Modern Rodding is dedicated to early and late hot rodes - from Model Ts to GTOs and everything in-between. It features the latest in custom builds, technical articles, new products, and special features.
One of my life’s many duties is to attend the SEMA Show each year. Now, if you haven’t attended most would tell you that you have missed an opportunity. There is no denying that the SEMA Show has changed, as has everything, over the decades. However, I like to think it has evolved to be more in-tune with what today’s hobby is all about or soon to grow into. Having said that, I did notice an evolutionary “skip” this year. A noticeable change that has occurred, as if skipping a few steps along the evolutionary trail, that I am wondering how many picked up on and does it make a difference to them? There is a change in the types of booths and display vehicles we are now seeing. Don’t…
The inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show (GNTS), presented by LMC Truck and Classic Truck Performance magazine, hosted more than 400 trucks, vans, and SUVs of every make, model, and style at the Fairplex in Pomona back in September. Rod Shows, known for producing the West Coast’s largest and longest-running hot rod shows, closed out the weekend by presenting awards in more than 65 judged classes. Classic Truck Performance staff found itself all over familiar grounds … the Pomona Fairplex is the home of the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS). It is here that the very first World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award was presented. Taking home the $12,500 check and the one-off custom trophy, supplied by ARP, was Greg Tidwell. He brought out his ’40 Ford pickup that we…
1. CRUISING TUNES Custom Autosound’s USA-630 is designed to provide the best in audio technology wrapped in a classic car stereo look. It will fit your car or truck’s stock dash without any modifications required. It has been designed with a bezel containing your car’s manufacturer logo as well as large OEM-style push buttons to complement your dash. When it comes to electronics the USA-630 boasts modern features like a USB input for flash drives to play back MP3/WMA song files and a dock for your iPod. When connected to these devices the radio’s digital display will show artist, song, album titles, and allow song navigation through the radio itself. The USA-630 is compatible with Custom Autosound’s optional BLUKIT, which enables Bluetooth music streaming from your enabled phone as well…
It’s always a very cool feeling when a hot rod “speaks” to you. It doesn’t take one long after giving this four-wheel beauty the once-over that you immediately identify the custom car touch as well as the true hot rod appeal. Scott and Bonnie Pearson, along with their son, Scott Jr., found their heart’s content one day while perusing on eBay. Scott Jr. and his wife, Kim, now own the car and as is said, “The rest is history.” The Pearsons are a generational hot rod family, having enjoyed the hobby for over three generations. Coupling this heritage along with their membership in the Road Kings of Florida keeps the “juices” flowing for the love of all things hot rods. The Deuce five-window you see before you features the work…
Millions of Mopars left the factory with the ubiquitous 8-3/4-inch rear axle. It was Chrysler’s midrange muscle car axle, offering greater torque capacity than the pedestrian 8-1/4-inch rearend used on most Slant-6–powered and other lower-end, V-8 vehicles, but not quite the bomb-proof strength of the Dana 60 used with Hemis and other top-shelf V-8s. Introduced in 1957 and employed through about 1974, Chrysler produced three basic versions of the axle, which varied by the size of pinion bearing and corresponding pinion stem diameter. There was a 1-3/8-inch pinion stem diameter, a 1-3/4-inch pinion stem, and the later style with a 1-7/8-inch tapered pinion stem. Each variant is generally known by its ’64-and-later casting number. The 2070741, or “741,” axle used the smaller pinion bearing and is consequently the least desirable…
If you’ve been around the hobby for a while, you know what it was like when rod runs had energy. The type of energy that would motivate you to load up in a hot rod and head across country just so you could say you were there. That’s the kind of energy that radiates at the Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals. In its eighth rendition, the event drew more than 2,500 Tri-Five Chevys into Bowling Green, Kentucky, from every corner of the United States and some from abroad. The event takes place at the historic Beech Bend Raceway Park, a venue that offers lots of shade, a quarter-mile dragstrip, and plenty of room to continue growing. The event is open to all ’55, ’56, and ’57 Chevrolet vehicles. Obviously, that includes all…
