Modern Rodding

Back from SEMA, I have had time to reflect on the event and its significance in our automotive hobby. SEMA showcases numerous products that support current projects and pave the way for future endeavors. It makes me think about the companies that have shaped this industry from its inception to the present day. Between 1953 and 1975, the hot rod world exploded, particularly in the late ’60s and early ’70s, as new manufacturers catered to the everyday enthusiast, providing the building blocks for both pride and performance on the open road. This era brought numerous innovations that transformed ordinary vehicles into high-powered machines. In my early years, I marveled at the factory muscle cars and began to explore the early hot rods my friends’ older brothers were obsessed with. The…

SEMA Battle of the Builders … 1936 Ford Roadster Takes Home Honors Winning the Battle of the Builders presented by Mothers Polish at SEMA is a huge achievement, and one of our industry’s own did just that for 2025. The 1936 Ford roadster, owned by Ross and Beth Myers, was built at Rad Rides by Troy under Troy Trepanier’s guidance and managed through the entire process by Adam Banks. It was selected from among 40 truly amazing builds as the best of the best. This isn’t Trepanier’s first time competing in the Battle of the Builders; he previously won the title in 2017. This year, the 1936 Ford roadster competed in the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category, one of many that drew a field of 40 possible winners. In the…

After walking the aisles of the 2025 SEMA Show, we spotted many cool items perfect for hot rod builds. With this in mind, we decided to showcase some of our favorite choices. We checked with the manufacturers about the availability of all these products in stock or during the first half of 2026. We received a positive response, so you should be able to fulfill your wish list as soon as you wish. 1. WILWOOD ENGINEERING Street Rod & Custom Car Product Runner-Up: 2-inch Drop, Aluminum, Bolt-in Hub ProSpindle Kit (PN 830-17728) Wilwood’s new precision-engineered ProSpindle Hub Kit includes multiple enhancements. It offers a durable and safe way to improve handling and brake performance while matching Wilwood’s custom-fit brake kits for rotors from 12.19 to 15.00 inches. Additionally, it is…

As Cody Walls wheeled his radical 1932 Ford three-window into the host hotel’s lot at the Gathering at the Roc, he pulled alongside the recently restored “Little Deuce Coupe” and shut down the raspy straight-six. Though built nearly 70 years apart and drastically different in their modifications, the two looked right at home side-by-side—like fraternal twins from hot rodding’s brief but electrifying show rod era. That wasn’t by coincidence. “I was going for that period from about 1958-62,” Walls says. “I love the Little Deuce Coupe—especially its early version. That was a big influence, along with a 1932 Ford built in Kansas in the ’50s called ‘Tuffy.’” With those candy-coated show rods in mind, and an obsession with inline-sixes and the channeled, un-chopped style his native East Coast is known…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SobQAIO3YmY Most enthusiasts agree that it was surprising to see Ford unveil a new pushrod V-8, given the Detroit automaker’s over 25 years of focus on overhead-cam V-8 technology. We’re talking about Ford’s 7.3L Godzilla, which is offered in Super Duty trucks and has recently been finding its way into hot rods and race cars. What makes it so surprising is that over the past three decades Ford has developed the modular family of engines that include two-, three-, and four-valve options. These engines deliver excellent power, efficiency, and dependability. Currently, the 5.0L Coyote and its variations (such as those in Shelby G.T. 350, G.T. 500, and Raptor R) are industry leaders. The last pushrod V-8 was the 5.0L small-block, originally popular in the Fox-body Mustang. A version of that…

Some people are born into the car hobby, others discover it along the way. For Candice Wheeler, the passion has always been there, especially when it comes to big-body American muscle. “I’ve always loved the size and style of the late-’50s and early-’60s cars,” Candice says. “They just have this personality that stands out from everything else.” Candice’s journey into classic car ownership started with a 1959 Edsel, a vehicle she often took out on weekend cruises and to local shows. It was her first real experience of that era’s craftsmanship and charm. Eventually, she sold the Edsel to help fund a full custom build on a C10 pickup. The truck became her showpiece for several years, but as projects often do, it was also sold at auction to make…