Show Car Buildoff: Painting Basics
August 13, 2024
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The Ultimate Street Machine Showdown: Goodguys Crowns the 2026 Street Machine of the Year
The Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, has long been the proving ground for some of the finest builds in the country. Each year, the event brings together the builders, designers, and enthusiasts who continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with classic American performance.
Locked Up
Now that the typical Chevy buildup cars (Novas, Camaros, El Caminos, Chevelles and so forth) are well over 30 years old, most have had several owners and lots of abuse. One important yet often overlooked area during a car’s lifetime is its locks, and by now, most early Chevys have mismatched or missing keys. Some don’t even have any keys or locks when you buy them. If you do find a car that still has its original keys, it is very unusual.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Smeding Performance Aftermarket LS Aluminum 6-Bolt Engine Block
Factory LS blocks have their limits. Smeding Performance raises the bar with its Aftermarket LS Aluminum 6-Bolt Engine Block, engineered for serious horsepower with billet steel main caps, six-bolt head clamping, and priority-main oiling.
Foose Design C2/C3 Corvette Chassis Debuts at SEMA 2026
Those Corvette curves already deliver. Now Chip Foose has something for the hardware underneath: a new chassis for 1963–1982 models with C7-inspired geometry, adjustable coilovers, and plenty of attention to detail.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Pro’s Pick FANTOM Tonneau Cover for 1973–87 Chevrolet/GMC Fleetside Trucks
Your squarebody deserves a strong finish. The Pro’s Pick FANTOM aluminum tonneau cover delivers flush styling, a paintable surface, and manual or electric lift options for 1973–87 Chevrolet/GMC Fleetside trucks.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: CFI Enforcer Series Classic
You can teach an old carb new tricks. The CFI Enforcer Series Classic adds electronic fuel control to your existing carburetor, delivering modern driving convenience without a complete fuel-system rebuild.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Gandrud Chevrolet Performance L8P Crate Engine
There’s something satisfying about an engine that brings plenty of cubic inches to the party. Add modern fuel delivery, a performance-focused valvetrain, and some Corvette DNA, and things get interesting fast. The Chevrolet Performance L8P crate engine delivers 523 horsepower and 543 lb.-ft. of torque, combining the L8T’s heavy-duty foundation
Product Spotlight: BMP Aluminum 440 Wedge Engine Block
The Bill Mitchell Products BMP 088550 Aluminum 440 Wedge Engine Block gives your next RB build a fresh foundation with 357-T6 aluminum construction, billet steel main caps, and replaceable cylinder sleeves. Bring the big-block ambition. This is where you start bolting it together.
Product Spotlight: BTR 5.7L Red Hot 580HP Power Package
The Brian Tooley Racing 5.7L Red Hot 580HP Power Package gives the smaller LS a serious naturally aspirated attitude adjustment, with a combination built to keep pulling upstairs. BTR reports 580.9 horsepower at 7,425 rpm and more than 450 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to make “it’s just a 5.7”
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel for 1964–1966 Chevy Trucks
A classic Chevy truck’s dashboard deserves the same attention as its paint, stance, and engine compartment. It’s where every drive begins—and where tired instrumentation can leave an otherwise finished interior feeling unfinished.
The Intellitronix AP6002 analog gauge panel gives 1964–1966 Chevy trucks a fresh focal point with a direct-fit replacement
Product Spotlight: BTR Godzilla Truck Norris Camshaft
Godzilla already has the displacement. Truck Norris brings the attitude. If your idea of a good truck involves a rumbling idle and a healthy appetite for throttle, Brian Tooley Racing’s Godzilla Truck Norris Camshaft deserves a spot on your build sheet.
THE NSRA NATS WEST 1983
In 1983 when the NSRA rolled into Merced, California, they would be celebrating the sixth-ever NSRA Nats West and the final year to visit this rod friendly town. Merced always welcomed the hot rods and this year 1,797 hot rods passed through the gates to tree lined streets of the
