Tabla de contenidos para Volume 6, Issue 54 - March 2025 en Modern Rodding

There are several iconic marques in our world of hot rods. Regardless of your affinity for one make or model over another, one always appears on every rodder’s list of “I wish I had …”. The 1957 Buick Special Riviera, the Model 46R, is just such a choice. If you want to see just how cool one of these highway cruisers can be, look no further than Eric Clapton (yes, that Eric) of London, England, and his 1957 Buick Special Riviera built at the shop of Roy Brizio Street Rods (RBSR). A composite of striking features of the 1957 Buick Special Riviera lies in its sleek, aerodynamic silhouette, characterized by curvy lines and a streamlined profile. The design is accentuated by a low stance and distinctive fins that were becoming…

There are many reasons why a car might need a hood scoop. You may require additional cool air inside the engine compartment. Sometimes, the engine has an induction system that rises above the hood line. On this 1971 Plymouth Duster project being built at BBT Fabrications, they installed a Dodge Hellcat engine, and the blower was taller than the hood. In this article, we’ll show how a scoop can be made for virtually any hood, and you can modify the construction details to suit your particular car. One of the goals of this project was to retain the flavor of the original car, which has a nice raised “plateau” going down the center of the hood. They decided to reverse this detail in the scoop, making a valley but keeping…

The 1958 Chevrolet is often considered a classic model in the realm of American hot rods and customs, praised for its bold design and unique styling. The 1958 Chevy became popular as a custom car due to its distinctive features, including iconic tailfins, sweeping lines, and spacious interiors. That brings us to Ted Stoneburner of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and his 409-powered 1958 Chevy Impala, basking in the shade of American Graffiti. The movie American Graffiti, released in 1973 and directed by George Lucas, played a pivotal role in reviving interest in hot rods and customs from the 1950s and 1960s, including the 1958 Chevy. Set in 1962, the film showcased the era’s youth culture, the importance of cruising car culture, and rock and roll music. The film featured a variety of…

When Colin and Sue Radford found this forlorn 1965 fastback Mustang it was obvious that major repairs were needed—being able to see the ground through the floor was one of the first indications of the problems to be dealt with. But the Radfords are not easily discouraged, and they knew everything needed to fix the Ford was available from Golden Star Classic Auto Parts. Based in Texas, Golden Star offers an array of high-quality replacement components for classic cars and trucks from GM, Ford, and Chrysler. There was a time when making repairs to the damaged floor of a project car prompted all sorts of questionable creativity. Over the years, we’ve seen repairs made with license plates, road signs, galvanized sheetmetal, and odd bits of salvaged body parts. Often, these…

As LS engine swaps continue to dominate almost all areas of hot rodding, Pro Touring, and more, one of the more creative and fast-evolving trends is dressing modern engines with accessories and components that give them a vintage appearance. A few vintage-appearing accessories have been offered for the past few years, but momentum with the trend has accelerated so quickly lately that we felt it was worth examining and outlining the options. Thanks to retailers such as Speedway Motors and manufacturers including Lokar—with its LS Classic Series range of dress-up components—disguising an LS is easier than ever and can be uncannily authentic-appearing. That can include everything from valve covers and air cleaners designed to look like those from vintage Chevy small- and big-block engines to kits to hide or disguise…

If the 1932 Ford highboy roadster looks a bit familiar, it should. Modern Rodding readers who have been around since the early days may remember that MR featured the 1932 roadster with a construction story in the Sept./Oct. ’20 issue. Ken and Tina Thurm of SoCal, and members of the California Roadsters, have built and owned many fantastic Deuce hot rods. It should also be noted that this roadster was in competition for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award in 2024. (Watch the 2024 Grand National Roaster Show video via the QR code on page 52. I had a great conversation with Ken on the building of his 1932 Ford highboy roadster.) The powerplant of this highboy roadster is an aluminum block 2002 Ford Coyote 5.0L. At first glance, the…

