Hot Rod September 2021

@john.mcgann This is a tough one to write. Remember in last month’s column when I described damage sustained to the Number 8 cylinder in the small-block I had just dropped into my ’67 C10? I had just changed the accelerator pump nozzle, then all hell broke loose after I started the engine and revved it a few times to see if the nozzle change worked. There was a brief clanging sound that stopped as suddenly as it started, but the engine developed a miss as a result. Peeking in that cylinder with an inspection camera revealed gouges on the piston and in the cylinder head, so obviously something fell into the engine. What could it be? I didn’t drop anything into the carburetor when changing the pump nozzle, right? Wrong! As you…

20 Years Ago September 2001, 140 pages, $4.99 For those who follow the careers of certain people in the magazine business, this issue is noteworthy because it marks the beginning of David Freiburger’s tenure as editor-in-chief of HOT ROD. David took the reins from former EIC, Ro McGonegal, who moved to Detroit to more closely cover the OE’s and Tech Editor Terry McGean took the editor’s position at Rod & Custom and Custom Classic Trucks magazines. In the editor’s column, David listed his core beliefs. Among them, “Fast is better than pretty, all cars look best in orange, truth is better than fiction, cars should be built to be driven.” That’s an ethos he’s maintained throughout his career, overseeing the aftermarket titles and founding Roadkill, the (now defunct) magazine and video series.…

As Drew Hardin recalled, “Back in 1964, the term Funny Car wasn’t capitalized and was usually surrounded by quotation marks, because the cars those words described had altered wheelbases that made them look ‘funny.’ Steve Bovan from Blair’s Speed Shop in Pasadena, California, built one of the most memorable—and successful—early funny cars, with plans to match race it around the country.” Bovan and fellow Blair’s employee Mike Hoag built the car using a 1965 Chevy II and one of, if not the, first 396 big-block Chevy engines on the West Coast. Both the car and engine were supplied by Indy racer Sam Hanks, a friend of Steve and Don Blair. Car Craft’s Bud Lang documented the Deuce’s buildup in a story called “The Circuit Rider” (Jan. ’66). “The first thing Steve did…

“The art of building a car knows no color,” said actor/comedian Kevin Hart in an exclusive interview with HOT ROD in anticipation of the new show, Kevin Hart’s Muscle Car Crew. His words are true and that’s a fact I’ve witnessed over my nearly two decades in the industry. Cars bring people of all walks of life together. The shared passion among enthusiasts breaks down perceived differences in age, demographics, and social status. No matter what you look like or where you came from, you can always recognize a cool car and share a conversation with a stranger over it. As a colleague and friend for many years loves to say, “If the world were run by car guys (and gals), it would be a much better place.” Kevin Hart is…

WRITER/PRODUCER 1970 Chevelle SS 502/4L80E • Ron Davis Radiator • Wilwood Brakes • Schott Wheels • Carpet and upholstery by Gabe’s Custom Interiors Upgrades: It didn’t need much since it was the most modified car from the beginning. For the show, it was dyno tuned at New Era Performance with two settings: a valet tune and the OMG tune. Trivia: Harry is a US Navy veteran. His car was at a couple different shops before taking it to Bent Custom & Performance in Chatsworth, California, where it was completely rebuilt. Harry used this experience to help develop the concept for the show.…

The show chronicles the journey of the Plastic Cup Boyz as they immersed themselves into classic car culture. As Harry explained to us, “When we first went to Cars and Coffee, we experienced all the different cars and cultures that were there—Lowriders, sports cars, pre-war—and each group had people who were experts in their range of cars. People would come up to Kev and ask questions like, ‘what transmission are you running? Is that a 4L80?’ He had no idea what they were saying. He couldn’t speak the jargon or the lingo. We thought it would be funny to have a show about guys who aren’t afraid to admit that we don’t know much about cars. We don’t know, but we’re willing to learn. We have this passion; we love…