PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The ProFlex DXI by Advanced Fuel Dynamics
March 21, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
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Classic Boat Part 5
In our last installment, we prepped the bottom of our behemoth Spectra 20 for extensive modifications to its lifting strakes. As we were on the cusp of getting into the lamination of the actual structures that would be shaped into the lifting strakes, a patch of bad weather stopped us dead in our tracks. Luckily, the motivation to get the bottom of the boat done, which had waned early in the project, wasn’t going to be thwarted with a couple of rainy days. Once the clouds cleared, we got back to work preparing for the modifications to the bottom of our hull.
AMERICAN RACING TORQ-THRUST
Undoubtedly, the most significant and influential hot rod component in recent history is the American Racing five-spoke Torq-Thrust wheel. It has been the most-copied wheel ever, as American Racing continues to fight off design infringements. In its many legitimate variations, it has—in many ways—influenced the whole of the aftermarket automotive car culture. No single wheel has ever made such a significant impact on the customizing scene as the Torq-Thrust has.
Beyond Restoration
In much the same way that one person prefers chocolate and another vanilla, chicken over steak, college ball versus pro ball, Chevy enthusiasts tend to lean toward particular vintages, models, powertrains and other special Bow Tie features, which may be nothing more than a vehicle loaded with unusual options that make that car more unique, and valuable, than the next. Our love for such things is generally based upon a range of influencing factors.
Spotlighter
DINNER WITH BARRY
August 18, 2026
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Originally published in the November 2000 issue of Street Rod Builder, this candid conversation with legendary hot rod builder Barry Lobeck captures the humor, honesty and unmistakable personality behind some of the industry’s most influential creations. More than 25 years later, Lobeck’s thoughts on traditional styling, proper stance and the future of hot rodding remain every bit as relevant—and entertaining—as they were when Gerry Burger first sat down with him over dinner.
A Century of Kustom Cool: The GNRS Tribute to George Barris
February 18, 2025
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The mastermind who turned wild ideas into rolling legends. At the 2025 Grand National Roadster Show, organizers pulled out all the stops to honor what would have been his 100th birthday, showcasing some of his most legendary and jaw-dropping creations.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: E-Sense High Flow Performance Fuel Content Sensor by Advanced Fuel Dynamics
April 14, 2025
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Advanced Fuel Dynamics is set to revolutionize the fuel sensor market with their new E-Sense high-flow performance-grade fuel content sensor. This sensor offers a competitively priced, top-tier alternative to the GM/Continental sensor, designed with cutting-edge technology to provide enhanced performance for high-flow fuel systems. It is an essential upgrade for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Billet Hood Strut Installation on Your S197 Mustang
March 18, 2024
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When you lift the hood of your 2005-2014 Mustang and engage the prop rod, do you feel a little shortchanged? Well, Steeda Autosports has developed a billet hood strut kit designed to replace those clumsy prop rods.
Lost & Found
September 26, 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.
Winter WOW
March 17, 2026
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Just after New Year’s, when the cold really starts settling in, one of the first major indoor car shows of the year rolls into town. The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Custom Auto Show has become a yearly tradition—mixing hot rods, customs, and classics with a dose of pop culture to create a winter event that gives the whole family a reason to get out of the house.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Stainless Headers MFG’s Ceramic Coating Service Has You Covered
August 27, 2026
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There are plenty of jobs you can tackle in your own garage. Professionally ceramic coating a set of headers probably shouldn’t be one of them. Sure, you can buy products that promise a ceramic-like finish at home, but getting the kind of results you’d expect on a professionally built car is another story. Proper ceramic coating requires serious surface preparation, specialized application equipment, controlled temperatures and proper curing. Get any part of that wrong and the finished product may not look—or perform—the way you expected.
The Test Car
June 7, 2024
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If you’ve attended a Goodguys event in the past couple of years, chances are you’ve seen this blue ’69 Camaro, owned by Stacy Tucker of Detroit Speed & Engineering. The car rarely sits still at a rod run, especially if there’s an autocross event on the grounds—then it’s time to race.
STRAIGHT-AXLE FEVER
May 7, 2025
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Gary Moore is no stranger to hot rods; he has owned literally dozens of them over the years. Past rods include no fewer than seven Deuces, a couple of altered drag roadsters, three ’40 coupes, three woodies…well, you get the idea. Like many hot rodders, Moore has an eye for the unique, and while his current stable holds a Deuce highboy roadster, a ’27 roadster pickup and a ’51 Ford woody, a couple of years ago he contracted “straight-axle fever.”
Product Spotlight: Dieselsite’s 4WD ESOF Stainless Lines Kit for 1999–2010 Ford Superduties
September 26, 2025
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Picture this: you’re cruising down a muddy backroad, ready to switch into 4WD, and nothing happens. You check your ESOF switch, slam it again… still nothing. The culprit? Not your transfer case, not your drive shafts—it’s the OEM vacuum hoses and steel fittings at your hubs, silently failing after years of exposure to heat, moisture, and road grime. Dry-rot, leaks, and rusted fittings strike when you least expect it, leaving you stuck and frustrated.
Cooler Runnin’
July 16, 2023
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All summer you’ve dreamed of passing all those boats that have blown by you since June. Now that time has come. You plunk down a large stack of greenbacks for a nasty supercharger and wrench all weekend bolting it in. Now comes the moment of truth. As you tear down the lake, all eyes are on the gauges, and the oil pressure is heading south too quickly. What could be wrong? You let off the throttle for a bit and all the vital signs return to normal.
We’ve ran into this exact scenario before. We installed an R-Tech Supercooler on the ProCharged Dorr’s Marine Engine 502cid motor in our Baja 250ES. The install was a huge success with a whopping 9mph increase in top speed. The boat worked well, but what we weren’t expecting was the huge increase in oil temperature from the gain in horsepower. If we had stayed on the throttle for a good 5,000-plus-rpm run, the oil temperature would have shot for the moon and oil pressure would have dropped to an uncomfortable level, forcing us to back out—what fun is that?
The Crown Jewels: Meet the Top 6 Winners of the 2025 Triple Crown of Rodding
September 8, 2025
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When it comes to prestige in the custom car and truck world, nothing shines brighter than the Triple Crown of Rodding. With over 50 state-of-the-art billet-machined aluminum and show-chrome-plated trophies on the line, the competition is fierce. But at the top of the heap are six elite titles—the ones every builder dreams about, the ones that truly define “best of the best.”
