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OffRoad Trucks

COVER YOUR BOTTOM

There are many ways to finish the bottom of any car. Whether you are building new, from the ground up or even detailing a rebuild that is not the off-the-frame type, you have options. And regardless of the extent of the refurbishing, you could even leave the underside in some shade of primer as it is easy to touch up, and the fenderwells and underside often become marked with use.

Show Car Buildoff: Painting Basics

When news of the Show Car Buildoff began circulating, the team at DuPont Hot Hues saw it as an excellent opportunity to not only become involved, but also to provide a sound platform to help all of us better understand what is involved in painting a car. The color selection is a process in and of itself, but having a better understanding of the characteristics of the materials used, how to use them and what is involved in using them is helpful as well.

CRATE OPPORTUNITIES

If you’ve ever imagined a time when you could simply pick up the phone or send an e-mail to General Motors and order the engine of your dreams, pull it out of a box delivered to your door and plug it into the car of your dreams, then stop dreaming as that time has come. While it’s not new information that GM Performance Parts provides an assortment of engines to choose from, it’s never been easier to select the one that is best for your budget and the intended purpose of your car.

LS is MORE

When GM introduced the Gen III small block in the F-body, it rekindled a dying performance flame with its new-generation small block. While the Gen I small block actually kick-started the hobby and got it into gear, it’s the latest family of small-block engines that has grabbed the attention of enthusiasts everywhere—and for good reason.

Choosing The Right Cam

Cam-speak is a language all its own. Well, maybe not from a linguistic point of view, but it is a specialized dialect of car-guy talk. Although spoken by a good portion of enthusiasts, Cam-speak is really fully understood by only a handful of those same enthusiasts, as it is a very specialized, nuanced dialect. Those who do not speak the lingo can instantly be singled out. Those who are fluent in cam-speak are listened to intently, even when those listening do not fully comprehend whatʼs being said and how to apply it to their particular applications. Few within our ranks are particularly fluent in this highly specialized jargon.

TENNESSEE HUMMIN’

It’s long been stated, “If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody here’s it, did it make any noise?” which offers up another question. If the beauty of a forest is out of reach and remains unseen, is it ever to be appreciated?

Product Spotlight: Artec Industries Alpha Series Aluminum Belly Pan Systems

Back in 2013, Artec Industries embarked on a mission to create robust armor products tailored for the hardcore off-road crowd. Their adventure began with their very first Jeep Wrangler JK, fondly named the ARTECON. Initially, they experimented with steel as the go-to material. However, it didn’t take long to uncover steel’s inherent drawbacks: it was heavy, a pain to install, prone to overheating, a gas guzzler, and susceptible to rust.

Texas Sized Toyota

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. “Everything” applies to belt buckles, women’s hair, and yes, even trucks. Frisco, Texas residents Charles and Vickie Kim’s 1969 FJ-40 Land Cruiser was built using that same “bigger is better” philosophy, in everything from the gearing to the axles to the tires.

FINDING THE RIGHT C10

The Action Line C10 series, produced from 1967 to 1972, is one of the most popular of the classic era of Chevy trucks. They have been transformed into every form imaginable, from sweet shop trucks to double-throwdown showstoppers, from strip-burning quarter-pounders to boulder-flattening off-roaders, and certainly everything in between. We’ll long remember the days when a black ’70 stepside would pass you on the street, dumped low in the front with Americans all around, running fat rubber out back and sweet-sounding exhaust dumping out in front of the rear wheels. You just knew that guy had something trick in the garage at home, too.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Watch Dog Automatic Battery Disconnect Safety Switch by Flaming River

In the realm of automotive care, ensuring the safety and longevity of your vehicle’s electrical system is paramount. The Watch Dog Automatic Battery Disconnect Safety Switch by Flaming River stands out as a premier solution for managing battery power with unmatched reliability and innovation. Whether you’re fine-tuning a classic car, gearing up for a race, or navigating rugged off-road terrain, this switch is engineered to protect your battery and electrical components under all conditions.

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