Modern Rodding Volume 3, Issue 18 - March 2022

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/EDITOR BRIAN BRENNAN bbrennan@inthegaragemedia.com SENIOR EDITORS ROB FORTIER rfortier@inthegaragemedia.com NICK LICATA nlicata@inthegaragemedia.com PUBLISHER TIM FOSS tfoss@inthegaragemedia.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & OPERATIONS MANAGER YASMIN FAJATIN yfajatin@inthegaragemedia.com MANAGING EDITOR & AD COORDINATOR SARAH GONZALES sgonzales@inthegaragemedia.com ART DIRECTOR ROB MUNOZ rmunoz@inthegaragemedia.com EDITORIAL TEAM Wes Allison, Rodney Bauman, Gerry Burger, Tommy Lee Byrd, Ron Ceridono, Michael Christensen, Ron Covell, Grant Cox, Dominic Damato, John Drummond, Eric Geisert, John Gilbert, Joe Greeves, Ken Gross, John Jackson, Chadly Johnson, Barry Kluczyk, Scotty Lachenauer, Ryan Manson, Josh Mishler, Dale Moreau, Todd Ryden, Jason Scudellari, Chris Shelton, Tim Sutton, Chuck Vranas, John Winter — Writers and Photographers ADVERTISING Mark Dewey National Sales Manager Patrick Walsh Sales Representative Travis Weeks Sales Representative ads@inthegaragemedia.com…

As 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,…

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…

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…

If 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…

One 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…