Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Street Trucks

A FULLY electric truck that is helping change the future of Ford Motor Company was on the track at Martinsville Speedway as the 2022 F-150 Lightning made its debut as a pace vehicle for the NASCAR Cup Series on April 9. The Lightning has received nearly 200,000 reservations since being unveiled last May and is part of a growing EV portfolio for Ford that includes the Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit. This marks the second straight year an all-electric Ford vehicle has paced a NASCAR race after the Mustang Mach-E led the field at Talladega Superspeedway in April. Ford became the first OEM to use an electric vehicle to pace a NASCAR raceway back in April 2012 when the all-electric Ford Focus paced the field at Richmond, Virginia. “I haven’t driven…

ADDING A SET OF WHEELS AND TIRES CAN DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE STYLE AND PERFORMANCE OF ANY VEHICLE—ESPECIALLY A TRUCK OR SUV. While there’s nothing quite like a fresh set of shiny new wheels, the impact a set of equally awesome rubber can make can make all the difference in making for an exhilarating highway driving experience or an extended excursion far from where the beaten path ends. While the last few years have been significantly rough regarding manufacturers’ on-hand supply of parts, there is evidence this year that not even a worldwide pandemic could slow these innovative companies down enough to stop a strong rebound to the market in 2022. All-new and exciting wheel and tire offerings are here, as we are glad to report with this collection of models…

OMAGINE HAVING BAD LUCK FOLLOWED BY EVEN MORE BAD LUCK WHILE TRYING TO GET YOUR DREAM TRUCK BUILT. Missed deadlines, subpar work, and plenty of wasted time and money can really take a toll on your motivation to finish the damned thing, which is why it’s not too uncommon to see unfinished, sometimes butchered projects for sale on Craigslist. John Bottger was definitely feeling the pain when he approached Zac Love of Love Kustoms while at a local show admiring one of Zac’s shop’s latest builds, a ’50 Chevy 3100. John also owned a ’50 Chevy, though his was of the Suburban variety. He recounted to Zac the struggles that he had been having with his project after leaving it with various shops throughout the previous 15 years, including…

WITH A CONSTANT SCHEDULE AND THE RECENT LACK OF INVENTORY IN THE MARKETPLACE, WE FELT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO SPEND OUR WEEKEND COMPLETING SOME OF THOSE QUICK AND EASY JOBS THAT ARE SO SATISFYING, YET SO SIMPLE TO PUT OFF TO ANOTHER DAY. New Nexen Roadian tires for our tow hauler, a set of super nice Eddie Motorsports billet hood hinges for our 1995 OBS Chevy, and some DEI interior padding for our Hot Rod Power Tour truck are the three things on our to-do list. None of these take more than a few hours to complete, which is just enough time to do it later—but not today! Year-long builds are the normal for the above-normal custom truck builder. Generally, while builds like that are in progress, nothing…

WAGONEER, the premium extension of the Jeep brand, continues to grow. At the 2022 New York International Auto Show, the new extended, long-wheelbase 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L, along with the new 2023 Wagoneer L Carbide and the all-new Hurricane twin-turbo engine family, took center stage, bolstering the award-winning lineup that has set the benchmark for American premium SUVs. The new 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L are 12 inches longer overall (226.7 inches) than the standard-wheelbase models. They feature a 130-inch wheelbase (+7 inches compared to standard wheelbase) and up to 44.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row (+15.8 cubic feet compared to standard wheelbase). The 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L are designed and engineered to provide unmatched comfort for up…

EXTRA-LONG FLEX HEAD RATCHETING WRENCHEST STOP SCRAPING YOUR KNUCKLES TRYING TO USE A WRENCH WHERE YOUR HANDS DON’T FIT. EZ Red’s Extra-Long Flex Head Ratcheting Wrenches feature a slim design that can reach just about anywhere, and their extended length allows you to apply the extra torque required to remove frozen or stubborn bolts and nuts. Additional features include: ■ Made from durable machined steel with a chrome plated finish ■ Extra-long spline with 180-degree flex heads ■ Exceeds ASME/ANSI torque specifications ■ Included sizes: 8mm x 10mm; 12mm x 14mm; 13mm x 15mm; 16mm x 18mm; and 17mm x 19mm SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT 800-230-3030 www.summitracing.com MOTOR COATER KIT THIS ALL-INCLUSIVE AND USER-FRIENDLY SYSTEM CONSISTS OF KBS KLEAN TO CLEAN SURFACES, RUSTBLAST TO REMOVE RUST AND CORROSION, AND MOTOR COATER,…

WORDS BY JOHN MATA JR. IN ITS EIGHTH STRAIGHT YEAR, THE SPARKS SHOW—HELD LAST AUG. 13-15 at the Sevier County Fairgrounds in Sevierville, Tennessee—has consistently shown signs of annual growth. This is one of those events you make it a point to drop in on to see a little bit of everything, from classic to late-model full-size pickups, mini-trucks, tuners, and vintage cars to motorcycles and bicycles. And they’re all here to check out for three straight days. Admiring the large number of custom vehicles is only part of Sparks’ appeal. There is a Friday night pre-party hosted by DJ Maze, plenty of club games to participate in all weekend long, a cornhole tournament, as well as the show’s much-anticipated limbo contest that always brings out the lowest of the…

