


Kevin “Fuelish Media” Aguilar snapped this month’s cover of Stewart Daniel’s Signature Performance–built ’67 C10.
378 E. Orangethorpe Ave. Placentia, California 92870
#ClassicPerform

Wes Allison, 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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know I’ve talked about this in the past, but since it’s such a prevalent aspect of the classic truck world, I wanted to visit this topic once again as we head into another year at CTP: patina trucks.
There’s no other automotive hobby where Mother Nature is so prevalent—and widely accepted! While a “rat rod” is just that (in my eyes, at least), a ratty hot rod, patina-finished trucks range from barn-fresh relics to six-digit cover trucks … and they all comingle together as one. Whether they’re truly nature-aged or faux-patina finishes, what some hot rodders used to consider “unfinished” are the belles of the ball in our world. Or are they?
Despite how I personally feel, I know without a doubt there are some of you who don’t agree—and that’s just fine … we’re all entitled to our opinions and tastes (I just get paid to write about mine on a monthly basis!). But I do feel the so-called unfinished trucks are still accepted more readily by the naysayers than they used to be. Bottom line is, they’re cool … they can be much more affordable … and they absolutely present less stress when it comes to driving on a daily basis and/or displaying at shows (as the scratch and dent aspect is typically not an issue to worry about!).
Parts Dept.
Let’s start with the square billet endcaps, which is just part of the showstopping experience. There are a total of six 3/8-inch NPT ports, two 1/8-inch NPT ports, and two 1/8-inch dump ports spread between the pair, giving the user multiple plumbing configurations. They also contain mounting points that allow users to bolt the Original SquareTank such that all the ports are visible for a tricky-looking install or hide them all away for a completely stealth appearance. The endcaps sandwich a tank body that’s not only amazing to look at, but powerful as well. This composite tube is rated to hold over 200 psi, which means they’re up to any of the demanding tasks that an airbag installer or user may want. Tying everything together are four connecting rods that sandwich the composite body and the endcaps. The ends of the rods are flush mounted into the endcaps themselves, making for an even cleaner look. Although the raw surface of the Original SquareTank is beautiful on its own, customers can opt for a couple Cerakote finishes, Tungsten, or Jet Black. These are available for each component—endcaps, connecting rods, and tank—with the addition of a show polish option for the endcaps and connecting rods. That means there are over 196 different finish possibilities for the Original SquareTank right from the manufacturer, and even more if customers decide to paint or wrap their composite tubes themselves. The Original SquareTank is available in both a 20-inch-long, 3-gallon version or 30-inch-long, 5-gallon. Prices start at $255 for a raw finish 3-gallon model and go up to $445 for a completely custom-finished 5-gallon Original SquareTank.
For more info, contact SquareTank at (800) 928-1984 or visit squaretank.com.

The 42 Series GM Pickup Rallye has been available in years past, but the centersection was a core from an original wheel. In addition to the scarce materials, the process was not efficient. To solve this problem, Wheel Vintiques developed new tooling to stamp new centers. The new 42 Series GM Pickup Rallye product line consists of two sizes: 15×8 and 15×10. These sizes are applied to two center designs—one with a 5×5 bolt pattern that features 16 rectangular windows and one with a 6×5.5 bolt pattern with 10 larger rectangular windows. The five-lug wheel offers direct fitment on any Chevrolet or GMC 1/2-ton, two-wheel-drive truck from 1971-98. The six-lug version is a great choice for earlier C10s with the 6×5.5 bolt pattern and they also work well on K10 four-wheel-drive trucks and K5 Blazers from the ’70s and ’80s. Wheel Vintiques’ new 42-Series GM Pickup Rallye accepts original and reproduction centercaps and trim rings. From a quality standpoint, Wheel Vintiques products are second to none. All Wheel Vintiques wheels are made in the USA with heavy gauge steel and expert assembly. After the wheel is manufactured and welded, it goes through an automated chemical wash cycle and then through the powdercoating line for a factory-look silver powdercoat finish.
For more info, contact Wheel Vintiques at (800) 959-2100 or visit wheelvintiques.com.






ou don’t see a killer truck with a captivating story like this every day—you just don’t. While there is a sea of custom classic Chevy trucks floating around the show scene, the owner of this ’67 was looking to do anything in order to set it aside from the rest. Daniel Stewart is the proud owner of this absolute gem of a C10, which has been dubbed “Pretty Penny” for obvious reasons. The parts and pieces that look like copper, have in fact, been plated with real copper.
Daniel doesn’t have a passion for rare coin collecting or anything like that, he just figured out the perfect way to build the exact truck he wanted with a unique feature that is simply impossible to recreate—at least in quick, copycat fashion, but we’ll get to more on that a bit later. The build of the ’67 was also an important way for Daniel to redeem a piece of his life that had slipped away throughout his younger years. There was a lot on the line for him, and he wasn’t about to take any half steps toward the finish line.




