Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products Aluminum LS Engine Block
October 16, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
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INTERNATIONAL MUSCLE
“It looks like a Chevelle, but what’s up with that grille? Why does this Chevelle have a Pontiac dash in it? Where did you get the special side trim?” These are questions often heard by muscle car enthusiast Nick Hedgecoth, shortly after pulling his ’64 Acadian Beaumont into position at a car show or cruise-in. This mixture of components puzzles many enthusiasts, but it makes for a great-looking car that will always get attention because of its unique styling.
Barely Legal
“I built this Jeep to handle a variety of terrain,” Todd Tice told us. “The coilover five-link rear and three-link front suspension provide excellent articulation for rockcrawling, and it is stable enough for hammering the desert at higher speeds. I wanted the Jeep to be able to handle most off-road challenges and still be able to cruise down the highway. This is an everyday driver,” he added.
Women’s Em[POWER]ment Summit Builds Momentum in Its Second Year at HPX 2026
Returning for its second year, the Women’s Em[POWER]ment Summit brought together women from across the automotive aftermarket, racing, performance, and motorsports industries for a morning focused on leadership, career growth, and personal development. Built around the theme Life by Design: Driving Your Life with Intention, the program encouraged attendees to take a closer look at where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dynamat Xtreme Mega Pak
You can spend serious money on the engine, paint, upholstery and audio system—but if the finished vehicle still rattles, buzzes and sounds like an empty drum, it isn’t really finished. The Dynamat Xtreme Mega Pak is the company’s largest pack of Dynamat Xtreme, the industry-leading sound-deadening material it introduced in
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: SHOW YOUR COLORS WITH PROFORM
You can spend a small fortune making an engine compartment look right, but one parts-store alternator can kill the whole vibe. That plain aluminum lump might get the job done, but it certainly isn’t winning any points when the hood goes up.
Product Showcase: Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion 2026
The 2026 Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion didn’t simply roll into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee—it took the place over. For three days, the LeConte Center and surrounding streets were packed with lifted Wranglers, built Gladiators and enough off-road hardware to empty a Jeep owner’s wallet before lunchtime.
Stuban’s Statement
If you think you’re particular about your street rod—the quality of the build, the effectiveness of the drivetrain and chassis, and the aesthetics of the entire effort—consider what it must be like for someone who has specialized in high-level manufacturing for most of his life.
GOODGUYS COLUMBUS 2026
The 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance took over the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, July 10–12, 2026. As the biggest event on the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association calendar, Columbus brought together thousands of hot rods, customs, classic trucks, muscle cars, and street machines for three
VALUABLE LESSONS
Building an engine at home is exactly what you make of it—your first experience could be a good one if you choose to do it the right way, or it could be a bad one if you take short cuts along the way. As cheesy as it may sound, with
MYSTERY MUSCLE
It’s a beautiful spring morning in Florida. As we round the corner to the next fairway, we assess the hole. Looks like a real beauty, long with deep green grass and a turn to the right. A large pond lies at the end of the fairway. It was the kind
A VISIT WITH THE LOBECKS
You’ve heard the saying, “They went to different schools together.” Well, Ginny and Barry Lobeck did just that. In the 1970s, street rodding was well into its “rebirth,” and mail-order business was just a fledgling industry. In southern Ohio, a young Barry Lobeck was busy finishing a ’65 Riviera. Slammed
DINNER WITH BARRY
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
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: DYNAMAT XTREME RACE BOND
Available exclusively through SRI Performance, Race Bond is a fast-bonding crash-repair material designed to help crews make strong, durable trackside repairs and get damaged race cars back into the action. It is quick, versatile, and built to survive the heat, vibration, and punishment that would make ordinary repair tape wave
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Slippery Sedan
July 16, 2023
The Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion Hits New Heights
September 15, 2025
CAMARO COMPARO
June 18, 2024
101 SHOW-WINNING TECH TIPS
We have compiled 101 show-winning tech tips that will make it a bit easier on you when you are about to get ready for a show. There are certain things you should know, along with things that you should do to your car to grab the attention of show judges and competitors alike. Staring you in the face right now are tips that will take you to the next level. Enjoy these bad boys and we look forward to seeing you at the next show.