There are more intricate details to MeKenzie Murphy’s Triple Crown of Rodding–winning 1932 Ford roadster than meets the eye. The good news for the DIY guy is these refinements require investing more labor than spending money. The truth is it takes more than just one step beyond normal preparation to mold a frame and smooth an engine in a show car for show-winning results, but “One Step Beyond” sounded like a cool title. Whether it’s stacking up points on a judging sheet or taking a judge’s trained eye to decide whether a car is a First Place winner, the intricate details add up. The first thing a custom painter will appreciate when seeing Murphy’s 1932 Ford roadster in person is how perfectly aligned the flames pass over the louvers on…

We all have that unforgettable moment or place that ignites our automotive passion. For many of us, the journey began not in the family garage or a neighbor’s driveway but at a local dragstrip—the true mecca of speed. The visceral feeling of raw power, the intoxicating smell of burnt rubber, and the thunderous roar of engines are experiences that carve themselves into our memories, never to be forgotten. This month’s Parting Shot column celebrates those unique dragstrips that launched countless dreams of speed and mechanics. For me, and undoubtedly for many others, it was Lions Drag Strip, nestled in Wilmington, California. Established in 1955, Lions, or “The Beach” as locals referred to it, quickly became a hallowed ground for hot rodders. On its opening day, an astonishing 10,000 spectators witnessed…

1. EXPANDED WHEEL STUDS FROM ARP ARP hardware is manufactured from 8740 chromoly steel and precision heat-treated in-house to a tensile strength of 190,000 psi. The threads are rolled after heat treatment to provide significantly improved fatigue strength. All studs are cadmium plated for extra protection and the unique bullet-nosed Speed Studs are given a baked-on dry film lubricant. Replacement press-in wheel studs are available for over three dozen OEM axles and hubs, including longer studs that facilitate use with aftermarket wheels. Screw-in studs have lengths ranging from 1.950 to 3.470 inches for aftermarket axles. They feature rounded noses for easy wheel and lug nut installations. For more info, check out ARP by calling (800) 826-3045 or visiting arp-bolts.com. 2. MUSTANG BORGESON POWER STEERING CONVERSION BOX Driving a classic Mustang…

Listen to Nathan Curry of Missouri; he will tell you what you must know about his chopped and channeled 1928 Ford sedan. “I wanted something unique. My goal was to build as much as I could so no one else would have the same thing. It was a father-son-son-fiancé project with my dad, Tony Curry, my 15-year-old son Cam, and my fiancé Stevie Varney. We started with a one-off designed frame and from here we did everything for this car except build the motor and do the upholstery.” The six-year project came together, and the “family affair” is a true example of working shoulder-to-shoulder, handling a great deal of the build, such as the metal fabrication, body- and paintwork, artwork, assembly, and more. All that was left to the outside…

Riding in hot rods can be like being in a noisy sauna on wheels; they can be hot and loud, making even the shortest trips unpleasant. Of course, there are a number of options when it comes to making the passenger compartment of any car more hospitable. One of the most effective and easiest to apply is Advanced Thermal Acoustic Coating (ATAC) from Design Engineering Inc. (DEI). DEI is a major supplier of temperature control wraps, sheet-style insulation, and a variety of heat and acoustic control products, but their new ATAC is their first paint-on product that does both. The unique ceramic micro-sphere technology is a heat and sound barrier that is easy to apply to the interior surfaces of passenger compartments (ATAC is not for use in engine bays).…

The 1968 Plymouth Valiant was part of Chrysler’s A-body platform, which was introduced in the early 1960s. It is fast becoming a great starting point for a modern hot rod, especially the Mopar crowd. Given the potent powerplants that are available today for various Chrysler hot rods, it’s no wonder the Valiant, and more so the 1968 model, is a great platform to begin with. The Valiant’s transformation over the years—from a reliable family car to a platform for performance builds, such as with the Hellcat engine—illustrates this classic model’s versatility and enduring appeal. That brings us to Steven Shepard’s, Mount Sinai, New York, 1968 Valiant. Complete with a supercharged Hellcat that pumps out 700-plus horsepower to the rear wheels, it’s an accurate measure of today’s hot rod potency. It…