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June 2022
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CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 22 • 2022
Classic Truck Performance June 2022 cover
On The Cover:
Two years after our inaugural cover shoot with Del Uschenko, Tim Sutton ventured back out to the very same location in Prescott, Arizona, to capture this month’s celebratory cover with James King’s ’71 Chevy Stepside!
Hot Rod
Classic Truck Performance ISSN 2692-2347 (print) ISSN 2692-2355 (online) Issue 22 is published monthly by In the Garage Media, 370 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-6502. Postage paid at Placentia, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Classic Truck Performance c/o In the Garage Media, 1350 E. Chapman Ave #6550, Fullerton, CA 92834-6550 or email ITGM at subscription@inthegaragemedia.com. Copyright (c) 2022 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA. Printed in the USA. The Classic Truck Performance trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media.
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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
BRIAN BRENNAN
bbrennan@inthegaragemedia.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ROB FORTIER
rfortier@inthegaragemedia.com
SENIOR EDITOR
NICK LICATA
nlicata@inthegaragemedia.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & OPERATIONS MANAGER
YASMIN FAJATIN
yfajatin@inthegaragemedia.com
MANAGING EDITOR & AD COORDINATOR
SARAH GONZALES
sgonzales@inthegaragemedia.com
ART DIRECTOR
ROB MUNOZ
rmunoz@inthegaragemedia.com
Editorial Team
Rodney Bauman, Tommy Lee Byrd, Ron Ceridono, Michael Christensen, Ron Covell, Grant Cox, Dominic Damato, John Drummond, Fuelish Media, Eric Geisert, John Gilbert, Joe Greeves, John Jackson, Barry Kluczyk, Scotty Lachenauer, Don Lindfors, Ryan Manson, Josh Mishler, Todd Ryden, Jason Scudellari, Chris Shelton, Tim Sutton, Chuck Vranas, Michael Yamada – Writers and Photographers
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Editorial contributions are welcomed but editors recommend that contributors query first. Contribution inquiries should first be emailed to info@inthegaragemedia.com. Do not mail via USPS as we assume no responsibility for loss or damage thereto. IN THE GARAGE MEDIA reserves the right to use material at its discretion, and we reserve the right to edit material to meet our requirements. Upon publication, payment will be made at our current rate, and that said, payment will cover author’s and contributor’s rights of the contribution. Contributors’ act of emailing contribution shall constitute and express warranty that material is original and no infringement on the rights of others.

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Copyright (c) 2022 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA.
PRINTED IN THE USA.

The Classic Truck Performance trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media.

Still Hammerin’

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BY ROB FORTIER
Happy 2nd Anniversary to In The Garage Media! Two Down … Decades to Go!
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an you believe it?! This, the June issue, marks Classic Truck Performance’s second anniversary! It was tough enough making it through our first year, as it coincided with the onset of COVID-19—and 2021-2022 hasn’t been any easier … but we made it, and I couldn’t be prouder of the success CTP has achieved! Our growth as a print media entity has been mirrored by our developing social media presence as well as our website, which has seen an increase of over 300 percent in the last year alone—all of which are telling me one thing: we must be doing something right!

It’s crazy to think that in March of 2020, my good friend Tim Sutton and I headed out to beautiful Prescott, Arizona, to visit our recently transplanted (from Burbank) old friend Del Uschenko to photograph our first feature and subsequent cover of our premiere issue of CTP (and, ironically, the Instagram video that propelled our IG like a supercharged LSX!). Besides the obvious “bro bonding” that went down over the course of that weekend, it was honestly the most amazing feeling knowing that we were creating something all new yet something I’ve been doing day in, day out for the last quarter century. This time, however, there was no corporate umbrella or what have you adding any sense of security … if we failed, it was all on us. (I did have a Home Depot application at the ready, just in case!) But there was a part of me that knew, deep down inside, failure was not an option, and as it turns out, it was never something we would have to worry about.

CTP  Parts Dept.

InTheGarageMedia.com
Holley EFI Smart Coils for Coyote/Gen III Hemis
1. Holley EFI Smart Coils for Coyote/Gen III Hemis

These Holley EFI Smart Coils are a bolt-in ignition upgrade for your late-model Hemi or Coyote engine. The difference over stock is they produce more spark energy while consuming less power without sacrificing voltage output. This means you get hotter spark at the plug to burn the maximum amount of fuel in each cylinder while using less power from your electrical system.

For Coyote or Hemi combinations currently using Holley EFI or Terminator X, use Smart Coil Ignition Harnesses 558-312 and Coil Extension Harnesses 558-326 for a plug-and-play solution. For new Holley EFI installations on Coyote engines, use with Holley EFI Coyote Ti-VCT Main Harness for Smart Coils 558-122 and Smart Coil Ignition Harness 558-312 for a plug-and-play solution. Features include direct bolt-on to factory valve covers, same wiring pinout as other IGN-1A coils for easy plug-in upgrades (will not work with factory wiring), more spark energy than any other smart coil on the market for maximum fuel burn during combustion sequence, low current draw means less demand on the electrical and charging system, and built-in ignitor for compatibility with Holley EFI and many other aftermarket ECUs.