MEN AT WORK
Is it us, or does it seem that Jim Bell and his crew at Kenne Bell turn out hot trucks at truly astounding rates? In the past, they have built such a wide variety of trucks and SUVs that it’s hard to count them all. But when you consider all their other projects, such as their ’05 Mustang, the ’04 Focus and the ’04 Escape, it seems they have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger (whatever that means). One of their latest projects is this ’04 Ford F-150. As with most all of the other Kenne Bell projects, it started out as a new vehicle and was destined to be displayed in its SEMA booth.
Strong Armed
Chevy engineers began using trailing arm and coil spring rear suspension designs back in 1958, and in one form or another, this treatment ran through 1964 without much change. Good news for families but bad news for performance enthusiasts, the crossframe cars were remarkable in that they began an era in which suspensions concentrated more on ride quality than on nimble handling.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dynamat Xtreme Mega Pak
August 27, 2026
No Comments
You can spend serious money on the engine, paint, upholstery and audio system—but if the finished vehicle still rattles, buzzes and sounds like an empty drum, it isn’t really finished. The Dynamat Xtreme Mega Pak is the company’s largest pack of Dynamat Xtreme, the industry-leading sound-deadening material it introduced in
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: SHOW YOUR COLORS WITH PROFORM
August 26, 2026
No Comments
You can spend a small fortune making an engine compartment look right, but one parts-store alternator can kill the whole vibe. That plain aluminum lump might get the job done, but it certainly isn’t winning any points when the hood goes up.
Product Showcase: Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion 2026
August 25, 2026
No Comments
The 2026 Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion didn’t simply roll into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee—it took the place over. For three days, the LeConte Center and surrounding streets were packed with lifted Wranglers, built Gladiators and enough off-road hardware to empty a Jeep owner’s wallet before lunchtime.
Stuban’s Statement
August 21, 2026
No Comments
If you think you’re particular about your street rod—the quality of the build, the effectiveness of the drivetrain and chassis, and the aesthetics of the entire effort—consider what it must be like for someone who has specialized in high-level manufacturing for most of his life.
GOODGUYS COLUMBUS 2026
August 20, 2026
No Comments
The 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance took over the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, July 10–12, 2026. As the biggest event on the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association calendar, Columbus brought together thousands of hot rods, customs, classic trucks, muscle cars, and street machines for three
VALUABLE LESSONS
August 19, 2026
No Comments
Building an engine at home is exactly what you make of it—your first experience could be a good one if you choose to do it the right way, or it could be a bad one if you take short cuts along the way. As cheesy as it may sound, with
MYSTERY MUSCLE
August 19, 2026
No Comments
It’s a beautiful spring morning in Florida. As we round the corner to the next fairway, we assess the hole. Looks like a real beauty, long with deep green grass and a turn to the right. A large pond lies at the end of the fairway. It was the kind
A VISIT WITH THE LOBECKS
August 18, 2026
No Comments
You’ve heard the saying, “They went to different schools together.” Well, Ginny and Barry Lobeck did just that. In the 1970s, street rodding was well into its “rebirth,” and mail-order business was just a fledgling industry. In southern Ohio, a young Barry Lobeck was busy finishing a ’65 Riviera. Slammed
DINNER WITH BARRY
August 18, 2026
No Comments
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
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: DYNAMAT XTREME RACE BOND
August 18, 2026
No Comments
Available exclusively through SRI Performance, Race Bond is a fast-bonding crash-repair material designed to help crews make strong, durable trackside repairs and get damaged race cars back into the action. It is quick, versatile, and built to survive the heat, vibration, and punishment that would make ordinary repair tape wave
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
BLACKBIRD
We all have our own passions and preferences in whatever we do: food, music, dress, sports and cars. And passions can run high, particularly with cars. For some it may be Fords, for others Mopars, and there’s the whole broad spectrum of General Motors products—Cadillacs, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs and Chevys, which, of course, have always enjoyed the largest enthusiast following. Yet today more than ever, people looking to separate themselves from the masses are reaching beyond convention to the less-favored among enthusiast cars, but no less admired
nameplates, to satisfy their car needs.
