Classic Truck Performance 07.2023
Classic Truck Performance 07.2023
Classic Truck Performance 07.2023
1957 GMC
Wideside
THE
INS &
OUTS
OF PERFORMANCE
Ken Tilton’s Killer
1970 Chevy
BRAKE PLUMBING
I N T H E G A R AG E M E D I A .C O M
Plus: Coverage From AMD’s Truck Jam!
CTP TOC InTheGarageMedia.com
EVENT
AMD Truck Jam 2023 ............................................................................................................................40
Classic Truck Performance ISSN 2692-2347 (print) ISSN 2692-2355 (online) Issue 35 is published monthly
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CTP STILL HAMMERIN’ InTheGarageMedia.com
BY ROB FORTIER
here (but I will say it’s rather nice having a 3-year-old to invest that kind of capital into producing those, you know they
magazine doing so well in this modern electronic era!). feel fairly comfortable with their potential customer base—so that
No, the proverbial question of where we’re headed has more to do suggests to me that maybe we should be concentrating a bit more
with the types of trucks we’re currently seeing “en vogue.” on the 4x4 side of things? What say you?
Without intentionally upsetting our non-GM readership, it’s not an To be honest, I’ve always loved vintage off-road. I grew up idolizing
opinion when I say that the ’67-72 C10 is by far the most popular segment Walker Evans (his mom was my fourth grade teacher), Parnelli
of the classic truck hobby AND aftermarket. Beyond the enthusiast Jones, and Mickey Thompson, and one of my dad’s closest friends
8
popularity, you can literally build an entire C10 from aftermarket back in the ’70s, Frank Snook, raced a (McDonald’s then Uniroyal
components—from a host of chassis platforms to every single piece of sponsored) Class 1 buggy. Pops was just as much a SCORE fan as he
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
sheetmetal (including brand-new cabs) and everything in-between. was NASCAR, so I got to experience quite a bit of racing action in
But I’m just talking about standard 1/2-ton C10s and the like. my formative years, whether it was the Mint 400, Winston Cup at
Riverside International, or the first of the MTEG Offroad Stadium
If you’ve been paying attention to any of the leading classic car racing. Suffice it to say, a Class 8–style stepside Squarebody has
auctions the last couple of years, you know that while those always been on my “wish list”!
standard 1/2-ton C10s have been bringing in some pretty pennies,
they haven’t fetched what their heavy-duty 4x4 brethren have! Is this type of content—both the custom and race-inspired classic
Because they’re bringing in the big bucks, does that mean that’s off-road performance—something you’d like to see in CTP? If you
the direction the hobby/aftermarket is headed? ask me, there’s enough of that content to fill a magazine of its own …
but unless (or until) that becomes a reality, this is, in my opinion, the
As it is with those standard 1/2-tons, the offerings for the 4x4 market perfect platform for that. Regardless of what I think, I’d love to hear
in the way of custom and direct-fit chassis is beginning to grow. Same your thoughts. Email me at [email protected]. CTP
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CTP FEATURE
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
12
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
13
you may have witnessed on cable TV’s Biker Build-Off series—so we
Turns out Hotch had refocused his efforts accordingly and was/is
now following his other passion for vintage domestic trucks. John’s
Wideside is his first “official” foray into the four-wheeled variety as
a builder (though he’s built trucks for himself over the years), and I
asked him to tell us a bit more about the project.
“This ’57 deluxe GMC truck was first started by another customer;
he was unable to finish it and it sat in my shop for several years.
I was working on John’s custom COE, which I was building from
the ground up with 24- and 26-inch semitruck wheels, and we
were kind of tripping over the GMC. John finally offered to buy the
unfinished truck, and that’s when the project started. We put the
COE on the back burner and started on the ’57 GMC.
