de t a i l , t h e o l d D o d ge wa s s hu f f le d b e t we e n s eve ra l s h op s ( b e a r i n g t h e b r u nt o f at le a st o n e le s s t h a n s k i l le d b o dy m a n a lo n g t h e way) b e fo re f i n a l ly ge t t i n g b a ck o n t ra ck at C o dy Wa l l s ’ D e l awa re s h op, T ra d it i o n a l Me t a l C ra f t B a s e d o n a s u bt le b ut co mp le te de s i g n ove rh au l by E r i c B l a ck at e. B l a ck D e s i g n C o. , eve r y p a n e l o f t h e co u p e i s b e i n g n ip p e d a n d t u cke d to c re ate a p ro f i le t h at ’s s i g n i f i ca nt ly ra c i e r a n d m o re a g g re s s ive t h a n a ny t h i n g D o d ge p ro d u ce d at t h e t i m e.

After tackling the tail end (the rear fender and decklid work we showed previously), Walls moved forward on the body, revising the roof modifications started by one of the earlier shops and reshaping the front fenders, hood, and grille opening. It’s a monumental amount of work. Dodge business coupes of the ’40s had a greatly abbreviated turret top roof that some consider a little out of proportion with the rest of the body When the car landed at Traditional MetalCraft the roof had already been lengthened, but it was lacking in finesse and in fully welded seams ( beneath the body filler it was simply tacked in place). Those issues had to be remedied, along with integrating a more shapely ’49 Dodge grille and one piece hood as dictated by Black’s design

Hood, and Grille on

The details of those modifications are covered in the accompanying photos and captions Here we wanted to take a closer look at Walls’ process and the tools he uses to move metal. The cool thing about hot rodding is that there’s a place for enthusiasts of all skill levels, from home hobbyists just starting to learn how to work on old cars to professional builders and the guys who pay them to build cars. While learning the craft of metal shaping takes practice, patience, and the right tools, it’s a skill anyone can tackle at their own pace

the roof was welded in place, the windshield surround was chopped to bring it in line with the tops of the side windows New sail panels are also taking shape

4 . The sail panels and upper quarter panels were formed using the planishing hammer and a shrinker/stretcher. Once the rear roof skin is welded in, all seams will be hammer welded 5 . F r o m t h i s v i e w y o u c a n s e e h o w p a n c a k i n g t h e r o o f s t r e a m l i n e s t h e p r o f i l e T h e s a i l p a n e l s h a v e b e e n m a r k e d t o c h e c k s y m m e t r y f r o m s i d e t o s i d e

6 . A junkyard ’54 Chevy donated its roof skin to form the Dodge’s new lid. Walls tacks larger panels every 1/2 inch, then welds one continuous bead all the way around

7. Hammer welding the seams striking repeat ed blows along the bead with a hammer on one side and dolly on the other stretches the metal, smoothing expanses like this roof insert

8 . Wa l l s o n e p i e c e d t h e h o o d a n d e x t e n d e d i t d o w n i n t o t h e q u a r t e r s , w h i c h n e c e s s i t a t e d f a b r i c a t i n g t h e f r o n t h a l f f r o m s c r a t c h A ’4 9 D o d g e Wa y f a r e r g r i l l e i s a l s o b e i n g m o c k e d u p .

Wa l l s ’ a r s e n a l o f e q u i p m e n t r u n s t h e g a m u t f ro m t h e s i m p l e s t h a n d t o o l s t o s o m e o f t h e b i g g e s t a n d p r i c i e s t p i e c e s o f m e t a l s h a p i n g e q u i p m e n t ava i l a b l e , a n d h e u s e s a l l o f t h e m j u s t a b o u t e ve r y d ay “ T h e b e s t way t o b e g i n i s b y wo rk i n g o n s m a l l p i e c e s l i t t l e 4 i n c h s q u a re p a n e l s , ” h e s ay s “ I b o u g h t a ’ 6 4 I m p a l a wh e n I wa s 14 a n d w i t h a s e t o f H a r b o r F re i g h t h a m m e r s a n d d o l l i e s I s t a r t e d f i x i n g t h e b o t t o m s o f t h e f e n d e r s . T h e n I n e e d e d t o re p a i r t h e w i n d ow c h a n n e l s , s o I g o t a c h e a p s h r i n ke r/s t re t c h e r a n d m a d e t h e s e l i t t l e p i e c e s t h a t I we l d e d i n . I wa s j u s t l e a r n i n g t o m a ke b a s i c s h a p e s ” We ’ re fo r t u n a t e t h a t we ’ re i n a n a ge wh e n t h e re a re p l e n t y o f b o o k s , a r t i c l e s ( l i ke t h i s o n e ) , a n d Yo u T u b e t u t o r i a l s by a m a t e u r s a n d p ro fe s s i o n a l s a l i ke t o h e l p g u i d e t h e way t h ro u g h e ve n t h e s i m p l e s t m e t a l s h a p i n g t a s k s B u t i t ’s i m p o r t a n t t o b a l a n ce l e a r n i n g w i t h d o i n g by g ra b b i n g a h a m m e r a n d a s c ra p p i e ce o f s t e e l a n d d o i n g s o m e e x p e r i m e n t i n g “ S o m e p e o p l e re a d a l o t o r wa t c h v i d e o s a b o u t h ow s o m e t h i n g ’s d o n e , a n d t h e n t h e y ove ra n a lyz e i t , ” Wa l l s s ays “ S o m e t i m e s yo u’ ve go t t o j u m p i n a n d d o i t , m e s s u p a p i e ce o f s t e e l , a n d l e a r n f ro m yo u r m i s t a ke s At t h e e n d o f t h e d ay i t ’s j u s t m e t a l . ”

T h e s e d ays t h e h a m m e r s a n d d o l l i e s Wa l l s u s e s a re p r i m a r i ly f ro m M a r t i n a n d S n a p O n , b u t h e ’s q u i c k t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h o s e l e s s e x p e n s ive t o o l s h e c u t h i s t e e t h w i t h w i l l d o t h e j o b, t o o. E s p e c i a l ly wh e n yo u’ re s t a r t i n g o u t , a ny d e ce n t h a m m e r a n d d o l ly w i l l l e t yo u e x p l o re h ow m e t a l b e h ave s h ow t o ra i s e l ow s p o t s , s m o o t h h i g h o n e s , a n d fo r m b a s i c s h a p e s T h e m o re yo u wo rk w i t h t h o s e h a n d t o o l s , t h e m o re yo u’ l l h o n e i n o n t h e t y p e s o r p ro f i l e s o f h a m m e r s a n d d o l l i e s t h a t wo rk b e s t w i t h yo u r s t yl e . T h e n yo u c a n a d d t o o r u p g ra d e yo u r t o o l l i b ra r y a s n e e d a n d b u d ge t d i c t a t e

A n ot h e r to o l Wa l l s ke e p s i n reg u l a r rot at i o n i s a P ro L i n e p l a n i s h i n g h a m m e r b u i lt by t h e l ate C l ay C o o k ( n ow ava i l a b le t h ro u g h T r i ck To o l s) . P l a n i s h i n g h a m m e rs ca n b e u s e d fo r s h ap i n g , b ut t h ey ’ re p r i m a r i ly fo r s m o ot h i n g e x p a n s e s o f m e t a l a n d p l a n i s h i n g we l d s. T h e l at te r, k n ow n a s h a m m e r we l d i n g , i s t h e p ro ce s s o f st r i k i n g re p e ate d b lows (e it h e r w it h a p l a n i s h i n g h a m m e r o r a h a m m e r a n d do l ly) a lo n g a we l de d s e a m to re l i eve t h e a re a s wh e re t h e h e at f ro m t h e we l d h a s cau s e d t h e m e t a l to e x p a n d a n d t h e n s h r i n k a s it co o l s (co m m o n ly re fe r re d to a s wa r p i n g ) . Wit h e a ch b low o f t h e h a m m e r (w it h t h e do l ly o n t h e b a ck s ide ) , t h e m e t a l a lo n g t h e we l de d s e a m i s st re tch e d , s m o ot h i n g t h e p a n e l b a ck i nto s h ap e. H a m m e r we l d i n g ca n b e do n e w it h T IG o r ga s we l d s, b ut n ot M IG we l d s T h e M IG p ro ce s s re s u lt s i n a we l d t h at ’s to o h a rd to b e wo rke d a f te r it co o l s. Wit h M IG we l d s, yo u s i mp ly h ave to m a n a ge t h e a m o u nt o f s h r i n k i n g t h at t a ke s p l a ce by we l d i n g s m a l l s e c t i o n s at a t i m e to m i n i m i z e h e at , a n d t h e n u s e a g r i n de r to b le n d t h e s e a m w it h t h e s u r ro u n d i n g m e t a l .

