Trading Places: Remove & Replace Your Wagon’s Roof
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The Golden Era of the ’50s
Drop in Your Cut-To-Fit Insulation
Install a Hydraulic Clutch Pedal Assembly
The Ultimate-Appearing LS V-8
July 2022
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Modern Rodding CONTENTS
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Brian Brennan
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Features
Derek and Eileen Eisenbeisz’s ’58 Chevy Yeoman
By Chris Shelton, Photography by Don Kates
Marv Shetler’s ’39 Ford DeLuxe Coupe
By Dale M. Moreau, Photography by the Author
Bill Ganahl’s ’64 Buick Riviera
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Tim Sutton
Richard Graves’ ’32 Ford Highboy Sedan Delivery
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Wes Allison
Chris Ryan’s ’78 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Tech
The Correct Equipment, Coupled With Patience and Practice, is the Key
By Ron Covell, Photography by the Author
A Look Under the Hood of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster for 2022
By Ron Ceridono, Photography By Alan Johnson
Keeping the Patina Look by Swapping Roofs
By Brian Brennan, Photography by the Author Videography by Ryan Foss Productions
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… A Better Idea
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Nate Nelson
The Need for a Supplemental Vacuum can be Easily Resolved With a 12V Electric Vacuum Pump Kit
By Brian Brennan, Photography by the Author
Easy Install Wows Show Crowd
By John Gilbert, Photography by the Author & Brian Brennan
On the Cover
Wagons were never cool. Then, about 30 years ago, wagons were “discovered” and the rest, as they say, “… is history.” One look at Derek and Eileen Eisenbeisz’s ’58 Chevy Yeoman two-door wagon makes all of us realize “wagons are cool.” Back in the day, the Yeoman two-door wagon wasn’t desirable among the car-buying public, but those days are long gone. Having a two-door wagon is very cool, and we must say all its cool is justified by looking at this ’58 Yeoman.
Photo by Don Kates
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Modern Rodding July 2022
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Modern Rodding ISSN 2692-2371 (print) ISSN 2692-238X (online) Issue 22 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) 2022 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
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By Brian Brennan
Memories Build Up Over Memories
M

emories are great. Of course I sometimes struggle to remember my memories. When I do then it’s all cool. I figure given the amount of time I’ve been around hot rodding, all the cars that I’ve seen, and all the hot rodders that I have hung around with, I should have many more memories than I have. I figure that’s since I’ve forgotten many memories so they are no longer memories. I hope that doesn’t mean all those great experiences really didn’t happen. Oh well.

What got me going down my hot rod memory lane was a recent visit to a longtime friend’s shop. He’s a longtime hot rodder, builder, and painter—Dave Shuten. He heads up the restoration and creation division of Galpin Speed Shop as the lead builder. From his craftsman-like hands and always-active mind comes a wide assortment of hot rods with varied backgrounds, from customs to race cars to movie cars to everyday hot rods.

Rodding Around
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red gear icon Advanced Plating is 60 Years Young!

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of Advanced Plating opening its doors in Nashville. Although the location has changed over the years, most recently with a move out of Nashville to Portland, Tennessee, they have continued to offer the world’s finest chrome to customers worldwide.

The roots of Advanced Plating started with founder Elton Cole, who first opened shop in Old Hickory, Tennessee, during the spring of 1962. Like several businesses, the shop changed hands a couple of times through the years. Then, in 1985, while racing motorcycles, Steve Tracy started his relationship with Advanced Plating, leading to he and his wife, Sheri, becoming sole owners in 1989.

Modern Rodding NEW PRODUCTS
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New Products

By Brian Brennan

1. Pro-Fit TKX Five-Speed Systems for the F-Body

American Powertrain offers a Pro-Fit five-speed system for the ’82-92 F-body Gen 3 Camaro/Firebird, featuring the all-new TREMEC TKX five-speed. The TKX Pro-Fit kit fits like an original GM manual transmission with zero tunnel modifications. American Powertrain modifies the TKX shifter location that mimics the factory fitment and shifter location.