CTP FEATURE
“We also made a lot of changes to the interior. Wanting to keep it looking
and feeling like a ‘50s truck, we just decided to keep it simple. We didn’t
want to make it like a Mercedes inside; we wanted it to feel like you
were still driving a truck. So, I ended up with a tilt steering column with
a custom steering wheel, Dakota Digital dash, TMI bucket seats with
center console, custom carpet and headliner by Vic the Seat guy, a
Vintage Auto Sound system with satellite radio (using JL Audio sound
system speakers: 6x9 in the center console, 6.5 three-ways in the kick
panels, and a 4-inch in the stock center speaker location, all pushed
by a 500-watt four-channel amp), and a “very large” A/C system from
RestoMod air. It also has cruise control, train, horns, foglights, power
windows, power locks, all the creature comforts.
out it wasn’t fast enough for John. So … we tore the engine and front
clip apart and installed a Stage 2 BTR (cam, lifters, valvesprings, and
rockers). We also did upper and lower blower lid spacers to help
isolate radiant heat. Added Injection Dynamic 1050 injectors and a
custom cold-air intake that has a special heat-deflecting coating on
it that will keep intake temperatures at ambient. We also upgraded
the fuel system with a ZL1 modified pump and VaporWorks module
to run E85. Ryan Cunningham from BRC Raceworks in Texas did a
custom remote tune. We are shooting for around 850 at the crank.
16
We could’ve made more, but this truck will be daily driven and like
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
“This truck was built as a driver not a show truck. We had the
chassis made by Justin Scott at Scott’s Hotrods. It’s a Lay Frame
model for ’55-59 Chevy trucks. I modified it to accept a custom GMC
core support and body mounts (they are far from being the same
as a Chevy). I did internal wiring inside the framerails and other
things to make it work for me. It has Ridetech adjustable shocks
and full airbag suspension with Super Slam airbags and a full
AccuAir air management system. The truck rides on a custom set
of Curtis Speed 20-inch wheels. We powdercoated them a bronze
textured finish to match the patina’d rust and then wrapped in
Pirelli rubber. Brakes are Wilwood 14-inch brakes front and rear,
with a 3.73-geared, four-linked Moser custom 9-inch in the rear.
CTP FEATURE InTheGarageMedia.com
“The Scott’s chassis was originally made with a raised bed for the As I was finishing this feature, John had a few words in closing that
stepside that came with the truck. So, when I converted it to a I felt were beyond appropriate to add:
fleetside, I had to custom make a metal frame to mount the bed
and also to incorporate a tilt system. It turned out pretty cool. I “[Hotch] had to work long hours to finish the truck in time for
also utilized hood pins as the latch release for the tilt bed. John, Dino’s Git Down in Phoenix. He finished the night before we had
being a framer and carpenter, wanted to use a special Brazilian to leave. We took it for a 70-mile shakedown run around town
hardwood called Apitong that they use on semitruck beds floors— then drove it to Phoenix the next day. We logged in 1,200 trouble-
very durable material. I designed a custom shiplap overlap for the free miles that weekend. There were 5,000 trucks at Dino’s on
wood so it hides the seams; we had it all custom milled.” Saturday and I can’t tell you how many people told me that my
truck was their favorite truck at the show. A big pat on the back to
[Hotch] for all of his hard work.” CTP
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
20
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
2023 NSRA Giveaway Truck
by Harrison’s Rod & Custom
Proudly Sponsored by
BEFORE AFTER
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
A TRUE “DIY”
22
UPHOLSTERY JOB
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
BEFORE AFTER
InTheGarageMedia.com
Makes it Simple to
Give Your 4’ 7-53
Chevrolet New Life
BY ROB FORTIER PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHOR
R
ecently, we showed you the way to get an already-
upholstered, full custom interior for your C10—
and avoid the wait of having a professional
upholstery shop do it for you. But that’s not the
only way to reupholster your truck without having to leave
the comfy confines of your own garage!
From repro headliners and door panels to seat covers and door
handles/window cranks and so on, if you’re looking to give that
23
old Chevy (or GMC) cab new life—and enjoy the ride that much
Now, we’ll be the first to admit: neither the staff of CTP nor
Jimenez Bros. are “professional upholsterers”! Those of you
reading this who happen to be upholsterers by trade will likely
spot some discrepancies in our seat-recovering process—not to
mention the results! However, our point was to show that even
the most inexperienced could not only attempt but pull off the
job with more than satisfactory results … we think! CTP
3. 4. 8.