9. T h e h o o d p e a k w a s c r e a te d u s i n g t h e Pu l l m a x , w h i le t h e r e s t o f t h e h o o d ’s f r o n t h a l f w a s f o r m e d i n t w o p i e ce s u s i n g t h e Po w e l l p o w e r h a m m e r

1 0 . I n a d d i t i o n t o e x t e n d i n g t h e h o o d d o w n w a r d t o m e e t t h e n e w g r i l l e , i t w a s e x t e n d e d o n t h e s i d e s a s w e l l N e w s h e e t m e t a l b r i d g i n g t h e g a p i s C l e c o ’ d i n p l a c e

1 1 . T h e ’4 9 g r i l l e f i t s n i c e l y, b u t i t w i l l r e q u i r e m o r e w o r k t o m a k e e v e r y t h i n g ( l i k e t h e l o w e r b a r ) f o l l o w t h e s h a p e o f t h e ’4 7 s h e e t m e t a l

1 2 . N e w u p p e r f e n d e r s e c t i o n s r e d e f i n e t h e h o o d / e n g i n e b a y o p e n i n g Wa l l s f o r m e d t h e s e c o m p l e x s h a p e s i n t h r e e p i e c e s p e r s i d e u s i n g t h e P u l l m a x a n d p o w e r h a m m e r

1 3 . A s w i t h t h e r o o f, t h e u p p e r f e n d e r s w e r e t a c k e d e v e r y 1 / 2 i n c h , t h e n w e l d e d i n o n e c o n t i n u o u s b e a d S t a r t f r o m t h e f r o n t o r b a c k o f t h e l o n g b e a d s n o t f r o m t h e c e n t e r 1 4 . S t o c k , t h e h o o d a n d f e n d e r c o n t o u r s a r e a b i t c l u n k y O n c e t h e ’4 9 g r i l l e i s i n p l a c e , c o u p l e d w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n s , t h e f r o n t e n d w i l l r e a l l y f l o w

B e yo n d b a s i c s h a p i n g t o o l s i t ’s a l s o h e l p f u l t o h ave s o m e m e a n s o f c u t t i n g s h e e t m e t a l o t h e r t h a n c u t o f f wh e e l s Fo r s t ra i g h t c u t s t h e re a re a va r i e t y o f s h e a r s i n d i f fe re n t s i z e s t h a t a re ava i l a b l e fo r m o s t b u d ge t s Ju s t b e s u re t o c h o o s e o n e t h a t c a n h a n d l e t h e m a t e r i a l t h i c k n e s s e s co m m o n ly u s e d i n a u t o b o dy wo rk Fo r m o re i n t r i c a t e s h a p e s , a B e ve rly s h e a r i s t o u g h t o b e a t T h e y ’ re re l a t ive ly co m p a c t , t h e y c a n h a n d l e t h i c ke r m a t e r i a l ( i n s o m e c a s e s u p t o 3 / 1 6 i n c h ) , a n d t h e i r t h ro a t l e s s d e s i g n a l l ows fo r m a k i n g i n t r i c a t e c u t s i n a ny s i z e s h e e t .

Wi t h t h e a fo re m e n t i o n e d s h a p i n g a n d c u t t i n g t o o l s , a n d p e rh a p s a co m b i n a t i o n s h r i n ke r/s t re t c h e r ( e i t h e r f l o o r o r v i s e m o u n t e d ) , yo u c a n l e a r n t o fa b r i c a t e a w i d e va r i e t y o f p a t c h e s a n d p a n e l s t h a t w i l l co m e i n h a n dy wh e n wo rk i n g o n h o t ro d s a n d c u s t o m c a r s At t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e s p e c t r u m a re t h e b i g ge r p i e ce s o f e q u i p m e n t d e s i g n e d t o h a n d l e l a rge r p a n e l s a t a fa s t e r p a ce . “ Yo u c a n d o a l o t o f m e t a l s h a p i n g w i t h t h o s e b a s i c h a n d t o o l s , ” Wa l l s s ays . “ B u t wh e n yo u’ re c h a rg i n g by t h e h o u r, yo u m u s t s p e e d u p t h e p ro ce s s I re a l ly s t a r t e d ge t t i n g b i g ge r p i e ce s o f e q u i p m e n t b e c a u s e t h e y s ave yo u t i m e a n d l e t yo u wo rk m o re e f f i c i e n t ly. ”

T h e f i r s t p i e ce h e b o u g h t wa s a ’ 5 9 P u l l m a x P 5 , a ve r s a t i l e p i e ce o f e q u i p m e n t t h a t c a n b e u s e d fo r e ve r y t h i n g f ro m b e n d i n g m u l t i p l e e d ge s t o p u t t i n g t h i c k b e a d s i n t o h e av i e r m a t e r i a l l i ke f i re wa l l s a n d h e av y g a u ge f l o o r p a n e l s , a s we l l a s ro u g h i n g i n co m p o u n d c u r ve s o n l a rge r s h e e t s o f m e t a l . Wa l l s o f t e n u s e s co m p o s i t e d e c k i n g m a t e r i a l f ro m t h e h o m e i m p rove m e n t s t o re t o c re a t e c u s t o m d i e s t o c re a t e wh a t e ve r p ro f i l e h e n e e d s ( l i ke , fo r e x a m p l e , t h e p ro f i l e o f a h o o d p e a k t o f i l l t h e g a p wh e re t h e e m b l e m o n ce wa s o n t h i s a u t h o r ’s ’4 1 B u i c k ) . T h e P u l l m a x i s a wo rk h o r s e t h a t c a n h a n d l e a b o u t a ny t h i n g yo u c a n t h row a t i t Fo r s h a p i n g co m p o u n d c u r ve s e s p e c i a l ly i n l a rge r p a n e l s a n e w M e t a l Ace E n g l i s h wh e e l , m a n u fa c t u re d by T r i c k To o l s , a n d a v i n t a ge Powe l l p owe r h a m m e r a re p re s s e d i n t o d u t y E n g l i s h wh e e l s a re ava i l a b l e i n a va r i e t y o f s i z e s , f ro m b e n c h t o p m o d e l s t o l a rge , f re e s t a n d i n g h u l k s l i ke t h e o n e i n Wa l l s ’ s h o p. T h e l a rge r t h e wh e e l , t h e d e e p e r t h e t h ro a t ( a n d t h e l a rge r t h e s h e e t o f m e t a l t h a t c a n b e fo r m e d w i t h i t ) . E n g l i s h wh e e l s a n d p owe r h a m m e r s b o t h wo rk o n t h e s a m e b a s i c p re m i s e : t h e y a p p ly p re s s u re t h a t s t re t c h e s t h e m e t a l i n a s p e c i f i c , fo c u s e d a re a , c re a t i n g c row n s t h a t fo r m co m p l e x c u r ve s T h e d i f fe re n ce i s t h a t w i t h t h e wh e e l t h e m e t a l i s fe d b e t we e n t wo ro l l e r d i e s t h a t a p p ly t h e p re s s u re , wh e re a s t h e p owe r h a m m e r u s e s t h e fo rce o f re p e a t e d b l ows t o s t re t c h t h e m e t a l n o t u n l i ke a n ove r s i z e d p l a n i s h i n g h a m m e r.

1 5 . B o t h f r o n t f e n d e r s n e e d e d r u s t r e p a i r O n t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e Wa l l s r e p l a c e d t h e e n t i r e b a c k h a l f w i t h n e w s t e e l t h e n u s e d t h e p o w e r h a m m e r t o p l a n i s h t h e w e l d e d s e a m

1 6 . W i t h o n e f e n d e r f i n i s h e d a n d h u n g , t h e f r o n t c l i p r e a l l y s t a r t e d l o o k i n g l i k e s o m e t h i n g Tu c k e d b e t w e e n t h e r a i l s i s a m o d e r n 4 2 5 h p c r a t e H e m i w i t h a S p e e d m a s t e r E F I s y s t e m

1 7. T h e e n t i r e f i r e w a l l w a s f a b r i c a t e d u s i n g t h e P u l l m a x t o f o r m t h e b a s i c s h a p e s a n d b e a d s O n c e i n s t a l l e d , a r e a s t h a t n e e d t w e a k i n g a r e p l a n i s h e d w i t h a h a m m e r a n d d o l l y

1 8 . Wa l l s c r e a t e d e n g i n e c l e a r a n c e b y m i m i c k i n g t h e H e m i ’ s s i l h o u e t t e i n t h e f i r e w a l l . E d d i e M o t o r s p o r t s ’ 5 7 C h e v y h i n g e s w i l l s u p p o r t t h e h o o d

1 9 -2 0 . O n e o f Wa l l s ’ f a v o r i t e t o o l s i s a s l a p p e r m a d e f r o m h i s g r e a t g r a n d f a t h e r ’ s m a s o n r y t o o l f r o m t h e ’4 0 s M a r t i n a n d S n a p O n h a m m e r s a n d d o l l i e s a l s o s e e r e g u l a r u s e

“ T h e E n g l i s h wh e e l i s a g re a t t o o l , b u t i t ’s t i m e co n s u m i n g a n d yo u re a l ly n e e d t wo p e o p l e i nvo lve d t o fo r m l a rge r p a n e l s , ” Wa l l s s ays . “ I m a d e t h e d e c k l i d s k i n fo r t h e D o d ge w i t h t h e E n g l i s h wh e e l , a n d yo u c a n re a l ly d o s o m e n i ce wo rk w i t h t h e m B u t t h e wh e e l p u t s t h e m e t a l u n d e r a l o t o f t e n s i o n a n d i t ’s h a rd e r t o ge t a n i ce , re l a xe d f i t t o t h e p a n e l a t l e a s t fo r m e . Wi t h t h e p owe r h a m m e r I c a n ge t a re a l ly n i ce f i n i s h , a n d I c a n ge t i t fa s t e r a n d by mys e l f, wh i c h i s i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e I m o s t ly wo rk a l o n e ” Ju s t re m e m b e r t h a t h av i n g b i g ge r, p ro fe s s i o n a l e q u i p m e n t wo n’ t i n s t a n t ly m a ke yo u a b e t t e r m e t a l s h a p e r. E a c h n e w t o o l yo u b uy, f ro m s l a p h a m m e r s t o p owe r h a m m e r s , w i l l t a ke t i m e t o l e a r n a n d p ra c t i ce t o m a s t e r “ I t ’s d e f i n i t e ly a m i s co n ce p t i o n t h a t t h e s e b i g p i e ce s o f e q u i p m e n t a u t o m a t i c a l ly m a ke t h e p ro ce s s fa s t e r a n d e a s i e r, ” h e s ays . “ I n re a l i t y yo u c a n j u s t m e s s s t u f f u p fa s t e r ! I t t o o k m e s i x m o n t h s t o re a l ly l e a r n t h a t P u l l m a x , fo r e x a m p l e ”

Among the equipment at Traditional MetalCraft there are some pieces that are brand new and others that are over 50 years old, so we wondered if there was an advantage to buying older or newer tools. “If I can find a piece of old equipment that’s going to work really well, I get it,” Walls says “But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s good, and the same can be said for new You just need to do your research and ask questions. There’s a lot of information out there, especially online. And there are a lot of shops doing metalwork, so you can also pay attention to what tools they’re using.”

