The Right Way to Install Hot Rod Gauges typography
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Triple Crown of Rodding Winners Are … typography
Making
Cycle
Fenders for
Skinny &
Not-So
Skinny Tires
Installing a
Modern Magneto
How to Install
A/C Lines the Easy Way
Making Cycle Fenders for
Skinny & Not-So Skinny Tires
Installing a
Modern Magneto
How to Install
A/C Lines the Easy Way
March 2022
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Modern Rodding CONTENTS
InTheGarageMedia.com
March 2022 Table of Contents article snapshots
Departments
Brian Brennan
Industry News
New Products
Those Supporting Our Industry
Features
Warren Wubker’s ’51 Merc Custom
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Bob Johnson’s ’36 Ford Roadster
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Jimmy Shaw’s ’71 Maverick
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Jason Graham’s ’63-1/2 Ford Galaxie
By Brian Brennan, Photography by Josh Mishler
Natalie Bolea’s ’30 Ford Highboy Coupe
By Brian Brennan, Photography by John Jackson
Tech
Classic Instruments’ 2-5/8-Inch Gauges Combine Vintage Style With Modern Technology
By Ron Ceridono, Photography by Brian Brennan
Part 3: Finishing Chopping Your ’32 Ford Three-Window Coupe
By Tony Thacker, Photography by the Author
Simple and Clean A/C Hoses You Can Build at Home
By Tommy Lee Byrd, Photography by the Author
One of the Iconic Speed Parts Still has Life Today
By Don Lindfors, Photography by the Author
A Little Creativity With Recycled Parts and You Have Cool Fenders
By Ron Covell, Photography by Brian Brennan
On the Cover
It’s Triple Crown of Rodding time and the 2021 winners are Bob Johnson with his ’36 Ford roadster for Best Street Rod, Jimmy Shaw with his ’71 Ford Maverick for Best Street Machine, and Warren Wubker with his ’51 Merc Custom for Best Street Cruiser, all selected at this year’s Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup held at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
Photography by John Jackson.
Hot Rod Industry Alliance logo: 2021 Recipient of the HRIA Business of the Year Award
Modern Rodding March 2022 cover
Duralast official oe replacement parts of Modern Rodding
Modern Rodding ISSN 2692-2371 (print) ISSN 2692-238X (online) Issue 18 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
InTheGarageMedia.com
A headshot picture of Brian Brennan grinning
Deadlines & Other Notable Things
By Brian Brennan
A

s I sit at my makeshift desk, I find myself thumping away on this month’s editorial while also looking at the latest roadsters in competition for the AMBR. Yep, I’m at the 72nd Grand National Roadster Show on AMBR judging day. This takes place before official move-in, making it as peaceful as this place will be for the remainder of the weekend. This is good as I better get my editorial written or there will be “hell” to pay with my managing editor (we affectionately refer to her as “Boss,” “Sarah the Ruler,” you get the picture). Sarah doesn’t believe in cutting any of us (Rob Fortier or Nick Licata) any slack. I’ve written under far worse conditions. Of course, invariably it is all my own making.

Now, you might think, “Well, that’s cool.” But the reality is I’m panicking. You see, just like these amazing roadsters, time is up and I’m running late. As each owner and builder jump into their roadster, fire it up, and drive to the judging stand there’s an abundance of last-minute tweaking, polishing, or assorted other last-second (not even minute) detailing efforts. I know better, well duh! I should have turned in this editorial a week ago. But alas I didn’t. Such is the life of an editor and I’m beginning to understand and feel what the pressure must be like when in the final stages of completion of a roadster, or any hot rod, in time for this or any competition or show.

Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand that me busily typing out an editorial, or for that matter even an entire issue, pales in comparison to what it takes to build any hot rod. While I’m, once again, appreciating the efforts of these amazing builders, professional and privateer alike, there’s truly little comparison.

Rodding Around
By Brian Brennan
Land speed racers at the starting line
Land speed racers at the starting line. A new water well and weather and hydrologic equipment have been installed as part of the Restore Bonneville program to help increase the volume of salt pumped onto the Bonneville Salt Flats.
red gear icon New Water Well and Measuring Equipment to Increase Volume of Salt

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) welcomes the installation of a new water well and weather and hydrologic equipment used for measuring salt growth conditions as part of its broader Restore Bonneville program. Federal and state funds were released last year to install the monitoring equipment and help increase the volume of salt pumped onto the Bonneville Salt Flats this year to a total of up to 500,000 tons.

