green 1970 Plymouth Satellite
Modern Rodding logo with dropshadow
Homebuilt Beauty typography
Build
Your Own
Exhaust
System
Essential Connection:
Throttle,
Shifter,
E-Brake
Revivin N Drivin:
Freshen Up Your 1965
Mustang Underpinnings
Build Your Own Exhaust System
Essential Connection:
Throttle, Shifter, E-Brake
Revivin N Drivin:
Freshen Up Your 1965 Mustang Underpinnings
Firewall Mods
For Squeezing in a Blower Motor
Firewall Mods For Squeezing in a Blower Motor
June 2021
Preview Issue
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Modern Rodding CONTENTS
InTheGarageMedia.com
June 2021 Table of Contents articles snapshots
Departments
Brian Brennan
Industry News
New Products
Those Supporting Our Industry
Features
Feature of the Month sponsored by Optima Batteries
Jim Lee’s 1934 Ford Five-Window Highboy Coupe
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Wes Allison
Feature of the Month sponsored by Optima Batteries
The Dufords’ 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Bruce Ceramicole’s 1932 Ford Roadster Pickup
By Chuck Vranas, Photography & Video by the Author
red video circle icon
Marv Shetler’s 1939 Ford ‘Vert
By Dale Moreau, Photography by the Author
Sammy and Diane Vaughn’s 1957 Buick Special
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Gary Rosier
Tech
Making a Garage-Bound Mustang Road Ready
By MR Staff, Photography by Brian Brennan
Video by Ryan Foss Productions
red video circle icon
Building Blower Room With a Fine-Style Firewall
By Gerry Burger
Lokar Performance Products Provides Three Components Necessary for Every Build
By Ryan Manson, Photography by the Author
The Exhaust is a Last-Minute Project That Takes a Lot of Forethought
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Winter
Part 1: Installing a New Gas Tank is Our Latest Fuelish Pleasure
By Gerry Burger, Photography by the Author
SPECIAL FEATURE
June 2021 Modern Rodding cover
On the Cover
Old school and state of the art, built with the latest technology, and built-in a garage, our hobby spans a wide breadth. The 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite belonging to Mike Duford and built by Weaver Customs and Jim Lee’s 1934 Ford highboy coupe built in his home garage cover the wide range of our hobby, each being an excellent example of what can be accomplished. Photography John Jackson and Wes Allison
Duralast official oe replacement parts of Modern Rodding
Modern Rodding ISSN 2692-2371 (print) ISSN 2692-238X (online) Issue 9 is published monthly by In the Garage Media, 370 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-6502. Application to mail at Periodicals prices is pending at Placentia, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Modern Rodding, c/o In the Garage Media, 1350 E. Chapman Ave #6550, Fullerton, CA 92834-6550 or email ITGM at subscription@inthegaragemedia.com. Copyright (c) 2021 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA. Printed in the USA. The Modern Rodding trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media.
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Modern Rodding STARTING OVER
InTheGarageMedia.com
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By Brian Brennan
A Few Observations
I

‘m guessing that all of us have spent a great deal more time holed-up over the past year than we have at any point in our collective lives. The good part is all of the indicators tell us that there are many old projects currently undergoing resurrection and new projects begun. I’ve had the good fortune to have grown up in our hobby/industry and I can say without a doubt there has never been a year quite like the one we have endured.

I’m hearing from manufacturers and builders alike that this past year has been like no other. All indications are trending that the economy will continue to rebound to pre-2019 levels, a good thing, and grow from there, another good thing. Of course, anytime the economy is on fire with growth one always has to watch out for inflation. We are still enjoying low interest rates but inflation is showing early signs of growth.

Auctions
What do auctions really tell me about our hobby? Entities such as Mecum, Barrett-Jackson, and a host of others seem to be enjoying lively venues. Yes, the crowds are restricted but that hasn’t dampened the TV experience, with plenty of bidders present and on the phone lines willing to drive the numbers up.
Rodding Around
By Brian Brennan
red gear icon In The Shop: Rutterz Hot Rodz
1932 Ford Deuce chassis with stripped paint
Back in the ’90s Mike Rutter opened up his shop Rutterz Rodz in Bristol, Tennessee. He’s been known for building good-looking hot rods for some time now and has taken home many industry awards and honors for the cars that have come out of his shop.

