Tabla de contenidos para Volume 3, Issue 26 - November 2022 en Modern Rodding

When the doors are closed and locked, when the lights are turned off, and the A/C is shut down, it is time for most Americans to go home. It’s time for dinner, afterschool sports, or maybe you can squeeze in a few hours to work on your project. Not so for your favorite “magazine guy.” For a “magazine guy” that’s when our work really begins. For Pat Ganahl and others like him we understand there are the demands of the daytime portion of our job. After the sun goes down there are other demands. It’s now we would wander over to a local rodder’s garage and gather photos while swallowing a piece of pizza–in two bites. Or during these afterhour missions we would visit the local hot rod shop so…

The Ford roadster pickup, whether it be a Model T, Model A, or a Deuce, has a noted hot rod history. As such, it’s no wonder why the ’32 Ford highboy roadster pickup belonging to David Kennedy of Tennessee strikes such a cord. Additionally, it is also one of the three original Brookville Roadster RPUs and an amazing example of what can be done in our modern times. Roadster pickups have been part of the hot rod scene for decades and one can only imagine that with David’s Deuce this legacy will continue. If his name rings a bell, it should, as he is the David Kennedy of Kennedy’s Hot Rod Shop. Building cool rides comes as second nature to he and his staff, which is important as it was…

One thing about Louisville, Kentucky, is if you aren’t fond of the weather hang on as it will change shortly. 2022 was no different, with a little rain on Thursday and Friday followed by a predominately dry Saturday with loads of participants and spectator traffic and a sunny Sunday. For the record, there were 8,825 participants, 209-plus exhibitors, and 54,723 spectators. The 53rd National Street Rod Association Street Rod Nationals calls the Kentucky Exposition Center “home” for their annual event (28th time in Louisville). It’s been held there continuously since 1997 and for the foreseeable future this looks to be an enduring trend. And why not? The grounds are as fine an area as there is in the country, the exposition building is approximately 1.3 million square feet (sixth largest…

It was a great day for hot rodders when automobile manufacturers discovered there was a market for factory performance engines. It’s true that manufacturers have always seen the value of offering engines for replacement, industrial, or other purposes. That’s why even though the last Model T was produced in 1927 Ford produced the same basic Model T engine from 1908-41, which was arguably Ford’s first crate engine. But things have changed dramatically since the Model T days. Today Ford Performance offers a variety of brand-new engines in a range of performance levels; big-block, small-blocks, and modular engines are all available. To make them even more of a bargain, other than sealed race engines and those with mechanical lifter camshafts, Ford Performance crate engines come with a 24-month, 24,000-mile warranty. A…

I’m going out on a limb, but a sturdy one, that there isn’t a rodder who reads car magazines who hasn’t heard the name Robert Eugene “Gene” Winfield or hasn’t seen his work in magazines. And most likely many, if not all, of us have been to a show and seen the man and his cars. Gene has been around for a while, 95 years to be exact, and unlike what many of us will be doing when we see that kind of number, he is still traveling to events, building hot rods and customs, and driving race cars. The fact that he grew up in a healthy lifestyle by not having smoked or drank coffee, soft drinks, or alcohol, could be the secret “speed” ingredient that has keep Winfield…

Mike Green has many interests in life; now that he is retired, he has time to pursue two of his favorites: early customs and baseball. His garage currently holds a ’50 Merc Fordor, and while he has enjoyed this early custom, he always wanted a Tudor version of the classic custom. He is also the assistant coach for the Fairview High School varsity baseball team in his hometown of Fairview, Pennsylvania. With visions of timeless customs rolling in his head he turned to Tavis Highlander to collaborate on the design of a ’50 Mercury Tudor. In Mike’s words: “I wanted to build a custom with some features no one has seen before, while still paying homage to all the things that have been done by all the talented customizers from…

We’re sure you can relate when we say an old car is never truly finished. There is always a way to continue refining and upgrading your project car. Such is the case with this ’56 Chevy Nomad, a mildly modified street cruiser that has plenty of miles under its belt. The car recently rolled into Hot Rods by Dean, and the intention was to upgrade its suspension and braking system. Although plans involve a complete front and rear overhaul, we’re focusing on the front in this installment and will cover the rear suspension upgrades in a future issue. For this series of upgrades, the guys at Hot Rods by Dean called Heidts, as the Illinois-based company is known for its Tri-Five suspension components. With numerous options on the table, the…

