Modern Rodding Volume 2, Issue 15 December 2021

By now I’m sure every hot rodder is aware of harnessing the sun’s natural power through the use of solar panels. Solar panels on homes are no longer the sole idea of the Jetsons. Nowadays we see homes, businesses, and schools all over the country showing off their own solar panels capturing this “free” energy from the sun. While nothing is free, the end result is a better way to harness energy. One only has to take a drive into the country or, here in the western United States, the open desert and see immense solar panel farms that yield electrical energy from the sun as its crop. While this energy is meant to be used to run industries as well as our homes, a growing portion is being siphoned off…

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association along with Chevrolet Performance have announced the winners of their first-ever Chevrolet Performance Builder of the Year awards. The two builders who have taken home this first-ever award should prove to be names all hot rodders are familiar with, Bobby Alloway of Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop and Roger Burman of Lakeside Rods & Rides. Both of these builders and their respective shops have proven over time that they can continually build beautifully designed and well-made hot rods. In this first-ever award the intent was to recognize GM-powered vehicles and their builders, with the GM Iron award going to a GM-powered GM vehicle and the GM Retro Iron honor going to a non-GM vehicle with GM power. Finalists for the awards were selected at 14 Goodguys events…

1. FRESH FACE Dakota Digital has released a new RTX application fitting the ’58 Chevy Impala. This six-gauge system includes a new, machined rear gauge housing attaching directly to the back side of the stock front dash bezel. Styled after the original equipment found in the ’58, all backlight options are user-selectable within the RTX Series. There are two options, the ’58 Impala RTX System (PN RTX-58C-IMP-X) and the ’58 Impala RTX System-Metric/Custom variations (PN RTX-58C-IMP). For more info, check out Dakota Digital by calling (800) 852-3228 or visit dakotadigital.com/rtx. 2. DURALAST SUSPENSION & STEERING Thinking about how to best update the ride quality of your classic car or truck? You should start by taking a look at the bushings, ball joints, and steering linkage. Chances are these parts are worn out, resulting in unwanted…

The racing and “hot rod world” has had many changes since Henry Ford won his first race with a car he built. Customs of the day and what was the “in” thing at the time have come and gone. Now, as we look back at the highlights of the progression of these likes and dislikes, we tend to put them into categories—like the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, and so on. When we look at old photos and see what defines each era, we see many shifts of what the people of each era thought was the best. Debbie and Robbie Davis’ ’33 Ford may be the epitome of the ’60s era. From its wild purple paint, pinstriping by Mitch Kim, to its channeled body-over-the-frame stance, it screams hot rod. This is a…

It’s a fact of life that hot rodders are enamored with high-performance vehicles. We have to admit to enjoying a car that pins us in the seat under acceleration (especially when it makes Brennan scream) and will produce retina-separating cornering forces (especially when it makes Brennan scream even louder). But an even more-important performance aspect of any car should be its ability to come to a stop as quickly and as safely as the situation demands, which will keep everyone in the car from screaming. A book could be written on this subject, and many have been, however we are going to show you a number of brake topics you should spend more time watching carefully in this first of several parts on “Avoiding Brake Blunders.” Over the years we’ve seen…

After the Tri-Five Chevy’s run, GM led the era into the use of fins. There is a longtime rumor that the now ’58 style was marked for 1957, but it was not ready for production in time. So, in their infinite wisdom, they dolled up the ’56 and sent that to market instead. Looks like accidental success. Sounds like smoke and mirrors, but who are we to complain? Out of the box, the ’58 was a customizer’s dream. It was huge in comparison to the ’57 with a new powerplant to make up for it. Ray and Carol Hamness’ ’58 Chevy Impala convertible is a rare one indeed. Ray had wanted a ’58 since it was new on the showroom floor. As a kid he would ride his bike to the…