FASTER PASTOR
January 30, 2025
THE AUTO BUILDER
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LIGHTEN UP
The new E46 BMW M3 comes equipped with some serious OE HID headlights, but what if you’re still not happy? You want something different; you want to add some spice to your headlight setup. Well, this story is just for you.
Cool Breeze
When Tony Gonzalez says that it is his business to be cool, he really means it. Gonzalez owns an air conditioning repair and installation company, but what gets him hot in his spare time (read, winter) is to build and ride in his 1995 Chevy Silverado.
Zap-A-Jack
We know youʼve already checked out the photos or you wouldnʼt be reading this. You obviously wish to know a little more about this jack, so weʼll cut to the bottom line: If you get one of these for your very own, youʼd better not tell any of your buddies about it, or you will have to make room in the safe to store it. If they spot it in your trunk, just laugh about how you got it as a gift and hope none of them reads this article, or you will have to tape a cell phone to it to find out where it is this weekend–just when you need it!
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,
NEWMAD
Automobiles and customizing developed simultaneously. There have always been individuals who had a need, a persistent yearning, to personalize their belongings. Some people add their initials to clothing or suitcases, some homeowners paint and landscape their dwellings differently than their neighbors, and some auto enthusiasts customize their automobiles to stand
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix LED Digital Gauge Panel for ’73–’87 Chevy/GMC Trucks
Upgrade your square-body dash game with the ultimate blend of modern precision and classic truck aesthetics. If your ride is a ’73-’87 Chevy or GMC and you’re ready to swap out that outdated cluster, this digital panel means business.
Honoring Steve Frisbie: A Legend in Metal and Vision
The custom car world has lost one of its true visionaries. Steve Frisbie, founder of Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 18, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in his home. His departure leaves a profound void in the restoration and hot-rod community, yet the imprint
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel for Squarebody GM Trucks (1973–1987)
Bring your Squarebody’s dash into the modern era with the Intellitronix Analog Replacement Gauge Panel (AP6004) — a killer upgrade that blends classic analog style with next-gen performance and precision.
C10 Nationals 2025: Nashville Sets Record-Breaking Truck Celebration
The 5th annual Classic Parts of America C10 Nationals® presented by Chevrolet Performance roared into Nashville last weekend, and 2025 set new all-time records! With 1,400 trucks on display, this was two days of pure, non-stop excitement for C10 fans from across the country. From garage-built classics to jaw-dropping pro-level
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products Aluminum LS Engine Block
If you’re building an LS engine meant to dominate the strip, carve canyon roads, or simply crush the scales on any dyno, the BMP‑086515 Aluminum LS Engine Block is your ticket. Built from high-strength 357T6 aluminum alloy, it weighs a mere 135 lbs with caps and sleeves, giving you a
Product Spotlight: Pyramid Optimized Design Sequential Aurora Taillight for 1964½–1966 Mustang
If you’ve ever followed a classic Mustang at night, you know the taillights were never its strong suit. Pyramid Optimized Design decided to fix that—with style. The Sequential Aurora Taillight is a modern LED retrofit that finally gives your early Mustang the bright, even illumination it always deserved—no hot spots,
Product Spotlight: DIESELSITE 17-Row COOLERMAX Transmission Cooler
Rated at a monster 59,000 BTUs, this cooler doesn’t just compete—it sets the bar. Standard factory units limp along at 15k–30k BTU. Even most “heavy-duty” aftermarket coolers top out well below the COOLERMAX’s rating. That extra capacity can mean the difference between cruising safely at 180° or cooking at 240°.
Ford Fever in the Smokies
Every September, the Smoky Mountains turn Ford blue when the F-100 Supernationals takes over Sevierville, Tennessee. This isn’t just a truck show—it’s the largest gathering of classic Ford haulers on the planet, and it’s been pulling fans in for decades. If you’ve never been, imagine rows of F-series as far
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
XTREME LEE
To the uninitiated, this may look like the General Lee ’69 Charger featured in varying numbers on “The Dukes of Hazzard” television show. A closer review tells of an even greater historical connection. Xtreme Lee is as much a statement of intent as it is the car’s moniker, and when you’re pressed into the seats, there’s little question it lives up to its name.
Project BRONCAROO
Today’s 4x4s have become extremely specialized. At one end of the spectrum are one-off, purpose-built, non-street-legal rock buggies. These are the cream of the rock crop. Most have tube chassis with what seems like nearly 360 degrees of axle articulation. Often the transfer cases are doubled up to produce crawl ratios way beyond the once magical 100:1. They’re obviously awesome, and capable of handling boulders as if they were speed bumps.
