Classic Truck Performance logo
January 2024
Preview Issue
Make It Yours. Make It Lokar. Modern Performance. Classic Style. Endless Options.
Lokar logo
Lokar logo
digital illustration of how to use a shifter
selection of steering wheels
selection of driving pedals
AxiShift logo
Lecarra Steering Wheels logo
Series Restored by Lokar
digital illustration of how to use a shifter
AxiShift logo
selection of steering wheels
Lecarra Steering Wheels logo
selection of driving pedals
Series Restored by Lokar
CTP TOC
InTheGarageMedia.com
Fire chief GMC Squarebody flexing chassis on raised forklift
Early 6th gen F-100 in brown with orange decals
Fire chief GMC Squarebody flexing chassis on raised forklift
Early 6th gen F-100 in brown with orange decals
Inaugural Grand National Truck Show floor
Deep blue and white '72 F-100
Sea Glass Pearl '51 F-1 Custom
New drive belts on engine
Hot Rod
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 41 • 2024
January 2024 TOC Cover
On The Cover:
Tim Sutton did his magic and captured both the latest offerings from South City Rod & Custom in one shot: The Giovanni ’56 Chevy and Tidwell ’40 Ford.
Classic Truck Performance ISSN 2692-2347 (print) ISSN 2692-2355 (online) Issue 41 is published monthly by In the Garage Media, Inc., 370 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-6502. Application to mail at periodicals prices is pending at Placentia, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Classic Truck Performance c/o In the Garage Media, Inc., 1350 E. Chapman Ave #6550, Fullerton, CA 92834-6550 or email ITGM, Inc. at subscription@inthegaragemedia.com. Copyright (c) 2023 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA, INC. Printed in the USA. The Classic Truck Performance trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media, Inc.
The Best in Performance
Complete Big Brake Kits
Mustang II IFS
Carbureted or Fuel Injection-Ready
Premium Steering Columns
Parts Quality Value
Hydraulic Assist Systems
Master Cylinder
Coil-Over Suspension Conversion Kits
CPP
Classic Performance Products, Inc.
378 E. Orangethorpe Ave. Placentia, California 92870
*Prices subject to change without notice, please inquire. Also, please note that kits and prices may vary between certain applications.
DON’T SEE WHAT YOU LOOKING FOR? CALL US!
*Prices subject to change without notice, please inquire. Also, please note that kits and prices may vary between certain applications.
Facebook Icon
YouTube Icon
Instagram Icon
Team CPP Icon
LET’S Get Connected.
#ClassicPerform
800-760-7438
Classic Truck Performance logo
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
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
PATRICIA LUDI
pludi@inthegaragemedia.com
Editorial Team
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
Subscriptions
subscription@inthegaragemedia.com
(833) 985-9171
Advertising
Travis Weeks Advertising Sales Manager
Mark Dewey National Sales Manager
Patrick Walsh Sales Representative
ads@inthegaragemedia.com
Back Issues
inthegaragemedia.com “Online Store”
For bulk back issues of 10 copies or more, contact store@inthegaragemedia.com
Editorial Contributions
info@inthegaragemedia.com

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, INC. 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.

In the Garage Media logo
recycle sign
Copyright (c) 2023 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA, INC.
PRINTED IN THE USA.
The Classic Truck Performance trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media, Inc.

CTP RESELLERS

Missing an issue? Please contact one of our resellers listed below. Want to sell one of our titles in your store or shop? Contact us at subscription@inthegaragemedia.com
Nitroactive.net
Orange, CA
nitroactive.net
Autobooks-Aerobooks
Burbank, CA
(818) 845-0707
autobooks-aerobooks.com
Reader’s World
(616) 396-4600
readersworldbookstore.com
Horton Hot Rod Parts
Ontario, Canada
(905) 876-2124
hortonhotrod.ca
multiple issues from Classic Truck Performance
Still Hammerin’
InTheGarageMedia.com
Rob Fortier
BY ROB FORTIER
Piece by piece
I

f you happen to be one of the thousands who attended the 13th Annual Dino’s Git Down this past November 10-11 in Glendale, Arizona, and were able to get to the Classic Truck Performance booth to hear the unforgettable “Get a free T-shirt …” pitch by our beloved peddler, Tom McGill (who was hopefully wearing a shirt, period, at the time!), you also got a glimpse of our 2024 project collaboration with my buddy Shane from All American Billet/All American Chassis: the “All Aftermarket Squarebody!”

