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Fuelish Media spent the day in Havasu with Frank Walsh and his award-winning 1975 Chevy, “Lucille,” built by the one and only Lakeside Speed & Shine.
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, Barry Kluczyk, Scotty Lachenauer, Don Lindfors, Ryan Manson, Josh Mishler, NotStock Photography, Todd Ryden, Jason Scudellari, Chris Shelton, Tim Sutton, Chuck Vranas, Michael Yamada – Writers and Photographers
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BY ROB FORTIER
ack in 1985, I acquired my first “mini-truck:” a 1976 Datsun 620 that I’d traded for a 1966 VW Kombi bus my junior year of high school (looking back on that, I definitely got the short end of the stick, but because I have a weird type of ADHD where I can’t keep anything for any real length of time—and basically, I’m not that smart—I was totally OK with it … till the next one came along!). The bullet-side was pretty much stock other than a healthy drop and a carnival-like Wink mirror, so to differentiate myself from the SoCal mini-truck club scene, and to continue honoring my VW roots, I literally rubber-malleted a set of repop Porsche 356 hubcaps onto the stock steelies then had a friend from auto shop paint it an early Beetle-esque olive green. The VW guys laughed, but the mini-truck guys raised eyebrows Saturday nights at the local GEMCO/Naugles cruise (or whatever they called it). My intentions of not fitting in were a success!
I had a handful of “small” trucks following that throughout the decades and even into my magazine career (Dodge D-50, Mazda B2000, and even a 1980s Ranger, aka turd), but all were slightly lifted with oversized A/T tires; none were lowered nor displayed any typical features of a “mini.” While the VW and mini-truck crowd definitely comingled back in my formative years, I just never connected with the truck guys—but that would all change (for better and worse) in 1993.
Parts Dept.
For more info, contact Wheelsmith at (800) 854-8937 visit thewheelsmith.net.
Power Steering Hose Kits: Gotta Show has a selection of fittings to fit a variety of setups that are easily installed with no crimping required. Hoses are PTFE-lined stainless steel (9,000-psi burst and 2,500-psi working pressure) that have a swivel fitting to adjust to whatever angle you need the hose to be at when it is attached. Works with GM Type II power steering pumps with a remote or on-board reservoir.
Automatic Transmission Cooler Line Kits: Gotta Show kits come with two different lengths of hose, either 11 or 6 feet (remote-mount cooler) that can be cut to fit their PTFE-lined stainless steel and have the fittings to hook up to either a factory or stand-alone cooler for a GM, Ford, or Chrysler Transmission.
For more info, contact Gotta Show at (602) 237-4506 or visit gottashow.com.
For more info, contact Premier Street Rod at (800) 447-5000 or visit premierstreetrod.com.
Feature
by Fuelish Mediaf you’ve happened to frequent the same events as this drop-dead gorgeous 1975 C10, you may have heard the murmurs and whisperings regarding its ranking among other Squarebody Chevy pickups. The words “perfect” and “highest quality” seem to be overheard a lot, and for good reason. There is no questioning the caliber of the work Jim McKay of Lakeside Speed & Shine and every other talented set of hands involved with the creation of this C10. For sure, this truck is a member of the top echelon of Squarebodies ever fabricated, but is it the “best”? That is a huge title to award, especially since it has just hit the scene in late 2024. Yes, using the holiest of superlatives to describe this ’75 is subject to every judge’s personal ruling, but it would be a crime to withhold it from consideration.
TECH
Images BY THE AUTHORegardless of how you feel about electric vehicles, they do offer some technological breakthroughs that can benefit those of us who still love our fossil-fueled classic trucks—namely electric power brake boosters. That same technology is available from Classic Performance Products (CPP) with their Electric E-Booster Power Brake Kits.
Prior to the introduction of electric power brakes, the two most common types of boosters were vacuum and hydraulic. The disadvantage to vacuum power brakes is that high-performance engines with aggressive camshafts generally have low manifold vacuum at idle, which limits a vacuum booster’s effectiveness unless a vacuum pump is added. Hydraulic boosters require a power steering pump and hoses, which can add clutter to the engine compartment. By comparison CPP’s Electric E-Booster Power Brake Kit doesn’t require manifold vacuum and there are no hydraulic hoses needed. The E-Booster is a completely self-contained unit; it only requires connecting three wires from the included harness.
