n this article, we’ll look further at the great work being done by Troy Gudgel and his company BBT Fabrications for their customer Eugene Bothello. The intention is to keep the character of an original 1959 Chevrolet but add a host of contemporary touches and ensure the fit and finish are brought to the finest level possible.

They started with a decent-looking car, but after stripping everything down to the bare metal, they decided to replace all the lower portions of the quarter-panels due to some previous substandard work. Sections of the decklid and tailfins had to be replaced, too. The original leading on the rear seams was removed, and the joints were re-leaded to achieve perfect contours.

Fuel Level Sensing for the 21st Century

Fuel Level Sensing for the 21st Century

ew technology comes and goes in the hot-rodding world, but our attention gets piqued when something shows up and wins the “Best Engineered New Product” at the 2023 SEMA Show. That’s just what happened when Holley released its Easy Level Sender. Featuring LiDAR technology—that’s “laser imaging, detection, and ranging” for us plebes—Holley’s groundbreaking fuel sender replaces that antiquated float-style sending unit with one that uses a laser. Yes, that type of laser. Buck Rogers, be damned, the technology from the future is here, and it’s measuring the amount of fuel left in your 1929 Ford highboy, of all things!

But aside from replacing that old float-style sending unit, Holley’s Easy Level Sender is fully programmable for any tank with a depth ranging from 4 to 39 inches and is compatible with nearly any gauge or fluid. Figuring out the ohm range of the sender and gauge and whether they jive is a thing of the past with Holley’s new sender. Fuel slosh and gauge bounce, something the older float-style sending units can suffer from in more aggressively driven hot rods, is also much more manageable with the new LiDAR sender. Its compact size also results in a useful solution where a float-style sending unit might foul on a tank’s inner baffle or wall.

egular readers of Modern Rodding will recognize the name Colin Radford. We’ve been following along as he puts together a 1957 Ford Del Rio station wagon. While that Coyote-powered, Art Morrison–suspended two-door wagon is a perfect example of a contemporary build, Radford is also adept at turning out more traditional rides.

Radford is one of those hot rodders with the ability and creativity to turn a pile of cast-off parts into a unique hot rod. We offer his Flathead-powered 1926 T roadster as an example to prove that point. From the firewall back, the frame for the roadster was made from a pair of severed 1932 ’rails donated by the late Tex Smith, while the forward portion was made from 20-plus Buick pieces found at a scrapyard. Fellow Bonneville racer Wayne Atkinson donated the Whippet grille shell flanked by 1935 Cadillac headlights from another friend with Guide turn signals grafted on.

Power for the roadster comes from an 8BA Ford Flathead from a dump truck. It is equipped with early Navarro heads and a Navarro two-deuce intake. The heads and intake manifold were in the trunk of the 1936 Ford five-window Radford bought as a 13-year-old (we won’t tell how long ago that was, but Lyndon Johnson was president), and he still has the coupe today. The running gear consists of a 1939 Ford transmission hooked to a Columbia two-speed rear axle via a homemade open driveline conversion. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that Radford was responsible for the body- and paintwork, and his talented wife Sue got involved by stitching the upholstery.

ean Livermore, head hot rodder at Hot Rods by Dean in Phoenix, has some basic expectations for cars he builds for himself. They have to have lots of horsepower and they have to be driver friendly. So, while one of his latest projects will have an 800hp, 632ci big-block Chevrolet based on a Merlin block with Brodix heads that will set him back in the seat, it will also have a Vintage Air Front Runner drive system to mount an alternator, A/C compressor, and power steering pump so he’ll be comfortable while it’s happening.

Vintage Air’s Front Runner drive system uses a strong, streamlined main mounting bracket that attaches to the engine with studs that mount the water pump. The Front Runner kit includes a Stewart water pump, which is used for several reasons. The system design requires a reverse-rotation pump since the belt rides on the back side of the water pump pulley. In addition, the mounting surfaces are dimensionally accurate, so the Vintage Air main bracket and the assortment of pulleys are perfectly aligned, which can’t be guaranteed with OEM water pumps.

n the last installment, we saw how Hot Rods By Dean (HRBD) installed new floors and wider wheelwells inside this 1969 Camaro. This time, we’ll follow Paul Gilbert of HRBD as he installs the reproduction quarter-panels made by Auto Metal Direct (AMD).

After removing the original quarters, each attachment point for the new panels must be meticulously cleaned and reshaped to provide a perfect fit. The cleanliness and tightness of each joint determines the quality of the welds. A band of clean metal at least 1/2-inch wide for TIG welding is required next to all joints.

The original sail panel fit into a recess in the roof. This joint was carefully disassembled to preserve the step. This allows the new sail panel to fit flush on the outside, ensuring the panels fit properly when the welds are made.

he NSRA Street Rod Nationals, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Kentucky Expo Center, is a premier event that brings together car enthusiasts nationwide to celebrate and showcase some of the finest vintage and custom cars on the road. The 2024 edition fulfilled its promise to be memorable, with 8,000-plus hot rods of all years and descriptions in attendance. An array of activities, exhibits, and special features captivated attendees and participants alike.

One of the highlights of the NSRA Street Rod Nationals is the opportunity for car owners to showcase their vehicles and compete in various categories for prestigious awards. From classic hot rods and custom builds to meticulously one-off hot rod builds, the show features various cars that cater to various tastes and preferences. The event is a mecca for gearheads, car aficionados, and collectors who appreciate the craftsmanship, creativity, and passion for building and maintaining these stunning automobiles.

here is a major airport right down the street from my house, but more importantly it is also home to the earliest days of drag racing and a place where hot rodders would hang out. The John Wayne Airport (formerly known as the Orange County Airport) was originally the Santa Ana Airport, with its history based in the Army Air Corps before the start of World War II.

The original Santa Ana Airport, established in 1928, holds a significant place in aviation history as one of the first municipal airports in the country. It served early aviators and was a central hub for mail service.

During World War II, the Santa Ana Airport became a vital military training base, contributing significantly to aviation development as various aircraft were tested there. Postwar, civilian aviation surged, but by the late 1940s and early 1950s the airport could not support increasing air traffic, leading to its closure in 1953 and subsequent redevelopment into South Coast Plaza.