With the emergence of C10 sheetmetal—from hoods to tailgates and everything in-between, including cabs—I’ve been wanting to take on a project that promotes just that: all the aftermarket products from hood to gate, top to rocker panels, everything there is available in which to build a complete C10 truck. Well, after some serious discussions with Shane and Jason and Eddy from Auto Metal Direct (AMD) last year, we came up with a game plan—and we’re doing just that … building a complete first-gen Squarebody.

At the time, AMD was still working out the final details with their ’73-87 GM cabs, but fortunately, Shane had a cherry ’76 Chevy donor in which to start with (that will also help toward titling in certain areas of the country), but even that will get some AMD replacement sheetmetal love.

CTP  Parts Dept.

InTheGarageMedia.com
Classic Industries’ All-New Squarebody Door Frame Replacement Panels, Expanded Exhaust System Installation Solutions From ARP, and TMI Cruiser Collection Now Available in All-New Saddle Brown
1. Classic Industries’ All-New Squarebody Door Frame Replacement Panels
Classic Industries, the leader in quality restoration parts and accessories worldwide, announced the arrival of the new OER door frame portion of the truck cab on ’73-86 C/K and ’87-91 R/V Chevrolet and GMC models. Manufactured in 18-gauge sheet steel as original, each doorframe is stamped to exact proportions, with all the correct contours and holes to make the replacement of a rusted or crushed panel much more efficient and satisfying. In stock and available for immediate delivery.

For more info, contact Classic Industries by calling (855) 357-2787 or visit classicindustries.com.

2. Expanded Exhaust System Installation Solutions From ARP
Properly securing headers and eliminating exhaust leaks is of primary concern to racers and car enthusiasts alike. Noted fastener manufacturer ARP has developed a number of efficient solutions for the task at hand. These include a series of application-specific kits for most popular engines, plus “universal” kits to cover the rest. Stud kits —which have specially designed “nut starter” noses— are preferred by many because of being able to accurately position gaskets and guide the header flanges into place. Most are available in polished stainless steel or black oxide finished 8740 chromoly that are nominally rated at 180,000 psi—both fully 20 percent stronger than Grade 8 fasteners. A choice of hex or 12-point bolt heads or nuts is offered. Their compact design facilitates the use of socket wrenches in tight proximity to the tubes. Washers are included in the kits. An additional benefit of the polished stainless steel is that it’s not affected by corrosion and extreme heat. For factory cast-iron exhaust manifolds ARP offers both stainless and black bolts by size in five-packs that come in 0.250-inch increments to assure getting the correct length. ARP also manufactures specially drilled “NASCAR” header bolts that facilitate safety wiring. All are made in-house at ARP’s California facilities.

For more info, contact ARP by calling (800) 826-3045 or visit arp-bolts.com.

3. TMI Cruiser Collection Now Available in All-New Saddle Brown
TMI Automotive Products introduced the latest addition to their Cruiser Collection: all-new Saddle Brown Vinyl Material. This Saddle Brown Vinyl is completely new to TMI, enhancing their renowned product line. Building on the success of TMI’s existing range, these seats maintain the same timeless design and budget-friendly pricing while introducing a sophisticated modern upgrade that complements the factory OE styling. Available in both bucket seat and bench seat configurations, these seats are designed for comfort and seamlessly integrate with your vehicle’s interior. The Cruiser Collection is offered in two distinct bucket seat styles: the Cruiser Pro-Classic and the Cruiser Low Back. The Cruiser Pro-Classic Bucket Seat offers moderate bolstering and a slightly wider design, making it an excellent fit for trucks and larger vehicles while providing a modern and comfortable ride. The Cruiser Low Back Bucket Seat, on the other hand, is engineered with aggressive bolstering to keep you glued to your seat while still providing superior support and comfort. For those who prefer the OE look of a bench seat, this new Saddle Brown Vinyl is also available in both 55- and 60-inch Cruiser Bench seats. The split-back design of these bench seats allows for easy access to the rear seat or storage area in a truck. They offer moderate bolstering to prevent sliding during cornering while ensuring comfort. 

For more info, please contact TMI Automotive Products by visiting tmiproducts.com.