MORE THAN ORIGINAL
It’s funny how certain car-related associations work out. Maybe timing really is everything when it comes to cars. When Arvada, Colorado’s Ken Godsey was a teenager, his dream car was a ’67 big-block Mustang. “I always wanted to own a 1967 Mustang Fastback,” Godsey SAID. “And when I went looking for my first car with my father, we found a ’67 Mustang Fastback, one with a 428 FE engine that had been installed by the previous owner. It was the perfect car for me!” Godsey’s father, however, thought otherwise. “What I ended up with instead of that 428 Mustang was a ’70 Chevelle sedan with a 307 engine in it. I never forgave old dad for that one,” he SAID with a smile.
Spotlighter
BLACKBIRD
October 30, 2025
No Comments
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,
NEWMAD
October 28, 2025
No Comments
Automobiles and customizing developed simultaneously. There have always been individuals who had a need, a persistent yearning, to personalize their belongings. Some people add their initials to clothing or suitcases, some homeowners paint and landscape their dwellings differently than their neighbors, and some auto enthusiasts customize their automobiles to stand
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix LED Digital Gauge Panel for ’73–’87 Chevy/GMC Trucks
October 28, 2025
No Comments
Upgrade your square-body dash game with the ultimate blend of modern precision and classic truck aesthetics. If your ride is a ’73-’87 Chevy or GMC and you’re ready to swap out that outdated cluster, this digital panel means business.
Honoring Steve Frisbie: A Legend in Metal and Vision
October 24, 2025
No Comments
The custom car world has lost one of its true visionaries. Steve Frisbie, founder of Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 18, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in his home. His departure leaves a profound void in the restoration and hot-rod community, yet the imprint
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel for Squarebody GM Trucks (1973–1987)
October 20, 2025
No Comments
Bring your Squarebody’s dash into the modern era with the Intellitronix Analog Replacement Gauge Panel (AP6004) — a killer upgrade that blends classic analog style with next-gen performance and precision.
C10 Nationals 2025: Nashville Sets Record-Breaking Truck Celebration
October 16, 2025
No Comments
The 5th annual Classic Parts of America C10 Nationals® presented by Chevrolet Performance roared into Nashville last weekend, and 2025 set new all-time records! With 1,400 trucks on display, this was two days of pure, non-stop excitement for C10 fans from across the country. From garage-built classics to jaw-dropping pro-level
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products Aluminum LS Engine Block
October 16, 2025
No Comments
If you’re building an LS engine meant to dominate the strip, carve canyon roads, or simply crush the scales on any dyno, the BMP‑086515 Aluminum LS Engine Block is your ticket. Built from high-strength 357T6 aluminum alloy, it weighs a mere 135 lbs with caps and sleeves, giving you a
Product Spotlight: Pyramid Optimized Design Sequential Aurora Taillight for 1964½–1966 Mustang
October 16, 2025
No Comments
If you’ve ever followed a classic Mustang at night, you know the taillights were never its strong suit. Pyramid Optimized Design decided to fix that—with style. The Sequential Aurora Taillight is a modern LED retrofit that finally gives your early Mustang the bright, even illumination it always deserved—no hot spots,
Product Spotlight: DIESELSITE 17-Row COOLERMAX Transmission Cooler
October 2, 2025
No Comments
Rated at a monster 59,000 BTUs, this cooler doesn’t just compete—it sets the bar. Standard factory units limp along at 15k–30k BTU. Even most “heavy-duty” aftermarket coolers top out well below the COOLERMAX’s rating. That extra capacity can mean the difference between cruising safely at 180° or cooking at 240°.
Ford Fever in the Smokies
September 30, 2025
No Comments
Every September, the Smoky Mountains turn Ford blue when the F-100 Supernationals takes over Sevierville, Tennessee. This isn’t just a truck show—it’s the largest gathering of classic Ford haulers on the planet, and it’s been pulling fans in for decades. If you’ve never been, imagine rows of F-series as far
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Triple Crown of Muscle Cars 2024
The Triple Crown of Rodding isn’t just an event—it’s a battleground where the world’s finest muscle cars and custom rods come to claim their place among legends. In 2024, this showcase of horsepower and craftsmanship cemented itself as a must-hit for anyone who eats, sleeps, and breathes the rumble of a V8. If you’re obsessed with torque and tire smoke, this was the event of the year.