The new Pro-Fit five-speed system features the new TREMEC TKX transmission with 600 lb-ft of torque capacity with shifts up to 7,800 rpm. The system comes with a new crossmember that allows the factory torque arm to be reused and can be adjusted. It comes with all the installation parts and a new custom-built driveshaft for easy installation. Pro-Fit kits are covered by American Powertrain’s two-year warranty and comprehensive tech support. Six-speed kits are also available.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Yeoman's Duty
Once the Lowest Title in Chevrolet’s Line, This Yeoman Proves That You Definitely Reap What You Sow
By Chris Shelton Photography by Don Kates
H

ardly anything about 1958 was like any other year that preceded it, at least for Chevrolet’s passenger-car division. That year, the company changed just about everything about its cars, all the way down to what it called them. Let’s look at Derek and Eileen Eisenbeisz’s ’58 Chevy Yeoman two-door wagon and its transition into a top-of-the-line hot rod.

What happened to the wagons is practically unspeakable, at least among contemporary wagonistas. After watching two-door wagon sales languish during the three years that preceded, Chevrolet all but killed the configuration for 1958. You could still get a Nomad that year, but it was just a trim package on a regular ol’ four-door wagon. Chevrolet did build a two-door wagon but banished it to the bottom rung and called it Yeoman, a historic title for family farmers.

1958 Chevy Yeoman

Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com
How to TIG Weld Title

1. TIG machines come in a broad range of sizes. Even the smallest machine in this lineup can do most of the welding tasks a car builder will need.

1. TIG machines come in a broad range of sizes. Even the smallest machine in this lineup can do most of the welding tasks a car builder will need.
The Correct Equipment, Coupled With Patience and Practice, is the Key

By Ron Covell Photography by THE AUTHOR

W

e’ve covered MIG welding, which for many years has been the most widely used process for both amateur and professional car builders. Since MIG welds are strong and fast, and the learning curve is easy to master, why would you consider anything else? That’s exactly what we’ll cover in the basics of TIG welding.

Fundamentally, it comes down to the degree of control that TIG welding offers, and the broader spectrum of metals it is suited for. MIG is used primarily for carbon steel and stainless steel, and certain MIG machines can be equipped to weld aluminum, but the TIG process works with virtually any weldable metal. There may be times when you need to weld magnesium, copper, bronze, titanium, or Inconel, and the TIG process is well suited for all of these—and more.

Having more control over each parameter of the welding process also makes it easier to get the dime-on-dime look that many builders prize. It can also help with getting sufficient penetration in challenging situations, and to tailor the welding arc to make it ideal for any weld joint configuration and for a broad range of material thicknesses.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Coupe du Jour title
Coupe du Jour title
’39 Ford DeLuxe Coupe is “On the Road Again”
By Dale M. MoreauPhotography by THE AUTHOR
F

rom the earliest days of young hot rodders, the ’39 Ford DeLuxe coupe was the choice of many. For one thing, old Henry finally caved in and started equipping his Fords and the new Mercury line with hydraulic brakes. Another advancement Ford made was to be able to stamp larger pieces of their bodies, making less time for assembly. In comparing the ’39 Ford coupe to the ’38, you can see the loss of the bead line on the rear of the top. One more design change between the two years was the rear fenders. In the ’38, they extended out beyond the body, and the next year they tucked them in, making the beautiful rear of the cars extended in the ’40 model year.

Modern Rodding TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

1. Amazing imagination, execution, and detail bring this LS V-8 to the head of the class.
Beauty is More Than Skin Deep typography

A Look Under the Hood of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster for 2022

By Ron Ceridono Photography by Alan Johnson
I

t’s no secret that one of the keys to seeing your name engraved on the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) trophy is to build a car with meticulous attention to detail. In the case of Jeff Breault’s 2022 AMBR winner “Lucille,” the phrase “attention to detail” doesn’t begin to describe the effort put into the construction of this ’34 Chevy roadster.

Breault has been a lifelong GM guy and the idea of building this roadster has been with him for years. He describes his vision as “A car that combines the look, feel, and attitude of a traditional roadster but benefits from cutting-edge engineering and technology.” When a suitable candidate to make this vision become a reality was found, the all-original ragtop was delivered to Tim Devlin and his crew at Devlin Rod and Customs (DRC) to begin its transformation from stocker to shocker.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Coastline Cruiser title
Coastline Cruiser title
Bill Ganahl of South City Rod & Custom Built His Own Ride
By Brian BrennanPhotography by Tim Sutton
T

he picture-perfect setting along the Bay Area coastline in NorCal presents an idyllic view of Bill Ganahl’s ’64 Buick Riviera. Did you know that “Riviera” translated from its Latin origins means “coastline”? General Motors wanted their new Buick luxury car to evoke the allure of affluence and the coastal lifestyle along the French Riviera. Well, times have changed, but we can rest assured the ’64 Buick Riviera continues to evoke all things good.

