1940 Ford Pickup Hot Rod – Duke Holdsworth

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Customs -N- Classics

So, what do you get when you put various parts, from various manufacturers, from various years together?

Most would say a Rat Rod, but, what if it looks like it was meant to go together and it looks like it could have rolled off the showroom floor? Maybe you would get this Hot Rod. Check out the article on this truck, make sure to scroll down and look at the pictures and leave a like and a comment to let the owner know that you like his work!

Disclaimer: Customs N Classics does not charge for any articles. These are free and are derived from emails, chat messages and other forms of communication. The details are from the owner/trustee and are not physically verified. Should there be any issues with this story, please let us know, privately and we will do our best to correct any mistakes.

If you enjoy Customs N Classics articles, please consider a donation to help us with the costs associated in running this site.

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Al Liebmann – 1932 Ford 5w Coupe

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Customs -N- Classics

This featured article will probably be known to quite a few people, especially if you have been around the drag racing scene for any length of time. Below is just a quick summary Continue reading →

Coming back

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Customs -N- Classics

So, we have been out of it for about 11 months, with a small amount of posts and articles.

We are back, this time, I think for good. We have some things in the works to ensure that we can keep on going without another stop and look forward to bringing you more stories.

I first want to apologize to anyone who gave me information to publish and never saw it published. I am very sorry. I have looked back and I just cannot seem to compile a story for anyone, all of my data seems to be gone, or partial.

I was extremely busy with a new job that just didn’t allow me any spare time to write these stories. I got further and further behind, until I just lost site of what I was doing and became completely overwhelmed.

No longer am I in that job, or overwhelmed. I have begun to gear up production of the stories and some new things to ensure that they keep coming.

Let’s start this new year off right, let’s start telling the stories again and get some new material.

So, I am looking for any and all car owners. Tell me your story, let me write it down so others can enjoy your project/car/truck/bike and give encouragement to those who may be stuck, or thinking that they just can’t do it.

Denton Friday Night Cruise – July 2018

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Customs -N- Classics

Well, after several months, (Almost 5) away because of life and work, we finally got some time to get to a car event. The Friday Night Cruise at Denton, MD.

#Dentonfridaynightcruise #Carshow #customsnclassics #hotrods #ratrods

Continue Below for the full story, pictures and a link to the video of the 1959 Anglia.
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1946 Studebaker Pick up Street Rod- Randy Wilkin

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Customs -N- Classics

How often do you think a $99 find can be used and turned into a great build?

Check out the article and see just how this one was done and the great finds that went into it for virtually nothing.

Make sure you go to the bottom to see all of the pictures of this great car!

Disclaimer: Customs N Classics does not charge for any articles. These are free and are derived from emails, chat messages and other forms of communication. The details are from the owner/trustee and are not physically verified. Should there be any issues with this story, please let us know, privately and we will do our best to correct any mistakes.

If you enjoy Customs N Classics articles, please consider a donation to help us with the costs associated in running this site.

What type of vehicle?

1946 Studebaker Pick Up Street Rod

1946 Studebaker Pick Up on a 1970 Shortened GMC Frame

When was it purchased?

Truck was bought about 2005 . It was in NE Kansas , I live in sw Ohio.

A friend and I went after it in December, leaving on a Friday evening. I had my wife’s 2002 grand Cherokee with 4.0 motor and no tow package . But had Jeep dealer put a hitch on it when bought. Jeep had 25,000 miles on it ( still have it with 185,000 miles on it, only regular Mtc. so far.)

Saw A M series at a car show and fell in love with it . Only saw it the one time . Anything in Ohio I found was rusted down . Back to going after it , Had a borrowed trailer ( which I bought later ) . We pulled up by the M16 flatbed at 11 am on Saturday . Wood on bed was rotten . Found out a dump was right behind feed store where I got truck .We unbolted the bed, chained it to a tree and pulled truck out from under bed, 3PM by then, headed back . That 4.0 pulled that trailer and truck like a pro. Just sit down since no tow package.

We got home Sunday evening , So went 2000 miles in less than 2 days.

Scraped area is underneath cab , had cracked undercoating , I scraped it all off , pour 15 on it , than recoated with new undercoating.

It took 7 years to get it on road, I was working full time, building when I had time and the money.

Never touched for a year when wife had back surgery.

Been on road about 5 years. I parked it last year when I had 2 back surgeries, Not back out yet.

How much was it purchased for?

I bought it off of EBay for $99 with 320 watchers.

It was missing all grilles, trim and glove compartment door and caved in top and hood.

I gave $65 for the frame and sold the 10 bolt rear for $65.

