SMOKIN’ THE POKER RUN
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The Accusump by Canton Racing Products
Here’s the deal: if you’ve got a V-8 or a high-horsepower V-6 or 4-banger and you’re not running an Accusump, you’re gambling with your engine’s life. The 24-006 Accusump 3 Qt No Valve is one of those pieces of gear you slap on and immediately wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. It’s been saving engines—and wallets—for over 30 years. Let’s break it down.
Inversely Proporsional
One of the most misunderstood performance components on any engine has to be the camshaft, or camshafts in the case of our overhead-cam 4.6-liter Ford engine. The difficulty is only compounded when you add forced induction to the mix. From an anatomical standpoint, the camshaft can be likened to the brain, as the cam profile determines how effectively (when and where) breathing takes place.
High Performance Rebuild
The small-block Chevy has enjoyed a long, happy life. Sure, the current LS1/LS6 version is quite far removed from the original, but thousands upon thousands of little mouse motors continue to provide the sole means of motivation to everything from stationary irrigation pumps to Le Mans-winning C5R Corvettes. Naturally, this list also includes all manner of boulevard bruisers, street stompers and resto rockets. Heck, we’ve even seen little Chevys under the hood of “Brand X” machinery. The continued popularity of the small-block Chevy is not surprising. Take a look at the combination of power potential and parts availability and multiply that by the cost quotient, and you have the makings of a real success story. Add to this equation the millions of project motors just sitting around junkyards throughout the world, and it is easy to see why enthusiasts continue to embrace the mighty mouse motor as the performance powerplant of choice.
TWO WORLDS CONVERGE
Nick Barron is no stranger to building fine performance vehicles. For more than 40 years, he has been the catalyst in handcrafting some of the finest performance machines around, a clockwork of components powered by nasty big-block Chevy engines and outfitted with the finest in custom appointments. The results of
WHATZIT?
Our first thought was to try to figure out which make and model the custom started out as. Generally, there are enough clues that can enable you to determine the origin of a custom. This one, though, was so radically modified, yet nicely done, that it was particularly difficult to
The Other American Musclecar
American Motors was an extremely conservative automobile company, happy with building basic transportation cars and small, economical compacts. When Pontiac stunned the world with the sales success of the ’64 GTO, many of the other car manufacturers also wanted to cash in on the new emerging muscle car movement. If
TEAM EFFORT
Vic, Jr. and his wife, Nancy, had been entertaining the idea of building a ’57 Chevy when they happened upon one of the most innovative builders around, Posies. It didn’t take long for them to strike up a conversation, and right then the plans were set into motion. While the
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 1973–1979 Ford Truck LED Digital Gauge Panel by Intellitronix
Time to stop staring at that dusty old dash and upgrade your cockpit like a boss. The Intellitronix 1973–1979 Ford Truck LED Digital Gauge Panel isn’t just a swap—it’s a straight-up modern takeover for your classic Ford. Clean, mean, and screaming tech.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Talon’s Garage Skid Plate Package for 2015-2025 Ford F-150
There’s no shortage of bolt-on parts for the Ford F-150, but very few are built with real-world punishment in mind. The Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package isn’t designed to look good in a parking lot — it’s engineered to protect your truck when conditions turn rough and mistakes
Product Spotlight: Sequential 8-1 Headers by HDR Industries & Stainless Headers MFG. INC.
Let’s cut to the chase, because this definitely isn’t your grandpa’s set of rusty old manifolds. The HDR Sequential 8-1 Headers from Stainless Headers are a next-level, hand-crafted performance weapon for big-inch V-8s — purpose-built for jet boat and high-output marine applications — and they were one of the most
The Cars & Trucks That Defined PRI 2025
PRI is where performance gets honest. No hype cycles. No trend chasing. Just builders, engineers, and racers showing exactly what works when the gloves come off. At PRI 2025 in Indianapolis, the show floor was packed with innovation—but only a handful of cars and trucks truly separated themselves from the
Products That Caught Our Eye at PRI 2025
The 2025 PRI Show in Indianapolis was a full-throttle showcase of performance automotive products, from street-ready upgrades to extreme race tech. We hit the floor to highlight the booths, parts, and builds that really stood out—gear that makes engines breathe better, weld stronger, and deliver reliable horsepower with precision.