Modern Rodding TECH
InTheGarageMedia.com
By Brian Brennan Photography by THE AUTHOR Videography By Ryan Foss Productions
Off With the Old and on With the Old
1. Out Project ’55 Chevy wagon resting in the In The Garage Media Tech Center ready for the roof swap.
55 Chevy Wagon in garage
1. Out Project ’55 Chevy wagon resting in the In The Garage Media Tech Center ready for the roof swap.
Keeping the Patina Look by Swapping Roofs
S

ometimes hot rodders have been known to “drive the long way around the barn” to get to their final goal. It sure seems like that’s the case for our Modern Rodding Project ’55 Chevy Wagon. We’ve been tinkering with small projects so far, like removing and replacing the spare tirewell as well as the tailgate (special thanks to Danchuk for helping us out on those projects). But the latest effort is a doozy. We want to keep the patina look but upgrade and make roadworthy the remainder of our ’55 Chevy wagon.

The first step was to go through the self-analysis of the sheetmetal. Well, it’s loaded with what you would expect from years of hard-earned patina—thoroughly abused paint (or lack thereof) and rust. Really good rust; you know, the kind that you can see through! That was our first clue that something had to be done to our ’55 Chevy wagon roof—patina is good, holes aren’t. Upon close inspection and the fact that we could see through the holes in the roof in the rain gutter area had us scratching our heads. Apparently, Plato, the Greek philosopher dude, had a rust problem on his Chevy wagon. His writings were once translated to say: “The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention.” And that’s exactly where we found ourselves. We needed to think and come up with a solution.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
That Old-Time Feelin
This ’32 Ford Highboy Sedan Delivery Conjures Up That Ol’ Hot Rod Feel
By Brian Brennan Photography by Wes Allison
T

hose who have been around the hot rod world for some time should know Southern California’s Richard Graves; or possibly his shop’s name, Richard’s Wheel & Chassis, will ring true. Richard has built a number of hot rods for customers and himself over the past 60-plus years, and that includes his current ride. Richard’s ’32 Ford highboy sedan delivery has been seen on the road for years.

As a member of the Early Times Car Club (founded in 1965) he joined in 1969 and continues to participate some 50-plus years later. (There’s a great story behind the Early Times Car Club and many of its members—but that’s a story for a later date.) Richard consistently shows up with his ’32 Ford highboy sedan delivery at local events time and again. In fact, his garage served as the beginning for the Early Times Mid-Winter Rod Run & Garage Tour. This event has a long history, some 41 years and growing in the SoCal rodding scene. His familiar bearded presence is a welcomed sight as he brings a wide breadth of hot rod knowledge and experience to the car scene.

Side view of - 32' Ford highboy

Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com
The Hydraulic Clutch is a Good Idea, Using the HydraMax is … A Better Idea
By Brian Brennan Photography by Nate Nelson
The Hydraulic Clutch is a Good Idea, Using the HydraMax is … A Better Idea
1. Scotty Troutman of Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop is working on the billet reservoir for the American Powertrain underdash hydraulic clutch and brake pedal assembly.
By Brian Brennan Photography by Nate Nelson
T

he hydraulic clutch turned everyday clutch operation into a pleasure rather than a session at the gym. I’m sure there are plenty of us who can remember the days of waiting at a stoplight as we patiently counted down the seconds for the light to turn green, all the while holding in the clutch pedal. The obligatory leg shakes and cramps are still fresh in our minds. All because we had opted to run a 3,000-pound three-finger clutch. Ah, the days of sheer brute force. The advent of the hydraulic clutch has relieved us of this discomfort. But it’s an offering from American Powertrain in their HydraMax bolt-in underdash hydraulic clutch and pedal system that has taken the hydraulic clutch installation to a new level of ease, comfort, and performance.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
“We’re Gonna Do What They Say Can’t Be Done”
Ryan’s Rod and Kustom Builds One Amazing ’78 Trans Am
By Brian Brennan Photography by John Jackson
A

self-proclaimed and unabashed fan of the 1977 movie Smokey and The Bandit, Chris Ryan of Ryan’s Rod & Kustom (RR&K), located in South Carolina, proudly admits to watching it upwards of 10,000 times. (Well, maybe not literally but a lot.) The idea behind building this ’78 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was to end up with a fun shop car that could do “some really epic” burnouts. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s Chris enjoyed the ’70s muscle car look, particularly the Trans Am body style.