M e t a l s h a p i n g a n d we l d i n g a re s o m e o f t h e m o s t re wa rd i n g s k i l l s yo u c a n d e ve l o p, a n d n o m a t t e r wh a t yo u r l e ve l o f e x p e r i e n ce i s , t h e re ’s a lways m o re t o l e a r n . R i g h t n ow, t h e m o s t e x p e n s ive p a r t yo u’ l l n e e d t o ge t s t a r t e d i s t h e s t e e l i t s e l f, b u t w i t h a m o d e s t a r ray o f t o o l s yo u’ l l b e fo r m i n g p a n e l s a n d t a c k l i n g m o re a m b i t i o u s h o t ro d p ro j e c t s i n s h o r t o rd e r A f t e r a l l , s av i n g a s m u c h v i n t a ge i ro n a s we c a n i s re a l ly t h e p o i n t o f i t a l l , r i g h t ? M R

2 1 . T h e p o r t a b l e P r o L i n e p n e u m a t i c p l a n i s h i n g h a m m e r c a n b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e s t a n d a n d t a k e n t o y o u r w o r k T h i s i s h e l p f u l w h e n p l a n i s h i n g a r e a s l i k e r o o f p a n e l s t h a t a r e w e l d e d i n p l a c e

2 2 . O n e o f t h e m o s t v e r s a t i l e o f t h e l a r g e t o o l s i s t h e P u l l m a x P 5 D i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e ( o r c a n b e m a d e ) t o f o r m v i r t u a l l y a n y c o n t o u r, a n d i t e a s i l y h a n d l e s h e a v y g a u g e m a t e r i a l

2 3 T h e d e e p t h r o a t o f t h e M e t a l A c e E n g l i s h w h e e l a l l o w s f o r f o r m i n g l a r g e p a n e l s l i k e d e c k l i d s k i n s , p r o v i d e d t h e r e ’ s a n e x t r a s e t o f h a n d s n e a r b y t o h e l p g u i d e p a n e l s

2 4 . B e c a u s e Wa l l s r u n s a o n e m a n s h o p , t h e P o w e l l p o w e r h a m m e r h a n d l e s m u c h o f t h e w o r k h e p r e v i o u s l y f o r m e d o n t h e E n g l i s h w h e e l E a r p r o t e c t i o n i s a m u s t w i t h t h i s b e a s t

Canada’s Finest ’65 Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe

BY FUELISH MEDIA

Have yo u e ve r s e e n a n Ac a d i a n C a n s o S p o r t D e l u xe b e fo re? I f yo u a n s we re d “ n o” d o n’ t fe e l t o o b a d ly, a s m o s t fo l k s c a n n o t a t t e s t t o k n ow i n g m u c h a b o u t i t e i t h e r, e s p e c i a l ly a ny wh e re o u t s i d e o f C a n a d a T h e Ac a d i a n wa s e s s e n t i a l ly t h e No r t h e r n ve r s i o n o f t h e C h e v y Nova , a n d b a c k i n 1 9 6 5 wh e n t h i s Ac a d i a n m o d e l wa s m a n u fa c t u re d , i t wa s o n ly o n e o f j u s t u n d e r 4 0 0 o t h e r C a n s o S p o r t D e l u xe b a d ge d c a r s t o b e m a d e t h a t ye a r. T h a t ’s a l i m i t e d n u m b e r t o s t a r t w i t h , wh i c h i s why yo u m ay n o t h ave h e a rd t o o m u c h a b o u t t h e s e c a r s n ow t h a t t h e y ’ re 5 7 ye a r s o l d a n d s c a rce r t h a n e ve r. We l l , i t t a ke s a fa n a t i c t o t ra c k a n Ac a d i a n d ow n , b u t i t h e l p s i f yo u j u s t h a p p e n t o b e C a n a d i a n c i t i z e n s l i ke R i c h a rd a n d Pe n ny H a m m e r wh o h a i l f ro m Vi k i n g , A l b e r t a . T h e y a l re a dy h ave a n Ac a d i a n a ’6 6 wa go n t h a t t h e y d r ive e ve r y s o o f t e n b u t t h e y we re a l s o a b l e t o t ra c k d ow n a t o p t i e r ’6 5 C a n s o S p o r t D e l u xe Ac a d i a n m o d e l , wh i c h i s b a s i c a l ly t h e e q u iva l e n t o f C h e v ro l e t ’s S u p e r S p o r t p e d i g re e , r i g h t i n t h e i r ow n p rov i n ce E ve n t h o u g h t h e wa go n i s f u n t o p u t t a ro u n d i n , t h e H a m m e r s p l a n n e d t o s o u p u p t h e i r n e w p ro j e c t c a r a n d d e c k i t o u t t o l ive u p t o t h e i r w i l d e s t s t re e t d re a m s .

T h i s ’6 5 Po n t i a c Ac a d i a n s t a r t e d l i fe o n C a n a d a’s We s t C o a s t t h e n l a t e r m ove d o u t t o t h e e a s t b u t i s n ow b a c k o n t h e we s t e r n s i d e a g a i n w i t h R i c h a rd a n d Pe n ny. T h e y a re n ow t h e c a r ’s fo u r t h ow n e r s , a n d e ve n t h o u g h t h i s Ac a d i a n h a s b e e n re s t o re d o n c e b e fo re , i t wa s n o t h i n g l i k e wh a t t h e H a m m e r s h a d i n m i n d fo r i t . To h e l p t h e m b l a s t t h e i r n e w p ro j e c t i n t o t h e u p p e r e c h e l o n , t h e y l o o k e d t o a m a n n e a rly 1 ,7 0 0 m i l e s away ( t h a t ’s ro u g h ly 2 ,7 3 5 k m fo r t h o s e k e e p i n g t ra c k ) t o t a k e t h e re i n s a n d d o wh a t h e i s k n ow n t o d o b e s t .

D e a n L ive r m o re , p re s i d e n t a n d C E O o f H o t Ro d s By D e a n ( H R B D ) i n P h o e n i x , h a s b u i l t q u i t e t h e re p u t a t i o n o f p u m p i n g o u t t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i t y h o t ro d s , m u s c l e c a r s , a n d c u s t o m s o f a l l k i n d s fo r fo l k s a l l ove r. H R B D ’s i m p re s s ive 1 2 ,0 0 0 - s q u a re - fo o t fa c i l i t y i s p a c k e d f u l l o f o l d s c h o o l a n d m o d e r n t o o l s a n d m a c h i n e r y, wh i c h a l l ow s h i s t e a m o f t a l e n t e d fa b r i c a t o r s a n d t e c h n i c i a n s t o d o m o s t j o b s i n h o u s e — a d e f i n i t e b o n u s fo r t h e s a k e o f q u a l i t y c o n t ro l .

T h e f i r s t o rd e r o f b u s i n e s s fo r t h e H R B D c re w wa s t o a d d re s s t h e Ac a d i a n’s e x i s t i n g c h a s s i s s ys t e m T h e y p l a n n e d o n s c ra p p i n g t h e e n t i re t h i n g i n e xc h a n ge fo r a co m p l e t e Ro a d s t e r S h o p c h a s s i s t h a t c a m e l o a d e d w i t h fe a t u re s , s u c h a s a n I F S s e t u p w i t h C 6 C o r ve t t e s p i n d l e s , Pe n s ke R S co i l ove r s , p owe r ra c k a n d p i n i o n , a n d a re a r fo u r l i n k a n d Fo rd 9 i n c h a x l e t h a t wo u l d a l l e q u a t e t o a n u n b e l i e va b l e r i d e q u a l i t y a t j u s t t h e r i g h t r i d e h e i g h t T h e j o b wa s a s i n d e p t h a s i t s o u n d s , b u t a l l t h e h a rd wo rk , p l a n n i n g , a n d c a s h i nve s t e d wa s wo r t h t h e re s u l t s

To f i n i s h o f f t h e u p d a t e d c h a s s i s s ys t e m , a s t a g ge re d s e t o f 1 7 x 8 a n d 1 8 x 1 0 R a ce l i n e S co u n d re l wh e e l s p a i re d w i t h 2 2 5 /4 5 Z R 1 7 a n d 2 8 5 /4 0 Z R 1 8 N i t t o r u b b e r, we re l i n e d u p a n d b o l t e d o n . B e h i n d t h e wh e e l s s i t u p g ra d e d Wi lwo o

The in house body and paint department at HRBD was next to get their hands on the Acadian, and boy, they did not disappoint. The entire body was massaged as smooth as can be, and all the gaps were measured and adjusted for a nice, tight, proper alignment from bumper to bumper A few custom touches in the way of a new fuel filler door, mini tubs, and inner front fenders, as well as a custom grafted GTO hood scoop were incorporated into the mix before the custom PPG paint was shot. The color nearly epitomizes a Dr Peppery palette with a mixture of burgundy and brown hues that complement the car’s clean lines superbly

To help propel the Acadian as fast as the Hammers want it to go, Chuck’s Speed, a performance shop in Phoenix, was called up to deliver a ’ 70 Pontiac 400ci mill to replace the standard GM engine that these Canadian cars were factory equipped with back in the day While at the HRBD compound, the engine was set into position and the guys whipped up a custom set of headers, exhaust system with Borla muff lers, as well as a one off serpentine belt system before putting a 700 R4 transmission into place to really put the car in motion.