As part of the Restore Bonneville program, SEMA and the racing community joined forces with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah Geological Survey (UGS), and Intrepid Potash Inc. in the collaborative restoration effort. Originally in the ’60s, the racing venue was over 13 miles in length, but the course is now 8 miles or less. According to a study by the BLM, the Salt Flats have also shrunk in size from 96,000 to about 30,000 acres.

The BLM and DNR signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2020 to jointly pursue restoration efforts. The program, which SEMA calls Restore Bonneville, will be managed by DNR, in conjunction with the BLM, and operated by Intrepid Potash. The endeavor is strongly supported by SEMA and the Save the Salt Coalition, a collection of companies, organizations, individuals, and land speed racing teams.

Modern Rodding NEW PRODUCTS
InTheGarageMedia.com
Sharp-Dressed ’63 Galaxie, PPG Deltron NXT refinish system, Lokar’s new RestoMod series of throttle assemblies and pedal pads product shot
AMD premium fenders
PPG Deltron NXT refinish system
Lokar’s new RestoMod series of throttle assemblies and pedal pads

By Brian Brennan

1. Sharp-Dressed ’63 Galaxie

Auto Metal Direct (AMD) offers reproduction fenders for your ’63 Ford Galaxie. Stamped from high-quality OE-gauge steel on their exclusive new steel tools, AMD premium fenders feature the correct shape, size, bends, holes, and curves like the original. Each panel arrives EDP coated to help protect against rust and corrosion.

AMD LH Fender (PN 200-8963-L) replaces Ford PN C3AZ-16006-A; AMD RH Fender (PN 200-8963-R) replaces Ford PN C3AZ-16005-A

For more info, check out Auto Metal Direct by calling (877) 575-3586 or visit autometaldirect.com.
2. Keeping Paint in the Family

PPG Deltron NXT refinish system represents a significant upgrade to one of the most widely used paint brands. Popular with custom builders and car restorers alike, the iconic brand’s new paint mixing system incorporates some of the latest color and special effects pigments to provide users with superior color capability to meet the needs of any vehicle paint project.

“Supporting this paint system is a comprehensive color database that provides paint formulas for vehicles dating as far back as 1927, making it the ideal choice for custom painters and restorers,” Pete Ragone, PPG solventborne brand marketing manager, automotive refinish, says.

For more info, check out the PPG Deltron NXT system by visiting ppgdeltronnxt.com.
3. Latest in Footwear

Lokar’s new RestoMod series of throttle assemblies and pedal pads are the perfect addition for ’50s-’70s muscle cars. Styling cues from the OEM versions keep it clean and simple, while modern touches give them a contemporary look.

Machined from aluminum, the throttle assemblies are a direct fit for most popular applications and are available in brushed or black anodized finishes. E-brake and dimmer switch covers are also available to complete the look.

For more info, check out Lokar Performance by calling (877) 469-7440 or visit lokar.com.
Modern Rodding

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 18 • 2022

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Triple Crown of Rodding: Best Street Cruiser title
Duralast
Duralast
Triple Crown of Rodding: Best Street Cruiser title
Warren Wubker’s ’51 Merc Custom Takes Home the Honors With its Impeccable Styling & Craftsmanship
By Brian BrennanPhotography by John JacksonIllustrations by Eric Brockmeyer Design
I

f you’re going to build a postwar Merc custom, your effort will inevitably be compared to Masato “Bob” Hirohata’s ’51 Merc built at Barris Kustom Industries in 1952. While the Hirohata Merc will always maintain its lofty station, the latest effort from Frank Tetro of Harbor Auto Restorations (HAR) is the ’51 Merc custom belonging to Warren Wubker of Florida as it has clearly set the modern standard.

In one of the first outings for the ’51 Merc, Warren and Tetro brought the car to the Hot Rod Reunion hosted by the Shades of the Past Car Club at Dollywood’s Splash Country, taking home the Triple Crown of Rodding’s Best Street Cruiser. While at the show it was also clear it was of the more-popular rides present with a constant throng of admirers looking underhood, examining the interior, and frequently speaking with the crew from HAR.

Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com

1. Colin and Sue Radford’s T roadster is outfitted with an art deco Diamond T instrument panel with Classic instruments Classic Series 2-5/8-inch gauges and a matching 3-3/8-inch speedometer and tachometer.

By Ron Ceridono Photography by Brian Brennan

Everything New is Old Again Typography
Everything New is Old Again
Classic Instruments’ 2-5/8-Inch Gauges Combine Vintage Style and Modern Technology
O

ne of the modifications that many hot rodders in the ’40s made to the austere dashboard of an early car was the installation of an assortment of gauges. And while the common 2-1/8-inch-diameter gauges were often used, the larger 2-5/8-inch versions had much more visual impact. One practical advantage was they were easier to read, and as a result were often found in competition cars. However, the fact that they looked way cool was the real reason they were a popular choice for hot rods that spent more time on the street than the track.

Over the years trends changed and 2-5/8-inch instruments became less common. Then came the welcome resurgence of traditional build styles, and along with that came the demand for equally traditional components, such as those vintage, large-diameter dials. It seemed what the world needed was a line of 2-5/8-inch gauges with the nostalgic styling and contemporary movements, and thanks to Classic Instruments we’ve got them.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Triple Crown of Rodding: Best Street Rod title
Duralast
Duralast
Triple Crown of Rodding: Best Street Rod title
Bob Johnson’s ’36 Ford Roadster has a Long List of Accomplishments, Making This its Crowning Glory
By Brian BrennanPhotography by John JacksonIllustrations by e.Black Design
T

his ’36 Ford roadster shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched the world of hot rodding over the past several years. It has taken home such awards as the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, Goodguys Most Beautiful Street Rod, the SEMA Ford Design Award, and it recently took home the 2022 Barrett-Jackson Cup at the Scottsdale, Arizona, auction. Now this ’36 Ford roadster can add the Triple Crown of Rodding Street Rod of the Year winner to its lofty list of accolades.

Fabricated at Pinkee’s Rod Shop in Windsor, Colorado, under the direction of Eric Peratt, it was originally built for George Poteet of Tennessee where, until recently, this was the roadster’s home. Not long ago Poteet and current owner Bob Johnson were talking all things hot rods when the conversation began to revolve around their personal rides, with the inevitable question surfacing. “Is that car for sale?” Poteet and Bob had zeroed in on the ’36 Ford roadster and the rest, as they say, is history.

Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com
Lowering the Lid Title Typography
Part 3: Finishing Chopping Your ’32 Ford Three-Window Coupe … It’s in the Detail

1. Our Brookville Roadster three-window coupe body is now “chopped.”

Lowering the Lid
Part 3: Finishing Chopping Your ’32 Ford Three-Window Coupe … It’s in the Detail
By Tony Thacker Photography by THE AUTHOR
I

f you have stuck with us through parts 1 and 2 you will know that the Veazie Brothers, Evan and Justin, located in the old SO-CAL Speed Shop race shop in Pomona, California, have been hacking away at the top of Bruce Forte’s Brookville-bodied ’32 three-window. For Evan, this was his first chop; he removed a scant 2 inches in what I thought was one of the neatest chops I have ever witnessed.

There are as many ways to chop a top as there are ways to build a rod. No one method is really any better than any other but there are ways it can be executed that cause a minimal amount of grief—this was one of those.

Part 1 covered the building of a tubular-steel structure to hold the body together when the top was separated from the body. You might dismiss this as an unimportant step but believe me, holding it all together like Humpty is paramount when trying to assemble two halves of a broken egg.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Triple Crown of Rodding Best Street Machine
Duralast
Duralast
Triple Crown of Rodding Best Street Machine
Jimmy Shaw’s ’71 Maverick Takes Home the Honors for its Looks but Also for its 200-Plus MPH Performance
By Brian Brennan Photography by John Jackson ILLUSTRATIONS Eric Brockmeyer Design
T

here was a time when I would hear the word “Maverick” and immediately think of James Garner. He was an old west hero who was good with a gun, a deck of cards, and very popular with the ladies. In later years he played the part of an oddball detective with a propensity to find people who didn’t want to be found while somewhat staying out of trouble himself. He moved about in a gold Pontiac Firebird and then came a collection of GMC pickup trucks. Nowadays when I hear “Maverick” I think of a twin-turbo–equipped ’71 Ford Maverick owned by Jimmy Shaw of Mississippi and built by Jesse Greening and his staff at Greening Auto Company (GAC) in Cullman, Alabama. This most recent Maverick memory is one that’s triple-digit blindingly fast and is the 2021 Triple Crown of Rodding Street Machine of the Year winner and has earned many other deserving awards.