6.
24
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
10.
7. 7. J&J offers
two types of
foam for our
purposes: 1/2-
inch DBL scrim
foam (for the
initial layer)
and 1/4-inch
seat pad (for
the top layer);
both feature a
laminated knit
backing.
CTP TECH InTheGarageMedia.com
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19. … so we ended up
inserting a length of 1/16
cold roll for the bottom
edge of the seat back in
which the material was
fastened to.
20. 21.
28
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
ure yo u
Make s t the...
are a
22. 23.
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
30
A
bove and beyond being a tribute to Mom, as it
were, Ken Tilton’s C10 has even more family ties
associated with it, as his wife, Sonia, was beyond
instrumental in seeing that her husband persist in
the completion, especially during the times he simply wanted
to throw in the towel.
CTP FEATURE
the summer.
—Ken Tilton
34
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
InTheGarageMedia.com
And though Ken initially purchased the truck (off eBay) well over 15
years ago, it wasn’t until 2018, with encouragement from his friend
Kevin Pittman (aka Chassis Brad), that it went from a relic resting
alongside his house in Glendale, Arizona, to becoming a full-on
project. “Once we rolled that truck into my garage, the build was on!”
Over the following four years, Ken not only relied on Chassis Brad’s
key player role in the build but enlisted the following to ensure
that, as his wife insisted, there were no short cuts: Cory Bones
(Broken Bones Garage: firewall/front wheeltub fabrication and
mechanicals), Anthony Arteaga (Supreme Garage: body, paint, and
final assembly, engine build and tune, and Bedwood & Parts install/
finishing), Travis McGuire (roughed in the custom framework for the
sliding rear window), Alfredo Carranza (Mizark’s Mobile Detailing:
fabricated center console), and Edwin (The Chrome Guy: mass parts
acquisition and referral to Supreme Garage!).
InTheGarageMedia.com
FEATURE
CTP
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE 36 VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
CTP FEATURE InTheGarageMedia.com
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
38
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
Ken’s stunning C10 now rests on a Chopping Block foundation gauges and wiring the entire truck using an American Autowire
complete with its own front and rear airslammit-assisted suspensions Highway 22 harness, Tilton enlisted Bell Auto Upholstery in Phoenix
(all properly color-dressed by Glendale Powder Coating), CPP Big to handle the cab’s classic saddle-colored leather interior.
Brakes (capped with 22-inch American Legend Apaches), and
power rack-and-pinion steering. The aforementioned engine build Originally, Ken had purchased the truck to build and ultimately
by Supreme Garage revolved around a Texas Speed 383 long-block finish with his father—but unfortunately his dad died before the C10
with Precision Race Components aluminum heads, TSP-fabricated was completed. “Back when we started to work on the truck, I would
manifold with Holley Terminator X EFI/ECU, and custom-fabbed always watch American Hot Rod and the other cable TV shows that
exhaust. After he’d finished with the underlying (flawless) bodywork, were on at the time and tell my dad that the truck could be done
Arteaga sprayed the C10 in Toyota Calvary Blue with Ebony Black in six months … and every time I would see or talk to him he would
rockers before Ken added the requisite full-chrome and stainless always tell me, ‘Man, that’s a long six months!’” So, this one is indeed
trimmings. Lastly, following the installation of Dakota Digital RTX a true tribute to Mom AND Dad! CTP
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O
n a brisk yet sunny Saturday
morning in Gainesville, Georgia,
truck enthusiasts from all over
the region gathered at Auto
Metal Direct (AMD) for the Meet N’ Eat Truck
Jam 2023. But this event was more than just a
chance to show off their prized vehicles, it was
an opportunity to give back to the community
in a big way.
41
support such a worthy cause. “We are passionate about
trucks and our community, and we were honored to bring
The Meet N’ Eat Truck Jam 2023 was a reminder that the
truck community is more than just a group of enthusiasts,
it’s a group of people who care about making a difference in
the world around them. By coming together to support the
Eddy Bear Foundation they were able to make a positive
impact on the lives of children in need while also having a
great time and showcasing their vehicles.