We recently took a look around his shop to see what’s currently going on and what we might have to keep a lookout for as future feature material for Modern Rodding. While it was the SpeedStar roadster along with the 1932 Ford that really put Mike on the map, he has branched out, covering all of the popular builds going on today. He still has a feel and a passion for the Deuce, as you can see by the five-window coupe that’s nearing final primer stage with its next step into the spray booth. He also has a massive Chrysler wagon, a Willys, and a C10 showing the versatility the shop has covering the street rod, classic truck, and street cruiser markets.

Modern Rodding NEW PRODUCTS
InTheGarageMedia.com
Drill guide, welding table, and Ford brackets
Hell's Gate Hot Rods' drill guides
Summit Racing welding table
Vintage Air's big-block Ford engine brackets
1. Change of Pace
Hell’s Gate Hot Rods makes it easy to change your wheel lug pattern with their Drill Guides. The drill guides or “jig” is a nifty tool that you can use to re-drill axles and drums to be able to use a different lug pattern without having to remove the axles from the vehicle or take the wheels down to a machine shop to get re-drilled to the desired pattern. The drill guides are made of steel for strength, durability, and can be used many times over. The drill guides come in 13 different lug patterns, giving you a wide variety of options so you can fit the wheel of your choice.
For more info, check out Hell’s Gate Hot Rods by calling (208) 305-6469 or visit hellsgatehotrods.com.
2. Fabricating Made Easier
Fabricating brackets or doing other welding tasks will be a lot easier when you add a Summit Racing Welding Table to your shop. The 30×20-inch work surface is made from 14-gauge zinc-plated steel, has four 1-inch-wide slots for clamps, and can be set at one of three angles so you don’t have to be a contortionist when welding oddly shaped parts. The table can hold up to 350 pounds and is foldable for easy storage.
For more info, contact Summit Racing Equipment at (800) 230-3030 or visit summitracing.com.
3. Big-Block Ford Brackets
Vintage Air announced the release of six new bracket kits for big-block Ford 351M-400 and 429-460 engines, eliminating the need for hard-to-find brackets. These kits include compressor brackets and OEM, Saginaw, and T.C. (Type II) power steering add-on brackets for 351M-400 and 429-460 big-block Ford engines. Additionally, an Alternator Low Mount Bracket Kit for 429-460 big-block Ford engines is available.

Each add-on kit requires a Vintage Air compressor bracket kit (PNs 137000 or 137020) for mounting. The OEM Power Steering Add-On Kit supports Ford pumps from 1965-1996 and requires pulley D0OR-B or D0AR-A. The Saginaw Power Steering Add-On Kit requires a Dorman 300-122 single-groove pulley due to the larger shaft size or equivalent pulley. A Ford pulley could also be bored out to 0.746 inch to fit the shaft. The Ford T.C. (Type II) Power Steering Add-On Kit works with Vintage Air integral reservoir (PN 851001) or remote reservoir pumps (PN 851002). For Ford T.C. (Type II) Power Steering Add-On Kits, the power steering pulley is designed for a pump with a 0.6647-inch od shaft. Some modification or replumbing of the pressure and return lines may be required to retrofit to some engines. Hardline (PN 852000) is recommended for the pressure side. The Ford Low Mount Alternator Bracket Kit is only available for 429-460 engines.

All Ford bracket kits come with all necessary hardware included. It’s recommended to measure all pulleys to get the proper length V-belt for your application due to the wide range of accessory options and pulley diameters available.

