DAILY DRIVER DO’S AND DON’TS
July 30, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Hardin Marine Dual-Stage Swirl-Away Sea Strainer
Hardin Marine has been very aggressive lately in new product development, even though this is a company with a long history in the marine business and already has many exclusive product designs. One of the company’s newest products builds on Hardin’s widespread acceptance. Its Swirl-Away Sea Strainer line is at the forefront of technology in the area of cooling system protection.
55 Tips, Tidbits & Info
One of the many things The Auto Builder does on a daily basis is keep its eyes peeled for small make-a-difference items, tech and how-tos that might benefit you for both street and/or strip application. Sometimes those elements are major, other times they are far less significant, but nonetheless helpful. We also pay particular attention to things that are of interest, up to and including the reasons why an owner did not win at a car show. There are 55 photos here, each with a bit of info. Many may pay dividends for you sometime in the future, so sit back, learn, laugh and enjoy.
WITH A BULLET
Billy Blair is a man with a lot going on. He owns a pool building company that brings in a serious amount of business in Southern California and that allows him to play around with some other fun things like cable TV shows and, well, performance boats. We’ve seen a few of his boats over the years and they are always extremely well appointed and often understated in many ways.
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.
