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    On Your Guard

    Kilby Enterprises makes many cool products, such as their On Board Air systems, but they also produce some heavy duty skid plates that are designed to keep the rocks from inflicting pain on you and your rig.

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    ALMOST NEW

    Some folks talk about the great muscle car wars of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it’s hard to find a car guy who experienced it, enjoyed it and still owns the same car. At 66 years of age, Mike Overly was able to experience the muscle car era during his twenties, which is the perfect time to go fast in a cool car. The car seen on these pages is a ’70 Mustang, one that Overly has owned since 1970. Less than a year old, the Mustang sat at a used car lot in Indianapolis, Indiana, wearing black paint and an asking price of $2,300. From his inspection, Overly knew the original owner had already upgraded to a Boss 429 hood and scoop, so it may have been raced in its short life—the 2,000 miles on the odometer were probably not the easiest of miles.

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    HOW TO SHOW YOUR CAR

    WHAT DO YOU do when you have one of the hottest show cars in the country and need something to take you to the next level? What do you do if you have a very nice modified car, but want something more? How about a true show display setup? We have talked to a number of people in the industry, including some of the most qualified judging sanctioning bodies, and they have given us plenty of insight into what’s hot and what’s not in the world of show car displays.

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    POPULAR READS

    Showing Off

    Story by Matt Emery | Photography Supplied by Todd Emmons

    Installing a Bruce Horkey Show Deck

    One of the best things about vintage trucks is that the floor of the bed was made out of wood. Sure, the steel floors found in new trucks are arguably tougher, but they just don’t look nearly as nice as ones that feature stained and polished wood held down with equally polished metal strips. It may be odd to think of a truck in terms of Feng Shui, but the melding of steel, wood and placement is central to the principles behind the century’s-old discipline.

    But those who have trucks that came from the factory equipped with steel beds were out of luck until Bruce Horkey heard their plight and set about to bring the wonders of wood to them, too.

    It was back in 1988 that Horkey realized that the manufacturers didn’t offer the wood floor option on their trucks anymore. But the wood-crazy Minnesota-based supplier had an idea that would give even those with steel floors the chance to have a show-winning wood floor. That is why he called it the Show Deck.

    The Show Deck consists of three separate components. The specially selected, kiln-dried hardwoods are completely machined to fit the truck. American ash or oak is the standard featured wood, though other species such as cherry, mahogany, purple-heart, rosewood and walnut are available at an extra cost. The skid strips are die-formed stainless strips that are cut to length and have holes punched. The stainless is a 304 grade, which means they are true stainless and will not rust. Polishing and buffing to a mirror finish is optional. At the base of the matter is the rubber-padded, extruded aluminum subframe, which prevents scratches as well as allowing proper air movement to ensure moisture control between the wood deck and pickup floor.

    Bruce Horkey has been offering great-looking and well-fitting wood bed kits since 1980. In that time its facility has expanded to four times its original size, and the company now has eight people working to provide you with quality parts in a timely manner. And speaking of parts, Bruce Horkey offers much more than just bed kits. Those who have vintage pickups in need of entire steel beds and tailgates, fenders, running boards, roll pans, wheel tubs or even grilles and much more can get them by calling Bruce Horkey. To see exactly what the company has to offer, check out its website or call for a catalog.

    Follow along as the owner of this killer ’74 Chevy makes it even better with the addition of the Show Deck by Bruce Horkey’s Wood and Parts.

    1 All that is needed to give those with a steel floor the warm look of wood comes with the Bruce Horkey Show Deck.
    2 Even though the steel floor on this sweet '74 Chevy is beautiful with its paint, there will definitely be an improvement with the Show Deck.
    3 The first step is to lay out the aluminum subframe. To make things as easy as possible, BH even labeled the pieces (e.g., P for passenger side, DR-driver, TE-tailgate end, etc.). It is recommended that you lay out half the kit at one time. There are nut-serts that are pushed into the upper edge of the pieces and foam strips that are applied to the bottoms. The foam will prevent the aluminum pieces from scratching the steel floor as well as keep rattles down.
    4 The skid strips are numbered to show the order of the pieces. They are held to the subframe with 1/4x1-inch truss-head screws. BH recommends that the screws be simply started at this point.
    5 The wood pieces are installed. They are added from the center out, although the center piece is not actually installed until last. Also note that there is a front and rear to the wood. This is easy to distinguish, as there is a milled section at the rear of the wood where an end cap will go.
    6 It says in the instructions not to place the cut-out piece into the mix at this time.
    7 A straightedge works well to make sure that the pieces are as square as possible before the pieces are installed into the truck. The end screws are tightened at this time.
    8 Note that there will be a 7/16-inch gap at the end of the boards.
    9A With the two sections in the truck, the cut pieces are installed.
    9B
    10 Measurements are taken to make sure that the last pieces fit.
    11 After they are trimmed to fit, these pieces are installed.
    12 With the last piece installed, the rear sill angle is set in place. Now that the kit fits, it is time to take it apart again and stain and/or varnish it. Also note that BH supplies screws that will affix the Show Deck to the steel floor beneath.
    13A The final product looks great. This owner chose to stain the boards a dark color to match the other graphics on the truck. He also used a marine varnish, but BH recommends that a tonneau cover be used on the truck.
    13B

    SOURCE:

    Bruce Horkey’s Wood and Parts
    Dept. TB
    46284 440th St.
    Windom, MN 56101
    507/831-5625
    www.horkeyswoodandparts.com

    Author

    Picture of Matt Emery

    Matt Emery

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