MOLDED MONITORS
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Truck Takeover at the Triple Crown of Rodding
Custom trucks have bulldozed their way into the hot rod world, turning what were once old workhorses from the ’30s through the ’90s into show-stopping, tire-shredding machines. These trucks aren’t just about hauling gear anymore—they’re packing serious muscle under the hood, killer suspension setups, and sleek designs that demand attention at events like the Triple Crown of Rodding.
Scrap Yard Binders
Since we don’t really have to search for vintage parts anymore, gone are the days of scouring the local “Pick-a-Part” in search for that illusive part that will interchange or convert your muscle car to bucket seats, tilt steering, A/C or some suspension upgrade. But there was a day when you and a rodding buddy could venture to your favorite junkyard and come home with a whole truckload of cool vintage goodies that would aid you in your rebuild, all in the span of a day.
Well, those days aren’t completely gone. While at the local wrecking yard looking for any useful hot rod parts, we stumbled across another enthusiast, Sean Rievley, who is in the progress of upgrading his ’71 Chevelle chassis
ADVANCED SUSPENSION
Delve into the world of aftermarket Mustang II-style independent front suspensions, a popular choice for upgrading classic trucks like the ’53 Chevy. Discover how these suspension kits provide improved ride quality, enhanced safety, and better performance, making them essential for modernizing vintage vehicles.
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Hollywood, Bikes and Boats
July 16, 2023
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Ever see those boats on the TV show Fear Factor? Those are Ultra Custom Boats built by John West and his team in El Cajon, California. Ever watch Monster Garage? That is Jesse James from West Coast Choppers, which is based in Long Beach, California. What happens when these two guys get together to build a boat and a bike is what we have here.
Myers Fenderless ’36 Takes the Trophy at the 75th Grand National Roadster Show
February 5, 2025
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If you caught this machine in bare metal at the Rad Rides booth last year, you knew it was gonna be special. But now? Fully finished and flexing some seriously next-level craftsmanship, it’s the total package. From the hand-built body to the insane drivetrain and killer stance, this car just oozes cool.
Light at the End of the Camaro
September 24, 2022
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There are many reasons why the icon cars have achieved the lofty status they now enjoy, but one of the more obvious reasons is the simple fact that they were finished. Their existence and subsequent high-level exposure have inspired many a young lad to undertake similar projects, and for every famous car built in the early years, probably two others were started in an attempt to either copy or outdo it, but they never saw the light of day.
SUBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
July 24, 2024
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On the subject of objectivity, determining what is best without being swayed by personal prejudices or emotions is a task not everyone responsible for making such decisions is capable of. An unbiased overview is a basic essential when weighing the artistic expression of any builder today, but then it always was supposed to be this way. What wins when is often based on opinions and feelings. For this reason alone, personal subjectivity leaves plenty of room for
interpretation and debate.
CREATIVE CABRIOLET
March 5, 2023
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Cabriolets have become popular over the past few years, and the ’37 is an enthusiast favorite. They have become so popular that numerous reproductions have been made. Because of the original’s low production figures—only 10,184 were built—most, but not all, of the ’37 cabriolets attending rod events are fiberglass. The problem with the originals is that for years they were only marginally desirable and many were junked. The ones that weren’t were parked outside where the weather had taken its toll. When the tops rotted, the cabriolets would begin to rust from the inside out. That means that finding a nice, solid, rust-free cabriolet can be difficult.
THE INTRUDER
October 30, 2025
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From the first time you see this beautiful ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon, you know it’s special, both in its concept and its execution. You might also know this is the latest creation from one of the Midwest’s elite rod builders, Troy Trepanier, a guy who has been doing it his own way since he first started shaping specialized vehicles back in the late 1980s. Since that time, Troy and his crew have been stopping people in their tracks with fresh, leading-edge designs, and their latest innovation certainly carries that tradition into a new era. After taking possession of another Trepanier creation, the ’54 Plymouth known as the Sniper, George Poteet decided he wanted Rad Rods By Troy to rework another car that he had been thinking about for some time. As with all such projects, it began simply enough, but soon a well-worn Ford station wagon was well on its way to an entirely new life.
GOING AFTERMARKET
June 3, 2025
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You’ve probably heard those Zen sayings that ask questions like, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” or, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” Those particular questions may be a little weighty for the scope of this article, but Ford’s new Vehicle Personalization plan has us asking a few questions of our own.
FORD HANDLING GUIDE
December 12, 2022
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Although modifying a car to handle well can often seem like a black art, virtually every aspect of handling comes down to three things: the weight of the vehicle, the traction generated by the tires, and the distribution of weight on each particular tire at a given moment.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 6.5L Turbo-Master Wastegate Controller
July 11, 2023
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More is always better, until it’s too much. The wastegate is responsible for keeping the turbo from continuously building boost until it pops. By allowing exhaust gas, the driving force of the turbocharger, to bypass the expeller (turbine), it will stop the impeller from sucking in air, creating boost.
WINGED WARRIOR
July 23, 2024
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The first time Dodge General Manager Bob McCurry saw drawings of the proposed mid-1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, he thought it looked awful. Legend has it that he then asked the engineers: “Will it win races?” After they said it would, the Dodge boss replied: “Well, dammit, go ahead and build it!”
Caddy Stu
July 16, 2023
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Richard Larson and his wife, Jane, have owned a number of custom cars and trucks in their time, but they never really thought they would have so much fun building and owning a custom 53 Studebaker pickup. There was no plan to find a Studebaker; the truck simply found him. I lived across the street from a friend who owned a repair shop in town, Larson told us. Over some time, he had collected six or seven cars and trucks that he hoped to restore some day. One weekend morning, his wife informed him that she planned to plant an orchard in the area where the vehicles were being stored…and in one week. He had to get rid of his collection. I asked about the Studebaker pickup and he said if he could get $200 for it, it was gone. Well, it was gone.
539HP 383 On Pump Gas
September 24, 2022
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Time and time again, our advice to those interested in learning about stout-running engines is that it’s the total combination that makes it all happen—considering, of course, that components are prepped, cleaned and assembled as if in a “clean room.”
