TRUCKS Archives - BangShift.com

Draggin’ Ass: Can This Squarebody Tow Truck Live Once More?

Bryan McTaggart — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:18:55 +0000

At the corner of Hancock Avenue and Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs, there used to be a Conoco gas station of the old-school variety: four pumps and a service center that would do oil changes, tire rotations and the most basic of servicing. The last time I saw it operating was when I had my Monte Carlo SS smog-tested in one of the bays in 2000. They had the same wrecker for decades: an early-1980s Chevy C30 that looked like…well, it looked like Junkyard Digs’ newest project, if you painted it black and gold in the vein of a 1977 Trans Am. When I was in kindergarten, the truck looked gorgeous and menacing. When I was in high school, it looked absolutely clapped out but in a strangely good way…kind of an apocalypse vibe, if that makes sense. Virtually every pickup truck-based wrecker I ever saw looked like it spent Friday and Saturday nights moonlighting at the nearest dirt oval, dragging off wrecked Monte Carlos and Cutlasses or shoving some destroyed derby car over into the corner.

You know and I know how popular GM trucks have gotten lately. Finding an intact wrecker for under $3K that runs and drives? Rust or not, that’s still not a bad find. The question here is how good (or bad) will this be on Kevin’s wallet. It doesn’t look like a Ford F-series, and to my knowledge he has no tow-truck experience. But now ain’t a bad time to learn!

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Truck Feature: Eric Pierce’s ’78 Chevy Suburban – Texas Turbine on Four Wheels.

Chad Reynolds — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:39:25 +0000

(Words by Tim King, Photos by Jordan Cole)

Building for Fun

Eric Pierce, owner of Pro Touring Texas wanted to build a car that could haul ass, and haul all his buddies as well. What he decided on was a 1978 Chevy Suburban but with a twist. The reason? Pure fun. With a love for C10s and a desire to inject power into a sizable vehicle, Eric’s project is a bold statement. The ’78 Suburban, often overshadowed, was destined for greatness under his watchful eye.

The Quest Begins

Originally discovered behind a house in Bullard, TX, the Suburban had an interesting journey. The original owner sold it to someone in New Orleans, and eventually, Eric became its proud owner. The small world twist? Bullard, TX, was just a stone’s throw away from Eric’s family farm in East TX. The Suburban, found under a carport, became the canvas for Eric’s automotive dreams.

Marrying Power and Size

The drivetrain was the star of this show. A 738-horsepower LSX engine, meticulously machined by Farris Automotive, was built by Eric. With 9.6:1 compression, a Brian Tooley Racing cam, and LS9 heads, this engine rips. A set of Hooker turbo manifolds was used to supply exhaust to the Borg Warner S480 turbocharger. Exhaust is spent through a pair of Black Widow 250 mufflers. The choice of a 4L80e transmission built by Jakes Performance with a 3200 stall and a rebuilt 3.73 ratio 12-bolt rear end with Moser Axles ensured that power was delivered to the wheels.

Chassis and Suspension

The Suburban’s chassis received the Pro Touring Texas touch. With a stock frame, an axle flip kit from Belltech brought the rear down, while a set of CPP modular spindles dropped the front altitude. All ProForged components were used to ensure steering was as crisp as a freshly cracked beer. Viking Performance shocks were utilized at all four corners to dial in the ride.

Exterior Transformation

Nature in Springtown, TX, worked its magic on the exterior. Hiding the intercooler while maintaining the stock grille proved challenging but resulted in a seamless and eye-catching front end. The Suburban’s original paint was polished and ceramic-coated by Justin Boyd at Detailing Garage in Keller, TX, adding a modern touch to the vintage charm. A set of Coy’s wheels gave a stock aesthetic to the ‘Burb.

Memorable Moments

For Eric, the most memorable experiences were cruising down the highway at 105 MPH, overtaking stock C10s, and enjoying the blast of the AC. Lone Star Throwdown trips, with a carload of friends, became cherished memories.

The Open Road Beckons

Eric’s build isn’t just a car; it’s a testament to his love of big power and big Chevy trucks.. From Bullard to Springtown, the ’78 Suburban has traveled a road of transformation, embodying the spirit of Texas in its power, style, and the open roads it now calls home. With the roar of its turbocharged engine, Eric’s Suburban stands as a reminder that dreams, no matter how big, find their place on four wheels.