A REAL NINE-SECOND STREET SLEEPER
One look at a car is generally all it takes to determine pretty much what it’s made of—whether it’s fast, incredibly slow or falls safely somewhere in between. There are always typical small details that reveal a car’s true identity, whether it’s a huge exhaust, healthy underpinnings, aggressive rubber on wide wheels, a large, efficient cooling system, a well-laid-out induction with appropriate fuel delivery, sturdy engine mounts and/or mounting, the size and scope of the ignition, as well as the inlet air system.
Driven Racing Oil’s GP-1 8OW-90 Gear Oil
GP-1 Conventional 80W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil is a conventional limited-slip gear oil for use as recommended by high performance gear and differential manufacturers. Designed for racing and high-performance differentials and transaxles, it’s formulated from USA made Pennsylvania Grade base oils that provide natural film strength, tack, and tenacious cling without relying on polymers that shear causing viscosity loss.
Spotlighter
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dynamat Xtreme Mega Pak
August 27, 2026
No Comments
You can spend serious money on the engine, paint, upholstery and audio system—but if the finished vehicle still rattles, buzzes and sounds like an empty drum, it isn’t really finished. The Dynamat Xtreme Mega Pak is the company’s largest pack of Dynamat Xtreme, the industry-leading sound-deadening material it introduced in
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: SHOW YOUR COLORS WITH PROFORM
August 26, 2026
No Comments
You can spend a small fortune making an engine compartment look right, but one parts-store alternator can kill the whole vibe. That plain aluminum lump might get the job done, but it certainly isn’t winning any points when the hood goes up.
Product Showcase: Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion 2026
August 25, 2026
No Comments
The 2026 Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion didn’t simply roll into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee—it took the place over. For three days, the LeConte Center and surrounding streets were packed with lifted Wranglers, built Gladiators and enough off-road hardware to empty a Jeep owner’s wallet before lunchtime.
Stuban’s Statement
August 21, 2026
No Comments
If you think you’re particular about your street rod—the quality of the build, the effectiveness of the drivetrain and chassis, and the aesthetics of the entire effort—consider what it must be like for someone who has specialized in high-level manufacturing for most of his life.
GOODGUYS COLUMBUS 2026
August 20, 2026
No Comments
The 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance took over the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, July 10–12, 2026. As the biggest event on the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association calendar, Columbus brought together thousands of hot rods, customs, classic trucks, muscle cars, and street machines for three
VALUABLE LESSONS
August 19, 2026
No Comments
Building an engine at home is exactly what you make of it—your first experience could be a good one if you choose to do it the right way, or it could be a bad one if you take short cuts along the way. As cheesy as it may sound, with
MYSTERY MUSCLE
August 19, 2026
No Comments
It’s a beautiful spring morning in Florida. As we round the corner to the next fairway, we assess the hole. Looks like a real beauty, long with deep green grass and a turn to the right. A large pond lies at the end of the fairway. It was the kind
A VISIT WITH THE LOBECKS
August 18, 2026
No Comments
You’ve heard the saying, “They went to different schools together.” Well, Ginny and Barry Lobeck did just that. In the 1970s, street rodding was well into its “rebirth,” and mail-order business was just a fledgling industry. In southern Ohio, a young Barry Lobeck was busy finishing a ’65 Riviera. Slammed
DINNER WITH BARRY
August 18, 2026
No Comments
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
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: DYNAMAT XTREME RACE BOND
August 18, 2026
No Comments
Available exclusively through SRI Performance, Race Bond is a fast-bonding crash-repair material designed to help crews make strong, durable trackside repairs and get damaged race cars back into the action. It is quick, versatile, and built to survive the heat, vibration, and punishment that would make ordinary repair tape wave
