Tabla de contenidos para Volume 5, Issue 46 - July 2024 en Modern Rodding

1. ZEUS-LINK GAUGE INTERFACE MODULE Classic Instruments released an all-new CAN module Zeus-Link. This all-inclusive gauge interface unit can connect to Holley ECUs (Dominator, HP, Terminator X, Terminator X Max, Sniper, and Sniper II) and to GM OBD-II ports, reading vehicle data from CAN bus to drive any Classic Instruments gauges accurately. Additional pass-through CAN port connection for other CAN devices. Customers can connect up to six standard gauges and two auxiliary gauges using all sender inputs or none. All instruments can be driven traditionally if the vehicle ECU does not support an output the driver wants to monitor. The unit features warning and check engine light outputs, dash light connection, and on-board diagnostic lights to give the status of power, BLE, and data. For maximum compatibility with Holley products,…

Creating something truly unique is one of the many elements of hot rodding distinguishing it from the rest of the automotive hobby where much of the concentration focuses on restoration and preservation. When it comes to styling, there’s plenty to be recognized from the early years when builders on the East Coast claimed their own look by channeling their cars while maintaining both chopped and un-chopped roof lines. The dramatic ’32 Ford channeled roadster laid out across our pages belonging to Keith Goettlich of Berkley, Massachusetts, celebrates its East Coast heritage with a nod to tradition. There’s something to be said about the home builder when it comes to designing, fabricating, and turning out a noteworthy hot rod that’s ready to hit the street and start laying down the miles.…

At one time, old-timers (read Brennan and Ceridono) applied the term hot rod to vehicles produced before or shortly after World War II that had been modified to increase performance. However, as time has passed, the term hot rod has come to have a broader definition and is often being applied to many later cars that have been “hopped up.” Is the change in definition due to the lack of raw materials, as earlier cars have become harder to find? Could it be something as simple as later model cars are more affordable to buy and modify? This brings up the question, could something like a G-body Monte Carlo SS with performance-oriented modifications be considered a hot rod, or should we say a modern rod? Let the conversation begin. The…

Corvettes will always be viewed as the ultimate “factory hot rod.” Since its inception, the Corvette nameplate has been synonymous with performance. One only has to look at how many hot rods built in the late ’50s-70s featured early Corvette performance parts. Later-model Corvettes are still the standard bearer for the ultimate engine performance with the LS and then LT V-8s, followed by all manner of suspension items that have now found their way underneath our hot rods. Alex Short of Utah’s ’66 Corvette convertible features what you would expect, plus additional later-model Corvette performance via powertrain and suspension enhancements. While Alex’s Corvette looks everything like a ’66 convertible, there are a surprising number of subtle changes that add to the aesthetic appeal and serve a purpose. Beginning with a…

We can trace our passion for hot rods to something that occurred, we saw, or influenced us in one way or another when we were kids. Such was the case for Mike Tyskiewicz when he was a youngster living in the Danbury, Connecticut, area. His hot rod “church” was the Danbury Race Arena, a 1/3-mile oval, which he visited frequently as a kid on Saturday nights. Saturday night was reserved for Flathead Fever, and this excitement made its mark … forever. It would take some time, but in the end he found this ’31 Ford roadster pickup with a ’53 Ford Flathead. As these projects often are, they were rough, but they were enough to get the dream moving. Once Mike retired from the Danbury Fire Department, he began working…

Gerry Kerna is an avid gearhead with an eclectic collection of outstanding cars. She, yes, Ms. Kerna, wanted to build a state-of-the-art Model A sedan in the mildly channeled style and when she found a suitable ’30 Ford sedan body, the project commenced. Cornfield Customs chopped the top 4-1/4 inches and then sent it to Roadster Shop to have the chassis built, along with an extensive list of body modifications. This car has so much special work that it will take a several-part series to cover the project in sufficient depth. Mark Giambalvo of Creative Rod and Kustom was charged with the final build and assembly. Roadster Shop is well attuned to cars of this period, and they went to great lengths to give it a traditional look while incorporating…

It’s the backstory. How many times have we all heard that? Oftentimes, the backstory gets us hooked on a particular hot rod, which is the case for this ’65 Buick Riviera. Butch Yamali of Long Island, New York, has a fascinating story about how his father had this Rivi and a ’59 Chevy Impala convertible parked in a New York garage when Hurricane Sandy hit, causing a staggering amount of damage that included these two cars. Both cars were sent to Martin Bros. Customs in Johnson City, Texas, for a thorough overhaul. The staff in charge of this project includes Joe Martin, who, combined with shop manager Chad Glasshagel, handled the fabrication and assembly. Others include Zach Becken, who handled mechanical, wiring, and tuning; and Bryan Spencer, who was instrumental…

It’s magazine deadline time, so we only have time for this quickie Parting Shot, but the 73rd O’Reilly Sacramento Autorama has just wrapped up and here is a look at several of the big winners. We will have the “full” show coverage in next month’s issue by cub reporter John Drummond with his great photos and that of Carl Bredl. In the meantime, here are some vintage show photos to accompany and remind you of this show’s great history. In my world, when it comes time to find old-timey photos and, more importantly, info on the people and the cars, there is only one person I go to: Greg Sharp. He has often been called an “encyclopedia of all things hot rods.” All of us around the offices are inclined…

The hot rod aftermarket offers many parts and modern amenities that make driving our old cars infinitely more enjoyable. But sometimes, you must put some extra thought and effort into incorporating those amenities without disrupting the car’s aesthetic. Such was the case with the Vintage Air heat and A/C system in my ’41 Buick. Vintage Air has been providing climate control for hot rods since 1976. Over the last nearly half-century they’ve developed components tailormade for a wide range of cars and trucks from the ’50s-80s in their bolt-in SureFit series. These systems integrate all the necessary components both under the hood and in the cabin without requiring that the dash or underhood sheetmetal be significantly altered. But as expansive as the SureFit line is, there isn’t a kit for…

The echoes of engines and the glossy pages of car magazines had always surrounded Lonny Moore. His father, Lynn, had spent a lifetime admiring classic cars, nurturing a particular fascination for the Henry ’32 Ford roadster. This passion wasn’t just a hobby, it was a legacy waiting to be passed down. The ’32 Ford roadster that caught Lonny’s eye wasn’t just any car, it had been a beacon in the hot rod scene across Texas and California. The previous owner, Don Smith, was well respected in the community, adding an extra layer of prestige to the vehicle. After much negotiation and anticipation, Lonny managed to purchase the car and the day he drove it into his garage marked the beginning of a new chapter. Lynn’s visit to Lonny’s house shortly…

Just before World War II, most cars had fenders that stood proud of the main body structure in the style we now call “fat fendered.” When passenger car production resumed after the war, this style continued for a few years. Still, most manufacturers started tooling up for a new, slabsided look where the fenders blended in seamlessly with the body. Ford made this transition in 1949, and the ’49-51 Ford is called the “shoebox,” reflecting this revolutionary styling feature. This car became immensely popular for car customizers and has remained in vogue ever since. Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs is building a custom Shoebox in the traditional style for Danny Rowe. The car is based on a ’50 Ford Tudor sedan, featuring a just-right chopped top. All the body modifications are…