THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
LITTLE DEUCE COUPE
LEGENDARY. For something to become a true legend (which actually may be a contradiction in terms), it must survive a certain amount of time. Our Funk & Wagnalls tells us this: “Legend (lej’end) n. 1. An unauthenticated story from earlier times, preserved by tradition and popularly thought to be historical. 2. A body or accumulation of such stories as those connected with a people or culture.” Under these guidelines, the famous blue coupe on these pages is legendary by definition. The fact that it survives today perpetuates the legend.
PUMP THE POWER: PART 2
Auto manufacturers are constantly working to develop trucks that safely tow and haul more weight. However, the byproduct of high load capabilities is a rough unloaded ride. On a recent visit to J&D Performance, we found the crew beginning work on an Air Ride system for the owner of a 1999 F-350 two-wheel-drive dually. The owner of the truck was happy with its ability to tow and haul, thanks to Part-1’s addition of a full Banks Power Pack, but extremely unhappy with the truck’s ride when unloaded.
RILEY’S ’72 Chevy
It seems never to fail: You buy an old truck from a friend or family member with the intent of just sticking a used motor in it and giving it a quick paint job. This usually means that the front clip comes off to put the motor in, and that leads to taking apart the front suspension, which leads to assorted chassis upgrades, as well as the rest of the frame components being unbolted and stripped down for paint, and that means the cab is taken off and sent to a paint shop. Well, you know how those stories play out, and without going any further, this is exactly what happened to Jim Riley and his son Dusty.
Spotlighter
The Paws That Refreshes
Who Says the Guys Get to Have All the Fun?
Author
Bob McClurg
Story & Photography
Becky Walker, a housewife and career woman from Jarrell, Texas, has two hobbies: raising Great Pyrenees show dogs and her purple prism 53 Chevrolet show truck, appropriately named 53 PAW.
About six years ago, my husband, Billy, dragged this raggedy old 53 Chevrolet farm truck home and told me he was going to fix it up for me to drive. That was the beginning of a major project that lasted over two years. We worked every night, weekend and holiday on that truck. In fact, I distinctly remember spending one New Year’s Eve, back in 2004, helping Billy change out two sets of springs.
A professional welding technician by trade, Walker stripped the old stovebolt to the bare frame, and then he installed the front frame clip from a 79 Pontiac Trans-Am Firebird, which instantly updated the old hauler to independent front suspension, power steering and power front disc brakes. In the process, Walker installed a performance Suspension Technology bushing kit and a PST front anti-sway bar setup.
Out back, Walker installed a 3.73:1-geared Chevrolet Suburban Positraction 12-bolt live rear axle riding on a set of 53 Chevrolet re-arched rear springs. The shock absorbers are KYB gas-charged shocks, and the wheels and tires consist of a set of 17×7-inch front and 18×8-inch rear Intro V-Rod two-piece modular aluminum units, rolling on P225/45ZR 17-inch and P255/45ZR 18-inch Toyo Proxies. Other chassis modifications include the installation of a 22-gallon Rock Valley stainless steel gas tank under the bed of the truck.
Powering the truck is an owner-assembled 72 Pontiac 400 H.O. overbored 0.060 inch. The Walkers big-inch Poncho features a set of TRW forged aluminum pistons, an Edelbrock Performer cam and kit, along with a Holley 750cfm carburetor and Edelbrock Performer intake. The ignition is a combination of Mallory and Taylor items, while the exhaust consists of an owner-fabricated 2-1/2-inch dual exhaust, fit with a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. Backing up all of this is a Monarch Transmission GM TH350.
Walker and friend Donny Hughes were responsible for the bodywork and the outstanding DuPont ChromaLusion Absolute Purpleen Prizm paint on the 53. Before paint, the duo installed a rolled rear pan, a third brake light and a Chevy Bow Tie emblem in the pickup bed. Finally, Bruce Hammond executed the mural of Becky’s favorite Great Pyrenees, Snowflake, on the tailgate.
Inside, the truck features the purple tweed and white vinyl handiwork of Arthur Ochoa. Also on board is Comfort Series purple nylon carpet, a six-way GM tilt steering column and a Grant GT steering wheel. The truck also features Old Air A/C, Electric-Life power windows, Alpine AM/FM/CD and Dakota Digital instrumentation.
Becky shows her 53 at local car and truck shows throughout the Southwest and has won numerous awards.
This is what Becky Walker’s ’53 Chevrolet looked like when her husband Billy hauled it home six years ago.
The truck had been used to haul old tires.
Two years of late nights, weekends and holidays has produced this awesome-looking ’53 Chevrolet 3100-Series pickup. It’s a genuine beauty!
No matter where you look, this Southwestern beauty abounds with detail.
Powering this beauty is an owner-assembled 544 Pontiac H.O. big block bored 0.060 inch and stuffed with TRW pistons, an Edelbrock cam and kit, and a Holley 750cfm carburetor and Edelbrock intake.
Another personal touch is the paw prints adorning the inside of the Chevy’s engine compartment.
The purple and white vinyl interior inside Becky’s pickup was stitched by Arthur Ochoa.
Billy Walker and friend Danny Hughes performed all the bodywork, including installing this rolled pan with ’48 Chevrolet taillights.
Those running lights originally came from the side flanks of a Plymouth Volare.
Artist Bruce Hammond is the man responsible for painting this beautiful mural of Becky’s favorite pooch, Snowflake.
No matter what the angle, Becky’s half-ton Chevrolet looks outstanding in the early-morning Texas sun with its Absolute Purpleen Prizm paint.
Out back, you’ll find a Chevrolet Bow Tie emblem inside the pickup bed and plenty of urethane-coated hardwood.
Becky is rightfully proud of her “53 PAW,” which is named after her penchant for Great Pyrenees dogs.