M ov i n g i n s i d e t h e c a r, t h e s a m e co l o r p a i n t wa s a p p l i e d t o t h e d a s h a n d d o o r p a n e l s fo r a c l e a n u n i fo r m i t y. H o t Ro d I n t e r i o r s by G l e n n ( K ra m e r) wa s t h e n h i re d i m m e d i a t e ly t o w ra p t h e fa c t o r y s e a t s i n s u p p l e b l a c k l e a t h e r u p h o l s t e r y A Vi n t a ge A i r A /C s ys t e m wa s a d d e d fo r a l l s e a s o n co m fo r t , a Re t ro S o u n d h e a d u n i t a n d P i o n e e r s p e a ke r s we re w i re d u p t o p rov i d e t h e c r u i s i n g s o u n d t ra c k , a n d a C l a s s i c I n s t r u m e n t s g a u ge c l u s t e r w i t h m e t r i c re a d o u t s wa s i n co r p o ra t e d i n t o t h e d a s h s i n ce t h e c a r wo u l d b e s h i p p e d d i re c t ly b a c k t o C a n a d a a s s o o n a s t h e ove rh a u l co n c l u d e d

T h e e n t i re b u i l d p ro c e s s l a s t e d a g o o d t wo ye a r s b e f o re t h e H a m m e r s we re re i n t ro d u c e d t o t h e i r d re a m c a r. T h e Ac a d i a n n a m e h a s a r i n g o f r a r i t y t o i t , a n d wh e n i t c o m e s t o t h e a l re a d y l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f t h e s e c a r s , t h i s t r i c ke d o u t C a n s o S p o r t D e l u xe n ow s i t s a t o p t h e l o t o f t h e m . M R

Ho t ro d d i n g co n t i n u e s t o e vo lve , a n d i t o p e n s t h e d o o r fo r m a ny m o re b u i l d o p t i o n s I t ’s b e co m i n g way m o re co m m o n t o o rd e r a co m p l e t e ro l l i n g c h a s s i s i n s t e a d o f p i e ce m e a l i n g a f ra m e a n d s u s p e n s i o n s ys t e m i n yo u r h o m e s h o p B a c k i n t h e d ay, h o t ro d d e r s wo u l d f i n d a C a m a ro o r Nova f ro n t s u b f ra m e a n d re a re n d h o u s i n g t o b r i n g t h e i r c a r i n t o t h e m o d e r n a ge W h i l e i t ’s s t i l l p o s s i b l e t o a c h i e ve a s m o o t h r i d e w i t h t h e o l d s c h o o l a p p ro a c h , t h e re a re o bv i o u s a dva n t a ge s t o t h e m o d e r n m e t h o d o f u s i n g a co m p l e t e c h a s s i s S co t t ’s H o t ro d s ’ N C u s t o m s , b a s e d o u t o f K n ox v i l l e , Te n n e s s e e , i s o n e o f t h e l e a d i n g s u p p l i e r s o f c u s t o m f ra m e a n d s u s p e n s i o n s ys t e m s fo r h o t ro d s , c u s t o m s , c l a s s i c t r u c k s , a n d m o re .

We re ce n t ly h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o fo l l ow a l o n g w i t h t h e p ro ce s s o f s wa p p i n g t h i s ’4 7 Fo rd co nve r t i b l e o n t o a n e w c h a s s i s T h e o r i g i n a l f ra m e h a d b e e n u p g ra d e d w i t h M u s t a n g I I f ro n t s u s p e n s i o n a n d p a ra l l e l l e a f s p r i n g s o u t b a c k . I t wa s a go o d s e t u p b u t t h e s t a n ce d i d n’ t p rov i d e a ny “ wow ” fa c t o r Wi t h i n t e n t i o n s o f s i t t i n g t h e b o dy a s l ow t o t h e g ro u n d a s p o s s i b l e , t h e c re w a t S co t t ’s H o t ro d s ’ N C u s t o m s b u i l t a c h a s s i s w i t h R i d e t e c h a i r s u s p e n s i o n T h e t u b u l a r f ro n t s u s p e n s i o n , ra c k a n d p i n i o n s t e e r i n g , a n d fo u r l i n k re a r s u s p e n s i o n g ive t h i s p o s t wa r Fo rd e xce l l e n t h a n d l i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s a n d a s m o o t h r i d e d ow n t h e h i g hway.

BY TOM M Y L E E BY R D PHOTO G R A PH Y BY C A M R E N B E AT T I E

2 . O u r s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r t h i s p r o j e c t i s a ’47 Fo r d co n v e r t i b le , w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y r e ce i v e d t h e s t r e e t r o d t r e a t m e n t s e v e ra l y e a r s a g o At t h i s p o i n t , t h e e n g i n e a n d t ra n s m i s s i o n h a s b e e n r e m o v e d a n d t h e b o d y i s l i f te d f r o m t h e f ra m e

3 . Yo u ’ l l n o t i ce t h e f ra m e h a s b e e n m o d i f i e d f r o m s to c k , u s i n g M u s t a n g I I s t y le f r o n t s u s p e n s i o n a n d p a ra l le l le a f s p r i n g s T h e f ra m e a l s o h a s a m o d e r n f u e l s y s te m i n s t a l le d , b u t t h e e n t i r e r o l l i n g c h a s s i s w i l l b e r e p l a ce d w i t h a c u s to m u n i t f r o m S co t t ’s H o t r o d s

4 . W i t h t h e b o d y i n t h e a i r w e c a n s e e t h a t t h e f l o o r p a n s a r e i n d e c e n t s h a p e , a s i d e f r o m a n a c c e s s h o l e c u t i n t o t h e t r u n k a r e a . W i t h p l a n s t o m a k e t h i s F o r d s i t e x t r e m e l y l o w, t h e r e a r s e c t i o n o f t h e f l o o r w i l l n e e d m a j o r m o d i f i c a t i o n s

5 . The midsection of the floor is also in great shape Most of the floor will still be used, but Scott’s Hotrods plans to raise the transmission hump and driveshaft tunnel to accom modate the new setup

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6 . Wo r k b e g i n s b y c u t t i n g o u t t h e e n t i r e r e a r f l o o r s e c t i o n , s t a r t i n g a t t h e n a t u r a l s e a m a n d w o r k i n g r e a r w a r d . T h e t e a m a t S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s d r e s s e d u p t h e c u t s w i t h a n a n g l e g r i n d e r

7. W i t h t h e i n i t i a l c u t s o n t h e f l o o r p a n , t h e b o d y c a n b e m o c k e d u p o n t h e n e w c h a s s i s A t w o p o s t l i f t a n d c h a s s i s t a b l e m a k e e a s y w o r k o f t h i s p r e l i m i n a r y m a r r i a g e o f t h e b o d y a n d f r a m e

8 . N o w t h a t t h e b o d y i s r e s t i n g o v e r t h e n e w c h a s s i s , y o u c a n s e e t h e e x t r e m e k i c k u p i n t h e r e a r f r a m e r a i l s T h i s a l l o w s f o r a s u p e r l o w s t a n c e , e v e n w h e n t h e a i r s u s p e n s i o n i s i n f l a t e d W h e n a i r e d o u t , t h e c a r s h o u l d s i t o n t h e g r o u n d

9. T h e f o u r l i n k b a r b r a c k e t s a r e p o s i t i o n e d h i g h e r t h a n t h e t o p o f t h e f r a m e r a i l , s o n o t c h e s a r e c u t f o r p r o p e r c l e a r a n c e T h e o t h e r s i d e i s t r i m m e d t o m a t c h a n d t h e b o d y c a n b e l o w e r e d o n t o t h e m o u n t s

1 0 . T h e S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s c h a s s i s a l r e a d y h a s b o d y m o u n t s w e l d e d i n t o p l a c e , b u t a d d i t i o n a l f l o o r p a n t r i m m i n g i s n e e d e d f o r t h e b o d y t o r e s t c o m f o r t a b l y o n t h e m o u n t s

1 1 . U n d e r n e a t h , w e c a n s e e S co t t ’s H o t r o d s ’ m o d u l a r t ra n s m i s s i o n c r o s s m e m b e r I t a t t a c h e s to t h e f ra m e w i t h G ra d e 8 h a r d w a r e . W i t h t h e e n g i n e a n d t ra n s m i s s i o n m o c ke d u p, t h e c r e w c a n d e te r m i n e t h e p r o p e r c u t s f o r t ra n s m i s s i o n t u n n e l c le a ra n ce

1 2 . Once the body is bolted to the frame, items like the shifter linkage can be addressed It’s also a good idea to at least mock up the transmission cooler lines as you prepare to fabricate a new transmission tunnel

1 3 B e c a u s e o f t h e e x t r e m e l y l o w s t a n c e , t h e t u n n e l h a d t o b e r a i s e d f o r a d e q u a t e c l e a r a n c e S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s f a b r i c a t e d t h e s t e e l t u n n e l a n d w e l d e d i t t o t h e o r i g i n a l f l o o r p a n

1 4 . B e f o r e t h e r e a r s e c t i o n o f t h e f l o o r c a n b e f a b r i c a t e d , t h e c u s t o m g a s t a n k i s i n s t a l l e d

S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s o f f e r s t h i s t a n k , w h i c h i s a p e r f e c t f i t f o r i t s c h a s s i s s y s t e m s .