For more info, contact Vintage Air at (800) 862-6658 or visit vintageair.com.
Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Bucket-O-Parts typography
Jim Lee’s 1934 Ford in the garage
Optima Batteries logo
Jim Lee’s 1934 Ford Five-Window Highboy Coupe Was Truly Built From Dozens of Cars
By Brian Brennan Photography by Wes Allison
T

here’s a great deal of pride taken in building one’s own hot rod. Many of us “build” our cars where the range of self-performed work varies. However, it’s a rare build indeed when such significant portions of the build, such as the chassis fabrication and assembly, all the metal- and bodywork, along with the paint and interior aluminum work, are all performed in one’s own garage. Such was the case with Jim Lee and his 1934 Ford five-window coupe during its construction in his SoCal garage. In the case of Jim’s 1934 Ford five-window coupe, he really did perform all of the build right there at home. This SoCal rodder spent a lifetime as a certified welder, making the fabrication and welding well within his skill set. His various talents were then genuinely refined over 20 years of building and riding motorcycles, followed by 30 years of building and driving hot rods of all makes and years.

Talking to Jim, he will tell you that the 1934 Ford five-window coupe was a “basket case” in every sense of the word. The frame is based on outer ’rails where 120 holes were filled and/or repaired! From here the boxing plates, notched rear with its 4-inch kick up of the ’rails, the X-member (made from 3/4×2-inch 0.095 wall rectangular tubing), along with the rear crossmember and raised (1-1/4 inches) center portion of the front crossmember were fabricated in Jim’s home garage.

It didn’t stop here. The body was another “love affair” requiring profuse amounts of work to bring it to some form of recognition. Both of the rear quarter- and rocker panels were replaced, as they had been repaired in the past, and let’s say the decades-old workmanship left a great deal to be desired. At some point in the car’s life it had been hit on both sides, rolled upside down, and suffered from bent and twisted “B” pillars. This bucket of bent metal necessitated enormous amounts of metal- and bodywork to be performed by Jim. In an attempt to make “things right” he opted to chop the top (his first chop) 3 inches while only taking 2 inches out of the rear window. In the top chopping process the roof was stretched. This, along with the home-fabricated floorpan, trunk floor, driveshaft and trans tunnels, roof insert, door panels, battery box, trunk-located tool carrier and gas tank, and the notched firewall to handle the engine length are more of Jim’s handiwork. The underside was coated in Lizard Skin based on five coats of sound deadening and five coats of thermal coatings. Inside, plenty of Dynamat and Dynaliner were used to assist with the insulation and to enhance the quietness of the ride. As you can guess all of the painting was also performed by Jim, but this time in his driveway. He used a flat sterling silver with a satin clear to give the car its present look.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Optima Batteries logo
Otherworldly
By Brian BrennanPhotography by John Jackson
The Dufords’ 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite is Earth Bound Now but its Performance is Out of This World
A

ll good things come in time, such as this 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite belonging to Mike and Judy Duford. The Dufords have owned this once-untouched Mopar since 1973 and, in fact, Mike dated Judy in this very ride. Over time Mike wanted to have a unique hot rod and in doing so his path crossed with Randy Weaver of Weaver Customs (WC) in West Jordan, Utah. The Dufords are no strangers to cutting-edge Mopars, as one only has to think back to the 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda nicknamed “TorC.” The Putty Gray with black trim ’Cuda looked like an extremely well-done vintage muscle car but the real “soul” of this ride came from the 6.7L twin-turbo Cummins diesel that rested underneath the hood and produced some 1,500 rear-wheel horsepower. Now that’s a muscle car! But that was then and this is now and the 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite is the latest from both the Dufords and WC.

