TOC
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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Still Hammerin’InTheGarageMedia.com
BY ROB FORTIER
appy fifth anniversary to us! Part of me wants to say it’s hard to believe we’ve made it five years; the other part of me wants to say it’s hard to believe it’s only been five years, as it seems like it’s been a whole lot longer with everything we (all of us) have been through since we started this party back in early 2020!
The part of me that is slightly amazed that we’ve made it this far is the part that will never forget the challenges that COVID-19 posed—to us, and to the world in general—that would be the biggest red flags for anyone wanting to start a new business at the time. But taking a huge risk versus collecting unemployment, well, there was no choice … it was all or nothing! And while working from home while conserving toilet paper and drinking tap water wasn’t a burden, creating a product and hoping there’d be a market for it (print wise) was quite stressful, to say the least. But here we are—we not only survived the pandemic (our hearts go out to our dear friends and colleagues who were not as fortunate), but we succeeded in creating that product that people wanted, thanks in no small part to the corporate giant that put us in this “garage” to begin with! Thinking back, sitting at home and not wanting to watch/read the depressing news, a good niche publication like CTP (or Modern Rodding or, eventually, All Chevy Performance, which debuted in 2021) appeared to be a welcomed addition to many a household!
Parts Dept.
They are designed to be employed for a variety of tasks in a vehicle’s engine compartment, interior, and elsewhere. All ARP accessory fasteners (polished stainless steel or black oxide-finished 8740 chromoly) are nominally rated at 180,000-psi tensile strength—fully 20 percent stronger than Grade 8 hardware. As an additional benefit, the stainless steel bolts are virtually impervious to the elements.
Details on the 5,500-plus fastener kits manufactured by ARP can be found online, while a free printed copy of the new 2025 catalog—which contains important tech information—is available upon request. Personalized technical assistance can be obtained by calling the number below.
For more info, contact ARP by calling (800) 826-3045 or visit arp-bolts.com.
For more info, contact Pure Choice by calling (928) 505-8355 or visit purechoicemotorsports.com.
Features: Compatible with Drive by Wire throttle bodies and pedals; configurable with the Dakota Digital mobile app, featuring a built-in setup and troubleshooting wizard, taking the guesswork out of installation, setup, and operation; onboard diagnostics are available with built-in seven-segment and separate LED indicators. The Velocity Commander monitors speedometer and tachometer information through OBD-II, aftermarket EFI CAN data, or even a direct speedometer and tachometer connection. Activation output wire to drive any type of dash-mount cruise control indicator light. Plug-and-play compatible with LED taillights without requiring a separate relay. Clutch switch input for simple connectivity with a manual transmission. Redundant safety features integrated throughout to provide you with the most reliable and intuitive cruise control system on the market. Additionally, Velocity Commander has the option to learn many OEM and aftermarket resistive or non-resistive cruise control handles, allowing for a simplified and more integrated installation. Dakota Digital offers a range of aftermarket handles for fitment of many OEM or aftermarket steering columns.
For more info, contact Dakota Digital by calling (800) 852-3228 or visit dakotadigital.com.
Feature
Images by NotStock Photography ammy. Uttering that name immediately conjures up both visual and audio memories, the first of which permeating my cranial cavity is Hagar’s song “Red”! And indeed the Mr. Cabo Wabo is the moniker in which Hill’s Hot Rods referenced when naming Bob Ward’s (GMC-grilled) 1996 Chevy, as Jason Hill himself recalls.
“We [Hill’s Hot Rods] built this CK1500 to bring back some old memories to a rather famous Squarebody from back in the past, ‘Red Rocker;’ a passing of the torch in a way. It has been 20 years since that truck was built and it was time to see an OBS version done. Cutting our teeth on CK truck builds over 30 years ago made this build a lot of fun for the Hill’s crew,” Hill says.
TECH
Images by THE AUTHOR
s promised, here’s part 2! In hindsight, it’s not all a bad thing, as we not only learned a valuable lesson, but we inadvertently provided the opportunity for a nice stand-alone power steering pump/reservoir install rather than glossing over it in the first article.
