Modern Rodding Volume 4, Issue 38 - November 2023

Growing up, did you have a favorite hangout? Was it the garage? Was it the treehouse made from scrap wood? Was it your buddy’s house? In my case this was true because his mom made great chocolate chip cookies and I could always mooch an extra lunch or dinner. But then there was the local newsstand. Of course, I might have to include the local record shop, which near me was also the newsstand. Why am I asking? Well, a longtime friend and one of the great all-around hot rodders Mike Chiavetta sent me a note: “So, as a lifetime participant in buying, reading, and dog earing over 50-plus years of car magazines I consider your latest ‘Mt. Everest’ challenge a winner. Good job to the magazine dimensions and especially…

Goodguys’ 2023 PPG Street Machine of the Year During their 25th Summit Racing Nationals presented by PPG, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association crowned their 2023 PPG Street Machine of the Year. It’s the ’67 Mustang fastback built at Ironworks Speed & Kustom of Bakersfield, California, for Danny Shaffer. Ironworks incorporated computer-aided design technology, 3-D printing, and CNC machining throughout the build. The Mustang body features widened fender flares, quarter-panel scoops, custom fastback roof vents, and 3-D–printed rocker panel moldings. The rear bumper has been narrowed for a flush fit, the pot metal taillight housings replaced with machined examples, and there’s a custom billet lower valence framing the exhaust tips and finishing off the rear. Underhood is a supercharged 5.4L V-8 driveline from a late-model Ford G.T. 500 Mustang and the…

1. FITECH SUPPORTS DAKOTA DIGITAL FiTech now offers a new BIM module to add to their list of supported aftermarket EFI manufacturers. The BIM-01-2-FTCH fits new FiTech LS, TBI, and TCU applications. The BIM-01-2-FTCH is designed to read the engine information from new FiTech EFI kits. This module is connected to the units with a supplied 2.5mm “Y” harness, allowing the handheld controller to remain functional. It will collect and output the following information to Dakota Digital Instrument Systems. For more info, check out FiTech by calling (951) 340-2624 or visit fitechefi.com. 2. EXHAUSTING SOLUTIONS ARP has developed a number of solutions for properly securing headers and eliminating exhaust leaks. These include a series of application-specific kits for most popular engines, plus “universal” kits to cover the rest. Stud kits,…

Every hot rod is different but some are unique. At first glance this ’30 Ford sedan belonging to Gerry Kerna of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, while very cool looking, appears to be a build style you’ve seen before. It’s only after much closer examination that you realize this lightly channeled Model A sedan is so much more. Gerry is a longtime hot rodder, but this latest effort speaks to her desire to have something different but well within the sphere of what any hot rodder can appreciate. The ’30 Ford sedan was a “barn find” (sort of), was found in a storage garage, and it had the obligatory bullet holes. It was the “holes” that Gerry found interesting and tipped her over into wanting the Model A for her next project.…

It’s been a long time (1970) since the first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria, Illinois. Louisville, or one of its southern speak derivatives, has acted as home for the NSRA Nats at the Kentucky Expo Center since the late ’90s. The Nats is now the keynote event hosted by the National Street Rod Association while also serving as host to eight additional regional events. This year was the 54th running of the Nats (remember we are near the home of the Kentucky Derby). From the numbers the NSRA tells us, there were 649 swap spaces—and we must confess it did look very busy—and 224 exhibitors. The truly big numbers are a direct result of the 9,112 registered street rods and a spectator gate (including participants) that was a tick over…

The availability of complete custom frames has changed the game for hot rodders, especially those in the Pro Touring segment of the hobby. Chassis and suspension technology has come a long way from the days of hacking the front suspension out of a Mustang II or Chevy Nova in a junkyard. These days, a full frame makes a lot of sense, but make no mistake—a full frame swap is a lot of work, no matter how you slice it. In the case of this ’67 Chevy II Nova, it goes a step further, thanks to the extreme fabrication efforts of Divers Street Rods (DSR) located in Sultan, Washington. DSR ordered a new reproduction of the ’67 Chevy II Nova body from Real Deal Steel and a custom chassis from Art…