1 5 . A s y o u c a n s e e , t h e g a s t a n k i s v e r y s h a l l o w, p r o v i d i n g p l e n t y o f g r o u n d c l e a r a n c e w h i l e a l s o k e e p i n g a f l a t f l o o r i n t h e t r u n k a r e a T h e t a n k

b o l t s d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e c u s t o m c h a s s i s

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1 6 . A c u s t o m r e a r f l o o r s e c t i o n i s f a b r i c a t e d a n d i n s t a l l e d o n t h e ’4 7 F o r d T h e o r i g i n a l r e a r b o d y b r a c e s a r e s e c t i o n e d t o f i t w i t h t h e t a l l e r f l o o r

1 7. A f t e r t h e f l o o r p a n a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n t u n n e l f a b r i c a t i o n i s c o m p l e t e , t h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e c a r i s t r e a t e d t o a t e x t u r e d f i n i s h T h i s p r e v e n t s r u s t a n d p r o v i d e s a c l e a n l o o k

1 8 . I n s u l a t i o n i s a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f a c o m f o r t a b l e s t r e e t r o d , a n d y o u ’ l l n o t i c e t h e s h i e l d i n g u s e d o n t h e f l o o r s e c t i o n a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n t u n n e l T h i s k e e p s t h e f l o o r f r o m g e t t i n g h o t b e c a u s e o f e n g i n e , t r a n s m i s s i o n , a n d e x h a u s t

1 9. A l l S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s c h a s s i s s y s t e m s c o m e w i t h b o d y m o u n t s w e l d e d i n t o p l a c e T h i s m a k e s i t e a s y t o b o l t y o u r e x i s t i n g b o d y i n t o p l a c e B o d y b u s h i n g s a n d G r a d e 8 h a r d w a r e a r e u s e d t o m o u n t t h e b o d y t o t h e f r a m e

2 0 W i t h t h e b o d y m o u n t e d t o t h e c h a s s i s f o r t h e f i n a l t i m e , t h e s t e e r i n g s y s t e m c a n b e f i n a l i z e d a n d c o n n e c t e d t o t h e s t e e r i n g c o l u m n

2 1 . S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s b u i l d s i t s c h a s s i s s y s t e m s w i t h r a c k a n d p i n i o n s t e e r i n g t o p r o v i d e q u i c k s t e e r i n g r a t i o s a n d a c o m p a c t d e s i g n A t t h i s p o i n t , t h e h a r d l i n e s c a n b e p l u m b e d t o t h e p o w e r s t e e r i n g p u m p

e d t o i n s u l a t e t h e d r i v e r ’ s c o m p a r t m e n t f r o m h e a t a n d n o i s e

2 4 . O u t b a c k , t h e R i d e t e c h A i r P o d s y s t e m i s m o u n t e d t o t h e r e a r f l o o r p a n k i c k u p . T h i s s y s t e m i s c o m p a c t a n d e f f i c i e n t a n d f e e d s t h e f o u r c o r n e r a i r s u s p e n s i o n , w h i c h a l l o w s f o r a s l a m m e d s t a n c e

2 5 . F i n a l s t e p s i n t h e f r a m e s w a p i n c l u d e m o u n t i n g a n d p l u m b i n g t h e c o o l i n g s y s t e m , w h i c h c o n s i s t s o f a P R C a l u m i n u m r a d i a t o r a n d e l e c t r i c f a n

2 6 . E x h a u s t m o u n t i n g b r a c k e t s a r e a l s o a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e S c o t t ’ s H o t r o d s c h a s s i s C h e c k o u t t h o s e c u s t o m a l u m i n u m c l a m p s a n d m o u n t s p r e t t y t r i c k s t u f f f o r t h i s p o s t w a r F o r d

2 7. T h e ’47 Fo rd co nve r t i b le h a s co o l p a t i n a a n d a c ra z y low s ta n ce t h a n ks to t h e S co tt ’s H o t ro d s c h a s s i s T h e R i d e te c h sys te m p u t s t h e Fo rd c lo s e to t h e ea r t h , w h i le t h e s u s p e n s i o n ge o m e t r y a llows exce lle n t r i d e q u a li ty n o m a tte r t h e r i d e h e i g h t

2 8 . O p t i o n s a r e p le n t i f u l w i t h S co t t ’s H o t r o d s ’ N C u s to m s Yo u c a n co n f i g u r e t h e s u s p e n s i o n h o w e v e r y o u ’d l i ke i t , b u t t h e s l a m m e d s t a n ce s u r e lo o k s co o l N o w, t h i s ’47 Fo r d i s r e a d y to h i t t h e r o a d w i t h R i d e te c h s u s p e n s i o n , W i l w o o d b ra ke s , a n d b i g t i m e h o r s e p o w e r u n d e r h o o d

Although a chassis swap is an extensive process we’re showing you the highlights of the swap, as it went from a dated build to a contemporary showstopper with its patina paintjob, slammed stance, and gray center five spoke wheels that are stuffed way into the fat fenders. This chassis swap required a little more fabrication than a standard application, so follow along and see the transformation of this ’47 Ford convertible M R

Th e i d e a o f s t u f f i n g a b i g e n g i n e i n t o a s m a l l c a r i s n’ t a n e w co n ce p t , b u t i t h a s ce r t a i n ly b e e n re f i n e d t h ro u g h t h e ye a r s D o d ge e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h H e m i p owe re d D o d ge D a r t s i n 1 9 6 8 b u t t h e f re a k i s h c a r s we re n e ve r p ro d u ce d w i t h s t re e t d r iv i n g i n m i n d A l t h o u g h M a rk a n d D o n n a S t e wa r t d i d n’ t i n t e n d o n b u i l d i n g a d ra g ra c i n g t r i b u t e w i t h t h e i r ’6 5 D o d ge , t h e ge n e ra l i d e a o f a H e m i D a r t p ays h o m a ge t o t h o s e c ra f t y e n g i n e e r s wh o t h re w c a u t i o n t o t h e w i n d b a c k i n t h e d ay M a rk ’s m o d e r n d ay a p p ro a c h i s a we l l s o r t e d m a c h i n e t h a t co m b i n e s d i s t i n c t s t yl i n g , re l i a b l e h o r s e p owe r, a n d c re a t u re co m fo r t s , a fa r c r y f ro m t h e o r i g i n s o f t h i s e co n o m i c t wo d o o r s e d a n M a rk ’s j o u r n e y w i t h t h i s c a r s t a r t e d i n 2 0 1 6 wh e n h e f o u n d t h e c l e a n C a l i f o r n i a s u r v ivo r a n d s h i p p e d i t h o m e t o M o r r i s t ow n , Te n n e s s e e T h e c a r wa s b o u g h t n e w a t G l e n d a l e D o d g e a n d s p e n t i t s e n t i re l i f e i n t h e d r y C a l i f o r n i a c l i m a t e , wh i c h s ave d t h e b o d y b u t d a m a g e d a l o t o f t h e i n t e r i o r c o m p o n e n t s . M a rk l ove d t h e b o d y

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S t i l l ro l l i n g o n i t s o r i g i n a l 1 3 i n c h s t e e l wh e e l s , t h e ’6 5 D a r t h a d a S l a n t S i x s i x c yl i n d e r e n g i n e u n d e rh o o d wh e n i t e n t e re d M a rk ’s g a ra ge H e u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t t h e s e e n g i n e s a re b u l l e t p ro o f, b u t t h e S l a n t S i x d i d n’ t e x a c t ly a l i g n w i t h h i s b u i l d p l a n , s o M a rk s o u rce d a G e n I I I H e m i f ro m M & E E n g i n e i n S h e l by, No r t h C a ro l i n a T h e e n g i n e wa s b o re d 0 03 0 i n c h t o b u m p t h e o r i g i n a l d i s p l a ce m e n t o f 3 4 5 c i u p t o 3 5 0 c i . T h e re s t o f t h e e n g i n e i n t e r n a l s a re s t o c k , i n c l u d i n g t h e c a m s h a f t a n d va lve t ra i n T h e l a t e m o d e l H e m i i s t o p p e d w i t h a n O C Pe r fo r m a n ce fo u r b a r re l i n t a ke m a n i fo l d a n d a H o l l e y S n i p e r E F I u n i t Fe e d i n g t h e E F I s ys t e m i s a Wa l b ro e l e c t r i c f u e l p u m p, wh i c h r i d e s i n s i d e t h e Ta n k s I n c f u e l t a n k ; s p a rk i s p rov i d e d by a n M S D H e m i s i x i g n i t i o n s ys t e m .