If you are wondering just how fast “blindingly fast” is … how about Jimmy’s ’71 Maverick covering the standing mile at 202.74 mph at the East Coast Timing Association event run at Blytheville, Arkansas. There’s a memorable line from the movie Maverick where Jodie Foster speaks: “You thought that was fast? I thought it was fast!” We couldn’t agree more but, in our case, we are referring to Jimmy’s ’71 Maverick running 200-plus mph, which is fast for any race car, especially a street car.

Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com

1. Inexpensive and easily used tools made the installation of the Vintage Air E-Z Clip Universal Refrigerant Hose Kit (PN 547002) a quick project.

E-Z Does It Title Typography
1. We have a slight change to an old expression. “What you see is what you get … and then some!” truly applies with this project–and it’s not all good.
Simple and Clean A/C Hoses You Can Build at Home

By Tommy Lee Byrd Photography by THE AUTHOR

I

f you’ve ever installed an air conditioning system on your car, you’ve likely installed refrigerant hoses. We’ve tackled this project on several cars through the years. Some kits come with lengths of hoses and an assortment of fittings, which allow you to custom fit your hoses. Vintage Air leads the way in terms of aftermarket heat and air conditioning systems and recently came out with a new way for enthusiasts to build their own refrigerant hoses in the comfort of their own garage. The tools are affordable and the installation process is simple, so we jumped at the opportunity to try out the new E-Z Clip Universal Hose kit (PN 547002) on a Chevy project.

The car already has a Vintage Air system installed and the only item remaining on our to-do list was installing the refrigerant hoses. When the hose kit arrived we were surprised by the small size of the hoses. The typical hoses feature a large outer diameter, but these are much smaller and feature a different texture than the standard refrigerant hoses. Keep in mind that the inner diameter of the hose is still the same, but an added benefit of the E-Z Clip system is a smaller outside hose diameter. Also in the kit is an assortment of clips, cages, fittings, and O-rings to get us to the finish line of this project.

We ordered two tools from Vintage Air to complete the job. A hose cutter (PN 420001-VUR) and a special pair of pliers (PN 420000-VUR) are all that we need to assemble the hoses. (The jaws on the crimping pliers have two different angles. Orienting them one way secures the clip and flipping them over and reversing the orientation will unlock the clip.) We started by mocking up the hoses and fittings to determine the proper routing and then made our cuts and performed the final assembly. Overall, we spent about an hour fitting, measuring, and assembling the E-Z Clip Universal Hose kit. It gave our Vintage Air system a custom touch and a sanitary appearance, while also speeding up the installation process. Now, we can fill it with refrigerant and begin enjoying our climate-controlled surroundings.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Jason Graham Builds a ’63-1/2 Ford Galaxie to Suit His Needs
’63-1/2 Ford Galaxie illustration
’63-1/2 Ford Galaxie
By Brian Brennan Photography by Josh Mishler
Game On & Hammer Down
W

hen speaking with any hot rodder you have to like their take on the rodding life when they end the conversation with, “When the current show season is over then it’s game on and hammer down!” Such is how the conversation went with Jason Graham of Jason Graham Hot Rods & Cool Customs (JGHR&CC) out of Portland, Tennessee, when speaking to him about his personal ride, a ’63-1/2 Ford Galaxie two-door Fastback. It rides on a Roadster Shop chassis and is powered by a supercharged Ford Coyote V-8. He, and his wife, Tasha, are no strangers to building rides for their customers. We are pretty sure we couldn’t name all the rods and customs that have come from their shop but it’s a bunch. They drive what they build, as most of you should remember “Babycakes Merc” (Tasha’s personal ride) or maybe Jason’s chopped-and-channeled ’31 Ford Tudor sedan?