CTP Feature
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Dedication typography
Delmo Speed Builds a Tribute ’71 C10 Stepside for James King
BY Rob FortierPHOTOGRAPHY BY Tim Sutton
I

f you’ve already read this month’s editorial, then there’s no need for repeating the sentimental introduction here—if you haven’t then stop what you’re doing and go read it now (page 8)!

It only took 730 days to do so, but for those who got a glimpse of James King’s in-progress ’71 C10 Stepside, here’s the full feature you’ve (we’ve!) been waiting for … but we’ve been sitting on this for a bit, as it was the only truck perfectly suited to grace the cover celebrating our 730-day anniversary!

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LT1 Engine
Inside the LT1 Title Typography
Everything You Need to Know About the Next-Gen Small-Block Chevy

BY Ryan MansonPhotography BY THE AUTHOR

S

ince its introduction in 1955, the small-block Chevy engine has become the favorite amongst hot rodders, muscle car builders, and classic truck enthusiasts. Its compact size and efficient weight-to-power ratio has made it the perfect powerplant to replace a gangly six-cylinder, heaving big-block, or wheezing Flathead. Consistently upgraded over its 40-plus year lifespan, it’s easy to imagine that when its successor was introduced in 1997, it wasn’t without its share of naysayers. Yet while still retaining a very similar design to the original small-block Chevy (4.40-inch bore centers, in-block camshaft, overhead valves, and so on), the LS1 was a complete, clean sheet redesign that was as revolutionary then as the original 265ci engine was in 1955. An aluminum, long-skirt engine block with six main cap fasteners, high-flow cylinder heads that favored higher revs, and a lightweight, composite intake manifold were all truly state-of-the-art features that helped the LS engine family usher in the 21st century.

Feature
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BY Chuck VranasPhotography BY THE AUTHOR
Driven to Perfection title
Dave Simard’s Muscle-Era ’66 Chevy Custom Cab C10
T

here’s nothing better than laying downs plans to dial in the build of your latest classic truck, starting with the era of styling you’d like its personality to reflect. Regardless of whether you’re chasing a ’50s vibe with mild custom updates rolling on big ’n’ little wide whites, an edgy ’60s look with a hard-core V-8 and vintage mag wheels, or a current-day cutting-edge look on a modern chassis with twin-turbo power, one thing for sure is that properly executed creativity makes for a truly memorable truck.

Sometimes the journey to completion can be accomplished in a short amount of time while others seem to take a bit longer, never losing focus just depending on the time and parts available to reach your goal. The ’66 Chevy Custom Cab C10 laid out across our pages, owned by Dave Simard of Leominster, Massachusetts, is the result of 25 years of passion fused in creating what can be considered the ultimate ’60s-styled muscle truck if it were offered from the factory back in the day. As owner of East Coast Custom Shop, Dave has had the opportunity to craft some of the most well-respected traditional hot rods on the scene today as well as uncovering many of our hobby’s most revered vintage race cars and historical hot rods while restoring them to newfound glory.

’66 Chevy Custom Cab C10
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InTheGarageMedia.com
Remove, Rebuild, and Run!
Rebuilding, Instead of Replacing, Stock Control Arms on a ’71 Suburban
BY Todd Ryden  Photography by THE AUTHOR
T

here are so many great suspension upgrade options available for most of our classic trucks these days. From trick tubular control arms to cool coilover conversions, or entire bolt-in front clip assemblies and complete chassis if you prefer to go to the extreme, there really is something for most every make, model, and budget out there, but we decided to keep things basic and try our hand at rebuilding a stock set of control arms on a ’71 Suburban. (This will work for your ’67-72 Suburban or C10.)

This Suburban is never going to be a cone-carving machine, nor a slammed-on-the-ground cruiser with modern-day big-inch rims and tires. It’s basically a second family cruise that takes the kids to practices, handles some weekend chores, and ends up at some local cruises. We’re talking 15-inch rally wheels with stock disc/drum brakes, melted paint, and three seats. As basic a cruiser as you can get.

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Lone Star Throwdown
This Event Brought the Heat in 2022
BY Shawn Brereton Photography By THE AUTHOR
E

ven though Conroe, Texas, is only located a mere hour and a half away from the Gulf of Mexico sometimes it can get chilly—mighty chilly. Oh, and we can’t forget wet. It can definitely be that! For the three days of Lone Star Throwdown (LST) 2022 it went through all the cycles, from cold, to cold and wet, to downright pleasant and sunny in the end. If you looked at the vehicle count and the number of spectators it probably wouldn’t have mattered if there was a hurricane. People showed up and had a good time despite the goofy weather.

Typically one of the first shows of the season, LST has grown into a powerhouse of a truck show (with a few other vehicles mixed in) at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center and Montgomery County Fairgrounds. When online registration opens, you better be on the ball or risk missing out on getting a spot. It often sells out the 2,000 show-vehicle spaces within the first few days (if not hours). Each year, they reopen registration in January for people who determined they couldn’t make it to resell their tickets. So many people hit the website on the second-chance day that it took the site down. It is that popular of a show!

Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Black Widow Magic title
Gittin’ Down With Dino Battilana’s ’73 Squarebody Stepside
BY Rob FortierPhotography BY JOHN JACKSON
I

f you’ve been around the classic Chevy truck scene for any length of time—at least in the last decade or so—there are some names in the game that, well, if you don’t know or recognize you probably haven’t been around for as long as you may think!

Of the key figures on the West Coast when it comes to all things C10, especially bartering with, Rene Martinez is the man—they don’t call him C10 King for nothing! A few years back, he worked a deal with fellow collector/aficionado of classic Chevy trucks, Sam Castronova, on a ’73 Stepside. However, once the Squarebody arrived at its new home in Arizona, Castronova opted to pass on the project, instead offering it to his friend and founder of one of the largest Chevy-only events in the west (Dino’s Git Down), Dino Battilana, who was more than “up to the task.”

'73 Squarebody
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driver side profile view of a black and silver vintage four door SUV

BY Jason ChandlerPhotography BY Harrison’s Rod & Custom

Making Room in the Wheelhouse typography
The Early-to-Late Squarebody Inner Fender Retrofit Trick
O

ne of the biggest concerns for truck owners, especially when you love the lowered look, is clearance. I remember back in the day grabbing the reciprocating saw and removing anything necessary to get as low as possible. As I have refined my taste and my concern for the longevity of my projects, I look for an elevated approach to modification. I’ve been looking for a way to do just that and bring you guys along in the process. Enter Bryan Harrison of Harrison’s Rod & Custom.

Harrison is known for hot rods with a true foundation in street rodding. His unique style continues throughout the Squarebody platform and is seen in each build they produce. With the builds Harrison’s Rod & Custom produces, driveability is of upmost importance. The Harrison style is true to hot rodding; you can always tell one of his builds apart from the rest. Staggered wheels and meaty sidewalls are a staple and you got to have clearance for that to work. With the popularity of the ’73-87 GM trucks, nowadays there are always a couple of Squarebodies in his shop. Harrison and I got to talking about this topic and he had the perfect scenario.

CTP Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Pearl Jammed!
Stunning Paint and Pro Fabrication Make This Signature Truck Rock!
BY Scotty Lachenauer  PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHOR
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ot everyone can go to work each day saying they truly love what they do for a living. John Lenhart, of Anderhart Speed in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is one of the chosen few who rises every morning and just can’t wait to slip into his work overalls and hit the garage at full speed. As proprietor of his own business, the young gun knows that in today’s world, success in our hobby isn’t a given by any means; it’s earned with every car, truck, and hot rod that rolls through his shop’s bay doors and into the hands of a satisfied customer.

Pearl Jammed!
Stunning Paint and Pro Fabrication Make This Signature Truck Rock!
The ’47 Ford truck
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InTheGarageMedia.com

Behind The Scenes typography
Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs’ 1951 Chevy

BY CTP StaffPhotography BY Camren Beattie

Behind The Scenes typography
Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs’ 1951 Chevy
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eatures of trucks in their final state are great and all but we know many of you are just like us—you love to see what’s underneath all that fresh paint and chrome! We’ve been fortunate to establish some pretty good relationships with shops around the country in the last couple years, and what with this pandemic having a huge impact on our ability to be out and about as much as we’d like, we’ve still been able to obtain some pretty good behind-the-scenes intel from many of those shops … Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs just happens to be one of them!

After being blown away by the multitude of in-progress shots we’ve seen recently on social media of Brian Schutte’s ’51 Chevy, with some of the most insane metalworking tricks we’ve ever laid eyes on, we hit up Camren Beattie at Scott’s to see if we could get a bit more than a social thumbnail’s view—and boy, he did not disappoint!

For starters, the custom Advance Design will feature a Wegner Automotive LS3 topped with a Whipple Supercharger (1,054 hp on pump gas) backed by a Dederichs Motorsports TREMEC T56 Magnum. Appropriately so, it sits on Scott’s SuperSlam chassis featuring their proprietary SuperSlam IFS and four-bar rear suspension using Slam Specialties ’bags (controlled by Ridetech’s RidePro E5 leveling control system) and Ridetech HQ single-adjustable shocks and one-off Hot Rods By Boyd wheels.

CTP Feature
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Road Ready
Trent and Diane Moore Built This ’72 Blazer for One Reason
’72 Blazer
BY Tommy Lee Byrd Photography By THE AUTHOR
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ack in 1969 the K5 Blazer entered the space between the 1/2-ton pickup and the Suburban and was often used as a recreational vehicle since it didn’t serve as a practical truck or an efficient people-mover. The K5 Blazer was more of a purpose-built play toy that gave you just enough room to pile a few buddies inside and hit the trail. This ’72 Chevy K5 Blazer lived the life of most four-wheel-drive trucks. It wasn’t pampered or babied, but it was given a new life by Trent and Diane Moore of Maroa, Illinois. The hard-working couple didn’t exactly have time to fit a project vehicle into their busy schedule, but they brought in this Blazer in the fall of 2017.

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Thanks for reading our June 2022 issue!