PACKED WITH POTENTIAL
The Power Programmer is designed so that once the parameters are established and loaded, the unit is pulled and the program remains in the onboard computer until you elect to remove it. The HyperPAC is different; this unit stays in place. In addition to the three stages of performance tuning—the HyperPAC has all of the performance programming benefits of the Power Programmer—it also has diagnostics; an engine monitor with a complete gauge display; a dynamometer, which includes such items such as a horsepower graph; and our favorite, a dragstrip program. This program actually monitors real-time engine operating conditions, has a Christmas tree start, displays a timeslip and will provide you with “magazine-type road test” acceleration times in 10-mile increments. It will record and display important engine operating conditions throughout the run and will display drive wheel horsepower versus vehicle speed after each run—in both table and graph formats.
SPRING TO ACTION
Dean Brown, a longtime rodder, was in the market for a new project car and stumbled across this ’52 Chevy panel truck, which turned out to be one of the original Helms trucks. The bakery cabinets had been removed but the body was in good condition, and it was still running with the original six-cylinder engine. Brown thought the truck was very cool, so he made a deal with its owner and drove it home. He formulated a plan of attack and started acquiring the parts he needed to turn it into a hot Chevy panel. The parts included a strong-running V-8 engine, a Turbo 350 transmission, a Fat Man Fabrications IFS front suspension and a new rear suspension that would provide a softer ride quality.
Spotlighter
BLACKBIRD
October 30, 2025
No Comments
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,
NEWMAD
October 28, 2025
No Comments
Automobiles and customizing developed simultaneously. There have always been individuals who had a need, a persistent yearning, to personalize their belongings. Some people add their initials to clothing or suitcases, some homeowners paint and landscape their dwellings differently than their neighbors, and some auto enthusiasts customize their automobiles to stand
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix LED Digital Gauge Panel for ’73–’87 Chevy/GMC Trucks
October 28, 2025
No Comments
Upgrade your square-body dash game with the ultimate blend of modern precision and classic truck aesthetics. If your ride is a ’73-’87 Chevy or GMC and you’re ready to swap out that outdated cluster, this digital panel means business.
Honoring Steve Frisbie: A Legend in Metal and Vision
October 24, 2025
No Comments
The custom car world has lost one of its true visionaries. Steve Frisbie, founder of Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 18, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in his home. His departure leaves a profound void in the restoration and hot-rod community, yet the imprint
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Intellitronix Analog Gauge Panel for Squarebody GM Trucks (1973–1987)
October 20, 2025
No Comments
Bring your Squarebody’s dash into the modern era with the Intellitronix Analog Replacement Gauge Panel (AP6004) — a killer upgrade that blends classic analog style with next-gen performance and precision.
C10 Nationals 2025: Nashville Sets Record-Breaking Truck Celebration
October 16, 2025
No Comments
The 5th annual Classic Parts of America C10 Nationals® presented by Chevrolet Performance roared into Nashville last weekend, and 2025 set new all-time records! With 1,400 trucks on display, this was two days of pure, non-stop excitement for C10 fans from across the country. From garage-built classics to jaw-dropping pro-level
Product Spotlight: Bill Mitchell Products Aluminum LS Engine Block
October 16, 2025
No Comments
If you’re building an LS engine meant to dominate the strip, carve canyon roads, or simply crush the scales on any dyno, the BMP‑086515 Aluminum LS Engine Block is your ticket. Built from high-strength 357T6 aluminum alloy, it weighs a mere 135 lbs with caps and sleeves, giving you a
Product Spotlight: Pyramid Optimized Design Sequential Aurora Taillight for 1964½–1966 Mustang
October 16, 2025
No Comments
If you’ve ever followed a classic Mustang at night, you know the taillights were never its strong suit. Pyramid Optimized Design decided to fix that—with style. The Sequential Aurora Taillight is a modern LED retrofit that finally gives your early Mustang the bright, even illumination it always deserved—no hot spots,
Product Spotlight: DIESELSITE 17-Row COOLERMAX Transmission Cooler
October 2, 2025
No Comments
Rated at a monster 59,000 BTUs, this cooler doesn’t just compete—it sets the bar. Standard factory units limp along at 15k–30k BTU. Even most “heavy-duty” aftermarket coolers top out well below the COOLERMAX’s rating. That extra capacity can mean the difference between cruising safely at 180° or cooking at 240°.
Ford Fever in the Smokies
September 30, 2025
No Comments
Every September, the Smoky Mountains turn Ford blue when the F-100 Supernationals takes over Sevierville, Tennessee. This isn’t just a truck show—it’s the largest gathering of classic Ford haulers on the planet, and it’s been pulling fans in for decades. If you’ve never been, imagine rows of F-series as far