EVENT
CTP
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE 42 VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
InTheGarageMedia.com
HONKING WITH
CONVICTION
InTheGarageMedia.com
Big Horns 1.
Trump
Sheepish
Beepers 1. According to ancient treasure maps and what’s left of my own
memory, our horn quest should conclude on the porch of this old house.
45
conveniently for us, threaded mounting holes are already present in
For our long-ongoing ’55 Chevy second-series project, it’s finally about the right places.
As decibel dispensers, a two-tone pair of originals would surely First things first; for any of this to actually happen there’ll be travel
command respect. Since we know they’d bolt right on and line right involved. The way our horns are hidden, shipping won’t be possible. It’s
up with existing louvers, it would make good sense to use them—if not like I can give directions to the secret stash place where no one else
we could only find them. would ever go.
At times like these it’s good to have access to an older wrecking yard. If I As the plan stands I’ll just go fetch that matching pair of symmetrical,
haven’t already mentioned this too many times before, I was brought up two-tone, Delco-Remy horns. For the return trip I’ll just stuff them in my
in that type of environment. Today there’s not much left of the inventory, Samsonite and roll—without much illustration for that particular step.
but for a short time longer there’s still a few parts stashed.
Have you ever wondered what (apart from a big-city motorist) makes a
Back in California, on the front porch of one crumbling structure there’s a horn honk? Back at the shop, we’ll conduct exploratory dissection. If it
wall of ancient orange crates. They’re historically significant in their own turns out they’re good enough to continue working with, we’ll restore
right, but they were also used for pre-dismantling and stocking small parts. and/or modify our honkers as necessary from there.
Last I checked there’s a matching pair of 12V horns still in one of those crates.
For our own particular purposes, we don’t mind that they’re not exactly
Going only by memory, the aforementioned horns are from the Delco- stock for our ’55 Chevy second-series project, nor do we mind that a to-
Remy division of General Motors, and they’re early enough that they’re the-letter restorer of GM muscle cars might gladly pay up for the pair.
not made of plastic. I’d imagine they date to circa late ’60s—and that’s Once they’re resplendent in shiny black urethane they should fit in with
when horns were honkers! their classic truck surroundings just fine. CTP
CTP TECH InTheGarageMedia.com
8. We won’t be bead-
8. blasting the inner 9.
workings, either. In a
manual manner we’ll
clean these up as best
we can. Obviously,
there’ll be no salvaging
the gaskets.
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CTP FEATURE
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
52
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
BY FUELISH MEDIA
H
ave you ever wondered why there aren’t nearly as many
Dodge trucks out at shows as there are Chevy and Ford
pickups? Those of you who have are most likely Mopar
fans because the vast majority of showgoers probably don’t
even stop to think about the misrepresentation of Dodge badges at these
events. The fact of the matter is that there aren’t enough of these trucks
being built and customized for show and performance sake. Frankly,
there are far less Dodge enthusiasts out there. Also, the aftermarket
just isn’t as supportive as it is with the automaker’s counterparts, which
makes it that much harder to build one. It’s just the way things are but
when there is a badass Dodge truck lurking in the shadows, you had
better believe we’ll be there to document its presence.
InTheGarageMedia.com
Next, Justin recruited Josh Norris of Grey Bush Hotrods to assist with
the chassis overhaul, which would soon leave the Ram’s stance much
lower and agile. “Josh is a great friend, and while he doesn’t have an
actual official business yet, he can get a lot done out of his four-car
garage,” Justin admits. “He is the oldest in our group, so we call him Grey
Bush. I came up with his shop name, which he actually kind of likes, so
we are running with it.”
While the Dodge was in the shop, the guys installed a set of custom
upper arms that were fabricated by Brandon LS Fruth, along with a
set of modified lowers from a Dodge Ram van. The rear of the frame
was C-notched and was then outfitted with a custom torque arm bar
and axle flip to lower the suspension substantially. A set of 14-inch R1
Concepts drilled-and-slotted brakes were then added to the front end
while the stock rear braking system was left in place. The 20x8.5 and
20x10 Coys C44 wheels wrapped in Nitto NT555 G2 rubber were then
mated and bolted into position to finish up the truck’s chassis setup.
