Classic Truck Performance

According to this month’s cover date, Happy New Year! Though we’ve still got another month or so to go, since this is the first official issue of 2026, why not address it accordingly? As you’ll see once you get to my coverage of the 3rd Annual Triple Crown of Rodding, I begin by acknowledging my distaste for domestic commercial air travel. Regardless how good a destination may be, the one thing that can ruin an otherwise-perfect getaway is a horrible experience at an airport, on an airplane, or basically anywhere in-between home and away from home—at least for me that is. While I’m a dummy and haven’t saved/earned any mileage points, I’ve spent more time on airplanes than I care to accurately reflect on … let’s just say A LOT.…

1. WILWOOD’S NEW TX6R FOR C10S Wilwood introduces new big brake kits utilizing Tactical Xtreme TX6R calipers and huge 16-inch rotors designed to work with their ProSpindle to provide the ultimate stopping power for the 1963-87 Chevy C10 platform. Enhancing the braking performance with upgraded components on the most popular Chevy trucks of all generations just got easier using Wilwood’s TX6R Big Brake Kit when paired with ProSpindle PN 831-14201 (1963-70) or PN 831-14202 (1971-87), available separately. TX6R Big Brake Kits replace OEM single-piston sliding calipers with stress-flow forged aluminum six-piston calipers used on tactical-armored vehicles weighing up to 14,000 pounds. Large 16x1.38-inch military-grade Spec37 iron alloy rotors, with 60 internal curved vanes, provide increased brake torque and thermal capacity. Rotors feature black E-coat inside and out and are available…

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…

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.…

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…

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.…