Innehållsförteckning för May 2024 från Street Trucks

LET’S START THIS STORY OFF WITH A LITTLE TALE FROM THE DISTANT PAST. When Jim McNiel purchased the dilapidated Bob Hirohata Merc off a used car lot in 1959, he had no idea that the beat-up ’51 car he bought was once world famous and had graced the pages of pretty much every custom car magazine in existence just a few years prior. You might think, “How could anyone not know about the Hirohata Merc?”, and we’d be right there with you. It almost sounds unbelievable. Yet, it wasn’t until he heard from others who recognized the car that he discovered what he had. IT almost sounds unbelievable. Yet, it wasn’t until he heard from others who recognized the car that he discovered what he had. Then there’s Brett Hunsaker.…

FILLING THE CAR SHOW VOID IN JANUARY, EASTBOUND GETDOWN CAME OUT SWINGING TO START 2024 OFF RIGHT. While freezing in St. Louis, I made the 16-hour drive down to Ormond Beach for my third year at the Destination Daytona Complex in Florida. The bar has been set higher each year, and this year did not disappoint as the show brought out every flavor of truck, from lifted to lowered, import to domestic. These vehicles traveled from around the country to reach the Getdown in Daytona. With a healthy mix of premium parking under the pavilion and wrap-around spots across the showgrounds, there was truly no bad spot to park at the Destination Daytona Complex. Up the stairs, you could find the on-site hotels and condos that allowed you to walk…

ALL IT TAKES IS A DREAM TO GET STARTED ON SOMETHING BIG. Turning that dream into a reality, however, requires copious amounts of blood, sweat, and tears—and sometimes a little extra cash doesn’t hurt. Building any type of custom vehicle isn’t cheap, especially when you reach way up high for top-shelf results. This includes the purchasing all the parts involved, as well as finding the right group of talented craftspeople to assist in shaping your vision. BACK TO THE GRIND Cesar Tijerina of San Juan, Texas, is a constant dreamer, and he has familiarized himself with how to make each new automotive fantasy of his come to life. Cesar isn’t new to the world of custom autos, and he already has a list of completed show trucks to his credit,…

IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING STREET TRUCKS FOR MANY YEARS, YOU MAY REMEMBER PROJECT STANLEY. This is our 2008 Chevy Tahoe LTZ that we originally lowered as far as we could by using a combination of parts from a few different companies, as well as some interesting tricks we found on YouTube. The truck was hammered and looked really sleek, but it rode about as well as a forklift on a loose gravel road. After enjoying a street-rod style SUV for a few years and replacing many different bushings and motor mounts due to vibration, we decided to switch it up and take this Tahoe to new heights with the help of our friends at Rough Country Suspension Systems, Fittipaldi Off Road, and Atturo Tires. When shopping for a new suspension,…

CHEVY SMALL BLOCK ENGINE BLOCK SUMMIT RACING SBC ENGINE BLOCKS ARE BRAND NEW AFTERMARKET ENGINE BLOCKS DESIGNED FOR “STREET, PERFORMANCE, OR COMPETITION.” Why start your engine build with a dirty, old, worn-out production block that needs hundreds or thousands of dollars of machine work when you can start with a new heavy-duty casting full of high-performance features? These blocks are cast in a modern state-of-the-art foundry on brand new molds and machined on modern high-speed machining centers that can hold the tightest of tolerances. You can rest assured that you have a great foundation for your engine build. SUMMIT RACING800-230-3030www.summitracing.com ’19+ GM 1500 LIFT KIT UPGRADE YOUR SILVERADO OR SIERRA WITH A PRECISION ENGINEERED BELLTECH 6-INCH LIFT KIT TO GUARANTEE YOU CAN NAVIGATE ALL TERRAINS ON YOUR NEXT JOURNEY. This…

