THE ENGINE ROOM
April 2, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
BRACE FOR IMPACT
Even more than 40 years ago, Ford understood the importance of preventing body flex in order to allow a suspension to maintain proper geometry. The earliest Mustangs came with front shock tower braces to prevent uncontrollable suspension articulation, caused when both upper ends of the shock towers flex inward. The need to prevent such flex is still important today, and the principle applies to the rear shock towers as well as to the fronts.
Jeepin’…
From its necessary beginnings in World War II to today, Jeep has developed into an American Icon. Jeep has become a symbol of independence and liberty for the whole world to see. It’s been abused, pampered and even celebrated, but to those who love them it’s still just a Jeep… for better or for worst.
PEEL ‘N STICK
When dismantling your project car, you probably ran across the crumbling remnants of the original insulation. Old cars are notoriously “leaky” when it comes to heat and sound barriers, making them louder and hotter than the typical daily driver. Sometimes a loud exhaust system overrides the road noise, but you’ll always notice when your air conditioning system never seems to keep the cabin cool. If you’re in the midst of an interior refresh, or a full restoration, it’s a great time to consider new insulation.
Spotlighter
The Heart of GNRS 2026: Highlights from the ARP Booth
February 12, 2026
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At GNRS 2026, the ARP Booth was a centerpiece of precision, passion, and performance. Automotive Racing Products (ARP Fasteners) has long been a cornerstone of the Grand National Roadster Show, sponsoring iconic awards like the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award and the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. Each award offers $12,500 in prize money, and during the show, the Al Slonaker Memorial Trophy is proudly displayed at the ARP Booth, symbolizing ARP’s commitment to hot rod craftsmanship, innovation, and community.
Project ’47: Part Two
August 20, 2024
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The Blueprint 383 provides the Advanced Design pickup with nearly 400 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty of power for cruising, especially the fair- grounds. During the engine build, Blueprint Engines took the time to photograph the machining process, as the company completely refurbished the Chevy four-bolt main block, machined and assembled it into a brand new horsepower monster.
The Triple Crown of Rodding 2023
September 15, 2023
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In both the world of sports and the realm of automotive enthusiasts, there are events that stand out as symbols of excellence. Think of baseball’s All-Star game, golf’s prestigious Masters Tournament, and the excitement of wrestling’s Summer Slam. And now, there’s a new star on the rise in the world of automobiles – The Triple Crown of Rodding (TCOR). This extraordinary event made its debut on September 8-9, in Lebanon, Tennessee, at the Nashville Superspeedway.
PEEL ‘N STICK
December 16, 2022
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When dismantling your project car, you probably ran across the crumbling remnants of the original insulation. Old cars are notoriously “leaky” when it comes to heat and sound barriers, making them louder and hotter than the typical daily driver. Sometimes a loud exhaust system overrides the road noise, but you’ll always notice when your air conditioning system never seems to keep the cabin cool. If you’re in the midst of an interior refresh, or a full restoration, it’s a great time to consider new insulation.
GRAND DADDY
January 15, 2026
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It doesn’t matter whether this event is held in Oakland, San Francisco or San Mateo—it still gives builders the incentive to strive to win the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) title. For the past two years, the Grand National Roadster Show has been held in San Mateo, just south of San Francisco and across the bay from Oakland. This year there were 300 vehicles on display, and a good percentage of them were high-quality, creatively built roadsters. Along with the roadsters, there were closed street rods, customs, street machines and custom trucks. The show also is well known for displaying some of the finest motorcycles in the country, and this year there was a separate room just for the two-wheelers.
Beyond Restoration
June 17, 2024
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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.
BOSS!
January 22, 2025
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In 1969 and 1970, Ford produced a pair of unique vehicles designed with only one purpose in mind: to take back the SCCA Trans-Am series crown from Chevrolet. After stunning success with the ’65-’67 Mustangs, Ford lost the title to Chevy’s Camaro in 1968, and many felt that the car’s “tunnel port” engine was the culprit. Ford drastically rethought its engine program and came up with a legendary solution.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: AirSafe Emergency Support Kit TM by R.S. Restorations
November 27, 2024
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Protect your 1963-1987 C10 truck with RS Restorations’ AirSafe Emergency Support Kit™. A must-have for air ride suspensions, this patent-pending solution keeps your truck safe and functional during air system failures. Learn more and get yours today.
GOD OF FIRE CORVETTE
February 3, 2025
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“Corvette Bill” Bartenstein and his son, Bill Jr., are renowned around the state of Hawaii—more specifically Kailua—for their car-building talents. But that’s not all—at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson auction at Scottsdale, Arizona, a candy-blue Bartenstein-built ’69 Pro Touring Camaro fetched a record $182,000. It just so happens that this Firemist Red ’66 Corvette Sting Ray resto rod—another Bartenstein creation—rolled across the B-J auction block that same weekend and sold for an incredible $130,000. So what makes a Bartenstein-built car so attractive? Let’s take a closer look.
CAMARO COMPARO
June 18, 2024
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As recognizable as the first-generation Camaro coupes and convertibles are, distinguishing a ’67, ’68 or even the extremely popular ’69 can be difficult for the uninformed. This can be especially true when considering the number of available options, including hoods, SS and RS option combinations and custom body modifications. However, making an accurate and quick identification of a potential project car, as well as tracking its history, options and drivetrain, is simple if you’re armed with the correct information and tools.
Back In Black
January 3, 2025
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Jerry McMullan is a long-time Chevy fan, and when he wanted to find a cool daily driver, he knew two things. The first was that the vehicle would be a Chevy, and the second was that he knew it had to be black. Having been the proud owner of a couple of previous ’67-’72 Chevys (a ’70 Chevelle SS and a ’70 El Camino SS), he knew that that the style suited him, so he thought that a pickup from those years would be just right for what he had in mind. After a little searching, he came across this ’71 Chevy Cheyenne. McMullan says that the truck was in fair condition when he purchased it (for the now-reasonable, though still hard to believe, price of $11,000), and thus began his three-year odyssey of building his perfect pickup.