CTP Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Most Beautiful typographic title
Greg Tidwell’s Award-Winning ’40 Ford Pickup
BY Rob FortierPhotography BY TIM SUTTON
W

hen the entrants began lining up for the inaugural World’s Most Beautiful Truck (WMBT) award judging process, in my mind I’d already narrowed down the competition to maybe a half-dozen or less … and the more I paced back and forth as the owners/builders buffed chrome and paint equally, that number quickly shrank down to half of that … and this was well before the actual judging even commenced. But there were a half-dozen judges doing the same visual sizing up, and I knew once “judgment day” came, there could be just as many differing opinions!

’40 Ford Pickup
CTP Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Modern Pro Street ... South City Style typography
Modern Pro Street ... South City Style typography

Gary & Cindy Giovanni’s ’56 Chevy

BY Rob FortierPhotography BY Tim Sutton
I

f you’ve been a reader of Classic Truck Performance for any length of time you know that we/I have special relationships with quite a few builders, and none more so than Bill Ganahl et al. at South City Rod & Custom (if you do a genealogy test, I’m convinced somewhere down the line Ganahl and I are related!). When SCRC had just finished up the Tidwell ’40 Ford and Gary and Cindy Giovanni’s ’56 Chevy, I texted Ganahl and told him I wanted both shot for the cover. His answer: “No, no you don’t.” My response is not worthy of print.

passenger side quarter front view of a sea green ’56 classic Chevy truck

CTP  Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com

A drive toward perfection
close up of a serpentine package on an LS engine
A Clean Serpentine Package for any LS Engine
BY Ryan MansonPhotography BY THE AUTHOR
O

ne of the benefits of using a late-model engine, such as the venerable LS-series of GM powerplants, is the fact that they came equipped from the factory with a reliable, serpentine belt setup. Unlike the V-belt systems of old, the serpentine-style requires reduced belt tension, resulting in less stress on the various components’ bearings and seals and increased belt-to-pulley contact ratio, resulting in less belt slippage. Reliability in the upper-rpm range is also a benefit of the serpentine belt design over the old V-belt. Unfortunately, the packaging of many OE serpentine systems can leave something to be desired, not to mention their rather utilitarian appearance. When it comes to building a custom truck with a tidy engine compartment, a stock pulley system just doesn’t cut it. Thankfully, Eddie Motosports (EMS) saw the writing on the wall when they introduced their line of S-Drive serpentine pulley systems a few years back and successfully filled the void.

Since then, EMS has continued to improve upon the S-Drive product line by introducing an eight-rib version in an effort to reduce belt slippage in high performance applications. Their latest offering, dubbed the Pro Touring Kit, expands upon that performance aspect by utilizing not only an eight-rib belt and pulley setup but an additional idler pulley for increased belt wrap on the alternator and power steering pulleys. An oversized pulley on the power steering pump helps slow the pump down during high-rev maneuvers on the autocross track.

CTP logo Event
InTheGarageMedia.com
The Inaugural O'Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show typography
Presented by Classic Truck Performance, LMC Truck & ARP
BY Rob FortierPhotography BY Michael Christensen
A

s I’m physically recouping from the last four days spent out at the Fairplex in Pomona, my mind is still trying to wrap itself around the events that transpired … actually, the EVENT that transpired: the first-ever Grand National Truck Show put on by our friends at Rod Shows (the same folks behind the Grand National Roadster Show).

While the show itself was two days, myself and quite a few others were onsite early Thursday for the judging of the first World’s Most Beautiful Truck—which, if you haven’t read by now, went to Greg Tidwell’s South City Rod & Custom–built ’40 Ford (see page 12). Eighteen trucks of all shapes, sizes, colors, and denominations competed for the coveted award sponsored by ARP (whittled by my buddy Mike Curtis/Curtis Speed), and the judging took the better part of the day. Friday of course was spent setting up displays and vendors, not only in Building 4 as originally planned but the adjacent Building 6 as well to accommodate the excess number of indoor entries (not to mention the formal Corn Hole Contest!).

Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
BY By Tommy Lee ByrdPhotography BY THE AUTHOR
Uncle Jack's Jimmy
Jack Fillers’ GMC Stepside has the Perfect Mix of Patina and Practicality
W

hen it comes to building a classic truck, there are many avenues you can take. Some go all-out for a show truck with customized details on every square inch of the body and chassis, others gravitate to the budget-friendly side with the goal of just getting it on the road. Many of us find ourselves somewhere in the middle, which is why the popularity of shop trucks and patina paint continues to grow. When Jack Fillers decided he wanted to jump into the truck world in February 2022, he wanted a truck he could jump in and use on a regular basis but with a nice stance and some practical upgrades. For this, he worked out a plan with his nephew Bryan Harrison at Harrison’s Rod and Custom, and together they found the ideal truck to fit his build plan: an aged ’71 GMC Stepside.