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU JUST CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT WHEN YOU OWN A TRUCK. Taillights? Not a safe choice, but sure, you can still drive your truck without taillights. Door handles? Hell, we’ve been getting rid of them for years! No engine? Things would be tricky, but nothing a horse and some rope can’t solve. But wheels? Nope—you’re not going anywhere without wheels. So, it makes sense that you would have some questions about one of the most important features of your truck. We’ve scoured the Internet to find the most asked questions about truck wheels, and as it turns out, we’ve asked the same questions ourselves from time to time. Whether you need info about fitment or torque specs, we’ve got you covered with some basic guidance on…

OT’S NOT OFTEN THAT ONE GETS TO PURCHASE THEIR DREAM RIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S A VERY SPECIFIC CUSTOM TRUCK THAT YOU’VE BEEN DROOLING OVER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! You’re kind of stuck unless the owner decides to sell, but how often does that happen considering it is probably their dream truck as well? Luckily for Ken Morse, patience and luck were in his favor when he was finally able to scoop up the ’91 Chevy S-10 Blazer you see here. SOMETHING SPECIAL Originally built by Ferlin York and his buddies over the course of several years, Ken had first come across the SUV in 2008 while it was still under construction. Having had a thing for S-10 Blazers since his younger years, Ken could see that the Chevy…

WE ALL GET INTO THE CUSTOM CAR SHOW SCENE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. Take, for instance, Chris Wilson. His dad always built, bought, and traded cars and trucks his whole life. Every weekend was spent in the garage, at junkyards, cruise-ins, and shows. Chris considers himself a long-time hot-rodder and mini-trucker. It was only natural that Chris would combine both in his 1998 Chevy S-10. While working on a 1963 Impala wagon, he purchased the S-10 from Darrell and Nikki Poe as a project. It became a $2,000 project that got out of hand, as you can see. ON THE GROUND With the help of Darrell Poe Jr., Chris began the process of getting the frame on the ground. The stock A-arms were modified, and they installed Slam Specialties bags…

GM announced a feature standard in its Ultium-based EVs that captures and repurposes waste energy from the battery. Through the Ultium Platform’s energy recovery system, this waste energy can increase a vehicle’s range, reduce battery energy needed for heating, increase charging speed and even enable sportier driving. EV batteries, power electronics and other propulsion components produce heat. The Ultium Platform can recover and store this waste heat from the Ultium propulsion system. Further, it can also capture and use humidity from both inside and outside the vehicle, including body heat from passengers. The Ultium Platform can then deploy energy stored through the recovery process to heat the cabin more quickly in cold weather than comparable systems found in vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Ultium’s energy recovery capabilities reduce the…

THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT APPROACHES TO CREATING A COOL CUSTOM TRUCK. While a professional shop has to turn its imagination into revenue, the individual builder has fewer constraints. Creativity is the key to both approaches, and as long as a recognizable central theme emerges, the finished truck becomes a personalized work of art. FAMILY BUSINESS The Lindsey family from Smithville, Missouri, knows all about automotive art thanks to having a head start when it comes to enjoying their hobby. The family business, Lindsey’s Auto Salvage, has been operating since the mid-’60s and gives them a virtually unlimited supply of items to spark their imagination. They can pick and choose from thousands of parts and pieces, adapting each to their latest automotive creation. The father-and-sons team of Gerald, Jim, and…

WHEN YOU’RE THE COMMUNITY MANAGER AT MEMPHIS CAR AUDIO, THERE’S A DECENT CHANCE YOUR RIDE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO GET STUFFED TO THE GILLS WITH MEMPHIS CAR AUDIO GEAR. After all, it’s not only a perk; it’s your job! And such is the case with Mitchell Metcalf and his ’08 Ford F-250 Lariat. Mitchell has been a part of the truck scene since he was a kid. He grew up watching his brother build mini-trucks and go to shows. As Mitchell tells us, “If it wasn’t for my brother Bob Baldwin taking me to shows at a young age and making me work in the shop to go to those shows, I may have never found something I truly love doing.” It was that early exposure to working on…

DRIVERS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE QUICKLY BECOME AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIASTS THANKS TO THE AMAZING SCHEDULE OF AUTOMOTIVE EVENTS THAT HAPPENS VIRTUALLY EVERY WEEKEND. Everywhere you turn, someone is doing something cool with four wheels, both cars and trucks. Before long, the bug bites and you are immersed in the sport, looking for the next event. Although shows are plentiful, some create a higher level of excitement and quickly find a permanent place on the “Gotta-Be-There” list. The Southeast Street Rod Nationals is one of those. Rescheduled from its former April time frame to the first week in December, this traditional event draws an average of 1,200 vehicles from throughout the Southeast to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. A perfect venue with a sprawling 355 acres, the fairgrounds showcased a rainbow-colored…

“WITH THIS PARTICULAR CLASSIC CHEVY TRUCK, MONEY DOESN’T EXIST. ONLY THE ABSOLUTE BEST WILL BE CONSIDERED, AND MIKEY BETTER BE ABLE TO DO EPIC BURNOUTS WHEN IT’S COMPLETE.” WHAT IF WE SAID SOMEONE IS SWAPPING OUT THE COMBUSTION ENGINE IN AN OLD CLASSIC FARM TRUCK FOR A NEW FULLY ELECTRIC TESLA MODEL S MOTOR. Pretty cool, but you’ve heard that one before, right? That’s what Mikey Rolleri and the crew at Salvage to Savage in Boca Raton, Florida, thought when they were planning their next big build. So, when someone mentioned adding a second Tesla Model S motor in the front, brainpower overtook horsepower and the excitement built up faster than the price tag, which is a factor to consider when taking on a project like this. MONEY NO…