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Desktop Build: A Detailed Build Of A ’77 Dodge Warlock Model Kit

Bryan McTaggart — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:28:08 +0000

How long has it been since you put a model kit together? We’re talking paint, cement, the whole nine yards. My last one I built in 2017, the MPC “Fuzz Duster” 1980 Plymouth Volaré Road Runner kit. I laid down a color close to Sherwood Green, cut out the T-tops, left the interior white, and did my best with the chrome detailing work. After hitting up a hobby shop for a set of Ansen-style slot mags, the project was done. Recently, however, my wife found a hobby shop that specializes in collectible model kits and other automotive toy items, like 1:18-scale models and dealership models, and I’ve found myself with the itch to put another kit together. But what kit should that be? The last time I really went model shopping, the cars I really want to build (the “Force 440” Monaco, 1974-77 Camaro, 1970 Pontiac Bonneville “pickup) cost coin and are as common as a diamond in my back yard.

MPC, through Round 2, are bringing back some classics, my “Fuzz Duster” being one of them. In this video, you’ll see another: the 1977 Dodge Warlock. Based on the W100 stepside and packing anything from the E58 360 through the last of the 440s, the Warlock was part of Dodge’s eye-raisingly named “Adult Toys” line of factory-custom vehicles. Basically, it was a four-wheel-drive L’il Red Truck, but with engine options, a few more colors, and no exhaust stacks. What’s not to like?

From opening the box until the truck is completely finished, follow along. I’m not responsible if you smell like Testors within a few days. That’s all on you.

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Body-Swapping A Chevy Van To A 4×4 Frame Is Easy…If You Believe Pole Barn Garage!

Bryan McTaggart — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:08:41 +0000

When you live in the areas of the continental United States that regularly see snow, ice, and other forms of absolutely crap weather, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is almost the only option. It’s why pickup trucks have been a staple of the country’s vehicle sales, but a big truck isn’t the only game in town. Sure, you could pick up an all-wheel-drive rally rocket or maybe a crossover that does a great impression of an off-roader. But what kind of person looks at a full-size American van, the kind that is all but extinct at this point, and convinces themselves that what they need is a Chevy G-series van on a four-wheel-drive chassis powered by a big-block Chevy.

Dalton has been working on the world’s largest model kit-bash project in his shops for a bit now. He’s got an original GMC van that came with four-wheel drive, but unfortunately the body is little more than a pasta colander now. When he went out to Arizona with Kevin from Junkyard Digs last year, he found a neat little rust-free Chevy Van that would work. But then there is the issue of a big-block…and that’s been answered by an old church van that was rocking 7.4 liters of motivation. So we have an engine, a chassis, and a body…on three different vehicles. The end goal is a shorty 4×4 van with a big block, right? That’s a pretty tall order in your backyard shop that doesn’t have a lift…

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Steve Magnante Is Back And Truck Week Continues. Truck Week Feature #5 – We’d Love To Own This GMC 6000 Dump Truck.

Chad Reynolds — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 15:47:46 +0000

Here’s the fifth video of Steve’s Truck Week series! This time it’s a big GMC 6000 Square Body Dump Truck.

Our friend Steve Magnante has been out of commission for a few months as he’s literally been fighting for his life from a bad brain infection, but he’s back! You may know Steve from all his years in the magazine world where he wrote for a ton of great magazines like Hot Rod and Car Craft, but in recent years he’s been the rain man of muscle car and classics knowledge on Barrett-Jackson’s TV auction shows. He’s also been making great YouTube content of his own, walking through junkyards full of great finds and sharing all the info on cool old rides. But for the past several months we weren’t sure he was going to make it.

Thankfully, he had great doctors who didn’t give up on him even after putting him into a coma to try and fight this brain infection. To be honest, there were lots of folks who have known him for years who were not sure he’d pull through. I’m so thrilled to say that he is in fact on the mend and working at getting back to his normal self. He’s still in the hospital, but has some new content out and we’re going to share it with you right here, along with a message from Steve himself in the hospital.

I first met Steve more than 20 years ago on Hot Rod Power Tour and was lucky enough to work with him a few times over the years. He’s a real treasure, one hell of a guy, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to be sharing these videos with you now.

If you missed the previous Magnante videos, CLICK HERE

Video Description:

What’s a SPID? Learn about it in this video as Steve examines this truck that has TWO of them. And where do dump trucks come from anyway, the M&M factory? In this case…YES!

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Steve Magnante Is Back And Truck Week Continues. Truck Week Feature #3 – Mack Midliner

Chad Reynolds — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:54:56 +0000

Here’s the third video of Steve’s Truck Week series! This time it’s a Mack Midliner that would make a cool hauler!

If you missed the previous Magnante videos, CLICK HERE

Video Description:

Globalism isn’t a new phenomenon. When French vehicle maker Renault began investing in America’s Mack truck company, the cross breeding began. There is Re-No-Way this 1983 Midliner isn’t a Mack truck.