Flaming River’s accompanying* power steering kit (*it comes with the full 1973-87 C10 cradle rack package) features their all-new aluminum Type II pump, adjustable mounting bracket, braided stainless lines (precut with fittings installed) and all necessary fitting adapters, and a billet aluminum fluid reservoir. The only thing we needed to provide was an afternoon and some fresh power steering fluid!
Feature
Images By Grinder TVor many of us, mid 2020 may not end up being a point in time we remember favorably; for Central California’s Shannon Hartley, in June of that year he acquired what many of us would consider a “dream truck” … a museum-quality (literally) creampuff 1965 SWB/big-window Chevy C10 with a whopping 13 miles on the odometer!
Tech
Images BY the Authorheetmetal panels are used extensively in classic truck projects, often for interior and underhood panels. While fabricating panels can be as simple as cutting and fitting, there are some simple tools that can add detail to create more visual impact, and each of these detailing steps add strength to the panel as well.
We will look at the Dimple Dies made by Hammerfab, which form a strong, good-looking detail around the heads of any fasteners. The most common styles are Flat Recess, Flush Recess, and the ever-popular Crater Maker. All of these dies are precision machined from heat-treated 4140 (chromoly) steel and are very durable. You have seen these used on many trucks featured in this magazine by both professional shops and homebuilders.
11479 Sixth St., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
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Images BY NotStock Photographye were on Facebook Marketplace searching for a shop Jeep to take wheeling. While scrolling through the ads, my wife came across the Willys-Overland Wagon rusting away in a field. She had never seen one before and started researching them. We found that a lot of people were cutting them apart and turning them into “wheelers” or doing very classic restorations. We talked about how it could be cool if we did something different and combined both of those worlds and paid homage to what they were initially meant to do.
TECH
Images by THE AUTHOR & Marcel Venableith Jason Fonte’s 1959 Chevrolet Apache, the fire-scorched body of the truck was maintained with its historic character from the Paradise Fire in Northern California. But underneath, Fonte had the crew at Devious Customs in Riverside, California, completely transform the classic farm truck–style suspension into a modern show truck with a full Roadster Shop chassis that was kept in bare metal using a clear powdercoating to protect it. Naturally, a full air-ride suspension setup was called for and Fonte opted to upgrade it to the latest air management setup from AccuAir Suspension.
One of the standout features of the AccuAir e-Level+ system is its ability to provide an exceptional ride quality that is also consistent. Using their Height+ Leveling Sensors and intelligent algorithms, the Ride Monitor system will adjust the air suspension in real time, ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride, lessening bottoming out or scraping even if more weight is added to the truck or rough road conditions.
Feature
By Fuelish Mediaoe Rode, of Covina, California, is a lifelong car guy through and through. He has an extensive list of vehicles he has owned and has an even longer list of stories he could share that would colorfully illustrate his 70-plus years of experience in the SoCal custom scene. While Joe has held the keys to more than his fair share of killer cars, trucks, and even boats (yep, he owned a boat shop back in the day), there is one make and model vehicle that he has built multiples of throughout the years.
Tech
by Jeff Huneycutthere’s a reason why the LS engine has been by far the most popular option when it comes to engine swaps. Actually, there are many reasons: They make good power, they’re easy to work on, there’s a ton of aftermarket support, they’re durable, and they are compact so they can be made to fit under the hood of a wide variety of different trucks.
And that’s just the beginning. People at car shows gripe about seeing LS engines in too many different kinds of trucks. But those are the people who have never done an engine swap before. Let’s be honest, if you want a good-looking engine that makes good power with minimal headaches, the LS engine family is the way to go.
Event
by Fuelish Mediaf you’ve ever been to Lone Star Throwdown (LST), you know there are a few truths about the show. First, it’s guaranteed that there will be a massive number of jaw-dropping trucks that will make your head spin. The other truth is that you may get wet! But hey, it’s all part of the adventure you’ll have when you come out to one of the nation’s largest truck shows.
