In a group of Chevy and Ford fans Dodge seems to be the black sheep of the family. Well, to be fair to the Dodge guys there just is not that many of them out there anymore. This raises problems with parts availability and, in order for a manufacturer to produce new parts, there needs to be a large enough demand. I could be wrong, but you could walk into any parts store and walk out with a part in your hand for a Chevy or Ford motor. So, with the classic Dodge truck being scarce and the parts even more rare, why would you want to build a Dodge truck? Well, for lots of reasons-the best being that wherever you go, Dodge stands out.

You may recall back in the August issue I began the long road toward a finished and driveable classic pickup with the successful installation of a coilover IFS system from Total Cost Involved Engineering. Hopefully I was able to prove my point by allowing everyone to see that even an all-thumbs wannabe truck builder like me can successfully tackle a pretty major upgrade all by himself at home in a less than professional two-car garage/shop. I'm happy to report that since that issue hit the stands I've received more than a couple of reader's emails letting me know that my efforts have motivated them to give similar installs a go themselves. So, while my ego is pumped, I thought I'd share my experience installing a new suspension system to the opposite end of the '57 with the hope once again that some of you may figure that if I can do it, so can you.

The fact that Holley has always been on the cutting edge when it comes to high performance is a given-as is the fact that these guys are all true hot rodders at heart. That said the Holley crew is constantly striving to broaden their product line by a perfect melding of engineering and real-world trial and error. One way they go about their winning ways of product development is by building project vehicles as testbeds. Though they have, and are, assembling a cadre of test vehicles of every description, their latest is the one that really caught our classic truck eye-a shop truck-styled '67 Chevy C-10.

For two reasons, I wanted to write a piece on basic electrical theory. One is that everyone understands what a battery does but oftentimes becomes confused about the components connected to the battery, e.g. the starter and the alternator. The second reason is to teach you how to test these components either at home or on the road. If you already know about electrical keep reading-you may learn something or better yet remember something you might have forgotten.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you got to ride in one of your neighbor's trucks? Or better yet when you actually got to drive for the first time? We all have some sort of fond memory and when we think about it, it's as if it happened yesterday. Norm Correll has plenty of memories with his '57 Chevrolet Cameo. His first recollection of the truck was when his friend David Harris' dad picked them up from school in December of '57. David's dad purchased the truck as a family gift the previous year and used the truck for hauling trash to the dump and building materials to the new home they homesteaded in the desert near Yucca Valley, California.

Rewiring your classic truck, or any vehicle, can be a daunting task. That spaghetti-like mess of wires can really be overwhelming. Here's a few tricks I have used over the years to rewire projects from scratch.

During our last trip to Hot Rods By Dean in Phoenix, the progress on Project Shop Truck had taken a couple of steps forward with the installation of the windshield, rear glass, rubber, and windshield wiper kit.

You can email your questions to ProfessorHammer at covell@cruzio.com, or mail to Professor Hammer, c/o CLASSIC TRUCKS Magazine, 1733 Alton Pkwy. Ste. 100, Irvine, CA 92606. You'll receive a personal reply! We'll print your name and city unless you request otherwise. Ron Covell has made many DVDs on metalworking processes, and he offers an ongoing series of workshops across the nation covering all aspects of metalworking. Check them out online at www.covell.biz, or call for a current schedule of workshops and their free catalog of DVDs. Phone 800-747-4631, or 831-768-0705. You can send a request by mail to: Covell Creative Metalworking, 106 Airport Blvd. #105, Freedom, CA 95019.

When Phil West set out to build his '64 Chevy C-10 he had one main goal: make a truck that would do it all-tow a trailer, be fast in a straight line, and look really good doing it. He nailed it in all areas, including the go-fast department.

I don't know what it is about old cars and trucks, but when it comes to classics I seem to have absolutely no control over my actions.

