Modern Rodding Volume 4, Issue 33 - June 2023

“If you don’t have a hot rod, you are missing out on a lot.” Those words were uttered during a recent phone conversation I had. Yes, I went old school and picked up a phone rather than IM, text, email, or any other of today’s non-verbalizing forms of communication. I am reminded how rewarding, fulfilling, and exact a human voice can sound on a phone. Especially when compared to non-vocal communication. My grandkids tell me, “Yo, you are so retro.” But I find human conversation much more rewarding than texting. Besides my carpal tunnel syndrome is acting up so it’s time to put the miniature keyboard aside. I was speaking with our techie Ron Ceridono who to this day is one of the few who still uses a phone first…

ARP is getting into supporting the hot rod industry in a big way. ARP is known for sponsoring two of the most prestigious awards (AMBR and Slonaker) at the Grand National Roadster Show. Now ARP is sponsoring the ARP West Coast Challenge for a four-show series that includes the GNRS, Portland Roadster Show, Spokane Speed and Custom Show, and the Sacramento Autorama. Now there is more. ARP is now the presenting sponsor for the Triple Crown of Rodding for the Street Rod of the Year, Street Machine of the Year, and Street Cruiser of the Year. LMC is the presenting sponsoring for the three truck awards, earmarked for trucks built up to 1972, for those manufactured from 1973-87, and 1988-98. And if that isn’t eye-opening enough, how about the latest…

1. UPGRADE YOUR FALCON OR COMET Total Control Products now offers a g-Bar Canted-4-Bar Suspension that is designed specifically for the ’60-65 Ford Falcon and Mercury Comet models, providing improved performance and handling when compared to the original leaf spring suspension. With adjustable suspension geometry and the option to choose between coilover or air-spring shocks, this suspension upgrade offers enhanced control and stability on the road. The triangulated four-link design offers improved traction and handling. The suspension can also be used with either a leaf spring rearend housing or a fabricated Ford 9-inch housing. For more info, check out Total Control Products (800) 722-2269 or visit totalcontrolproducts.com. 2. A NEW STUD ON THE BLOCK ARP’s unique accessory studs with a rounded “nut starter” nose are specially designed studs for securing…

There was a time when hot rods and race cars were built in home shops. Many older rodders remember these days as the “glory days” of rodding and racing. There will be doubters but this ’32 Ford highboy roadster, which took home the 2023 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster trophy, is, in a manner of speaking, a home shop–built hot rod. No matter how quickly you think you will be able to build your dream hot rod, the fact is it’s a lifetime in the making. There is no getting around the idea that Jack had the inspiration and put forth the effort to come up with the overall design. He then sacrificed countless days and nights to support the effort it took to build his ’32 Ford highboy roadster. Now,…

Jon Hall is the founder of Shadow Rods, a company that makes the XL27 body. This body has the basic shape of a ’27 Ford roadster but has been subtly enlarged to give more interior space and is tailored to fit perfectly on a ’32 Ford frame. Hall recently finished a personal roadster project that features some unique modifications. It was a very strong contender for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how the perfectly proportioned roll pan was made for the rear of the body. The bottom edge of this body is completely flat, which provides a nice mounting surface for the roll pan. The center body pieces are bolted together…

The “backstory,” the story behind almost any hot rod, is the one usually of utmost interest. You know, the story that’s behind the scenes and isn’t often told unless you really sit down and begin talking hot rod stuff. Such is the case for this ’53 Buick Special convertible, 1 of 6,701 that were originally built. Chris Carlson is no stranger to hot rods, owning his own shop, Chris Carlson Hot Rods in Mulvane, Kansas. As we said, it’s the backstory. So, let’s have Chris tell us in his own words what’s up. “The ’53 Buick Special convertible was two weeks from being completed when it was damaged in our shop fire. After a lengthy fight with the insurance company and the owner, the car became ours. It was a…