InTheGarageMedia.com
FEATURE
CTP
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE 58 VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
VISION REALIZED
While Justin does have plans to paint his Dodge, he has decided to finished up on it the day before the 2023 LST show and decided
put it off for the time being but has made some big upgrades to the to drive it 250 miles to get there,” he says. “Aside from running out
exterior thus far. What he has done is pull the factory body moldings of gas along the way due to the gauge reading not being exact, the
off and painted the stock bumpers, grille, mirrors, and door handles truck performed great. We still want to install a four-link, add a
a satin gray color to contrast the truck’s existing stock white paint. Hellcat blower, and maybe change up the wheels and some other
BW Customs and Automotive in Whitewright, Texas, was called on things, but I just want to enjoy it as-is for the rest of this year. Thank
to create the one-off tailgate decals and powdercoated doorsills that you to my uncle Randall and my buddy Coley Vale for helping out
would soon adorn the interior. The inside of the bed was treated to a with the project.” CTP
Raptor Liner finish and the engine bay has been sanded and painted
to match the bumpers. Even though this might not be what the final
version of the truck will look like, it’s a pretty damn good start.
The inner cab space was fully decked out, however, with a killer
red vinyl–covered bench seat, cab panels, dash, and 14-inch Billet
Specialties steering wheel in order to completely transform
the interior landscape. Dakota Digital VHX gauges, Sublime
Technologies adapters to run the A/C, Memphis Audio speakers,
custom LED lighting, and various accessories were also pieced
together to give the cab space a well-appointed look and feel that
may be good enough to withstand any restyling phases that could
be in this truck’s future.
1.
1. Art Morrison
Enterprises has
built thousands
of high-perfor-
mance replace-
ment chassis
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
for a variety of
vehicles, one of
the more recent
offerings is the
GT Sport for
’67-72 C10s.
62
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
PERFORMANCE CAR
HANDLING WITH
CLASSIC TRUCK APPEAL
Art Morrison Enterprises’ GT Sport Chassis for ’67-72 Chevrolet/GMC Pickups
InTheGarageMedia.com
E
arly in 1970 Art Morrison could be found at any number arm—meaning that bushing doesn’t have to work as hard to control the
of dragstrips behind the wheel of the VW pickup forces, which means there’s less deflection under braking and cornering,
wheelstander named “American Flyer”—and fly it did not to mention longer bushing life.”
with a fuel-fired big-block Chevy in the bed. By 1971, Art
Morrison Enterprises (AME) began as a one-man operation in a home A major focus of the GT Sport suspension design was driveability
garage focusing primarily on manufacturing drag race chassis along and what is best described as street manners. Jones points out, “The
with related components, and, as it’s often said, the rest is history. roll center migrates less than 3 inches during hard cornering.” That’s
engineer-speak that means the point the chassis rotates around as
Over the years AME’s product line expanded most notably by the vehicle leans in a corner remains relatively constant despite
pioneering the high-performance, bolt-on chassis market, which the suspension’s movement; in other words, the vehicle’s handling
began with the ’55-57 Chevy GT Sport chassis developed in 2002. remains consistent in the corners, eliminating the need for countless
Today, AME can provide custom one-off chassis for almost anything steering corrections. In addition, Jones tells us the suspension’s
with wheels, along with a complete line of vehicle-specific chassis, camber gain is aggressive enough to make any truck handle well,
including ’67-72 Chevrolet/GMC pickups. which is another way of saying the tires’ treads stay planted to the
pavement when cornering, providing the best possible grip. All these
AME’s C10 chassis is based on 2x6-inch framerails with bracing and factors can be summed up by saying the GT Sport chassis’ handling
crossmembers engineered to provide a significantly stiffer foundation characteristics will be very predictable in any situation.
when compared to the stock frame, and the new GT front suspension
63
in double shear.” Jones adds, “the most notable change is the lower arm advantage of the superior handling, improved ride quality, and lowered
2. 3.