In the early days of the street rodding era, the ’70s, the hot ticket was a ’32 Ford phaeton. Those same schools of thought loudly proclaimed that the ’37 Ford was an “ugly duckling” or “grocery getter.” It was in the late ’30s and the heyday of the art deco period was still present—when design and function worked hand in hand. Architecture, furniture, radios, fashion, even trains and the design of the automobile were all involved. It was a time when design was the norm, making life a little easier on the eyes. Carl Jones purchased his ’37 Ford as a project to be completed when he retired. Carl wanted a car that was, in his words, unique, timeless, and classic and with the quality of build that he envisioned.…

Hot rod dads want their lifelong dream project but oftentimes living just prevents that from happening. Doug Scott was able to realize his “family affair” with his wife and kids. The result is this amazing ’69 Chevy Camaro powered by a supercharged LSA crate motor nestled between the ’rails of a custom Total Cost Involved (TCI) chassis. Doug had always wanted a high-performance ’69 Camaro, and what you see on these pages fills the bill very nicely. With the likes of Camaro Concepts, Fat Boys Custom Paint, Gabe’s Custom Interior, Pat Maxwell Designs, and Mile Goldman Customs helping with the build there was little doubt the end result wouldn’t be stunning. Literally every piece of this ’69 Camaro was touched from the ground up. Chevrolet used to tell the world…

1. TIGHT GRIP These compression-style hose clamps provide five times the clamping force of a traditional worm gear clamp and apply that force evenly around the circumference of the hose without deforming. A hex bolt secures the clamp to the hose with little chance of popping off. These features make the clamps a great choice for silicone tubes and couplers used for custom cold-air intake and cooling systems. Granatelli Billet Aluminum Hose Clamps are available in 83 precise size ranges, so finding the right size is a snap. They’re available in your choice of polished or black, red, blue, and gold anodized finishes. For more info, check out by Summit Racing Equipment calling (800) 230-3030 or visit summitracing.com. 2. RUBBER BOOTIES Designed for an age-old problem, JJ’s Rods & E-Z…

We all remember the first hot rod that grabbed our attention. For some it was a ’32 Ford, but for many of us it was a Tri-Five Chevy with a radical cam, uncapped headers, and cheater slicks. Back then you had to sacrifice comfort in the name of speed, and that compromise could be extreme at times. Lucky for us, the modern age of hot rodding has transcended the obstacles that we once faced while still being able to pay homage to the glory days. A perfect example of this concept is the 2022 Golden Star Classic Auto Parts Giveaway Car, a ’55 Chevy built by Woody’s Hot Rodz. This car’s specific purpose is to go home with a lucky individual who registered a car at the 2022 Danchuk Tri-Five…

Steve Hudson is a lifelong hot rodder and it all began with the influence his dad, Don, bestowed on him. To listen to Steve, you can see this influence. “I literally grew up in the car hobby. My dad, Don, started hot rodding before World War II, and jumped right back in after returning from the war. He learned the upholstery trade and opened his own shop (Don’s Trim Shop in Norwalk, California).” It was here that Steve spent his youth. We must think this wasn’t a bad way to grow up. (And for those hot rodders with some history of their own, Don’s Trim Shop should ring some bells.) Steve’s boyhood was spent among the cars his dad was working on plus the ones he built himself. There was…

As summer winds down and the kids prepare to go back to school, car show season intensifies in the Mid-South. The NSRA Street Rod Nationals kicks off August, and the following weekend is the Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals held at historic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 2022 marked the seventh rendition of this incredible event, a car show and drag race, that brought more than 2,500 classic Chevrolets into town. The idea of focusing strictly on ’55, ’56, and ’57 Chevrolets allows like-minded enthusiasts to converge each year for the world’s premier Tri-Five event. The Beech Bend Raceway Park facility offers plenty of parking for car show participants, drag racers, and spectators, and it’s easy to find shade on the beautiful property. This year’s weather was warm and…