While well known for their lowdown hot rods and customs, Jason thought it might be a good idea to build something different, something that would promote what they could do in the “pro touring” direction of our industry. Not just a muscle car or street machine but something that had the looks, build quality, engine performance, and the ride to set it apart and really get people to look. We think he has it down with his ’63-1/2 Ford Galaxie shown before you. (For trivia buffs: The ’63-1/2 Ford was the industry’s first official mid-year introduction.) The selection of the ’63-1/2 Galaxie came about as it is one of his all-time favorite rides. Aside from his shop cranking out many hours on this build Jason would also like to thank a handful of friends as he enlisted their efforts: John Campbell, Micah Thornton, Justin Gannon, Deon Westry, and Chris Ryan.

The Galaxie was nothing more than a discarded shell as Jason began its resurrection based on an idea brought to life through the artwork of Eric Brockmeyer of Eric Brockmeyer Designs. His rendering was used for inspiration. Look at the rendering and then the photos–it’s amazing how faithful to the artwork the final build is. Now it was time to let the sparks fly and the fabrication begin.

Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com

The new Eclipse EFI magneto
1. The new Eclipse EFI magneto looks just like its original counterparts. (Shown before the optional Joe Hunt or Scintilla nameplate is installed.)
By Don Lindfors Photography by THE AUTHOR
Magneto Magic typography
for EFI typography

One of the Iconic Speed Parts Still Has Life Today

M

AGNETO! The word alone strikes excitement and wonder in hot rodders and racers alike. Magneto ignitions are one of the oldest and possibly least-understood ignition systems by today’s hot rodders. The first magnetos were designed in the late 1800s and in 1899 Daimler was the first known car maker to use magnetos in production. In 1903 the Robert Bosch Co. introduced the first high-voltage magnetos that fired the spark plug directly, which became the standard ignition for cars and airplanes until about 1918 when the Kettering Ignition (the common points system) became more widely accepted. The Swiss magneto company Scintilla (founded in the teens) was purchased and brought to America in 1921 and in 1929 was purchased by Bendix. Scintilla mags were used during World War II in the mighty Allison V-12–powered aircraft as part of the American war effort. By the ’50s, rodders and racers were getting magnetos from performance companies like Joe Hunt, Vertex (made by Scintilla), and Cirillo, among others.

Modern Rodding FEATURE
InTheGarageMedia.com
Dreams Do Come True

By Brian Brennan Photography by John Jackson

A

ll of us visualize about our “dream” hot rod. However, most of us don’t realize our dream until much later in life. For Natalie Bolea, of Pennsylvania, having a dad, Rick, who is an active builder and having been “rolled” around herself at car shows from the time she was in a stroller accelerated her desires. Now 20, her dream has come true in the likes of this ’30 Ford highboy coupe that you see before you. The build represents the ideas she gathered over the course of four years, with the build time taking the last three.

Natalie Bolea’s Four-Year Dream is Now Rolling Down the Road

Natalie Bolea
Natalie Bolea knew from the git-go that she wanted a Model A hot rod. Craftworks Fabrication was able to make her dream come true.
Natalie Bolea’s Four-Year Dream
Modern Rodding Tech

InTheGarageMedia.com

Making Cycle Fenders typography
Making Cycle Fenders typography
A Little Creativity With Recycled Parts and You Have Cool Fenders
By Ron Covell Photography by BRIAN BRENNAN
O

ne great way to make cycle fenders for an open-wheel car is to start with a spare tire cover. For many hot rods with big ’n’ littles, this works to perfection for the smaller front wheels–but there are often fitment issues with the larger rear tires.

Dean Livermore, of Hot Rods by Dean, has a long history of finding great solutions for problems like this. He called on his chief fabricator, Ron McCorkle, to do the fabrication on this job.

Two ’36 Ford spare tire covers were used, and each was cut in half to make two fenders. For the front fenders, the original contour and width was just about perfect for the front tires of the pickup, but some major modifications were needed at the rear to fit the substantial Coker Classic Radial 700R16 tires (PN 62244).

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Thanks for reading our March 2022 issue!