2. AME’s unique
production process SOURCES
uses a mandrel
tubing bender that ART MORRISON ENTERPRISES
results in a wrin- (800) 929-7188
kle-free contour. artmorrison.com
3. Mandrel benders
METALWORKS CLASSIC AUTO
use an internal die
that fits inside the
RESTORATION
tubing (arrow) to (541) 341-3372
make smooth bends. metalworksclassics.com
CTP TECH InTheGarageMedia.com
4. 5.
4. Another advan-
tage of the mandrel
7.
bending is consisten-
cy—these are front
crossmembers that
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
6. Depending on the
chassis the front and
64
9. For adequate
ground clearance the
exhaust is routed
through the framerails
and engine placement
10. is optimized so the oil 11.
pan is flush with the
bottom of the frame.
11. To accommodate
a variety of gearbox-
es the transmission
mount is adjustable.
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compartment and chassis with ARP’s Don’t settle for less than the best!
Q Only the finest grade materials are used Q Look for “ARP” stamped on a fastener
(superior to “aircraft quality”) as your guarantee of quality
Q All manufacturing operations from Q Building an engine? Check out the
heat-treating to final machining are done many special tools ARP has to aid
in-house at ARP’s California facilities assembly efficiency and accuracy.
12. 13.
12. AME’s triangulated four-bar eliminates the need for a Panhard bar
and provides excellent forward bite, lateral stability, and antisquat
geometry.
13. Starting with Currie Enterprises housings, AME installs the axle
tubes, housing ends, and brackets in-house. The Strange coilovers
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
INTRODUCING THE Mark your calendars... schedule your family vacation! ...
the “Triple Crown of Rodding” is coming to
MUST Nashville Superspeedway Sept. 8-9 2023.
Celebrating Hot Rods, Customs, Classics & Muscle Cars thru 1972,
ATTEND AND.... American-Made Trucks thru 1998!
• GIVEAWAYS! Brand New 2023 Chevrolet Pickup Hot-Rodded by Alloways Rod Shop
EVENT • Over 40 State-Of-The-Art Beautifully Machined Billet Aluminum Trophies
• Win the Prestigious Triple Crown Trophy & a Gibson Guitar!
OF THE YEAR • The Top 6 Triple Crown Winners invited to compete for the Barrett-Jackson Cup
• American Tri-Five Association (ATFA) Best Tri-Five Award
• Meet & Greet Industry Celebrities
• Cruise the Track with Registered Vehicle
• “Huge” Exhibitor Midway
• Large Swap Meet & Car 4-Sale Corral
• Nostalgia Nitro Dragsters Demo
• Concerts and FUN for the whole family!
21. 22.
AME dealer.
24.
/001( 2(3 4
%'* '!*,'&!#+
CTP FEATURE
N
othing makes a story more heartwarming
than having a little family history tied into
it … but this one’s extra special, as Alex
Rosales’ ’53 Chevy is ALL about family!
Alex Rosales’
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
“The truck has been in the family since 1953. My mother’s The truck sat 22 years in the driveway until I decided to start
grandfather bought the truck at Davis Chevrolet in Redwood rebuilding it a few years ago. I debated on keeping it original or
City, California, in 1953. He enjoyed it for many years and even going the high-performance route. Ultimately, I chose the high-
took it on a long journey to Zacatecas, Mexico. As a young kid I performance direction so I could travel greater distances with
would drive to the Coors recycling center in Redwood City and the truck and have some fun with the truck on the track one day.
the grocery stores with my great-grandparents in the truck. My
great-grandfather would sometimes have me start the truck with “In 2017 I began disassembling the truck and purchased a
his cane (it was a foot starter) since I couldn’t reach. When my Roadster Shop rolling chassis and a GM LT4 Gen V crate motor. I
great-grandparents died their kids didn’t have any interest in was able to get the body transferred over to the new chassis with
the truck, so with the help of my mom and her dad, I was able the motor and a Gearstar Stage IV 4L80 transmission and realized
to acquire the truck at age 14. Up until this time it had been kept I needed more space and some extra help to complete the build.
in a garage. At that time my dad and I started going through the In 2019 the truck went to Gary’s Rods & Restorations where they
mechanics of the truck. We rebuilt the carburetor, changed brake did amazing work and got it almost complete. It came back to my
lines, recoated the inside of the gas tank, and did a typical routine garage where I did the wiring for the truck and had the honor of
tune-up. This truck was how I learned to drive a manual vehicle doing the first startup at home. After doing the shakedown on the
and was my primary vehicle once I turned 16. By the time I turned truck and getting all the bugs fixed, Top Notch Upholstery put the
17 I had lost some interest in the truck and got into Volkswagens. final touches on the interior and it was ready to go!”