Feature
Images By Notstock Photography
n this industry/hobby, you obviously meet—and ultimately befriend—some really amazing people. In my 30-plus years doing this, let’s just say I’ve formed a second family with such individuals; two who stand out in my mind are the two responsible for the F-100 shown here on the following pages: Alan Johnson and the late George Poteet.
In honor of the wonderful human and hot rod philanthropist that Mr. Poteet was, I asked Alan himself, as well as one of George’s closest friends who just happens to be my editorial mentor, Brian Brennan, to reflect on their relationships with him over the years.
Tech
Images By Jason Mulligant is no secret that OBS trucks are becoming increasingly popular. While most seem to want that classic single-cab, shortbed sport truck, the 1990s SUV counterparts are even more accessible and most of the time allow for the same custom parts to be applied.
When it comes to the Tahoe platform in particular, four-door versions took over for the sporty two-door Blazer option as more luxury-style SUVs became popular in the mid-to-late 1990s. Toward the tail end of the OBS line, Chevrolet used leftover Tahoes and parts to create a one-year-only Tahoe Limited Edition.
It is this optioned-out Tahoe that we started restoring and customizing. One of the first tasks on the agenda was replacing and lowering the suspension a mild 4 inches all the way around with Belltech components. Being that this Tahoe has 4-inch side skirts, we didn’t want to go much lower and run into any issues cruising around town.
FEATURE
Images BY THE AUTHORART COURTESY OF STEVE STANFORDlthough you might not recognize it in its current guise, this 1954 Chevy has been a regular staple of the truck scene. The vehicle first made waves as a lowrider, built and owned by Eddie Tovar, before Richard Doyle took possession of it in 2017. The Fullerton, California, resident then performed numerous tweaks on it, leading to the current version that looks quite different from the “Tovar truck.”
TECH
Images by THE AUTHORhen we swapped an LM7 engine donated from an ’04 Tahoe into our ’71 C10 a few years ago, we stuck with the OE accessory drive and even retained the original mechanical clutch fan pretty much based on budget constraints. We notched the driver side frame a bit to clear the power steering pump lines and there was no way the low-mount A/C compressor on the passenger side would ever fit. We worked with what was available and figured down the road we’d come up with a better solution to cooling and accessories.
That day finally arrived, and we reached out to Billet Specialties to learn more about their front accessory offerings. While best known for their line of kick-butt billet wheels, Billet Specialties also offers loads of precision billet accessories, including their Tru Trac and Sport Trac serpentine accessory drives. The Sport Trac Drive Kit was designed to easily accommodate X-frame vehicles or others with narrow framerails by placing the accessory components up a little higher on the engine. The A/C compressor is placed on the top passenger side with the power steering pump and alternator on the driver side for a smooth, clean fit and appearance. (Non-A/C–equipped kits are also available.)
Feature
By Fuelish Mediahere comes a time in many enthusiasts’ lives when they reach a crucial fork in the road. Is it possible to stretch every single dollar in the bank account in order to have a truck built by someone else, or is putting a vehicle through “college” just not in the cards? While paying a shop to do all the work does have its advantages (steady progress, quality of workmanship, and so on), the recurring bill that comes along with it can easily break the decision. The only other viable alternative to building the same truck is pursuing the DIY approach. While that may be a daunting idea for a lot of folks who may not think they have the required knowledge to handle certain jobs, there are plenty of enthusiasts who become seasoned builders this way. Learning new skill sets is something we should all strive to do more often, and every now and then we all need to hear some positive affirmation and have a role model to look to for inspiration. Consider this story a check for both of those.
TECH
Images BY Taylor Kempkesow does the saying go, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”? Sometimes, people do just that when trying to be different with a truck build. So, when Old Anvil Speed Shop mentioned they were doing a unique dash mod to a C10 project of theirs, I didn’t bother asking fabricator Brandon Gerringer to explain why (it’s just that—a unique “aesthetic” modification), but rather, in his own words, how.