WHEN IT COMES TO HUGE, BUZZ-WORTHY EVENTS THAT USUALLY BREAK THE INTERNET, THERE’S ONE TEXAS-SIZE SHOW THAT ALWAYS TOPS THE LIST—LONE STAR THROWDOWN. This show, commonly referred to as LST, has grown dramatically since its debut 12 years ago. Back in 2012 when Lonnie Ford and Todd “Radar” Hendrix threw the first event at the Lone Star Expo Center in Conroe, Texas, they had no clue it would grow to the size it has become. Since the first year, a lot has changed, and the show has continually grown. In 2016, they had 2,500 entries, and the showgrounds were way too packed for their liking, so starting with the 2017 show, they capped the event at 2,000 entries and made it pre-registration only. This thinking would allow them more room…

AS FIFTH-GENERATION ESCALADES STARTED TO SHOW UP AT DEALERSHIPS IN THE FALL OF 2020, CARLOS HERRERA WAS ALREADY MAKING PLANS TO PURCHASE ONE OF THESE NEWLY REDESIGNED SUVS. Carlos was on the hunt, and after searching around the nation, he found just the right one to start his new build. After bringing his new 2021 Cadillac Escalade home, his main intentions were to give it the full “Phat Phabz” treatment. Previously, Carlos had his fourth-generation Escalade bodydropped on 26-inch billets. This time around, a bodydrop was still on the table, but with a larger set of 30-inch billet wheels. AFTER bringing his new 2021 Cadillac Escalade home, his main intentions were to give it the full ‘Phat Phabz’ treatment. After dropping off his brand-new Escalade at Phat Phabz headquarters in…

THE TEAM AT STREET TRUCKS IS ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR GROUNDBREAKING UPGRADES THAT ELEVATE A TRUCK’S PERFORMANCE AND STYLE. When QA1 unveiled its latest line of modern F-Series truck suspension products, the parts immediately caught our attention. The promise of enhanced ride quality, adjustable stance, and easy installation made it an irresistible choice for our next project: a 2018 Ford F-150 that was in need of a suspension makeover. The highlight of QA1’s lineup is the lowering kit for the 2015-2020 Ford F-150, which boasts a combination of front Pro Coil coilovers and a rear drop kit. It was a revolutionary approach that promised not just a lowered stance but also a noticeable performance boost. We were sold on the idea of taking this truck’s handling and appearance to…

STAYING PATIENT DURING AN IMPORTANT BUILD IS A GOLDEN RULE THAT WE HEAR STRESSED TIME AND AGAIN. It’s hard to accept setbacks and time restraints—we get it. Things don’t always work out as planned, and sometimes other more important life “distractions” pop up and vaporize time that would usually be spent in the garage. Losing patience and moving on from an extensive project isn’t unheard of during times like these. There are, however, enthusiasts out there who never give up—no matter how long unforeseen detours may take. James Margeson of Toronto, Canada, is a prime example of a guy who refuses to throw in the towel. He recently shared with us just how long his first-gen S-10 project took him to complete, and while he was hit with delays and…

LED LIGHTING IS A COMMON THING ON MODERN TRUCKS. But what if you have an older truck or even a base-model truck? Only in the last few years have vehicle manufacturers started doing all-LED lighting, so a ton of trucks are still on the road with the older, halogen-style lights. Having new LED lights not only provides better visibility for the driver, but they also allow others to see the truck better, especially at night. Upgraded lighting also makes the truck look like a higher-end model. In my case, with my XL base-model ’23 Ford Maverick, other than the headlights and tag lights, all other bulbs were halogen. I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing I am: “Why would a manufacturer do half and half? Surely, the cost for the…

ALL first-year Cameo’s were painted two-tone white and red from the factory, so the guys at M&L made sure it was changed to give it some fresh flair. THE CHEVY CAMEO IS ONE OF THE RAREST CHEVY TRUCKS EVER BUILT. Only available for three years starting in 1955, the GM designer envisioned a one-piece cab/bed bodied pickup, but the engineers were concerned about sheetmetal distortion due to torsional stress on the frame. Together they decided to conventionally design the Chevy Cameo using fiberglass panels to the existing steel cargo box. As a car guy who admitted he “can’t change a spark plug,” Jim Fox had recently sold his ’70 Vette and ’66 Bronco for funds to start his next project. “I wasn’t looking for a truck,” Jim tells Street Trucks,…