Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Street Trucks

WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN IDEA OF THE PERFECT DREAM BUILD, THE TRUCK THAT WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE CAN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT, OR THAT FILLS OUR DAYDREAMS WHEN WORK DRAGS. Matt Hodgson’s dream project lived in his mind relatively unchanged for a very long time. His passion for hot rods, custom cars and above all, mini-trucks, began when he was just 14 years old. Matt told us his parents were “cool enough” to merge their family vacations with trips to truck shows for his sake. He was obviously one lucky kid. With his family’s support, Matt first leapt into the game with a daily-driven 7/9 static-dropped S-10, and he was off and running. He never stopped pursuing his idea of the perfect project, and in 2007, he sold his…

“WHAT IF” IS A POWERFUL CONCEPT. What if carriages had engines? What if we could travel to the moon? What if phones could also be robust computers? Indeed, “what if” can carry varying magnitudes of importance, and those who dare ask it are often rewarded with greatness. Take Rich Tillema, for example. One of his latest “what if” ponderings was, “What if GM had built a Blazer based on the 1960-66 body style trucks?” Sure, we all know about the Carryall, and we agree that it could be a close substitute, but the proportions are all wrong for a true Blazer. Still, Rich was determined to see his $500 tow-yard project through. Indeed, it would take a lot of work to get things right and earn its rebadging. Sic Chops…

WITH THE SUSPENSION and drivetrain all wrapped up on our square-body project, it’s time to move on to the truck’s appearance. When I say appearance, I’m talking about the outside and the inside. Since the truck has been neglected for years, there’s a lot to do to make it presentable again. We plan to clean up the exterior and add some parts to make it look newer and, of course, get it into better shape. We also plan to completely overhaul the interior, and our first concern was sealing the interior against the elements. The obvious way to do that is to replace all of the glass, gaskets and seals. The glass was faded and scratched, so new glass will be a definite improvement. Reusing the old gaskets and seals…

FOR EVERY GEARHEAD THERE IS ONE VEHICLE IN THEIR TOWN THAT STANDS OUT, THE VEHICLE THEY PASS BY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. Whether it’s sitting in a driveway, behind a fence, tucked behind an old barn or rusting away in a field, they want it. Sometimes someone put it out to pasture or rode it hard and put it away wet for too many years, and it deserves a new lease on life. If only that old metal could talk, the tales it would tell. Across the country on back roads and main drags alike, old cars and trucks that once carried traveling salesman and hauled milk and farm equipment remind us of our past and are just waiting for a chance to be rescued, rebuilt and returned to…

AUGUST AUGUST 4-6 CARLISLE, PA—CARLISLE TRUCK NATIONALS—At the Carlisle Fairgrounds. A little bit of everything: lowered minis, lifted 4x4s, chromed big rigs, SUVs, custom vans and restored classics. There will be tons of activities for kids, shopping, manufacturers’ midway, burnout contests, beauty contests and more. Log on to Carlisleevents.com for details. AUGUST 5 JENNINGS, FL—5 TH  ANNUAL PLAYLOUD CAR, TRUCK AND BIKE SHOW—At Jennings City Park, 1118 Bee St. The show benefits underprivileged kids who need help with school supplies. Open to all makes and models. Activities for the whole family. For more info, email Playloudshow@gmail.com. AUGUST 11-13 SEVIERVILLE, TN—4 TH  ANNUAL SPARKS SHOW—At the Sevier County Fairgrounds. Friday night pre-party, live music, games and pizza. Event hosted by No Regrets. For more info, contact Adam Tripp at…

“YUKON DENALI HAS ALWAYS MATCHED STYLE WITH SUBSTANCE, AND THE ENHANCEMENTS FOR 2018 ADVANCE THAT LEGACY.” DENALIGETS A FACELIFT GMC IS ELEVATING THE 2018 YUKON DENALI LINEUP WITH STYLING AND TRIM ENHANCEMENTS, AS WELL AS A NEW, ADVANCED 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. A new, sculpted grille design distinguishes the Yukon Denali, while new Mastique ash real wood trim adds depth and richness to the interior. The new Hydra-Matic 10-speed transmission—paired with Yukon Denali’s 6.2L V-8 engine—enhances refinement with world-class shift smoothness and quietness response. “Yukon Denali has always matched style with substance, and the enhancements for 2018 advance that legacy,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global GMC. “The foundational elements of exclusive design, premium touches and uncompromising capability have made Yukon Denali an icon…

ONE OF THE MOST DAUNTING THINGS ABOUT BUILDING A TRUCK IS THE SHEER NUMBER OF PARTS THAT CAN ACCUMULATE DURING THE PROJECT. Tearing things apart can seem easy enough, but then all of a sudden you don’t have a truck so much as you do a garage full of confusion, and possibly regret. Don’t fear! We’ve brought help in the form of Eric Miller. Eric is the main dude behind Squarebody Specialists, but he’s had his hand in all types of classic trucks, and newer trucks for that matter. Squarebody Specialists has been building trucks for many years and has it down to a science, so we knew Eric would be the perfect person to talk to about what we, the average garage builder, can do to make our lives…