A Little Background
The Plymouth Satellite was introduced in 1965 as the top trim model of Plymouth’s “B” platform Belvedere line. The 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite is the second-generation (1968-1970) model equipped with six engine options (318 being standard in 1968) ranging from the 273 V-8 to the very stout 440 accompanied by three transmission options. The Sport Satellite featured the same blacked-out grille as seen on the Road Runner while the regular Satellite had the traditional Belvedere grille.
More About Today
In today’s factory muscle car “wars” there’s no questioning the potency of the Dodge Hellcat supercharged engine with its 700-plus horsepower, thus making it the perfect addition to any of the ’60s-’70s Mopar vintage muscle rides. Such is the case for Mike’s 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite with a modern Hellcat 6.2L supercharged V-8 that’s now making upwards of 900 hp (and 850 lb-ft of torque) thanks to a little massaging through larger injectors, modified fuel pump, air cleaner, SPAL electric fan, and a custom 3-inch exhaust run through Flowmaster mufflers. All of this power is bolted to a TREMEC Magnum T56 six-speed with a McLeod flywheel, dual disc clutch, and a WC machined shifter. Interestingly, as large as the engine compartments were on the muscle car–era Mopars, the hand-fabricated hood shows off a full-length dome and a stylized relief cut into the hood acknowledging the required room for the supercharger to fit within the engine room limitations. Added to the hood are also two honeycomb mesh panels that serve as hot air vents releasing underhood temps. A tip of the cap goes to the old-school hood pins that retain the hood during its runs up and down the highways and byways leading to and from rodding events. The Sport Satellite is no stranger to events or awards, having taken home Best of Show at Hot August Nights, Outstanding Handbuilt Custom at the Salt Lake City ISCA Show, and one of Utah’s Top 10 awards also at the SLC ISCA Show in 2020.
Modern Rodding TECH
InTheGarageMedia.com
1. This 1965 Mustang 2+2 was in good overall condition, but its road manners were less than stellar due to worn chassis components. Jason Scudellari gets ready to remedy its shortcomings with a work bench full of Duralast parts.
By MR Staff Photography by Brian Brennan Videography by Ryan Foss Productions
Pony Ride
Making a Garage-Bound Mustang Road Ready
S

ince Henry Ford founded the company bearing his name in 1903, the Ford Motor Company has produced a variety of beloved cars. The Model T put America on wheels, the Model A and the early V-8s were hot rodders’ favorites, but arguably one of the company’s most noteworthy accomplishments was the introduction of the Mustang, the car that started the ponycar revolution.

When the late Lee Iacocca was vice president and general manager of Ford he and his team pushed for a car that would be popular with the youth market, and the Mustang came to be. Ford introduced the Mustang at the World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, and although those early cars are often referred to as 1964-1/2 models, the factory VIN codes indicate they are 1965s. Initially the available body styles were a two-door hardtop and convertible, then in September 1964 the Ford 2+2 fastback was introduced. To say the new Mustang was an instant success is an understatement, as over 121,000 were sold by year’s end. The Mustang’s same basic design continued through the 1966 model year.

The front suspension utilized coil springs and shocks mounted above the upper A-frame–style control arms, while the lower control arms were located by strut rods attached to the front crossmember. In the rear, parallel semi-elliptic springs and tube shocks were used. While not a particularly inspired design, the Mustang’s suspension was simple—but even simple things don’t last forever. A case in point is the suspension under the 1965 Mustang 2+2 shown here. This particular car had spun the odometer more than a few clicks. It was then parked for an extended length of time. Like most hot rodders the owner’s first instinct once it was out of hibernation was to tear the car apart and start from the ground up, but thankfully sanity prevailed. A much more rational approach was to replace the suspension components that were worn and get the Mustang fastback on the road where it could be enjoyed, then make improvements and modifications as time allowed.

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Bill Sather’s 1934 Ford coupe is an old hot rod. Sometime in its storied past the firewall had been modified for late-model master cylinder and V-8 distributor clearance.
Bill Sather’s 1934 Ford coupe is an old hot rod. Sometime in its storied past the firewall had been modified for late-model master cylinder and V-8 distributor clearance.
GOING OVER THE WALL
Building Blower Room with a Fine-Style Firewall
By Gerry Burger
W

e’ve been following along with Troy Gudgel and the team at BBT Fabrications as they transform Bill Sather’s 1934 five-window coupe from a rough old hot rod into a state-of-the-art exercise in modern rodding. After re-chopping the coupe (see Modern Rodding Mar. ’21 issue) Gudgel turned his attention to building a better firewall.

After blasting the original firewall clean, it uncovered the original 1934 Ford five-window coupe firewall modified in typical hot rod fashion of years past. Actually, as original hot rod firewalls go, this one was in above-average condition. The typical notch had been welded in for distributor clearance. The four mounting holes told us at one time the car had a power brake master cylinder mounted to the driver side firewall over a reinforcing plate that had been welded in place when the distributor notch was formed. Once again we’ve seen worse modifications and many more holes, but this coupe was being completely transformed so this firewall had to go.