2023 SCHEDULE
April 28th, 29th & 30th ..................Bakersfield, CA
May 5th, 6th & 7th............................Knoxville, TN
May 26th, 27th & 28th ..................Springfield, MO
June 2nd, 3rd & 4th ................................York, PA
June 23rd, 24th & 25th ........................Pueblo, CO
August 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th ................Louisville, KY
September 8th, 9th & 10th ............Kalamazoo, MI
September 15th, 16th & 17th ..........Burlington, VT
October 13th, 14th & 15th ........Oklahoma City, OK
Your Membership & Event Entry Makes You Eligible to Win: NSRA Street Rod
Nationals Giveaway Truck
• 1977 Chevrolet C-10 Pickup built by Harrison’s Rod and
Custom and given away at the Street Rod Nationals® on
Saturday, August 5th, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky * MUST
QUALIFY TO WIN
• Three $2,000 Prizes at Each Divisional Event to regis-
tered participants
• In excess $50,000 in Super Prize Drawings at Each Event
SOURCES
CLAMPDOWN COMPETITION
clampdowncomp.com
CLASSIC PERFORMANCE
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
PRODUCTS
(800) 760-7438
classicperform.com
KUGEL KOMPONENTS
(562) 691-7006
kugelkomponents.com
LOKAR PERFORMANCE
80
PRODUCTS
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
(877) 469-7440
lokar.com
SPEEDWAY MOTORS
(800) 979-0122
speedwaymotors.com
Bending, Flaring,
from Speedway Motors. Of course, after all those lines are bent up,
we can’t have them banging around under the truck, so a handful
of stainless line clamps from Kugel Komponents were ordered up
Stainless Steel fashioned way, but not until the master cylinder receives a bench
bleeding. This ensures that no air is trapped inside the master’s
Brake Lines valving that could cause problems down the road. After the master
cylinder is bench bled, it’s reinstalled on the firewall and the lines
reattached, then it’s time to get to cracking each caliper’s bleeder
valve, starting with the furthest from the master cylinder. Slowly
but surely the air was worked out of the system until we achieved
BY RYAN MANSON a nice, solid pedal. From there, it’s time for a drive and a few brake
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHOR system checks to correctly bed in the brake pads and adjust the
VIDEOGRAPHY BY RYAN FOSS PRODUCTIONS rear proportioning valve. CTP
1.
81
me out to the ITGM Tech Center with the request to plumb his C10
project, I only had one request: contact Speedway and get one of
2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7.
21. Regardless of the technique used, the finished lines should be routed
19. 20 clear of any obstruction and away from any heat source in as clean a manner
as possible. This angle isn’t the best to illustrate their relation, but the
reflection in the firewall just happens to speak volumes.
21.
28. A “tee” is used up front to split the line between ... 30. ... and passenger side frame-mounted brake tabs, both terminated
29. with a brake clip and attached to another braided hose.
29. ... the driver side ...
30.
28.
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
not be possible using the vehicle’s brake pedal. manual brake pedal ratio.
Coupled with the cor-
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
I
n a parallel universe, there’s a completely different side to the
classic truck world devoted to the restoration and preservation
of vintage haulers to mirror a time when they rolled off the
production lines. It’s a moment in time when trucks were ready
to get busy doing what they were designed to do, from hauling heavy
loads to delivering the goods and even acting as workhorses on farms
across the country. For Kyle Gendreau of Franklin, Massachusetts,
bringing the ’67 Ford F-250 Custom Cab laid out across our pages back
to life wasn’t just about the restoration, it was about completing a
journey regarding a lifetime passion of farming and agriculture.