THE GULF COAST is no stranger to car and truck shows both small and large, but lately, we’re seeing more and more new events popping up. Battle in Bama is one of them, and it’s definitely one that shouldn’t be missed. The show started in 2016, and even though it rained pretty heavily that first year, it was a huge success. Craig Rowley and his crew must’ve spent all year working some serious juju because the weather for this year’s event was perfect. “THE SHOW WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, WITH MORE THAN 700 ENTRIES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.” The show is held at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, and you can’t help but notice the battleship and other amazing historical artifacts throughout the grounds. The battleship…

LAST MONTH WE made a trip to Total Cost Involved (TCI) Engineering to check out the numerous ways the company helps people update the suspensions on their classic trucks. We were able to shine some light on many of the ways you can get your old truck to ride and handle like a modern vehicle using parts like independent front suspensions, coil-overs, airbags, power steering, sway bars and disc brakes. In the first installment of this story (“Solid Foundation, Part 1,” ST Aug. 2017, pg. 100), we focused on how these parts are created and how they come together on a classic truck. During our visit, we discovered that TCI has a lot more to offer than front-end kits. It also carries a full line of lowered rear suspensions, including…

PUT A LID ON IT Eddie Motorsports’ LS billet aluminum coil covers offer a high-quality, custom alternative that keeps your engine compartment looking clean. These functional and fashionable coil covers are precision CNC machined from ¼-inch billet aluminum, offer aluminum stanchions that bolt to the coil mount bosses, and sport ball-milled accent tops as well as a provision to clear the stock rubber oil-fill tube. Eddie Motorsports 888.813.1293 Eddiemotorsports.com POSITIVELY DASHING WITH FIVE NEW NEX in-dash multimedia receivers, Pioneer Electronics has officially expanded its NEX platform with smaller, more universal sizing for a smartphone connectivity tool that easily fits into new and collectible vehicles. Featuring redesigned, simple-to-use interface and compatibility with popular, automotive-specific smartphone interfaces and apps, these single-DIN in-dash receivers have been optimized to meet your needs. Pioneer…

CHRIS BEGLEY OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, HAS BEEN BUILDING CUSTOM OFF-ROAD MACHINES FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, AND ONCE AGAIN, HE’S CREATED A STUNNER. A welder by trade, his fab shop, Luxury Prerunners, builds high-end off-road rigs that meld form with function. From roll cages and suspensions to full vehicle overhauls, Chris and his team of fabricators build long-travel race trucks, tube-chassis buggies and even the occasional VW Baja Bug. A few years back, Chris was in the market for a new daily commuter to go to and from the shop and haul his family around. While most would expect him to build a late-model prerunner stuffed full of modern creature comforts and the latest technology, Chris went retro, overhauling a ’90 Dodge Ram W250 Cummins-powered 4x4 from the ground up.…

THE LOVE FOR SPEED IS NOTHING NEW, WHETHER IT BE BY FOOT, CHARIOT OR COMBUSTION ENGINE. We might be biased, but we tend to think that the latter is most exciting. When you’re a speed freak, but don’t have anything of your own that gives you the adrenaline rush you need, your life can seem pretty mundane. For Curt Hill of Pleasant Hill, California, it eventually became too much to take. Curt’s day job is being the owner and lead fabricator at Hill’s Rod & Custom. As you can probably imagine, he takes on some pretty wild builds, but some of the most popular types in recent years have been of the autocross and road course varieties. We get it, going fast in a straight line is great and the…

“FOR MANY BUILDERS, CHOOSING THE INTERIOR IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS OF A BUILD BECAUSE IT’S WHERE THEY’LL SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME ONCE THE TRUCK IS FINISHED. EVERARDO DIDN’T TAKE THE TASK LIGHTLY. ” EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING THAT MOTIVATES THEM. Regardless of their focus or passion, many were led to their path by someone they looked up to as a role model. For Everardo Ozuna, it started when he was in high school. Everardo had no urge to be in the NFL, nor did he want to be a lawyer. His life goal was to one day become a member of the Ground Zero family. When he turned 18, he began working on a 2006 Silverado project, but it just wasn’t…

Custom Classic AFTER ALMOST FIVE YEARS OF WEEKENDS SPENT IN A TWO-CAR GARAGE, AND WITH HUNDREDS OF WORK HOURS INVESTED, TIMOTHY ROPER’S ’67 FORD F-100 MORE THAN REFLECTS HIS INVESTMENT. Under the hood, a compound turbo intercooled 4BT Cummins diesel engine has been made right at home recessed 4 inches into the firewall. The frame of the F series has been fully boxed and dimpled with a rear notch, and owner-fabricated motor mounts illustrate the personal effort Tim put into his build. The Ford houses a GM 4L80E diesel-specialized transmission by Phoenix Transmission matched with Lokar shifter and Compushift II system. The front suspension features tubular Mustang II arms, SPC uppers, QA1 coil-overs, 700-lb-in springs and K719 ball joints; while the rear features stock leaf springs, axle and hanger flip…