Three major differences would dictate the shape of the new firewall. First, the new chassis would incorporate an under-the-floor Wilwood master cylinder. This location facilitates 1934 Ford factory-style, through-the-floor pedals, eliminating the firewall-mounted swing pedals once fitted to this old hot rod.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
By Chuck Vranas Photography and Videography by THE AUTHOR
Title of article
Bruce Ceramicole’s Deuce Revives a Rare Look
maroon 1932 Ford
I

n creating an iconic design powerful enough to retain its crown through the decades, Ford earned a devoted following as soon as its 1932 models rolled off the production line. Rich with a new flowing style deftly matched to the introduction of the Flathead V-8, Ford kept its engineers busy in creating a total of 14 different body styles for the model year. Many of the new looks, offered in either base or DeLuxe trim with a choice of a V-8 or a four-cylinder powerplant, gave the public plenty of potential combinations to choose from.

There was also the commercial side of the house, which received an infusion of fresh elements as well, including the rarely seen, cab-open (roadster) pickup. The updated version, thanks to Brookville Roadster, appearing across our pages is owned by Bruce Ceramicole of Willington, Connecticut. It fuses a crisp new look to the original style. Just how rare are cab-open pickups? As reported by RM Auctions on a recent sale of one from the Ralph Whitworth Collection, they advised it was 1 of only 593 produced, thus confirming its pedigree. With the roadster cab produced by Murray and known at Ford as body type 76-B, you can imagine how very few of them have actually survived.

For Bruce, growing up in the small town of Southborough, Massachusetts, certainly had its perks, especially since his dad’s long affair with new Buicks and Pontiacs cast a spell on him from an early age. It wasn’t long till an infatuation with magazines and model building passed, leading him to the real thing. Cruising the strip in a 1950 Ford custom convertible followed by a 1956 Ford convertible, he eventually moved to the high-performance side of the house with a number of modified Corvettes and never looked back. As time passed, he met with Dave Simard, owner of East Coast Custom in Leominster, Massachusetts, commissioning full builds of a 1934 Ford five-window coupe as well as 1929 and 1935 Ford pickup trucks.

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Simple Solutions for Sorting Out the
Essentials
Lokar Performance Products Provides Three Components Necessary for Every Build
By Ryan Manson Photography by the Author
C

onnecting all the components on a street rod build is a huge part of the final assembly process and one that can oftentimes leave many things overlooked. Safely shifting that automatic transmission, accurately accelerating that carburetor or throttle body, and economically engaging that emergency brake is a necessity not an option. The proper assembly of these items is part and parcel to a safely operating hot rod. A cheap shifter that drops into gear while parked or throttle linkage that doesn’t return to idle properly is not only a huge inconvenience, it’s incredibly unsafe. It was with the frustration of the components available and the unsafe elements that came with them that Lokar Performance Products was established.

Most hot rodders are no doubt familiar with many of Lokar’s products, as they’ve been a staple in the street rod world for over 30 years. But what many folks don’t realize is the number of products they manufacture that could find themselves at home on every street rod, muscle car, and classic truck, regardless of the year, make, or model. Throttle cables, return springs, brackets, emergency brake components, and transmission shifters are just a few items from their product line that can be used on nearly any build. These are products that every build requires, with few alternative options that work as well as Lokar’s products do.

It was with this in mind, as we started to screw together a 1957 Ford Thunderbird build, that we created a short list of items necessary to connect and control a myriad of components. The car lacked a throttle pedal, so we needed something to handle that responsibility. Likewise, we’ll need to connect that new pedal to the existing throttle body. The car was equipped with a floor shifter from the factory, but the drivetrain had been changed, which made using the stock shifter moot. Instead, we’ll replace the stock unit with a Lokar floor-mounted shifter in the same location. Mixing and matching parking brake components can make using the stock lever with aftermarket disc brakes a puzzle, to say the least. Alternatively, we’ll keep things simple by using Lokar components, from the handle to the caliper.
Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Just an Old Softy typography
Cruisin’ in the Sun Has its Advantages in a 1939 Ford ’Vert
By Dale MoreauPhotography by THE AUTHOR
H