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W h i l e yo u co u l d ge t a fa c t o r y i n s t a l l e d V 8 i n 1 9 6 5 , s q u e e z i n g a m o d e r n H e m i i n t o t h e e n g i n e b ay re q u i re d a fe w h a n d b u i l t co m p o n e n t s , i n c l u d i n g c u s t o m s t a i n l e s s s t e e l h e a d e r s . T h e h e a d e r s l e a d i n t o 2 1 /2 i n c h s t a i n l e s s s t e e l p i p i n g , co m p l e t e w i t h M a g n a F l ow m u f f l e r s T h i s c u s t o m e x h a u s t s ys t e m wa s fa b r i c a t e d by At o m i c S p e e d S h o p, i n O a k R i d ge , Te n n e s s e e . T h e co o l i n g s ys t e m go t a m a j o r u p g ra d e , t h a n k s t o t h e G r i f f i n a l u m i n u m ra d i a t o r a n d e l e c t r i c fa n . Ae s t h e t i c a l ly, t h e e n g i n e h a s a g re a t m i x t u re o f t e x t u re s a n d f i n i s h e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e c a s t g ray p a i nt o n t h e e n g i n e , p o l i s h e d t wo fo u r s t yl e a i r c l e a n e r, a n d b r i g h t f i n i s h e s o n t h e a cce s s o r i e s t h a t co m p l e t e t h e M a rc h s e r p e n t i n e p u l l e y s ys t e m

At o m i c S p e e d S h o p wa s a l s o re s p o n s i b l e fo r t u n i n g t h e H o l l e y S n i p e r E F I a n d wo rk i n g o u t t h e b u g s i n t h e d r ive l i n e Powe r t ra n s fe r i s h a n d l e d by a 7 2 7 S t re e t Pe r fo r m e r t ra n s m i s s i o n by A & A T ra n s m i s s i o n T h e t h re e s p e e d a u t o m at i c fe a t u re s a 2 , 5 0 0 r p m s t a l l co nve r t e r a n d i s o p e ra t e d w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l co l u m n s h i f t e r. M ov i n g f u r t h e r b a c k i s a M o s e r 9 i n c h re a re n d , p a c ke d w i t h a R i c h m o n d r i n g a n d p i n i o n w i t h a 3 0 0 : 1 ge a r ra t i o

To d i a l i n t h e s t a n ce a n d h a n d l i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e D a r t , M a rk re l i e d o n t h e fo l k s a t Re i l ly M o t o r s p o r t s ( R M S ) i n G a f f n e y, S o u t h C a ro l i n a , t o fa b r i c a t e a co m p l e t e s u s p e n s i o n s ys t e m T h e f ro n t co n s i s t s o f t u b u l a r co n t ro l a r m s t h e u p p e r s m o u n t t o t h e o r i g i n a l t a b s o n t h e f ra m e ra i l s wh i l e t h e l owe r a t t a c h t o a c u s t o m K m e m b e r. Ad d i t i o n a l ly, t h e o r i g i n a l t o r s i o n b a r s we re t o s s e d i n favo r o f R i d e t e c h co i l ove r s a n d a l a rge s way b a r wa s a d d e d fo r e ve n m o re co r n e r i n g c a p a b i l i t y T h e R M S f ro n t s u s p e n s i o n a l s o fe a t u re s a ra c k a n d p i n i o n s e t u p Re a r s u s p e n s i o n co n s i s t s o f m o re R M S co m p o n e n t s , t h i s t i m e w i t h a t r i a n g u l a t e d fo u r l i n k s e t u p, u t i l i z i n g a n o t h e r p a i r o f R i d e t e c h co i l ove r s B ra k i n g p owe r co m e s f ro m Wi lwo o d d i s c s o n a l l fo u r co r n e r s , w i t h 1 2 i n c h d r i l l e d a n d s l o t t e d ro t o r s a n d fo u r p i s t o n c a l i p e r s F i n i s h i n g o f f t h e h i g h p e r fo r m a n ce co m b i n a t i o n i s a s e t o f B i l l e t S p e c i a l t i e s S t re e t L i t e wh e e l s , wh i c h m e a s u re 1 7 x 8 i n c h e s u p f ro n t a n d 1 7 x 1 0 i n c h e s o u t b a c k , w ra p p e d i n N i t t o t i re s , s i z e d 2 2 5 /4 5 Z R 1 7 a n d 2 8 5 /4 0 Z R 1 7, re s p e c t ive ly

W h e n i t c a m e t i m e t o re f u r b i s h t h e b o dy a n d e x t e r i o r co m p o n e n t s , M a rk p u t h i s t r u s t i n t h e t e a m a t H o d ge Re s t o ra t i o n s T h e S o u t h

C a ro l i n a b a s e d s h o p fo c u s e s p r i m a r i ly o n M o p a r m u s c l e c a r re s t o ra t i o n s a n d we l co m e d t h i s p ro j e c t w i t h o p e n a r m s . T h e c a r h a d ve r y l i t t l e r u s t d a m a ge b u t d i d n e e d s o m e m e t a l fa b r i c a t i o n t o w i d e n t h e re a r wh e e l t u b s F ro m t h e re , i t wa s a m a t t e r o f s t ra i g h t e n i n g t h e o r i g i n a l p a n e l s a n d p re p a r i n g t h e m fo r t h e S i k ke n s b a s e co a t , m i xe d i n S e a fo a m T u rq u o i s e A ge n e ro u s a p p l i c a t i o n o f c l e a rco a t b u r i e d t h e b e a u t i f u l m e t a l l i c h u e ; t h e c re w a t H o d ge Re s t o ra t i o n s s p e n t co u n t l e s s h o u r s p e r fe c t i n g t h e f re s h f i n i s h

I n s i d e , H o d ge Re s t o ra t i o n s i n s t a l l e d t h e L e ge n d a r y Au t o I n t e r i o r u p h o l s t e r y, wh i c h i s M e t a l l i c Faw n i n co l o r Ne a rly e ve r y t h i n g i n s i d e t h e D a r t i s i n i t s o r i g i n a l co n f i g u ra t i o n . A l l t r i m , e m b l e m s , a n d t r i n ke t s a re e i t h e r N O S o r re s t o re d o r i g i n a l s , w i t h t h e o n ly a d d i t i o n b e i n g t h e Re t ro R a d i o, C l a s s i c Au t o A i r A /C s ys t e m , a n d a p a i r o f c u p h o l d e r s b e t we e n t h e o r i g i n a l b u c ke t s e a t s . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i n t r i c a t e i n t e r i o r co m p o n e n t s , M a rk wa s a s t i c k l e r fo r d e t a i l s t h ro u g h o u t t h e b u i l d . Ne a rly a l l t h e c a r ’s t r i m a n d e m b l e m s a re o r i g i n a l o r N O S co m p o n e n t s t h a t we re i n e xce l l e n t co n d i t i o n T h e re s u l t i s a c a r t h a t l o o k s b e t t e r t h a n t h o s e fa c t o r y wo rke r s co u l d ’ ve e ve r i m a g i n e d b a c k wh e n t h i s c a r wa s a s s e m b l e d i n 1 9 6 4 . M a rk ’s c re a t i o n h a s b e e n o n t h e ro a d fo r a fe w ye a r s , a n d i t s t i l l l o o k s f re s h a n d p e r fo r m s a s e x p e c t e d Wi t h a u n i q u e b o dy s t yl e , h u n ke re d d ow n s t a n ce , a n d G e n I I I H e m i h o r s e p owe r, t h i s ’6 5 D o d ge D a r t h a s a l o t t o o f fe r t o M o p a r p u r i s t s a n d h o t ro d d e r s i n ge n e ra l . M a rk a n d D o n n a p l a n t o co n t i n u e d r iv i n g t h i s c a r a n d e n j oy i n g t h e t h r i l l s t h a t i t p rov i d e s e ve r y t i m e t h e y h i t t h e ro a d . M R

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l d m e a n s o m e t h i n g , a s t h e i n l a n d O ra n ge C o u n t y t ow n i s wh e re t h e h i s t o r i c ’ 5 0 s e ra S a n t a A n a D ra g s t r i p wa s l o c a t e d t h e f i r s t o rg a n i z e d d ra g s t r i p i n t h e co u n t r y. T h e l a n d t h e d ra g st r ip o cc u p i e d s at o n t h e s o ut h e r n s e c t i o n o f O ra n ge C o u nt y A i r p o r t , re n a m e d Jo h n Way n e A i r p o r t ( SNA ) i n 19 7 9. C u r re nt ly, o n t h e we st s ide o f t h e fa c i l it y i s t h e Lyo n A i r Mu s e u m , n a m e d fo r it s fo u n de r M aj o

This display of historic belly tanks (made from the empty external fuel tanks that would drop away from the World War II bomber’s wings or fuselage they had been attached to) was curated by Old Crow Speed Shop and its 50-year-old owner Bobby Green Green’s passion for the ’40s and ’ 50s exemplifies itself in many ways, from his restoration of vintage bars, bowling alleys, and eateries in the L os Angeles area to his eclectic collection of cars, motorcycles, and race cars—s ome of which are patina’d survivors while others were recently built to look that way Plus, he’s co-owner of T R O G (The Race Of G entlemen) that has produced vintage hot rod racing events on the beaches of New Jers ey and California in the past few years. Clearly, he has found his niche.