I Bought a 3:73 12 limited slip out of Cincinnati Enquirer For $125

I also got a front suspension out of a 1983 Chevy for $125

The bed was built out of $140 of new metal

Give me some backstory, are you a mechanic, do you like to fabricate, are you really good at body work, etc. Some info about you.

I went to an auto mechanic school fresh out of high school.

Worked as MGR of a auto parts store for 19 years.

Went to ABX AIR in Wilmington , Ohio when I was 43 , Got my airframe and powerplant license and got into Aircraft sheet metal repair.

Left their when 60 ( job went south after DHL pulled out on us .) Got on at Kenworth Truck in Chillicothe , Ohio , retired from there.

This is my 3rd street Rod , (always had my toys) , 440 6 pk Cuda , AAR Cuda , 33 Willys coupe , 36 Ford 2 Dr. sedan

What have you done to it so far?

Truck is on a GMC 1970 frame I shortened 17 inches. It has the exact same width as

Studebaker frame, but a wider track .

Since it isn’t stock , I decided to run 2 inch wider fenders all around.

I installed a Chevy pickup firewall to better fit the engine.

Gave $65 for frame, then sold the 10 bolt rear for $65.

Bought a 3:73 12 bolt limited slip out of Cincinnati Enquirer For $125 and also got a

front suspension out of a 1983 Chevy for $125. That gave me power disc

brakes and power steering.

( 10 of 12 bolts lined up putting it under the 1970 frame )

The engine is a 355 SBC, 4 bolt main with Camaro block hugger headers , and 2 1/2 exhaust thru magnaflow mufflers.

It has Douglas Dc8 thrust reverser pistons in it.

Has a Edelbrock 600 CFM carb and HEI ignition.

The transmission is a 700r4 with a corvette lock up converter. It locks when going into overdrive and unlocks if it comes out of overdrive.

The bed was built out of $140 of new metal .

Rear Bumper is a Dc8 torque tube , tailpipe tips are 3/8 solid aluminum pulled out of trash at work.

The toolbox holds battery, fire extinguisher, tools and cleaning supplies.

Put wood on bed floor, but did not drill holes through the floor.

I put cross pieces of aluminum floor sitting on rubber and drilled the aluminum and threaded it .

Has a EZ wiring kit, not a home kit , but a company kit that came with fuses and marked wiring . No one was here to help at home except my wife , she got called out more than once.

EZ wiring was great , marked every 6 inches where it went, came separated for rear , front and interior . Longer wires than I needed . I took all my wiring up thru the kick panels through clear plastic tubes in order to clean up firewall.

Has a trailer hitch I had for 25 years , bolted right in .

I was told that it is hard to see brake lights with all the red.

I have 2 led lights on toolbox , Machine shop At ABX made me bezels for tube in rear , 2 Led brake lights there and 2 led regular tail lights and license light goes from white to red when you brake.

Center grille strip is factory thin stainless , mine is 3/8 aluminum made by ABX machine shop .

Friend at ABX made the eyes for the truck.

Truck runs at 1600 rpms at 55 , Gets about 20 MPG , makes noise when I want , quiet when I want .

It has Dakota Digital Gauges , Vintage Air , Heat and Defrost , AM/FM /CD , a tilt wheel out of a S10 that has been shortened 3 inches. I built an add on to my dash and installed the Dakota Gauges myself.

It still sports the wing windows , fresh air scoop and short running boards from the M16 I started with.

Any help you have gotten?

Fred Kidder Jr. did body work and paint .

Rick Futrell in Tip City did interior

Andy’s glass in West Union did Glass

At ABX I got a 1 day pass to blast frame and Cab and parts. It went in with old paint and came home primed.

Check out the pictures.

Customs N Classics store – Amazon Store showcasing some tools, some models, some “vintage” metal signs and some automotive books

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2017 – A Year in Review

Posted on December 29, 2017 by Customs -N- Classics

Well, another year has gone by and we have had some milestones happen. This has been a good year for us, so, in an effort to recap what has been happening, let’s look back at last years review. (Make sure to scroll down and check out all of the articles. Also, write a comment on your favorite article, or articles.)

You can click here to see last years review.

Disclaimer: Customs N Classics does not charge for any articles. These are free and are derived from emails, chat messages and other forms of communication. The details are from the owner/trustee and are not physically verified. Should there be any issues with this story, please let us know, privately and we will do our best to correct any mistakes.

If you enjoy Customs N Classics articles, please consider a donation to help us with the costs associated in running this site.

As for this year, well, let’s just say it started a little slow. January through April, we had a total of 1,019 views to our site. Four months and we barely had any viewership, which made me wonder if this was at all worth it.

Continue reading →

1940 Chevy Business Coupe Model Master 85 – Bob Malin

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Customs -N- Classics

Not every car is Hot Rod material, but, some cars just scream to become one. The level of work it takes to make something into a Hot Rod can be extensive, to say the least, but, when finished, the joy is insurmountable!