CTP Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com
The Scott's '51 Chevy Hotrods 'N Customs
The Scott's '51 Chevy Hotrods 'N Customs
Part 6: Custom Header Fab
BY Kenneth “Stress Ball” Dekiserre
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Camren Beattie
I

haven’t built headers in five or so years, and even then I haven’t made very many. I also wasn’t even supposed to be the one building them! I remember asking Justin if I could build the headers for the truck a long time ago and he outright said no, but the time came where I needed to have them built and our foreman, Sev, who usually builds the headers and exhaust for everything in the shop was still too busy to get to them, so I just started building them myself from the excess material we had on hand.

When it came time for headers, Justin had told Sev that he wanted them to be as equal length as possible for maximum performance. That stuck with me, and I bothered Sev about doing the headers several times before the time came where I really just needed to get them built. With Sev so busy, I grabbed the header modeling blocks that we have from icengineworks (I highly suggest you get these if you’re building headers often as they are a huge time saver) and started building out the runners on the driver side first. I feel like I have kind of a weird process of building headers. I mock up the collectors where I want them in the framerails (in this truck they are mirrored) and then I like to see what the first 6 or so inches of every runner is going to look like (because this is what you see the most in the engine bay) before building the forward-most runner completely out to the collector.

Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
Next In Line
A Lifelong Ford Enthusiast’s
Full-Custom F-100 Shop Truck
Next In Line
A Lifelong Ford Enthusiast’s Full-Custom F-100 Shop Truck
By Fuelish Media
R

andy Pierson of Montgomery, Texas, is a self-proclaimed custom Ford junkie. He says that even before he could speak, he was infatuated with cool cars and trucks—a trait that has stuck with him into his adult life. “Basically, I build up every vehicle I own, mainly because stock sucks,” he says enthusiastically. “Both my grandfathers were car guys, so they helped instill an appreciation for customized vehicles in me as far back as I can remember.”

The game of buying, building, and selling old cars isn’t anything new for Randy. He’s been doing it for so long now, a solid chunk of his free time is spent turning wrenches on vehicles of all types in hopes to make them as awesome as possible. “Back in 2014, I was in the process of building a ’65 Ford Mustang G.T. 350 replica,” he adds. “The car was keeping me pretty busy, but I really needed a shop truck to help make trips back and forth to the hardware store much less of a hassle.”

This is the time frame when Randy picked up this ’72 Ford F-100. The truck was located in North Carolina and was listed on eBay for $7,500. For the price, the old Ford appeared to be in pretty decent shape based on the photos and description of it online. It was in decent shape, was said to run, drive, and stop OK, and looked to be rust-free. That was enough for Randy to pull the trigger on the F-100 and arrange for delivery to California where he was based at the time.

CTP Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Art Morrison Goes Off-Road
1. Matt Jones, president of Art Morrison Enterprises (AME), demonstrates the articulation capabilities of the new 4×4 chassis. While off-road performance is remarkable, on-the-road handling and ride characteristics are just as good.
Could This Be the Ultimate 4×4 Chassis?
By Ron Ceridono
A

rt Morrison has a long history of building performance vehicles. As a teenager he collected a number of trophies with his homebuilt, big-block–powered, straight-axle–equipped ’54 Chevy. Morrison’s passion for performance ultimately led him to open Art Morrison Enterprises (AME) in 1971, which quickly grew into one of the leading drag race chassis and component manufacturers in the country.

Ever the innovators, AME grew in size as the company broadened its scope by including components for high-performance street vehicles. That led to the revolutionary direct-replacement chassis for ’55-57 Chevrolets. Introduced in 2002, the all-new suspension design gave these vintage vehicles the best in contemporary ride and handling characteristics. Today AME offers direct-replacement performance chassis for a variety of cars and trucks, custom one-off chassis for virtually any vehicle imaginable, and B-body Mopar K-members with coilover suspension.

After 51 years in business, Morrison decided to step down and turn the reins of AME over to Matt Jones. Jones has been with the company since 2004, serving first in the engineering department, then as operations manager, and now as president. Under Jones’ leadership AME continues to develop new products, the latest being a new 4×4 chassis for ’73-87 Chevrolet/GMC pickups and Blazers with ’67-72 applications to follow.