O v e r s e e i n g t h i s f a i t h f u l r e c r e a t i o n o f t h e f i r s t b e l l y t a n k w a s i t s i n i t i a l c r e a t o r, B i l l B u r k e B u r k e b u i l t h i s o r i g i n a l g r o u n d b r e a k i n g v e h i c l e w i t h a s o l i d m o u n t s u s p e n s i o n m o u n t e d t o a m o d i f i e d M o d e l T f r a m e a n d w a s a b l e t o a t t a i n a s p e e d r e c o r d o f 1 3 1 9 6 m p h w i t h i t i n 1 9 4 6 B u r k e w e n t o n t o b u i l d m o r e t h a n a d o z e n o t h e r b e l l y t a n k r a c e r s a l l o f t h e m w i t h a r e a r e n g i n e l a y o u t T h i s r a c e r i s c u r r e n t l y o w n e d b y T h e J u s t i c e P r i v a t e A u t o m o t i v e C o l l e c t i o n

G re e n go t t h e i d e a fo r t h e Wa r S u r p l u s o n W h e e l s S h ow a f t e r a p h o n e c a l l f ro m M a rk Fo s t e r, t h e p re s i d e n t o f Lyo n A i r M u s e u m Fo s t e r p re s e n t s t h e m e d c a r s h ows ( C o b ra s , Po r s c h e s , a n d s o o n ) i n t h e s u m m e r fo r t h e m u s e u m a n d wa n t e d t o k n ow i f G re e n wo u l d co n s i d e r d o i n g a h o t ro d s h ow a t t h e fa c i l i t y. G re e n t h o u g h t a b o u t i t a n d , co n s i d e r i n g t h e m u s e u m’s t rove o f Wo rl d Wa r I I wa r p l a n e s o n d i s p l ay, why n o t t i e i n t h e i n f l u e n ce wa r s u r p l u s p a r t s h a d o n h o t ro d d i n g? F u r t h e r m o re , wh a t e xe m p l i f i e s t h a t co n n e c t i o n b e t t e r t h a n a b e l ly t a n k ra ce c a r d i s p l ay co u p l e d w i t h a o n e d ay ce l e b ra t i o n o f wa r e ra h o t ro d s? T h e m o l d s e t , b o t h go t t o ge t h e r t o p l a n t h e e ve n t

Wi t h m a ny wa r e q u i p m e n t m a n u fa c t u re r s h av i n g o n ce b e e n l o c a t e d i n S o u t h e r n C a l i fo r n i a t h e re wa s a n u n t o l d a m o u n t o f p o s t wa r s u r p l u s m a t e r i a l t h a t co u l d b e h a d fo r p e n n i e s o n t h e d o l l a r a f t e r t h e wa r Ad d t o t h a t t h e fa c t wh e n a h a n d f u l o f s e r v i ce m e n c a m e b a c k t o S o C a l t h e y u s e d t h e i r k n owl e d ge a n d fa m i l i a r i t y w i t h ce r t a i n p a r t s a n d p i e ce s t o d e ve l o p s o m e o f t h e e a rl i e s t s p e e d e q u i p m e n t co m p o n e n t s

S t u a r t H i l b o r n u s e d h i s e x p e r i e n ce i n t h e s e r v i ce t o d e ve l o p h i s m e c h a n i c a l f u e l i n j e c t i o n fo r ra ce c a r s o f a l l s o r t s A co m p o n e n t i n s p e c t o r a t No r t h ro p A i rc ra f t n a m e d P h i l Re m i n g t o n a l s o e n l i s t e d b u t , a f t e r t h e wa r, t e a m e d w i t h C a r ro l l S h e l by t o c re a t e a ra c i n g a n d a u t o m o t ive dy n a s t y. L a ke ’s ra ce r R ay B row n’s u s e o f m i l i t a r y s e a t b e l t s i n h i s c a r s l e d t h e way fo r h i m t o c re a t e h i s I m p a c t Au t o S a f Te e B e l t a p re c u r s o r o f t o d ay ’s a u t o m o t ive s e a t b e l t s

A f t e r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h s e v e r a l h a n d s E d G o d s h a l k n o w o w n s t h e c i r c a ’ 5 1 F o r n a c i a r i A d a m s l a k e s t e r, w h i c h r a n a t E l M i r a g e i n t h e e a r l y ’ 5 0 s T h e d i s p l a y a t t h e m u s e u m s h o w s t h e t o p h a l f o f t h e r a c e r r e m o v e d s o f o l k s c o u l d s e e j u s t h o w m u c h s t u f f c a n b e c r a m m e d i n t o s u c h a t i g h t s p a c e .

T h e B u r p l e ( a n o t h e r B i l l B u r k e b u i l t r a c e r ) t a n k e r c a m e a b o u t a f t e r a B i l l B u r k e a n d D o n F r a n c i s c o c o l l a b o r a t i o n I t b e c a m e t h e Wo r l d ’ s F a s t e s t H o t R o d i n 1 9 4 9 w i t h B i l l P h y d r i v i n g i t t o a s p e e d o f 1 6 4 8 3 m p h , a n d s o o n a f t e r i t w a s f e a t u r e d o n t h e A u g ’4 9 c o v e r o f Hot Rod I t i s c u r r e n t l y o w n e d b y B o b b y G r e e n o f O l d C r o w S p e e d S h o p

O n e o f t h e fe w n o n b e lly ta n k ca r s o n ex h i b i t i o n i n t h e m u s e u m i s t h e Wi lli a m s B ro t h e r s ro a d s te r T h e s h a r p lo o k i n g M o d e l A wa s le s s a e ro d y n a m i c t h a n t h e b e lly ta n ks , b u t t h e b ro t h e r s u s e d a 2 5 0 i n c h Re d Ra m H e m i D o d ge e n g i n e, 1 3 : 1 co m p re s s i o n , H i l b o r n i n j e c to r s , a n d a H e r b e r t ca m to p i lo t i t to a B o n n e v i lle B Ro a d s te r re co rd 1 5 0 9 0 m p h s p e e d , to p p i n g o u t a t 1 59 57 m p h

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G r e e n f o u n d o u t a t t h e t u r n o f t h e l a s t m i l l e n n i u m ) a n d h e c o l l e c t e d p e r i o d c o r r e c t p a r t s ( i n c l u d i n g a G r u m m a n d r o p t a n k , 1 8 i n c h Ke l s e y H a y e s w h e e l s , a n d a M o d e l

B f o u r c y l i n d e r w i t h a n o v e r h e a d c a m c o n v e r s i o n ) a n d a s s e m b l e d t h i s o d e t o t h e g o l d e n e r a o f b e l l y t a n k r a c i n g I t w a s n ’ t b u i l t j u s t f o r s h o w t h o u g h a s i t r e c e i v e d a s p e e d r e c o r d o f 1 6 8 m p h a t t h e B o n n e v i l l e S a l t F l a t s

B r o n z e S t a r r e c i p i e n t F r e d L o b e l l o p a i d $ 7 f o r h i s s m a l l e r C o r s a i r 1 6 5 g a l l o n d r o p t a n k s h e l l a n d , u s i n g a n i n l i n e f o u r c y l i n d e r, w a s a b l e t o r e a c h 1 4 4 m p h w i t h h i s L a d y b u g i n t h e e a r l y ’ 5 0 s T h i s t a n k i s c u r r e n t l y i n t h e B i l l L a t t i n C o l l e c t i o n

Sitting unrestored and unmolested since it last raced in 1950, the King & Hansen Stream liner uses a P 38’s drop tank for the body that was outfitted with a 133 inch V8 60 Ford powerplant At El Mirage Dry Lake in Southern California the tank topped out at 118 89 mph with the tiny V 8 This streamliner ’s home is in the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum

T h e B & S G a rage (G u s S o m m e r f i e ld a n d Ro b e r t B a ld w i n o f t h e B u n g h o le r s o f H o lly wo o d Ca r C lu b) ra n t h i s P 3 8 d ro p ta n k a ll t h ro u g h t h e ’ 5 0 s a n d ea r ly ’6 0 s O r i g i n a lly p owe re d by a M o d e l B fo u r c y li n d e r ( r u n n i n g 14 6 m p h ) i t wo u ld e ve n t u a lly re ce i ve a Te m p e s t fo u r b a n ge r i n 1 9 6 4 a n d rea c h 2 14 m p h T h i s h i s to r i c ve h i c le i s p a r t o f t h e B i ll La tt i n Co lle c t i o n

I llu s t ra t i n g t h e d e s i g n a d va n ce m e n t s o f o n ly a fe w yea r s o n t h e ta n ks o f t h e ’4 0 s , t h e M a r k le y B ro t h e r s La ke s te r ( w i t h i t s f u lly e n c lo s e d co c k p i t ) wa s fea t u re d o n t h e D e c ’6 2 cove r o f Hot Rod w h e n i t wa s e q u i p p e d w i t h a s u p e rc h a rge d 2 59 i n c h P ly m o u t h m o to r w i t h D o d ge H e m i h ea d s Wi t h i t s 1 0 0 i n c h w h e e l b a s e t h e ye llow b u lle t a tta i n e d a 2 8 0 m p h o n e way s p e e d i n 1 9 63 a n d wa s co m p e t i t i ve ly ra ce d we ll i n to t h e ’9 0 s w h e n i t wa s ra ce d / ow n e d by c u r re n t ow n e r D e n n i s Va r n i .

A p e r i o d i n s p i re d t r i b u te to t h e ra ce ca r s o f o ld , t h e B a r i lla ro 5 5 5 b e lly ta n k i s t h e re ce n t wo r k o f s p e e d s h o p ow n e r M i ke B a r i lla ro o f Te n n e s s e e S e t u p “ li ke t h e y u s ta ” w i t h a m o d i f i e d M o d e l T f ra m e, a 22 1 i n c h F la t h ea d Fo rd , a ’ 3 5 b a n j o rea re n d , a n d n o s u s p e n s i o n , B a r i lla ro u s e s h i s r i d e fo r ex h i b i t i o n r u n s , i n c lu d i n g t h e N e w J e r s e y T. R.O.G. t h row b a c k e ve n t s .