Coming from modest beginnings, Lonnie Ford and Todd “Radar” Hendrex started the show as a way to have a good time with a few fellow truck enthusiasts. Word quickly spread about the wild rides and chill vibes that the show brought out. Soon enough, the crew was bringing masses to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas. The venue became so overwhelmed at one point that the crew had to cap the show truck entries to 2,000.
For the 2025 show, it was held on February 21-23, and it was again another event to remember. The show was sold out as always, however, there was an early forecast of rain for Saturday and Sunday so some folks changed plans to avoid the wet weather, but there were still plenty of industry titans who brought some of the finest trucks. At this point, with the reputation of the show, the diehards will always commit to LST.
TECH
Images by THE AUTHORome things were just meant to be, and in this particular case the timing couldn’t have been better. As my 1969 C10 was being dropped off from its visit with TMI Products for the interior you saw go together in last month’s issue (May ’25), I got a new product email from Eddie Motorsports (EMS) announcing their all-new billet gauge bezels with matching glovebox doors … with a variety of color combo choices. Phone in hand, I walked out to the shop and sat in my truck, iPhone window-shopping the various colors, when I ended up pairing their Bronze Fusioncoat with Forged Charcoal Fusioncoat inset combination. With the truck’s metallic gray (lower) exterior and distressed brown interior, it was a message sent from above (or my phone): those needed to go in the C10!
I made a quick call to EMS to see what the availability was and two weeks later I had the bronze/gray billet components in hand ready to install. The complete setup comes with matching billet aluminum panels and all necessary hardware for installation. While these are “replacements” for the OE gauge bezel and stamped-steel glovebox door, as for the instrument panel, it’s a “blind hole” bezel, which eliminates the exposed mounting screws by using rear-facing studs and Keps (locking star) nuts for a nice, clean appearance; the glovebox hinge and doorstop reattach with supplied 10-32 screws.
Ad Index
- AFFORDABLE STREET RODS69
- ALL AMERICAN BILLET19
- AMERICAN AUTOWIRE37
- ART MORRISON ENTERPRISES39
- AUTO METAL DIRECT31
- AUTOMETER PRODUCTS9
- AUTOMOTIVE RACING PRODUCTS47
- BEDWOOD AND PARTS91
- BILLET SPECIALTIES29
- BOESE ENGINEERING97
- BORGESON UNIVERSAL CO.41
- BROTHERS TRUCK PARTS77
- CLASSIC INDUSTRIES21
- CLASSIC PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS4-5, 89
- CUSTOM AUTOSOUND89
- DAKOTA DIGITAL99
- EATON DETROIT SPRING, INC.89
- EDDIE MOTORSPORTS45
- FILLING STATION, THE65
- FITECH EFI67
- FLAMING RIVER INDUSTRIES49
- FLAT OUT ENGINEERING91
- FRONTIER SHOP SUPPLIES83
- GOODGUYS ROD & CUSTOM ASSOCIATION57
- HEINZMAN STREET ROD SHOP97
- IDIDIT67
- K5 SQUARED69
- KBS COATINGS11
- KUGEL KOMPONENTS97
- LMC TRUCK100
- LOKAR2, 27
- NATIONAL STREET ROD ASSOCIATION59
- OLD AIR PRODUCTS81
- PAINT OVER RUST PRODUCTS83
- PERFORMANCE DISTRIBUTORS91
- PHOENIX MACHINE PRODUCTS97
- PHOENIX TRANSMISSION PRODUCTS95
- PICKUPS LIMITED OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA95
- POWERMASTER PERFORMANCE77
- PREMIER STREET ROD7
- PRO’S PICK95
- REVB CHASSIS75
- SCOTT’S HOTRODS81
- SPECIALTY AUTO PARTS USA, INC.75
- STRANGE ENGINEERING65
- THERMO-TEC AUTOMOTIVE91
- TMI PRODUCTS95
- TRIPLE CROWN OF RODDING, LLC63
- VINTAGE AIR6
- WESTERN F-100 NATIONALS55
- WILWOOD ENGINEERING25
