NO NOMAD FOR ME
April 28, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
LIKE A ROLLING STONE
Bob Dillon built an F-100. Okay, so it’s not that Bob Dillon, but in this case it’s better. How, you ask? Well, there are two Bob Dillons: Bob Dillon owns this truck, but he does so with his wife, Bobbi. See, that explains it. Now let’s move on. According to the Dillons, “We did 90 percent of all the work” on the truck, and only had the guys at Cars do the final sanding, paint and assembly. The Dillons bought the 1955 Ford F-100 nearly 12 years ago and have worked at it off and on ever since. They had a definite vision for the truck, if not a timeframe, and judging from the results, it was time well spent.
Jumping for Joy
The scene was electric at LS Fest West, where off-road enthusiasts converged for a wild display of adrenaline-pumping action! From far and wide they came, eager to conquer the freshly minted short course. This track was no joke, boasting treacherous whoops, technical challenges, and heart-stopping jumps that launched machines skyward, holding spectators in rapt attention.
The All-Steel Dynacorn ’47-’53 Chevrolet Five-Window Cab
For years, truck builders have searched, looking for that much-sought-after early five-window Chevy pickup project. They are still around and are occasionally found, but it’s getting tougher, and their condition is ever worsening. It’s simple math really: Only so many remain, and many of the really solid ones have been spoken for. To The Delight Of Custom Truck Builders Everywhere, The All-Steel Dynacorn ’47-’53 Chevrolet Five-Window Cab Is Now A Reality!
Spotlighter
BUILD A BENDER
An Economical Way To Get the Bends You Want
Bending irons have been used in the industry for many years. We first became aware of how handy they are during a 10-year stint in the can industry.
Author
Lane Anderson
Story & Photography
Why Use Bending Irons for Metal Fabrication
This type of bending is totally portable and can generate tremendous force. While these irons are not good for sharp 90-degree bends, they are excellent for most radii. We made these irons specifically for the 1/8-inch-thick material used while making our convertible top-anchoring strap. We made the jaw sections larger and thicker than necessary for bending 1/8-inch material because the irons will be reworked for 3/8-inch round stock for our next project.
Building Your Own Economical Metal Bender
For our heavy-duty bending irons, we used 3/4-inch-diameter round stock that was 18 inches long. The jaws were fabricated from 3/4-inch-thick steel plates, and we cut and milled the jaws on our vertical milling machine. If you do not have access to such a tool, you can use a band saw or hacksaw and a drill motor to make the slots.
Versatility of DIY Bending Tools
The portability of the bending irons is another plus. When the job is too tough for bare hands and too small for the vise and hammer, the bending irons fill the gap. With larger slots, the irons can be used for round stock, such as the curved framework of the new center console you’ve been thinking about building. Take a look as you show you how simple this process really is
