Since the early Stovebolt engines lack full crankshaft oiling, insert bearings, and displacement, Doug rebuilt a later 235 circa '60. While it's stock internally, it has a number of external go-fast goodies, including a vintage Edelbrock 2x1 manifold. In period fashion, he split the exhaust manifold and plumbed it to dual 2-inch pipes, each with its own glass-packed muffler.
The stock trans sports improved '41 gears, and the rearend spins a stronger hypoid-style 4.11:1 ring-and-pinion; however, it's the BorgWarner overdrive spliced into the torque tube between them that makes this truck a real driver. "The performance far exceeded my expectations," Doug notes, adding, "The noise factor greatly decreased, too!" Up front, Doug removed a few leaves to give the truck the right stance and added NOS Delco dual-action shocks to improve control and ride characteristics. The artillery-style wheels are stock, yet not to this application; they're desirable 15x5 1/2 hoops for cars rather than the 16x4 pie-cutters the truck came with.
If you're still unconvinced of this truck's legitimacy, consider the following: Doug used very few reproduction parts in its restoration-in fact, one key still operates the ignition, glovebox, door, and spare-tire locks. Of all the pristine hardware that came off this pickup, every bit went back on, either plated or coated in its original finish. In fact, a few items, like one of the taillight bezels, still wear the surfaces applied to them back when FDR was in office. Not even the most ardent restorer could knock the truck's modifications, either, for the parts Doug used were common during this truck's first life, even if some of the combinations weren't.
As a result of its understatement, Doug Leibrant's pickup appeals to a very discerning and historically aware group, and admittedly that is a very select group. Does it bother Doug? Nah-it's the way he likes it. Anyway, all that candied, pearled, and chromed stuff looks the same after a while.