Indice dei contenuti per Volume 7, Issue 65 - January 2026 in Classic Truck Performance

Whether you’re building a classic truck from the ground up or performing an engine/transmission swap, chances are you’re going to get to the point where you need to measure for a driveshaft. This can be a stressful time for the uninitiated as any mistake can mean the difference between getting it right the first time or buying another driveshaft after getting it wrong. The crew at Inland Empire Driveline Service (IEDLS) knows the trouble folks can have when it comes to properly measuring for a driveshaft and have put together a simple form that makes ordering a custom driveshaft a simple affair—provided one can read a tape measure. One of the most important aspects of measuring for a driveshaft is to take the measurements as described by the driveshaft shop.…

Chevrolet and GMC trucks have an incredible following; events are popping up all over the country to celebrate these popular trucks. One of the newest on the schedule is the GM Truck Fair, an annual event held in Greeneville, Tennessee. Hosted by Bryan Harrison and crew, this event offers a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of room for expansion as Bryan continues to pound the pavement to pull new enthusiasts into the show. The event consists of two days of activities, with a Friday VIP reception at the General Morgan Inn, a historic hotel in downtown Greeneville and host hotel for the event. Then, the show takes place on Saturday at the Greene County Fairgrounds with a great display of trucks, vendors, and a swap meet. As the event winds down,…

California’s Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) is bound to bring together some stellar vehicles every year. The 2025 edition, which marked the event’s 75th anniversary, featured its share of trucks as usual—see Classic Truck Performance’s May ’25 issue—that included Eric “Edog” Michaud’s 1982 Chevy C10. Incidentally, the GNRS organizers have been offering an indoor event at the same venue, aka The Fairplex in Pomona, exclusively catering to truck (and van) owners: the aptly named Grand National Truck Show. This isn’t Eric’s first foray into the truck world, as he owns “Hand of Doom,” a white 1965 Ford F-100 adorned with five-spoke Rocket wheels and an impressive custom paintjob. In fact, you might remember it, having graced the pages of Classic Truck Performance in July 2022. Eric had originally handled the…

The only problem with fully customized Dodge trucks is that there aren’t enough of them out there. Sure, there’s a sea full of Chevy and Ford pickups, with specialized events dedicated to both throughout the country, but where do the Mopar truck guys fit in? Of course, there are plenty of shows that welcome models of all badges to intermingle, but even still, sightings of classic Dodge haulers are few and far between. Charles Utts of Camarillo, California, understands this issue all too well. He has owned his 1977 Dodge Power Wagon pickup since he was in high school (he is now 63 years young). It was the first vehicle he ever purchased, and it’s quite possibly one of his favorites he has owned throughout the years, which is saying…

Every old truck has its story … its own history. Whether it’s a hand-me-down family heirloom or someone’s very first pickup, the backgrounds and subsequent journeys are what make them so special. This particular 1967 Chevrolet C10 went from the showroom to the highway for its first chapter in life, then experienced a full frame-off restoration for chapter two, and in its current guise, the Fleetside has literally been given a new lease—and look—on life, thanks to the vision of its owners and, subsequently, the individuals tasked to perform the transformation. Back around 2009, Texans Kimberly Jenkins and her husband, Dwayne, were on the hunt for a 1967-72 C10 project starter. That turned out to be a five-year adventure of sorts, and by summer 2019, thanks to an online advertisement,…

While power windows are pretty much standard equipment in modern trucks, that hasn’t always been the case. General Motors was the first to offer them in Chevy and GMC pickups in 1977; they became available in Fords for 1984, but they weren’t on the Dodge option list until 1989. But for those who would like to raise and lower his/her classic truck’s windows by pushing a button rather than spinning a crank, Ball’s Power Windows makes it easy and affordable to add this contemporary feature. There are several reasons to consider installing power windows. Certainly, there is ease of operation, plus the convenience of being able to roll down the passenger window from the driver seat without having to reach across the cab. Of course, it’s often an opportunity to…

In the automotive world, we as enthusiasts have been blessed with “concepts” since day one—literally, the first pre-production automobile was just that. Later on, most notably during the 1950s, the conceptual aspect of vehicles became much more artistic, whether via the high-paid minds of the Big Three designers or struggling customizers scratching thoughts on paper napkins at the local taco shop. Many concepts never made it past the drawing board, but those that did left a lasting impression in our minds via the magazine articles, or if we were lucky enough, the car shows where the likes of those one-off amazing customs were displayed. Most importantly, however, they served as inspiration for those who had a pension for customizing. When I first spotted Pat Kelly’s 1955 Ford F-100 with its…

In anybody’s paint shop, being the painter comes with its pressures. Here in our own shop, for example, our subject 1955 Chevy second series project’s finish had better look good—and it had better endure the elements well. Assuming you’ve been with us, you know that we’re taking advantage of available aftermarket sheetmetal. It’s nice to have the option. In this instance it’s quite necessary, but as the painter here, I must wonder if faraway factory workers truly give a hoot about the work that I must do. Perhaps they do, but since I can’t be absolutely sure, I’m somewhat reluctant to trust whatever coating a brand-new panel might arrive with. As we’ve understood, reproduction panel manufacturers sometimes use a black “paintable” Electro-Deposit primer coating, or “E-coat” as it’s commonly called.…

Keeping with our Old Anvil Speed Shop (OASS) “theme” of tasking the individuals responsible for the work to describe each procedure in their own words, this month, OASS’s Brandon Gerringer gives us his 2 cents-plus on their recent 1965 Chevy C10 big window conversion, where they utilized local supplier Classic Industries for an aftermarket rear backlight panel to ease the process rather than locate and resuscitate an original piece. Take it way, Brandon! – Editor “This was my first time doing a big back window conversion on a 1960-66 C10 and I couldn’t have asked for it to go any smoother. GM’s rear cab design makes the layout for doing this swap a piece of cake. “I started by laying out a new 3/8-inch flange around the outer body line, which…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—it takes a lot to get me excited about traveling out of state for events, especially after 30-plus years! The one thing that’s kept me from being totally anti-shows is simple: the people. Seeing lots of old friends and acquaintances on a yearly basis is what’s kept the same events from getting completely played out … but still, the excitement level does continually diminish. Well, that all changed two years ago, at least when it comes to the weekend after Labor Day. Thanks to the efforts of two industry leaders—Bobby Alloway (Alloway’s Hot Rods) and Gary Case (Case Design Group)—the icons of the hot rod world have gathered together at Nashville Superspeedway for the annual Triple Crown of Rodding: the event that…