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Bitchin AutotopiaLA Street Truck Feature: This 700 hp Supercharged ’72 Chevy Blazer Is Slick As Hell And Laid Out On Air.

Chad Reynolds — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:13:26 +0000

This insanely bad ass 1972 C10 Chevy Blazer is what we’re all about. It looks nearly “stock” on the outside, just way way nicer and slicker than stock. But that’s where the stock ends. It’s got a custom chassis that lays this thing on the ground thanks to air ride, and of course has a custom interior and late model LS swap. We’re thrilled to see the full feature on this thing thanks to the gang over at AutotopiaLA.

Video Description:

I’ve been wanting to shoot this 1972 Chevy Blazer for quite a while and it finally happened. This is a full custom build including chassis, supercharged LS, air suspension, beautiful interior and looks like a complete gangster rolling down the road so sit back and enjoy the ride.

The post Bitchin AutotopiaLA Street Truck Feature: This 700 hp Supercharged ’72 Chevy Blazer Is Slick As Hell And Laid Out On Air. appeared first on BangShift.com.

NotStockPhoto Truck Feature: 1967 Ford F100 Custom Truck by Legens HotRods BTS Photoshoot for Classic Truck Performance

Chad Reynolds — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:13:38 +0000

Here’s another great video from John Jackson at NotStock Photography, but instead of it being a show video this one is a behind the scenes video from the feature shoot of the Steve Legens built 1967 Ford F100. This is a bitchin truck, that he was shooting for a feature in Classic Truck Performance, and you’ll get to see what really goes on to make a feature shoot happen.

Video Description:

Had a great day hanging out with our Good Friend Steve Legens and his shops recent build this awesome 67 F100. Steve was kind enough to meet me in Jackson Tennessee on my way to Memphis for another photoshoot. Couldn’t have asked for a cooler location for a awesome custom truck. Thanks for watching, and hope you enjoy the video.

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Jay Leno Takes Us For A Ride In Boyd Coddington’s 1989 Chopped Sport Truck – This Truck Helped Shape The Sport Truck Movement!

Chad Reynolds — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 10:30:49 +0000

This Boyd Coddington built 1989 C1500 GMC is one of the most iconic custom trucks built in the last 35 years. This truck has been credited with starting the sport truck movement that we all know and love and that exploded in the late 1980’s and through the 1990’s and beyond. If you were a teenager in the late 1980’s to early 2000’s then you lived the sport truck movement and experienced the insane industry growth that happened because of it. The popularity of the C/K series of GM trucks, now referred to as the OBS Chevy and GMC, was insane when it first came out in 1988 as it was such a departure from the previous generations of GM truck. They were smoother, cleaner, more aerodynamic, and modern and they perfectly balanced the utility of a truck with the looks of a hot rod, at least when you slam them and do them up right!

Video Description:

In this very exciting Christmas 2023 edition of Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay is joined in the garage by Chris Coddington, son of legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington, who brings with him the truck that invented the Sport Truck Movement, this 1989 Chopped GMC Truck!

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Budget Shop Truck: Squarebody Long Bed To Short Bed Conversion – CHEAP Transformation! Paint match, Buff Job, Trim Polish, Body Alignment, and MORE!

Chad Reynolds — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 11:09:27 +0000

Today’s update on the budget shop truck build, which includes a clean long bed to short bed conversion, features some spit shining, polishing, and buffing to make it look as good as possible considering the little money spend. In the last episode Puddin’ put in some work so that it runs better. I mean it needs to run pretty good if it is going to be the new shop truck! But now it needs to finish looking the part and that means we’re about to wrap up this bad boy.

This cool low buck shop truck build is turning out really cool and we dig it. If you missed it, the long bed became a short bed, using the stock bed with the smallest of cuts and welds so that the paint is left “okay”, and then it got rebuilt suspension and a lowering job. It’s got all kinds of other DIY stuff going on, including simple patch panels to fix the rust in the lower quarters. I relate to these, because I have a Suburban in need of a few little rust spot repairs, but that’s work for another day.

Puddin is back at it, this time with a beat up 1976 GMC long bed pickup that he wants to convert into a short bed. And as funny as it sounds, this isn’t something that he’s every done before so he’s kind of out of his element in some ways. But he looks up some videos on how other folks have done it, almost makes a mistake, and gets the thing done and looking awesome for almost no money. Seriously, this was a matter of taking time and some welding skill, as well as some patience, to make a truck that looks awesome now that it is done and will ultimately end up being a lowered shop truck for him. I dig it and would totally drive it.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIOUS BUILD VIDEOS ON THIS ONE!

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