ave you ever bought a car that really looked good only to find out later that it hid a multitude of sins? In 1992 Marv Shetler did just that with a rare 1939 Ford convertible coupe. It was an older build with the usual Chevy drivetrain and a Corvette rearend. For the next 14 years the Shetler family traveled in the car, making the speedo spin to over 25,000 miles. Needless to say, the poor old hot rod was getting a little long in the tooth and needed some serious help. Taking the car to Bowers Race & Rod Shop right there in Aumsville, Oregon, was the obvious step to do a few updates. Upon closer inspection, the truth came out that the bodywork done before was sad indeed. Rotted doors poorly repaired and bad welds abounded throughout the old ragtop body. Convertibles were not always treated well and the later work to build it as a street rod was marginal, at best.

You know what happened next, a few repairs turned into a full-blown rebuild. The grille was reshaped, the hood pie cut in the front, trim removed, and the latch redone to release from the inside. On the body the door hinges disappeared and “bear claw” latches took over from the originals. A recessed gas filler was made with an inside release, along with a new license plate inset in the deck with a custom frame. The rear wheelwells were widened just a bit, the bumpers tossed, and the body holes filled. Interesting you see 1939 Ford taillights on all kinds of other years of cars but this 1939 Ford has 1941 Hudson taillights molded into the fenders.

With all the rough bodywork done, two-tone Tangerine and Candy Orange paint was laid on the now-perfect body. A two-tone leather interior to match and the chopped top in Mercedes cloth by Karen Iparraquirre of Airsflare Upholstery of Independence, Oregon, set the tone.

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
1936 Ford exhaust project
Good Vibrations
By Brian Brennan Photography by John Winter
The Exhaust is a Last-Minute Project That Takes a Lot of Forethought
M

oving along on our project 1936 Ford it is now time to take a serious look at its exhaust system and where we can run tubing—in fact, more importantly knowing where not to run tubing or locate the mufflers. Every hot rod lives or dies by the sound of its exhaust system. In fact, many hot rodders don’t even bother running a stereo as that’s considered “noise” likened to the “good vibrations” that come from a well-tuned exhaust note. It doesn’t really matter what type of car you build. If it doesn’t sound right, you will not enjoy driving it.

To aid project owner John Winter in making his custom exhaust system he opted for several items from the exhaust section of Speedway Motors’ (SM) catalog. He based his custom exhaust system on the SM universal mild steel dual exhaust kit featuring 2-1/4-inch tubing (PN 91013822), a pair of MagnaFlow mufflers from SM (PN 37613254), a pair of SM 10-inch-long weld-on exhaust hanger brackets (PN 91602018), and four SM 7-inch-long exhaust hangers with bushing kit. All of these components are used in conjunction with a pair of tubular block hugger–style headers. Since Winter is using the SM universal exhaust kit, he could have linked up to virtually any combination of exhaust manifolds, whether they be factory cast-iron or aftermarket tube header.

Anyone who has built a hot rod can tell you the vast majority of the time (that would be all) you are better off having an exhaust system made for your particular car than most any other option. One would think that a 1932 Ford is a 1932 Ford or a 1962 Chevy is a 1962 Chevy and oftentimes that’s the case, but when it comes to an exhaust system there are so many little things that can cause an exhaust system to change from one vehicle to the next it’s best to go with a custom exhaust system.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Kool Cars Can Be Beautiful Cars Title
By Brian Brennan Photography by Gary Rosier
In the Decade of the ’50s, the 1957 Buick Special was Just That: Special
T

he 1957 Buick Special was just that: a special car with its rear deck window and two complementary quarter windows. (This rear window treatment was also found on the 1957 Olds.) The one-year-only rear glass treatment makes the 1957 Buick Special both unique and particularly stylish. To this day hot rodders all have their favorite car but you mention the 1957 Buick Special two-door hardtop and all will declare that it’s on their “list” because of the rear glass treatment.

1957 Buick Special Front
Sammy and Diane Vaughn, of Daytona Beach, Florida, have this excellent example of what can be done with a Buick Special. Sammy will tell you that he was “bit” by the car bug early on in life—especially the 1957 Buick Special. As is generally the case, it would take time to reach that point in life where one can afford what one wants. No stranger to ’50s- and ’60s-era Detroit Iron, Sammy thoroughly enjoyed a 1967 Oldsmobile 442 but when that went away the years passed and over time the 1957 Buick Special you see here came into the Vaughns’ life and the next step was set into motion.