Dan Glockzin found and purchased his '55 GMC at an auction. After looking it over very carefully, he determined that it was a great candidate for a rodstoration. After placing his bid (and winning) he got it home and went right to work. Once he got the body bead-blasted he realized there was a lot more rust than was earlier evident-that's when he decided to do a little customizing. Having never done this before and not knowing where to start he just dove right in. He chopped the top 27/8 inches, took about 8 inches off the bottom of the doors, rounded the corners on the box, built an inverted rolled pan, and shaved the door handles. With the metalwork complete, he then proceeded to install power windows, as well. Once his body mods were done he clipped it using a Camaro frontend assembly and then dropped in a fresh 383 stroker motor backed by a 700-R4 trans and 9-inch Ford rearend.

With the ever-growing popularity of electronics and the new wave of technological advancements, some vehicles practically drive themselves. You can read from a computer screen instead of a book, and text someone who's sitting in the same room instead of speaking to them. It's all possible with technology, but it seems to be raising some questions while also providing some answers. Are we getting smarter from this technology or are we dependent on it? The old four-barrel carburetor may need rebuilding from time to time and your rusty non-power windows still require super arm strength. So why not marry both old and new? That's what Bill Clabaugh has done.

You Can See Clearly Now
EZ Wiring's new Power Wiper Kits are now in stock and ready to ship. The Power Wiper Kits feature strong and dependable electric motors outfitted with simple adjustment to change the length of sweep. As a bonus, these wiper assemblies can be set up to sweep in both the same or opposite directions-it's you're call. Power Wiper Kits come complete with motor, cable, wiper transmissions, aluminum tubing, switch, and wiring-in other words, everything you need to update or equip your classic truck with powerful and dependable wipers! For more info on these and the complete EZ Wiring product line, give them a call at 386-437-1077 or visit their website at www.ezwiring.com.

I just wanted to let everyone know that us young bucks love old cars and trucks too! Let me start off by saying I first caught the bug back in high school when my grandfather and I started a frame-off restoration on his '36 Chevy. It was the first truck he had ever owned- the truck him and my grandmother got married in. Once we started I was hooked, old trucks were all I could think about. I absolutely cherished the time I got to spend with my grandfather wrenching in the garage. Soon after I bought a '78 Ford F-250 and loved every chance I got to drive it. I'm now 21 and my daily driver is my beloved '64 Ford F-100. After all the hard work I put into getting it back on the road I can't stand pulling up to a gas station or going to a store and hearing, "That can't be your truck" or "You're too young to own that truck." Why do people think old trucks can only be owned by old men? We "kids" are going to be the ones who pass the hobby on to the next generation and keep these iconic vehicles on the road. I'm not saying we should be praised, but at least give us the respect that's due for putting these old trucks back on the road and keeping them alive.
Cody
Via email

Everyone knows the old saying "two heads are better than one." Rob McKeown will tell you "two trucks are better than one," but don't tell that to his wife. Rob owns a Snap-on route in the Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Ventura, California, area, where he sells tools to various auto shops. The story starts out with Rob building a '65 Ford F-100. Only halfway complete, Rob picked up our magazine for inspiration and was reading a tech article on the Fatman Fabrications suspension build. Shortly after he spotted a '67 F-100 at John Meadows' Deuces Wild, Hot Rods and Customs in Fillmore. Rob inquired about the truck but it was not for sale. After a few months of nagging, Meadows called Rob. At this point, Rob was not ready to take on another project. Lets face it, its hard enough building one truck, let alone two at one time.

There's a lot of different ways to go about choosing the components we incorporate into our classic truck projects, and many times circumstance guides us as much as personal preference does in that regard.

We're not certain what it is that makes a person keep a truck for a long time; we suspect it "just happens." Terry Temples bought this '59 Chevrolet from the original owner in 1967 for the princely sum of $950. It was the same year that Terry married his wife, Linda, and the black truck with gold interior was their only means of transportation. In 1969 Terry drove Linda to the hospital in it for the birth of their son, Wesley, so this truck has plenty of sentimental value.

A classic truck project's exhaust system is many times one of the final phases of a build-one that often gets thought about and/or tackled after the chassis, suspension, brake, and driveline upgrades have been handled. It's also one that aside from pipe diameter and the exhaust note/muffler choice doesn't often garner the degree of thought or planning it should.