PRI 2025 New Product Round-Up
The 2025 PRI Show just tore through Indianapolis, and if you weren’t there, you missed a full-throttle showcase of racing tech that doesn’t mess around. Builders, racers, and gearheads packed the floor, and the energy was absolute chaos—in the best way. The products? They didn’t whisper—they slammed onto the scene,
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: AirSafe Emergency Support Kit TM by R.S. Restorations
November 27, 2024
FALKEN TIRE DRIFT SHOWOFF
June 14, 2023
TWO WORLDS CONVERGE
January 8, 2026
Oh-So-Fine MR2
As I was walking around the NOPI Nationals looking for cars to feature, this one stood out from the masses. What surprised me even more is that it stood out in a very impressive Toyo Tires booth. That is not an easy location to score. Toyo always has one of the hottest booths at NOPI and Hills MR2 literally stole the show.
SUBTLY SLICED
Subtle is a term that doesn’t describe many hot rods, as most of them use bright paint and loud engines to stand out in the crowd. The new wave of high-end hot rods, however, often use softer colors and more elegant themes to make an outstanding statement. Doug Hoppe’s ’35 Ford coupe is a fine example of a subtle yet radical rod, and the crew at Lakeside Rods and Rides did an amazing job with the extensive metalwork, paint and final assembly. Lakeside Rods and Rides is notorious for elegant street rods, including this year’s America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, and the guys in the shop know exactly what it takes to build a jaw-dropping car.
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.
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TWO WORLDS CONVERGE
January 8, 2026
No Comments
Nick Barron is no stranger to building fine performance vehicles. For more than 40 years, he has been the catalyst in handcrafting some of the finest performance machines around, a clockwork of components powered by nasty big-block Chevy engines and outfitted with the finest in custom appointments. The results of
WHATZIT?
January 8, 2026
No Comments
Our first thought was to try to figure out which make and model the custom started out as. Generally, there are enough clues that can enable you to determine the origin of a custom. This one, though, was so radically modified, yet nicely done, that it was particularly difficult to
The Other American Musclecar
January 8, 2026
No Comments
American Motors was an extremely conservative automobile company, happy with building basic transportation cars and small, economical compacts. When Pontiac stunned the world with the sales success of the ’64 GTO, many of the other car manufacturers also wanted to cash in on the new emerging muscle car movement. If
TEAM EFFORT
January 8, 2026
No Comments
Vic, Jr. and his wife, Nancy, had been entertaining the idea of building a ’57 Chevy when they happened upon one of the most innovative builders around, Posies. It didn’t take long for them to strike up a conversation, and right then the plans were set into motion. While the
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 1973–1979 Ford Truck LED Digital Gauge Panel by Intellitronix
January 7, 2026
No Comments
Time to stop staring at that dusty old dash and upgrade your cockpit like a boss. The Intellitronix 1973–1979 Ford Truck LED Digital Gauge Panel isn’t just a swap—it’s a straight-up modern takeover for your classic Ford. Clean, mean, and screaming tech.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Talon’s Garage Skid Plate Package for 2015-2025 Ford F-150
January 6, 2026
No Comments
There’s no shortage of bolt-on parts for the Ford F-150, but very few are built with real-world punishment in mind. The Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package isn’t designed to look good in a parking lot — it’s engineered to protect your truck when conditions turn rough and mistakes
Product Spotlight: Sequential 8-1 Headers by HDR Industries & Stainless Headers MFG. INC.
December 30, 2025
No Comments
Let’s cut to the chase, because this definitely isn’t your grandpa’s set of rusty old manifolds. The HDR Sequential 8-1 Headers from Stainless Headers are a next-level, hand-crafted performance weapon for big-inch V-8s — purpose-built for jet boat and high-output marine applications — and they were one of the most
The Cars & Trucks That Defined PRI 2025
December 29, 2025
No Comments
PRI is where performance gets honest. No hype cycles. No trend chasing. Just builders, engineers, and racers showing exactly what works when the gloves come off. At PRI 2025 in Indianapolis, the show floor was packed with innovation—but only a handful of cars and trucks truly separated themselves from the
Products That Caught Our Eye at PRI 2025
December 19, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 PRI Show in Indianapolis was a full-throttle showcase of performance automotive products, from street-ready upgrades to extreme race tech. We hit the floor to highlight the booths, parts, and builds that really stood out—gear that makes engines breathe better, weld stronger, and deliver reliable horsepower with precision.