A visit with Paul Newman of Classic Muscle Motor Company (CMMC) in Florida set the wheels in motion, literally. A Roadster Shop (RS) chassis was used and matched up to the 1957 Buick Special wheelbase and from here the RS IFS and rear suspension were hung. In front, the basis for the IFS are Corvette C5 spindles with RideTech ShockWaves air suspension with polished Hot Rod shocks from RideTech. The steering is a bringing together of a Detroit Speed rack-and-pinion with an ididit steering column. In back, the suspension is based on an RS 9-inch housing supplied Strange 3.50 Truetrac gears and 31-spline axles, accompanied by a RideTech airbag system with shocks, an RS Panhard bar, and Wilwood six-piston brake calipers; red powdercoat with drilled-and-vented 13-inch rotors are used both front and rear. Bringing the stopping force to the forefront is a Hydratech braking system complete with a chromed Corvette C3 master cylinder and hydraulic brake assist. The rolling stock itself is comprised of a set of B-Forged wheels, 20s in front and 22s in back, wrapped with Nitto Extreme’s 245/35ZR20s and 285/35ZR22s.

Modern Rodding Tech
InTheGarageMedia.com
Fill ’Er
UP
Part 1: Installing a New Gas Tank is Our Latest
Fuelish Pleasure
By Gerry Burger Photography by the Author
I

n our humble opinion, the 1936 Ford phaeton has one of the prettiest rear panels ever to grace a Blue Oval car. In stock form this sweeping rear panel is hidden by a spare tire and often a luggage rack, too. Because the rear tire effectively extends the back of the car, Ford opted to form long sweeping taillights extending rearward even with the spare tire.

We just couldn’t bear hiding that curvaceous rear panel that led to the removal of the spare tire, and thus began yet another “one thing leads to another” modification sequence. After removing the spare, the taillights appeared to extend into another zip code, so the taillights had to go, replaced by a pair of 1940 Packard taillights (see the Feb. ’21 Modern Rodding). Since Ford decided to build the gas fill cap into the driver side taillight we must relocate the gas fill cap, but first we’ll install the new tank. Did we mention one thing leads to another?

A quick check of Summit Racing’s website netted us a Tanks gas tank. We ordered a sending unit for our future fuel gauge from Classic Instruments, so we were ready to make the fuel system new from front to back.
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Missing an issue? Please contact one of our resellers listed below. Want to sell one of our titles in your store or shop? Contact us at subscriptions@inthegaragemedia.com
Nitroactive.net
Orange, CA
Nitroactive.net
Autobooks-Aerobooks
Burbank, CA
818-845-0707
Autobooks-aerobooks.com
Hot Rod Paper Company
Youngstown, OH
800-676-3026
gadmak@aol.com
Pasteiner’s
Birmingham, MI
248-646-2886
pasteiners.com
Reader’s World
616-396-4600
readersworldbookstore.com
Horton Hot Rod Parts
Ontario, Canada
905-876-2124
hortonhotrod.ca
Graffiti Publications
Victoria 3450
Australia
graffitipub.com.au
One56
Björklinge, Sweden
One56.se
Title
Don’t Miss an Issue! Print & Digital Edition are available today.
Order your subscription to Classic Truck Performance, Modern Rodding, or All Chevy Performance, or all three, and receive the latest on custom builds, technical articles, new products, special features, and more! High quality print edition, all the content you want, provided in the hands-on format you love.
In Garage Media Magazines
In Garage Media Magazines
Order your subscription to Classic Truck Performance, Modern Rodding, or All Chevy Performance, or all three, and receive the latest on custom builds, technical articles, new products, special features, and more! High quality print edition, all the content you want, provided in the hands-on format you love.
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Premium digital magazine, view on any device, includes, expanded stories, additional content links, videos, plus other enhancements.
Print Subscription — 12 Issues for $35Digital Subscription — 12 Issues for $15
Webpage
For More Information: 833-985-9171
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Thanks for reading our June 2021 preview issue!