B u t t h e D NA o f a l l b e l ly t a n k s c a n b e t ra ce d b a c k t o B i l l B u rke ’s # 2 3 ye l l ow ra ce r B u i l t i n 1 9 4 6 , i t wa s t h e f i r s t b e l ly t a n k ra ce r b u i l t a n d t h e o n ly o n e wh e re B u rke u s e d t h e e n g i n e u p f ro n t i n t h e c h a s s i s , n e ce s s i t a t i n g a b i c yc l e s e a t b e we l d e d t o t h e re a r a x l e h o u s i n g fo r t h e d r ive r T h e o r i g i n a l i s go n e , b u t a fa i t h f u l re p ro d u c t i o n ( b u i l t u n d e r B i l l B u rke ’s g u i d a n ce b e fo re h e d i e d i n 2 0 1 5 ) g re e t s p a t ro n s wh e n t h e y f i r s t wa l k i n t o t h e m u s e u m I n t h e l ate ’4 0 s S O CA L S p e e d S h op fo u n de r A le x Xyd i a s wa s s o i n s p i re d by B i l l B u rke ’s s u cce s s w it h t h e t a n k s h ap e Xyd i a s h a d B u rke b u i l d t h e ch a s s i s fo r wh at co u l d a rg u a b ly b e t h e m o st fa m o u s b e l ly t a n k o f a l l t i m e : t h e S O CA L S p e e d S h op l a ke ste r, wh i ch wa s fe at u re d o n t h e cove r o f Hot Ro d m a ga z i n e i n Ja nu a r y 19 4 9. Xyd i a s re ce nt ly co m m e nte d t h e b e l ly t a n k ’s b e n e f it wa s t h ey we re a re a dy m a de b o dy a n d ca m e w it h a n A i r Fo rce de s i g n t h at yo u co u l d n’ t i mp rove u p o n . ( T h e re sto re d S O CA L t a n k i s n ow ow n e d by B r u ce Meye r. )

S o m e o f t h e o t h e r b e l ly t a n k s d i s p l aye d b e t we e n t h e wa r p l a n e s i n c l u d e t h e 2 8 0 m p h M a rk l e y/ Va r n i / B a r n e t t l a ke s t e r, a n o t h e r o f B u rke ’s 1 3 t a n k b u i l d s : t h e B u r p l e P 3 8 f ro m t h e Au g ’4 9 cove r o f H o t Ro d , a n d t h e K i n g & H a n s e n s t re a m l i n e r ( l a s t ra ce d i n 1 9 5 0 a n d u n t o u c h e d s i n ce ) , p l u s o t h e r s Au g m e n t i n g t h e s p e c i a l e x h i b i t i o n i n s i d e t h e m u s e u m o rg a n i z e r s s e t u p a o n e d ay c a r s h ow t h a t a l l owe d p a r t i c i p a n t s t o d r ive t h e i r t ra d i t i o n a l i n s p i re d ve h i c l e s o n t o t h e t a r m a c o f t h e a i r p o r t a n d p a rk a m o n g s t t h e m u s e u m’s wa r b i rd s . A b o u t 1 2 0 i nv i t e d h o t ro d s d i d j u s t t h a t a n d , j u d g i n g by t h e c rowd a n d t h e e n t h u s i a s m s e e n o n e ve r yo n e ’s fa ce s , t h i s e ve n t wa s a n u n e q u ivo c a l s u cce s s . M R

W h a t b e t t e r s e t t i n g i s t h e r e f o r v i n t a g e h o t r o d s t h a n b e i n g p a r k e d i n f r o n t o f a v i n t a g e w a r p l a n e i n t h i s c a s e a D o u g l a s A 2 6 I n v a d e r ? T h i s p l a n e f l e w i n Ko r e a a n d w a s r u m o r e d t o h a v e b e e n p i l o t e d b y H o w a r d H u g h e s w h e n i t w a s o w n e d b y H u g h e s To o l C o m p a n y.

“Hothead ” Lou Stands is an obsessed hot rodder and has built a handful of outstanding rides in the past few years He retooled his most current ride, a ’32 Ford road ster, after buying it in one guise and creating a new street/strip persona with the inclusion of the 4 7 1 blower atop the small block Chevy (which Stands says is a nod to the inspirational Tom McMullen Deuce roadster)

P a r k e d i n f r o n t o f t h e M i t c h e l l B 2 5 i s s h o w o r g a n i z e r B o b b y G r e e n ’ s d r i v e r : a ’ 3 1 F o r d r o a d s t e r b u i l t w i t h v i n t a g e p a r t s , i n c l u d i n g a n A u b u r n d a s h f i l l e d w i t h S t e w a r t Wa r n e r g a u g e s .

T h i s r o a d s t e r p i c k u p w a s b u i l t b y o n e o f t h e u n s u n g p i o n e e r i n g h e r o e s o f h o t r o d d i n g : To m m y S p a r k s H e b o u g h t t h i s ’ 2 9 i n 1 9 4 3 a n d o w n e d i t f o r 6 8 y e a r s , w h i c h i n c l u d e d a t t e n d i n g t h e f i r s t d r y l a k e s m e e t a f t e r Wo r l d Wa r I I a t R o s a m o n d D r y L a k e i n O c t o b e r o f 1 9 4 5 S p a r k s , a l o n g w i t h c o n t e m p o r a r y E d d i e M e e k s , w a s t h e g o t o g u y o n F l a t h e a d s f o r d e c a d e s a n d d i e d i n 2 0 1 2

I n s i d e t h e Ly o n A i r M u s e u m t h e “ F u d d y D u d d y ” B o e i n g B 1 7 F l y i n g F o r t r e s s e a s i l y d w a r f s t h e ’ 3 1 F o r d P h a e t o n u n d e r o n e o f i t s w i n g s

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c e d c r a f t s m a n c a n t a c k l e ever ything from the smallest hot rod repair job to a t o p c h o p , a c o m p l e t e t r a d i t i o n a l H o t R o d o r C l a s s i c Tr u c k b u i l d o r a M u s c l e C a r “ G M a c h i n e ” e n g i n e a n d s u s p e n s i o n c o n v e r s i o n

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• F l a t h e a d , G M , L S a n d F o r d C o y o t e e n g i n e s p e c i a l i s t s • C u s t o m c h a s s i s , s u s p e n s i o n a n d b r a k e f a b r i c a t i o n

• C o m p l e t e c u s t o m s h e e t m e t a l , b o d y w o r k a n d p a i n t • C u s t o m u p h o l s t e r y a n d f i n a l a s s e m b l y

“TV Tommy” Ivo’s

T-Bucket is an Iconic Hot Rod …

But There’s an Equally Impressive Tribute T Coming

BY B R I A N B R E N NA N

This month’s Parting Shot is looking at “ TV Tommy” Ivo’s iconic T bucket. We are fortunate to have hot rod historian extraordinaire Greg Sharp writing the historic look. It will appear in a rapidly approaching issue of Modern Rodding To finish off the T bucket story we have historical photos from Tommy himself.

Now, we are also going to give you a sneak peek from Dave Rocha showing his build. It’s a tribute T bucket that he is building that is as “correct” to the original as possible We have been following this build for several years and Rocha is making progre ss, but it does take time. Let’s take a preview of how Sharp opens the Ivo story:

“Anyone who’s been around hot rodding more than a minute knows the name ‘TV Tommy’ Ivo He earned the nickname by appearing in nearly 100 movies and 200 television shows. He earned the reputation by racing 36 different cars in 12 different classes over a career that spanned nearly 30 years He combined his show business f lair with his hot rodding talent to become ‘Drag Racing’s Master Showman.’ It would take a book to tell the entire story and, in fact, Tom Cotter did a great job of covering the bases in a book of that very title.

“In 1956, after spotting Norm Grabowski’s T at the Toluca L ake B ob’s Big Boy with people three deep around it while Norm entertained the crowd, Ivo immediately thought, ‘I’ve got to have one of thos e!’”

Rocha, who is no stranger to hot rod building, tells us that he’s been a big fan of Ivo since 1958 and always wanted to own the famous T bucket. Rocha was inf luential in the forming the Valley Roadsters in 1963 and this group ran with the L A and Bay Area clubs The Valley Roadsters also joined with these other clubs in 1966 going to Bakersfield and Pismo Beach

Next up it’s 2019 when Rocha’s friend Tony Thacker put him in touch with Tommy It was at this point that Rocha and TV Tommy struck up a friendship and the building of the faithful tribute T bucket was on.

Enjoy this quick tribute to Ivo’s roadster but remember this is the warmup for full coverage on Rocha’s tribute T. M R

T h e r e a r e t h r e e t r u l y i c o n i c T b u c k e t s : t h e I s k y T, G r a b o w s k i T, a n d t h e I v o T (pictured) H e r e i t i s o n d i s p l a y a t t h e N H R A M u s e u m

Yo u m u s t s t a r t s o m e w h e r e H e r e i s a s h o t o f t h e I v o T i n o n e o f i t s e a r l i e s t s t a g e s

C o m i n g o f f t h e l i n e a t t h e e a r l y S a n t a A n a d r a g s I v o w a s a h u g e f a n o f d r a g r a c i n g t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e h e w a s a n a c c o m p l i s h e d a n d h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l d r a g r a c e r, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e To p F u e l r a n k s

D a v e R o c h a , a l o n g t i m e h o t r o d d e r f r o m t h e N o r t h w e s t , h a r d a t i t H e ’ s f a b r i c a t i n g h i s t r i b u t e T t h a t ’ s i n t e n d e d t o b e f a i t h f u l t o w h a t I v o o r i g i n a l l y b u i l t