Feature
InTheGarageMedia.com
The Sea Glass Pearl
Jeff Jones’ ’51 Ford F-1 Custom
BY CHADLY JOHNSONPhotography BY THE AUTHOR
I

n our current world of social media, we are allowed to glance into the shops of builders from around the world. If you have a teenager in your life you may know how annoying this technology can be, but when harnessed properly it can be used to both motivate and inspire your own personal build. I kept tabs on the build of this ’51 F-1 by Jeff Jones of Monroe Center, Illinois, through social media. I was intrigued during the metal and bodywork phases, but when Jeff laid down the perfect tone of blue on the Ford’s massaged body I knew I had to see it in person. The ’51 made its debut at the Vintage Torque Fest show, one of the Midwest’s premier traditional hot rod events. As soon as I laid eyes on it, my camera trigger finger started twitching and I couldn’t wait for the photoshoot, utilizing downtown Dubuque, Iowa, as the perfect backdrop.

CTP Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
1. Paul Wilson drops the Holley carburetor on the newly installed BluePrint small-block Chevy. The smooth, recessed firewall came from Chevs Of The 40’s.
Traditional Power
Our Chevy Gets a New Firewall, Engine & Transmission
BY Ron CeridonoPhotography BY THE AUTHOR
W

e’ve been following along as Paul Wilson has been in the process of transforming a random pile of parts into a complete ’52 Chevy pickup. So far in the pages of Classic Truck Performance we’ve shown how a mildly tweaked ’55 Chevy pickup frame has been straightened and stepped in the rear. It was then equipped with a C4 Corvette independent front and rear suspension by way of kits from Flat Out Engineering. With a rolling chassis (albeit on wooden mock-up wheels) the next step in this evolutionary process was installing the engine and transmission.

While LS engines and overdrive transmissions are all the rage, Wilson decided to take the old-school approach and go with a Gen II 350 Chevy from BluePrint engines coupled to a Turbo 350 transmission. Speaking of the evolutionary process, the engine Wilson chose is virtually all aftermarket with BluePrint’s own cast-iron block, aluminum heads, and internal components. Equipped with a single four-barrel carburetor and roller hydraulic cam the engine dyno showed 341 hp and 371 lb-ft of torque, which will make for a good daily driver. The transmission has been rebuilt and equipped with a mild shift kit and a “tight” stock stall speed torque converter for efficiency.

What's Inside Your Ride typography
TMI logo
Visit us at TMIproducts.com typography
red truck driving and two black leather seats
close up of black and brother leather seats
close up of gray and brown leather seats
Cruiser Collection logo
Deluxe Bench Seat logo
Pro-Series Seats logo
TMI logo
red truck driving and two black leather seats
Cruiser Collection logo
close up of black and brother leather seats
Deluxe Bench Seat logo
close up of gray and brown leather seats
Pro-Series Seats logo
CTP logo Event
InTheGarageMedia.com
2023 F-100 Supernationals typographic title in black
The 46th Annual F-100 Supernationals Packs the House
BY Tommy Lee ByrdPhotography BY THE AUTHOR
T

he F-100 Supernationals has gone through many phases in its 46-year existence. While the event venue has moved, and organizers have come and gone, the long-running Ford truck event has found a great home at the Sevierville Convention Center in Sevierville, Tennessee. Event organizers Danny and Jeff Blackwell have poured their hearts into growing this legendary event with the help of many folks. Their efforts are noticed by the Ford truck community, as hundreds of trucks poured into Sevierville for the three-day event in September.

Inside the convention center are the sponsor and vendor displays, including Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs, Dennis Carpenter, and many more. Select show truck spots are also available inside. Outside, Ford Performance was set up just outside the swap meet, which was packed with vintage parts, project trucks, and body panels. Other outside vendors included O’Reilly Auto Parts, the F-100 Supernationals DJ, and the merchandise trailer.

For the 2023 event we saw a huge variety of trucks on the property. The award format offered a nice selection of classes for both shiny trucks and patina trucks. The show field covered all generations of Ford trucks, from pre World War II street rods to modern trucks and everything in between. Bumpsides continue to be the hot ticket in the F-100 world right now. We saw every configuration you can imagine on hand, ranging from slammed patina trucks to high-riding 4x4s.

Classic Truck Performance logo
Thanks for reading our January 2024 preview issue!