ourcing the components to assemble a pickup bed using new parts has never been easier. Whether swapping out from a long wheelbase chassis to a short or Fleetside for Flare, all the sheetmetal and related components are available to get that old pickup in shipshape thanks to LMC Truck.
In fact, the plans for our ‘71 Ford F-250 project included both of those changes, with the shortbed conversion already handled courtesy of a Shortbed Conversion Kit from Classic Performance Products (CPP; PN 6772LBFSK).
With the foundation laid, we contacted LMC Truck with a laundry list of items necessary to build up a new Flareside box. Assembling the components is fairly straightforward but there are a few things that help keep things “aligned.” Many of the components rely on one another in order to attain a square assembly. Cross sills straddle the framerails and provide support for the entire affair. The fenders bolt to the bedsides, which then rests on two perimeter bed wood planks. The front bed panel attaches to the two bedsides and rests on the front cross sill. Out back, the tailgate is flanked by a pair of hinges. If any of the panels are out of square, misaligned, or racked, fitment of the rest of the components suffers.




he classic truck world is packed with awesome events in all corners of the United States, and we always welcome new ones to the scene. Through the years, we’ve gotten to know Bryan Harrison of Harrison’s Rod and Custom in Greeneville, Tennessee. In fact, we’ve featured some of Harrison’s work here in the magazine, and we’re proud to call him a friend. He’s a truck guy through and through and he wanted to bring the truck world to his hometown, so he partnered with “Discover Greeneville” to put together the GM Truck Fair. Harrison says, “Our goal is to have a well-run, family friendly event that showcases our beautiful town and raise money for kids wanting to pursue a career in the automotive restoration and customization industry.”
This event caters to Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs through 2014. A great variety of two- and four-wheel-drive trucks were on hand, covering all generations of GM trucks. Harrison’s Rod and Custom had several builds on display, including the 2023 NSRA Giveaway truck. Other sponsors included Auto Metal Direct and United by Trucks, both of which had a presence at the show.
The event kicked off on Friday night with a VIP experience on the rooftop of the General Morgan Inn, and then rolled into the Greene County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning for a show and swap meet. A ballot voting system narrowed the field down to the Classic Truck Performance Top 20 award winners, and then Auto Metal Direct selected three picks and Harrison’s Rod and Custom selected three Wild Card winners.




n answering an age-old question of what makes a great classic truck, it can easily be allotted to the sum of the parts fused with a defining build style to give it a memorable look that can stand the test of time. Regardless of whether you prefer a traditional or contemporary vibe, it’s the ability to blend a timeless vintage design with cutting-edge technology to create something that not only looks great, but one that will also be a blast to drive. Such is the case with the wicked ’55 Chevy laid out across our pages, owned by Al Fleury of Hampton, New Hampshire, that packs plenty of bite underhood.







ome engines just have coolness in their DNA. Take, for example, the famous four-valve, dual-overhead cam LT5 that went into the Corvette ZR-1. Or even the Chevrolet 409 W engine, which did have a lineage that came from trucks as the 348. The list goes on.
One that doesn’t exactly scream coolness is Chevrolet’s long-running straight-six. Nope. It was designed for economy. It made just enough torque to haul a load in the back of a pickup and just enough horsepower to get a fullsize car up to speed on the highway. Otherwise, the major benchmarks for the design were cost of production and reliability.
Still, Chevrolet’s straight-six was produced for decades in multiple variations and appeared in many thousands of cars and trucks. A lot of people learned how to drive in an old farm truck with a Chevy straight-six providing the motivation.




ought here … built there … brought back here … made an epic impression while visiting its homeland before “Mac Daddy,” the Collins’ ’71 C10 built by Kruzin Kustoms, headed back to its new home in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com



inal-primed and guidecoated, do these doors look pretty “straight”? As shapely as their designers intended for them to be, there ought to be a better word to describe them. Thinking back, we may’ve touched on that subject once before, but I don’t recall any mention of working with Charles and Dave.
Back in the boat shop, my friend Charles preferred the word “fair.” Back in the body shop, my friend Dave would say “uniform.” Now as it sort of seems to me, either of those words fit better than “straight,” so I’ve adopted those two bits of my coworkers/friends’ terminology.
In an earlier tech story we covered initial steps for achieving uniform fairness in the bodywork process. For our ’55 Chevy second-series build we’re using one original door and one reproduction from Brothers Trucks. Both doors had their own unique issues, but due to rust, dents, and extra holes, the original required a good deal more bodywork.




even years in the making (and only two years in our feature files!), Big Bill Watson’s ’66 C10, aka “Hired Gun,” is a true exercise in custom paint magic, among other things. But, Big Bill’s NOT a custom painter, per se … so how, exactly, did the Fleetside get its name?