It should also be noted that one of Chris’ talented staff was overheard saying, “Bullsh*t Boss, we all know where this is gonna end up.” Chris freely admits from the onset that the build began to take on a serious note. To give you an idea how far Chris jumped off the “pier,” let’s look at a simple and common modification. He asked one of this shop staff to cut, reshape, and fit the rear bumper—five times! Well, everyone knew where this Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was going to end and that would be the Trans Am of all Trans Ams.

'78 Trans Am

Modern Rodding TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

Sometimes it Pays to be in a Vacuum typography
the Granatelli Motor Sports 12V Electric Vacuum Pump Kit parts laid out
1. The Granatelli Motor Sports 12V Electric Vacuum Pump Kit comes complete and is an easy install.
Sometimes it Pays to be in a Vacuum typography
The Need for Supplemental Vacuum can be Easily Resolved With a 12V Electric Vacuum Pump Kit
By Brian Brennan Photography by THE AUTHOR & Granatelli Motor Sports
T

he car (most likely) parked in your driveway has some form of a factory vacuum pump. It functions via one of two ways: as a mechanical engine driven or electrically powered pump. It generates additional (supplemental) vacuum that is in addition to what the engine can produce. While new cars are designed with these as part of the integral workings, hot rodders need to take the needs this pump provides into consideration. We have a way for you to manage this dilemma: the Granatelli Motor Sports 12V Electric Vacuum Pump Kit.

Whether it be the stocker in your driveway or the hot rod tucked away in your garage, there is every likelihood a function such as power brakes, wipers, or headlight doors, or some other form of engine management requires ample vacuum to properly operate. Many high-performance engines can be vacuum deficient; we see this in the hot rod industry often. Does your hot rod have a remote vacuum pump, or should it have one? Vacuum pumps are required in engines where the necessary vacuum cannot be garnered through the intake manifold. Think about the following. If your gasoline-powered engine has variable valve timing, direct fuel injection, or a turbocharger there’s a good chance you will have need for additional vacuum. A little less exotic, how about power brakes or the controls on your heating and air conditioning system? Oh, did I mention that an auxiliary vacuum pump, such as the Granatelli 12V electrical unit, can add documented 10 to 35 usable horsepower back into the engine? That alone is a great reason.

Modern Rodding TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

the Dynamat kit laid out laid out at the Grand National Roadster Show
1. You might expect to see the Dynamat kit laid out on your garage floor but on the main floor of the Grand National Roadster Show? Well that did gather some attention!
By John Gilbert Photography by THE AUTHOR & Brian Brennan
Precut Way to Insulate typography
Easy Install Wows Show Crowd
W

hat better way to demonstrate Dynamat’s Xtreme Custom Cut Kit made for GM A-body cars can easily be installed by using just a Dyna-Roller than to prove it in front of hundreds of folks at the 2022 Grand National Roadster Show? Custom cut means Dynamat’s sound-damping material is precut to fit a specific make of car or truck and only requires peel and stick for installation. Then mash it flat with a Dyna-Roller and it’s done.

The saga of this ’66 Chevelle Malibu project dates back over five years ago when I had just been given the editorship of Chevelle magazine. I had never owned a Chevelle for the street, but in the mid ’70s I did buy a few ’66 Malibus for around $200 so my race crazy friends and I could cut them up to roundy round race at Irwindale’s Speedway 605 on Saturday night.

The 21st century was high time for me to repent for the Chevelles I had destroyed racing decades ago and, besides, I didn’t want readers asking if I owned a Chevelle and didn’t. The ’66 SS396 Chevelle has always been a favorite of mine since early 1966 when my dad and I searched for SS396s on Clippinger Chevrolet’s new car lot in Covina, California. It was spotting the distinctive twin inline scoops on the SS396 hoods that sped up our search locating SS396s on Clippinger’s lot. 

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