PRI 2025 New Product Round-Up
December 17, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 PRI Show just tore through Indianapolis, and if you weren’t there, you missed a full-throttle showcase of racing tech that doesn’t mess around. Builders, racers, and gearheads packed the floor, and the energy was absolute chaos—in the best way. The products? They didn’t whisper—they slammed onto the scene,
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
PUTTING THE “HAUL” BACK IN HAULER
July 16, 2023
MINI-ME
July 16, 2023
TAKING IT TO HEART
July 16, 2023
NOPI LIVE 2003
NOPI, NOPI, NOPI … that was all I heard in August. Everyone I spoke to was getting ready for the NOPI Nationals in Atlanta. Whether I was talking to a manufacturer, builder or enthusiast, I got the same response: “… getting ready for the NOPI Nats.”
Competition and Chrome
The Holley LS Fest West Car Show is an epic event that pays homage to the legacy and performance of LS and LT-powered machines. Imagine this: a gathering of the sickest LS and current-gen LT rides you’d ever seen, each one a testament to the blood, sweat, and grease poured into its creation. But we’re not just talking about flashy paint jobs and blinged-out rims – we were all about the nitty-gritty details here. From intricate mods to groundbreaking designs, we were on the prowl for rides that screamed individuality.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 6.5L Turbo-Master Wastegate Controller
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.
Spotlighter
TWO WORLDS CONVERGE
January 8, 2026
No Comments
Nick Barron is no stranger to building fine performance vehicles. For more than 40 years, he has been the catalyst in handcrafting some of the finest performance machines around, a clockwork of components powered by nasty big-block Chevy engines and outfitted with the finest in custom appointments. The results of
WHATZIT?
January 8, 2026
No Comments
Our first thought was to try to figure out which make and model the custom started out as. Generally, there are enough clues that can enable you to determine the origin of a custom. This one, though, was so radically modified, yet nicely done, that it was particularly difficult to
The Other American Musclecar
January 8, 2026
No Comments
American Motors was an extremely conservative automobile company, happy with building basic transportation cars and small, economical compacts. When Pontiac stunned the world with the sales success of the ’64 GTO, many of the other car manufacturers also wanted to cash in on the new emerging muscle car movement. If
TEAM EFFORT
January 8, 2026
No Comments
Vic, Jr. and his wife, Nancy, had been entertaining the idea of building a ’57 Chevy when they happened upon one of the most innovative builders around, Posies. It didn’t take long for them to strike up a conversation, and right then the plans were set into motion. While the
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 1973–1979 Ford Truck LED Digital Gauge Panel by Intellitronix
January 7, 2026
No Comments
Time to stop staring at that dusty old dash and upgrade your cockpit like a boss. The Intellitronix 1973–1979 Ford Truck LED Digital Gauge Panel isn’t just a swap—it’s a straight-up modern takeover for your classic Ford. Clean, mean, and screaming tech.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Talon’s Garage Skid Plate Package for 2015-2025 Ford F-150
January 6, 2026
No Comments
There’s no shortage of bolt-on parts for the Ford F-150, but very few are built with real-world punishment in mind. The Talons Garage Ford F-150 skid plate package isn’t designed to look good in a parking lot — it’s engineered to protect your truck when conditions turn rough and mistakes
Product Spotlight: Sequential 8-1 Headers by HDR Industries & Stainless Headers MFG. INC.
December 30, 2025
No Comments
Let’s cut to the chase, because this definitely isn’t your grandpa’s set of rusty old manifolds. The HDR Sequential 8-1 Headers from Stainless Headers are a next-level, hand-crafted performance weapon for big-inch V-8s — purpose-built for jet boat and high-output marine applications — and they were one of the most
The Cars & Trucks That Defined PRI 2025
December 29, 2025
No Comments
PRI is where performance gets honest. No hype cycles. No trend chasing. Just builders, engineers, and racers showing exactly what works when the gloves come off. At PRI 2025 in Indianapolis, the show floor was packed with innovation—but only a handful of cars and trucks truly separated themselves from the
Products That Caught Our Eye at PRI 2025
December 19, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 PRI Show in Indianapolis was a full-throttle showcase of performance automotive products, from street-ready upgrades to extreme race tech. We hit the floor to highlight the booths, parts, and builds that really stood out—gear that makes engines breathe better, weld stronger, and deliver reliable horsepower with precision.
PRI 2025 New Product Round-Up
December 17, 2025
No Comments
The 2025 PRI Show just tore through Indianapolis, and if you weren’t there, you missed a full-throttle showcase of racing tech that doesn’t mess around. Builders, racers, and gearheads packed the floor, and the energy was absolute chaos—in the best way. The products? They didn’t whisper—they slammed onto the scene,
