The Cold Facts
September 25, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
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.
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products HARDCORE Manowar Valve Covers for Small Block Ford
If you’re building a serious Small Block Ford, the details matter — and nothing finishes off an engine bay like a killer set of valve covers. Enter Bill Mitchell Products BMP D70870 Valve Covers, branded with the unmistakable HARDCORE Manowar logo. Originally part of BMP’s 600hp street engine crate program, these covers are now available individually — and at a can’t-miss closeout price.
KING OF THE ROAD
“Carroll Shelby has pulled the trick of the year. He’s combined Ford’s new drag champion 428 Cobra Jet engine with his complete road car, the Cobra G.T.500. Result? Cobra G.T.500KR…King of the Road.” Those words accompanied the full-page advertisements for the mid-year introduction of the ’68 Shelby Cobra G.T.500KR. The new model replaced the early ’68 G.T.500 and its more docile 428 V-8 engine.
Spotlighter
The Paws That Refreshes
Who Says the Guys Get to Have All the Fun?
Author
Bob McClurg
Story & Photography
Becky Walker, a housewife and career woman from Jarrell, Texas, has two hobbies: raising Great Pyrenees show dogs and her purple prism 53 Chevrolet show truck, appropriately named 53 PAW.
About six years ago, my husband, Billy, dragged this raggedy old 53 Chevrolet farm truck home and told me he was going to fix it up for me to drive. That was the beginning of a major project that lasted over two years. We worked every night, weekend and holiday on that truck. In fact, I distinctly remember spending one New Year’s Eve, back in 2004, helping Billy change out two sets of springs.
A professional welding technician by trade, Walker stripped the old stovebolt to the bare frame, and then he installed the front frame clip from a 79 Pontiac Trans-Am Firebird, which instantly updated the old hauler to independent front suspension, power steering and power front disc brakes. In the process, Walker installed a performance Suspension Technology bushing kit and a PST front anti-sway bar setup.
Out back, Walker installed a 3.73:1-geared Chevrolet Suburban Positraction 12-bolt live rear axle riding on a set of 53 Chevrolet re-arched rear springs. The shock absorbers are KYB gas-charged shocks, and the wheels and tires consist of a set of 17×7-inch front and 18×8-inch rear Intro V-Rod two-piece modular aluminum units, rolling on P225/45ZR 17-inch and P255/45ZR 18-inch Toyo Proxies. Other chassis modifications include the installation of a 22-gallon Rock Valley stainless steel gas tank under the bed of the truck.
Powering the truck is an owner-assembled 72 Pontiac 400 H.O. overbored 0.060 inch. The Walkers big-inch Poncho features a set of TRW forged aluminum pistons, an Edelbrock Performer cam and kit, along with a Holley 750cfm carburetor and Edelbrock Performer intake. The ignition is a combination of Mallory and Taylor items, while the exhaust consists of an owner-fabricated 2-1/2-inch dual exhaust, fit with a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. Backing up all of this is a Monarch Transmission GM TH350.
Walker and friend Donny Hughes were responsible for the bodywork and the outstanding DuPont ChromaLusion Absolute Purpleen Prizm paint on the 53. Before paint, the duo installed a rolled rear pan, a third brake light and a Chevy Bow Tie emblem in the pickup bed. Finally, Bruce Hammond executed the mural of Becky’s favorite Great Pyrenees, Snowflake, on the tailgate.
Inside, the truck features the purple tweed and white vinyl handiwork of Arthur Ochoa. Also on board is Comfort Series purple nylon carpet, a six-way GM tilt steering column and a Grant GT steering wheel. The truck also features Old Air A/C, Electric-Life power windows, Alpine AM/FM/CD and Dakota Digital instrumentation.
Becky shows her 53 at local car and truck shows throughout the Southwest and has won numerous awards.
This is what Becky Walker’s ’53 Chevrolet looked like when her husband Billy hauled it home six years ago.
The truck had been used to haul old tires.
Two years of late nights, weekends and holidays has produced this awesome-looking ’53 Chevrolet 3100-Series pickup. It’s a genuine beauty!
No matter where you look, this Southwestern beauty abounds with detail.
Powering this beauty is an owner-assembled 544 Pontiac H.O. big block bored 0.060 inch and stuffed with TRW pistons, an Edelbrock cam and kit, and a Holley 750cfm carburetor and Edelbrock intake.
Another personal touch is the paw prints adorning the inside of the Chevy’s engine compartment.
The purple and white vinyl interior inside Becky’s pickup was stitched by Arthur Ochoa.
Billy Walker and friend Danny Hughes performed all the bodywork, including installing this rolled pan with ’48 Chevrolet taillights.
Those running lights originally came from the side flanks of a Plymouth Volare.
Artist Bruce Hammond is the man responsible for painting this beautiful mural of Becky’s favorite pooch, Snowflake.
No matter what the angle, Becky’s half-ton Chevrolet looks outstanding in the early-morning Texas sun with its Absolute Purpleen Prizm paint.
Out back, you’ll find a Chevrolet Bow Tie emblem inside the pickup bed and plenty of urethane-coated hardwood.
Becky is rightfully proud of her “53 PAW,” which is named after her penchant for Great Pyrenees dogs.
