ack in October of last year I made arrangements with Paul Bosserman, my friend who just happens to own the family run Old Anvil Speed Shop in my old stomping grounds of Orange, California, to do a “couple” things on my then-dormant ’48 Chevy project. (I’d acquired the chopped ’n’ bagged three-window over a year prior. Due to its needing way more than advertised to put it back on the road, I chose to throw a cover over it … ’til now.)

Bosserman was kind enough to agree to install a new Air Lift/FLO Airride management system (to replace the cool but antiquated MIC-style manual valves) initially, but after a conversation at the Grand National Truck Show in September, that list grew to include a BedWood & Parts curly maple wood floor with a Legens Hot Rod Shop hinged center plank—in conjunction with Old Anvil’s still-in-development All Access VIP hinged bed floor frame kit. But that was it—that’s all we agreed upon! That is, until Bosserman and his trusty sidekick, Jake Caballero, started tearing into the truck.

f all the OEM components embraced by performance enthusiasts, Ford’s 9-inch rear axle assembly has to be at the top of the list. Over the years they’ve become almost standard equipment under modified vehicles regardless of the make, and for good reason. They’re tough, a wide variety of gear ratios are available, and changing centersections, or the pumpkin as it’s often called, is easy.

The 9-inch was produced from 1957-86. To put things in perspective, when the last of these rearends came from the factory under a new Ford, Ronald Reagan was in the White House, the average price of a gallon of gas was $0.90, and Seinfeld was the number one TV show. Given the fact that the 9-inch has been out of production for awhile it would seem that complete assemblies and individual parts would be hard to come by, but that’s not so. Strange Engineering is well aware of the advantages to the 9-inch Ford rearend and can provide everything new, from individual parts to complete assemblies.

ruck shows come in all shapes and sizes, and we recently had the chance to check out an up-and-coming show in Townsend, Tennessee. This small town is situated at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains and offers a step into the past with old-school motels and eateries along U.S. Route 321. About a dozen car and truck gatherings take place in the small town, and a new one just hit the scene last year. The show is called the Smoky Mountain Nationals and it focuses specifically on ’47-55 Chevrolet and GMC trucks.

Chevrolet trucks from this era are called Advance Design because they were revolutionary when they rolled out just after World War II. These trucks helped bridge the gap between workhorses and everyday transportation, and now they make for awesome custom builds and restorations.

ince 1999, one of the most anticipated shows that I’ve had the honor of attending has taken place 5,500 miles away from my doorstep—Yokohama, Japan—for the annual Mooneyes Hot Rod Custom Show (MHRCS) at the spacious Pacifico Exhibition Center adjacent to the amazing Hotel InterContinental. While I haven’t been every single year since my first visit nearly a quarter century ago, I have been fortunate enough to have experienced quite a few MHRCS in person—each one curated by the man behind the Moon(eyes), Shige Suganuma, with special exhibits/guests from around the world.