Photography BY THE AUTHOR
ack on Project #backpay! This ’66 Chevy C10 truck has been under major reconstruction. If you have been following along, you already know that with a step-by-step approach, you can do these same repairs at home. Last time you saw #backpay we featured the power steering and column conversion.
This time we will go in-depth on installing a new big back window conversion. We headed to Howe’s It Doin’ Garage in Dallas, Georgia, with Mike Howe performing the installation. Some of what you will see here covers the roofskin installation. Although the roofskin on this truck is in great shape, the removal is necessary to get to the factory spot welds on the original inner back window panel. Auto Metal Direct (AMD) has all the parts you need to swap out your small back window panel with all-new fresh restoration parts for the conversion.
The big back window trucks have always fetched a premium … all starting back in 1955 when GM first offered a variation of back window sizing in their trucks. Since then, guys have been swapping their trucks for the larger glass with all kinds of different methods to make it happen. AMD has gone the distance to make sure that your conversion is as easy as can be. They have developed all-new tooling to bring to you a full factory-style replacement panel. The full removal and installation are straight forward and can be done in a weekend.






he National Street Rod Association began giving away a car during the Street Rod Nationals event back in 1982. As you can imagine, many of the previous giveaway vehicles were cars, mostly of the early Ford variety, due to the availability of reproduction and custom parts in the street rod market. For the 2023 giveaway vehicle, the NSRA partnered with Harrison’s Rod and Custom to build something completely different: a ’77 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck.
While this was certainly exciting news for the booming classic truck market, it presented more of a challenge than the typical hot rod build. Most previous builds were fenderless hot rods with limited amounts of trim and moldings, so the NSRA knew it could be a pain point throughout the build process. The upside of building a Squarebody Chevy truck is that it reaches an entirely new market than years past. The NSRA crew also found comfort in knowing that Bryan Harrison and his crew at Harrison’s Rod and Custom are GM truck experts. The small shop is based out of Greeneville, Tennessee, tucked in close to the Great Smoky Mountains, where Squarebody trucks roam the streets on a regular basis.




etting the Nashville area ablaze with a symphony of roaring engines and the allure of classic GM trucks was the 2023 C10 Nationals held on September 30 and October 1. Often known for its vibrant music scene and bustling entertainment, this iconic city played host to an event that showcased the best of American automotive truck heritage. Whether you were a seasoned truck enthusiast or just looking for a unique weekend getaway, this event had something for everyone.
The show had so much in store for enthusiasts, making it an unforgettable automotive extravaganza. Alongside the adrenaline-pumping Classic Performance Products Autocross, there was a special BFGoodrich Tires Share the Ride event. This unique experience allowed spectators to hop into the passenger seat and take a thrilling ride with pro drivers, experiencing the raw power and precision of high-performance C10 trucks firsthand.
For those on the hunt for the best new parts, the Sweet Patina Vendor Midway was a great place to shop. Anyone looking for rare parts or looking to score a great deal, the Streetside Classics Swap Meet was a treasure trove of vintage and aftermarket C10 components. It was the perfect place to connect with fellow enthusiasts, exchange stories, and find that elusive piece you’ve been searching for.
Ad Index
- AFFORDABLE STREET RODS73
- ALL AMERICAN BILLET17
- AMERICAN AUTOWIRE53
- ART MORRISON ENTERPRISES43
- AUTO METAL DIRECT41
- AUTOMOTIVE RACING PRODUCTS55
- BEDWOOD AND PARTS73
- BOESE ENGINEERING97
- BOLING BROTHERS EARLY IRON71
- BORGESON UNIVERSAL CO.21
- CHEVS OF THE 40’S77
- CLASSIC INDUSTRIES19
- CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS71
- CLASSIC PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS4-5, 91
- CUSTOM AUTOSOUND79
- DAKOTA DIGITAL99
- DSE/GEAR FX25
- EATON DETROIT SPRING, INC.89
- EDDIE MOTORSPORTS33
- FAT MAN FABRICATION95
- FILLING STATION, THE63
- FITECH EFI83
- FLAMING RIVER INDUSTRIES45
- FLAT OUT ENGINEERING83
- FRONTIER SHOP SUPPLIES29
- GEARSTAR PERFORMANCE TRANSMISSIONS89
- HAYWIRE83
- HEIDTS SUSPENSION SYSTEMS63
- HEINZMAN STREET ROD SHOP97
- HEMMINGS61
- HOT ROD INNOVATIONS97
- KUGEL KOMPONENTS97
- KWIK PERFORMANCE91
- LEGENS HOT ROD95
- LMC TRUCK100
- LOKAR2, 27
- NATIONAL STREET ROD ASSOCIATION57
- OLD AIR PRODUCTS65
- PERFORMANCE DISTRIBUTORS89
- PHOENIX TRANSMISSION PRODUCTS95
- POWERMASTER PERFORMANCE79
- PREMIER STREET ROD6
- PRO’S PICK91
- RARE PARTS65
- SCHWARTZ PERFORMANCE89
- SCOTT’S HOTRODS77
- STEELE RUBBER PRODUCTS11
- THERMO-TEC AUTOMOTIVE91
- TMI PRODUCTS95
- TRIPLE CROWN OF RODDING, LLC9
- VINTAGE AIR7
- WILWOOD ENGINEERING47