This is the story of a guy, a Business Coupe and a desire to make a Hot Rod. Read on and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Customs N Classics does not charge for any articles. These are free and are derived from emails, chat messages and other forms of communication. The details are from the owner/trustee and are not physically verified. Should there be any issues with this story, please let us know, privately and we will do our best to correct any mistakes.

If you enjoy Customs N Classics articles, please consider a donation to help us with the costs associated in running this site.

Bob, what type of vehicle is this?

Car is a 1940 Chevy Business Coupe Model Master 85

Who is the first owner of the project?

Not sure of the original owner, but I purchased the car from a person in Brookfield, WI.

When did you purchase it and, if you are ok discussing it, for how much?

I purchased the car in 1996 for $5,000.00, to make a hot rod out of it myself

Why did you choose this vehicle?

I chose this vehicle because when I was 15, I knew a neighbor who had a 1940 Ford Coupe, black, 327, 4 speed with a Indian blanket interior. It was low, black and wicked. I wanted to build a similar car one day.

Give me some backstory, are you a mechanic, do you like to fabricate, are you really good at body work, etc. Some info about you.

I am an Industrial Designer and have been for 45 years. I graduated the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT.

An Industrial designer is able to come up with concepts, engineer it, and make prototypes of: Consumer Products, Automobile Designs, Interior Design, Package Design, Exhibit Designs, Graphic Designs Literally anything that can be thought of and engineered, an Industrial Designer can do.

I’ve worked on cars since I was a teen. I have good mechanical and fabrication skills

Give us some information about the vehicle prior to starting it.

When I purchased the car, it had been restored 15 years earlier to stock and put into storage. It was driven a few times a year. It was in ok driving condition when I bought it.

What have you done to it so far?

Initially, I put duel Stromberg’s and split manifold with new radial on it. I drove a few years then started in on my transformation.

First I purchased a 292 truck motor, rebuilt it with all new 270 Wolverine Cam, 3×2 Offy Intake, New split manifold, T-5 Trans, a rebuilt 10 bolt. New IFS with 11” power discs, new drums in the back with Chassis engineering springs and shocks. All new fuel and brake lines, custom dash with classic gauges, Vintage Air/Heat/Defrost, new interior and trunk lining.

A few years later, I had a few knowledgeable guys and me, chop the top. It’s a custom chop where none of the center of the roof was cut to keep the roundness. 3.5” in the front and 4” from the back. The roof was moved forward and the rear window leaned forward to meet. This was not an easy chop and it took a while to get it right.

Where is it now, in the rebuild stage?

The car is completed now and has been since 2005.

Any special parts you have used?

There are a lot of custom touches that you see but don’t really know what I did. The wing vents can be slid out to have a full opening window. The wheels are one-off chrome smoothies with custom offsets. I did the flames. Special one off metallic pearl paint. Custom made dash, grill cover, etc.

I purchased the essential engine parts from Tom Langdon @ Stovebolt Engineco in Livona MI. He’s the best and used to work at GM 6 cylinder division.

I purchased misc parts from a lot of vendors. Chevs of the 40’s, Mid America Corvettes, Yogi’s parts and Speedway.

Any help you have gotten?

I did have a lot of help with the heavy stuff. I really do appreciate all the extra folks that helped me transform this stock Chevy into my dream ride. With careful planning and designing, everyone should build their dream car.

I had help with the Bonneville Chop on my car. 2 guys, Larry and Donnie from south Milwaukee, who chop Mercs, helped me with the cuts. I was there for welding, grinding and block sanding. They worked out of their garage.

I also use Doug Bennet in Milwaukee (Bennet Coachworks) for the help in installation of the drive train and wiring.

From Bob

My wife and I have taken many trips in the Coupe. From Ohio to Florida and to Long Island, NY. Car always ran great, got good mileage and lots of “Thumb’s up”. We have gone on weekend trips to Bed-n-breakfast places and always got “preferred” parking to keep an eye on it. I have driven it to all 100+ car events in the past. Kalamazoo, Back to the 50’s, Indy, Columbus, Louisville, Corn roast in Wi. As we were driving through the Amish Country, we stopped for lunch at a diner. We were the only vehicle in the parking lot among a half a dozen Horse Drawn carriages. They all commented on the car when we sat down for lunch and then came out to look at it when we left.

I have enjoyed my car for quite some time. It is for sale as I want to tackle a new project. The Boss (wife) says it needs to go to fund my new project. Someone out there will get a truly Kool ride!

If you are interested in buying this car, please contact Bob, via email, at rimalin21@gmail.com

Enjoy the photos below.