Rich de Heras, like most of us, uses the power of the Internet to help find his next project. In his case he was looking for a '48 Ford F1 with a stock flathead. Rich had checked out local newspaper listings but came up empty-handed. So after spending countless hours on the Internet searching, he instead hit the jackpot when he stumbled upon a '56 Ford with a twist. That twist came in the form of a 392 Hemi with dual 600-cfm Edelbrock carbs. Needless to say, Rich was sold on the idea and contacted the owner immediately. A few emails and phone calls back and forth to figure out a fair selling price and it was his-well almost.

Autocross, A Wheel Beauty
Boze Alloys released a fresh new design--the ZE Forged Autocross wheel. This unique five-spoke style has an accent groove in each spoke, which may be painted to match the exterior of your classic truck. Also, the center and rim areas can be finished in high-luster polish or a brushed satin texture. The Autocross design is available in both two-piece and three-piece construction to accommodate large brake kits. Boze offers special custom fitments in diameter sizes 17 to 24 inches and widths from 7 to 15 inches to fit any classic pickup. All wheels are custom built from 6061 T-6 aluminum alloy and made in the USA. Visit www.bozeforged.com for additional information or call 'em toll-free at 866-634-4626.

There's nothing in the world as disconcerting as the screech of locked brakes coming from behind as we sit motionless behind the wheel. It doesn't matter if it's at a stoplight or at the end of a line of unmoving traffic; it's still a sound that'll relocate one's heart from the chest to the throat in an instant.

Forty-two years ago 15-year-old Dick Switzer tagged along to the local GMC dealership with his dad to pick out a new work truck for the family farm. The pair came home with the shiny new Sea Foam Green '68 C-10 you see here.

Being my first show coverage assignment for CLASSIC TRUCKS magazine the pressure was on. Living close enough to Del Mar I pre-drove to the Goodguys event to scope out areas with photogenic qualities for feature shoots. Finding such spots is easier said than done and sometimes the locations found are ideal on the day of scouting and then, by bad luck, a semi parks in front of your prime spot. As a photographer the idea is to get the best photos I can and, most of the time, make things look as great as they do in person. Nervous about being the new guy, I took a deep breath and was reminded by an over-thankful Finest Five winner why we we're all at the show-meeting like-minded people who share the same passion and love to drive their trucks. Things got much more enjoyable after that. There is not much to complain about living in Southern California with year-round weather averaging 70.8 degrees F; so seeing nearly every style of pre-'72 four-wheel people movers in such pristine condition is an extra treat. Ten years ago Goodguys picked the beautiful beach town of Del Mar, California, to host their annual show and haven't looked back since. As the locals know, the Del Mar Fairgrounds is a dream location and, luckily for those of you who couldn't attend, we got it covered.

I have just put down my June issue after reading it from cover to cover, and I must say "What a great magazine." I am, at 55, just getting back into trucks, not the late models as I was before, but earlier trucks. My latest adventure started on eBay searching for a '53-56 F-100, but I'm sorry to say that any safe purchase, requiring just finishing, was well out of my budget. I then looked at Chevy C-10s and fell in love with a near complete, 'bagged, LT1-powered '85. It was time for bed over here so I typed in my max bid and hit the sack. Tea in hand, the following morning I checked my bid to find that I had won, and at a good few dollars less than my max bid. The owner/builder could not believe it was a serious bid from the United Kingdom. After reassuring him and agreeing on a deposit while organizing collection and shipping I got a bit of his background and found out that by night he works as a toolmaker and after little sleep works in his workshop carrying out various vehicle fabrication and paintwork. Needless to say, at this point I asked if he would take on the completion of the truck, as it would be and has been a great savings for me not having to ship parts and pay various shops to carry out the completion over here. He sends me photos as work is being done, such as tubbed bed, inner front wheel arches, rear roll pan with a hidden hitch, and lights that conform to our test requirements here in the U.K. Within the next couple of weeks he should have the interior complete with new door panels and center console to match the previously fabricated and covered dash. By the way, the seller owned the truck for 13 years but hadn't gotten around to completion, so at least he will see his truck completed.

A sweet Chevy indeed! I couldn't help but take a second look at Bob Brodkorb's '54 as I strolled by it at one of Denver's premier hot rod shows. What an amazing piece of work; the craftsmanship of the build and the way it all came together is impressive to say the least.