Here’s Brandon’s approach to slicing and reestablishing the view angle on a 1967-72 Chevy C10 dash:
“Going into this project I didn’t have a set game plan. My initial thought was to keep it simple and do as minimal welding as possible. Welding creates warpage, and in a tight area where there’s structure in your way it makes it very difficult to do any hammer and dolly work.
Event
images by THE AUTHORor the fourth consecutive year, our pal Ronnie Wetch, his wife Autumn, and Sam Castronova pulled off yet another successful Reunion Truck Show in beautiful Downtown Chandler, Arizona!
images by THE AUTHORor the fourth consecutive year, our pal Ronnie Wetch, his wife Autumn, and Sam Castronova pulled off yet another successful Reunion Truck Show in beautiful Downtown Chandler, Arizona!
Once again, Classic Truck Performance was more than proud to sponsor the Reunion Pre-Party at the QuartHaus (this year in conjunction with United Pacific Classic, who sponsored the outside gathering of trucks “under the lights”). While it kicked off with some nasty weather (which did eventually subside), that didn’t keep the diehards from hanging out, having a few beers, and enjoying some amazing local barbecue (while it lasted!). We ducked out a little early in preparation for Saturday’s big show, which depending on whether you were a spectator or a participant started at the crack of dawn (for those driving their trucks in).
I strolled over from the San Marcos Inn (the extremely nighttime-noisy San Marcos Inn!) midway through the enormous line of trucks filing into the multi-level Downtown Chandler parking garage—hence the moniker “World’s Tallest Truck Show”—and the vendors finishing up their setup, which had been delayed for many due to the Plaza Lawn being soaked from the previous day’s rain storm. With the show sold out, the parking structure was literally filled top to bottom (top level reserved for specially chosen Upper Deck trucks), while the adjacent Dually Dr. and Four Wheel Way (so “re”named by the city!) were lined with just that: dualies and 4x4s/off-road classic trucks!
I strolled over from the San Marcos Inn (the extremely nighttime-noisy San Marcos Inn!) midway through the enormous line of trucks filing into the multi-level Downtown Chandler parking garage—hence the moniker “World’s Tallest Truck Show”—and the vendors finishing up their setup, which had been delayed for many due to the Plaza Lawn being soaked from the previous day’s rain storm. With the show sold out, the parking structure was literally filled top to bottom (top level reserved for specially chosen Upper Deck trucks), while the adjacent Dually Dr. and Four Wheel Way (so “re”named by the city!) were lined with just that: dualies and 4x4s/off-road classic trucks!
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- AFFORDABLE STREET RODS69
- ALL AMERICAN BILLET19
- AMERICAN AUTOWIRE49
- ART MORRISON ENTERPRISES39
- AUTO METAL DIRECT29
- AUTOMETER PRODUCTS27
- AUTOMOTIVE RACING PRODUCTS51
- BEDWOOD AND PARTS95
- BORGESON UNIVERSAL CO.21
- BROTHERS TRUCK PARTS67
- CLASSIC INDUSTRIES47
- CLASSIC PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS4-5, 91
- DAKOTA DIGITAL99
- DETROIT SPEED25
- EATON DETROIT SPRING, INC.93
- FITECH EFI91
- FLAT OUT ENGINEERING95
- FRONTIER SHOP SUPPLIES85
- GOLDEN STAR CLASSIC AUTO PARTS31
- GOODGUYS ROD & CUSTOM ASSOCIATION59
- GRANATELLI MOTOR SPORTS, INC.67
- HAYWIRE95
- HEINZMAN STREET ROD SHOP97
- K5 SQUARED71
- KBS COATINGS9
- KUGEL KOMPONENTS97
- LMC TRUCK100
- LOKAR2, 45
- NATIONAL STREET ROD ASSOCIATION63
- NEW PORT ENGINEERING93
- OLD AIR PRODUCTS71
- POWERMASTER PERFORMANCE69
- PREMIER STREET ROD7
- PRO’S PICK93
- PURE CHOICE MOTORSPORTS91
- RARE PARTS79
- REVB CHASSIS79
- ROADSTER SHOP57
- SCOTT’S HOTRODS85
- SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT11
- THAT’S GREAT NEWS97
- TMI PRODUCTS93
- TRIPLE CROWN OF RODDING, LLC65
- VINTAGE AIR6
- WILWOOD ENGINEERING41