While many youngsters his age were seeing muscle cars rule the
streets and watching nitro-fed Gassers light up regional dragstrips,
Kyle’s fascination with farming brought him to experience it all
firsthand at local harvest festivals. It’s there that an appreciation for
trucks and tractors evolved, leading him down a path that would
91
to reach this goal led to a local farm that had fallen into disrepair,
and was actually owned by his lovely wife Suzanne’s aunt and uncle,
’67 Ford F-250 done, it was transported back to Fault Line for evaluation. Far different
than ordering a fresh platform, big brakes, and a modern driveline,
Custom Cab the restoration of the truck required a different type of approach to
assemble the right grouping of parts to take on the job.
Gets Back to Work
CTP FEATURE InTheGarageMedia.com
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
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VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
To retain as much of the original truck as possible, Souza and team began
its disassembly to set a game plan. Focus was first set on the frame and
suspension with all the components being sent to Blast-Off Sand Blasting.
It’s quite possible that the old, recycled tractor oil used as a preservative
by the prior owners to paint the chassis seasonally helped save the
bones from deteriorating over the years. The formula did its job, leaving
the frame extremely solid and only in need a few repairs to the cab
mounts, which Fault Line completed. The frame and suspension parts
were then sent off to Powder Pro in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for a
two-step coating, starting with an anti-corrosive primer base followed
by a topcoat of satin black. Starting out back, the factory Dana 60 rear
was blown apart and treated to a fresh rebuild complete with the original
4.10 gears turning stock axles, suspended in place by a set of fresh leaf
springs and bushings from LMC Truck complemented by KYB Gas-A-Just
tube shocks. Up front, Ford’s exclusive twin I-beam suspension utilized
the original split beam with spindles and was treated to a complement of
new parts from LMC Truck to complete the rebuild, including kingpins,
bushings, coil springs, and KYB Gas-A-Just tube shocks. For plenty of
stopping capacity, a fresh dual power master moves fluid through
NiCopp lines to new factory brakes at each corner, including drums,
shoes, wheel cylinders, adjusters, and all related hardware, all from LMC.
When it came to wheels, a decision was made to opt out of the original
split rims and update to a set of ’00-era Ford F-350 16x7 steelies topped
with LT245/70R16 rubber from Black Lion wearing matching caps high
polished by Brightworks Restoration in Fall River.
THE ORIGINAL
N D IN S ULATION
HEAT &0 SOU 20% off your
P2 to receiv.ce om
Enter code CT oTec
order at Therm
M P L E TE H E AT &
CO AG E MENT
SO U N D M A N
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HEINZMAN
GOLDEN STAR CLASSIC AUTO PARTS ............... 7
GRANATELLI MOTOR SPORTS, INC. ................ 77
HEIDTS SUSPENSION SYSTEMS ......................83
HEINZMAN STREET ROD SHOP .......................97
KUGEL KOMPONENTS ..................................... 89
LMC TRUCK ..................................................... 100 Modern Gauge Panels
LOKAR ............................................................2, 57 for Classic Rides.
NATIONAL STREET ROD ASSOCIATION .......... 75
NEW PORT ENGINEERING ............................... 89
Focusing on the business office, the freshly painted dash was topped
with a new dashpad from LMC accented by the restored factory gauges
by Fault Line who also freshened up the AM radio and wiring harness. A
reproduction steering wheel navigates the road mounted to the factory
column while shifts move through the original stick. We dig the fact that
Kyle kept the old, weathered shift knob that surely has plenty of stories to
tell along with the vintage underdash-mounted Phillips Intercom system.
For comfort, the stock bench seat was recovered in custom two-tone red
vinyl by Chicks Custom Upholstery of Norwood who also installed the LMC
headliner, rubber floormats, and threshold plates. Finally, LMC supplied
interior trim, handles, three-point retractable seatbelt kit, and rubber
gaskets to complete the restoration. Kyle tells us that “the best part of the
F-250 is the driving experience, feeling just like the day it drove off the lot in
1967 at the local Ford dealership while on my way into town for a morning
cup of coffee.” We couldn’t agree more! CTP
CLASSIC TRUCK PERFORMANCE
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VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 35 • 2023
The new traditional