Get in your Garage – June 2020
As social distancing, postponed events, and staying at home became the new norm for much of the United States this spring, hot rodders had a bit of an advantage for avoiding cabin fever. It turns out we like being in our garages, and the forced downtime provided a perfect opportunity to do some wrenching, tuning, and polishing on our cars and trucks, as well as a chance to tackle some longer-term projects.
Goodguys has been encouraging and inspiring this shop time with our Get in your Garage campaign, a weekly email with motivational videos, tech articles, car features, and related content, as well as some great deals from some of our partners and sponsors. We’ve promoted the idea on our social media channels as well, encouraging all of you to share photos and stories of what you’re doing in your garages.
Naturally, many of you have great tales to tell. From long-term project vehicles, to cherished drivers that are getting some pampering with polish and detailing, Goodguys members are making the most of their time in the garage. We’ve put together a few highlights of the cars and projects you emailed to us, and we encourage you to keep sharing by sending photos and information to [email protected], using Get in your Garage as your subject line. Now, get out there in the garage and get something done!
Bob Moore from Casper, Wyoming sent in photos of his ’70 LS6 Chevelle, which has been in his family since 1981 and is a welcome sight every time Bob steps into the garage. “Other than a fresh paint job, everything is all original,” Bob says. “Less than 27,000 miles and original documentation. This car has a rare houndstooth interior, M22 four speed, 12-bolt rearend with 4.10 gears, and of course the 450hp LS6 monster under the hood.”
Dave Guttman of Sellersville, Pennsylvania, sent in some photos of his in-progress Deuce roadster, which he’s planning to bring to the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus to compete for Street Rod of the Year. Buick Nailhead power, a coil-over suspended front axle, and an innovative interior are just a few of the highlights.
Bring on the Hemi power! Penny and Jack Boyle sent us photos of several cars in their collection, including this ’55 Chrysler 300 that Jack bought in August of 1967 from the original owner’s widow for $550. He is currently restoring it with a few minor mods, including a dual-chamber master cylinder, front disc brakes, add-on A/C, and 12-volt electronics. “It will be 100-percent stock in everything else, including appearance,” Jack says.
Paul Chadwell has an unusual rod in his Ohio garage – a ’38 Chrysler Imperial. It’s equipped with a small-block Chevy and a 700R4 automatic transmission, which make it a great cruiser according to Paul. He says it needs paint and upholstery, but it appears he’s still enjoying it while waiting for those upgrades.
Gazette contributor Todd Ryden has been getting in his garage with his sons Vaughn and Carson to work on his ’40 Ford Tudor project. “One day we mounted the engine in the car,” Todd said. “Once in, they pulled the plugs and did a compression test.” That’s the way to teach them, Todd!
Tom VanNortwick shared photos of this ’32 roadster he is helping his friend Barry Johnson build. Barry bought the bought project “for a price nobody could refuse” with an unknown-brand fiberglass body and almost complete chassis with a dropped tube axle and a triangulated four-bar rear suspension. “We’re gonna chrome all of the front suspension and some of the rear,” Tom says. “I think Barry’s getting old-style steel wheels and ’41 Ford hubcaps from Wheelsmith. The engine is a 350 Chevy with aluminum heads and flat-top pistons. We’ve had it running and it sounds angry!” The hope is to have the roadster running by summer.
Former Goodguys columnist Roger Jetter has been working on this ’48 Cadillac in his garage for the past several years. The first photo shows Roger in late-2016, just after having the body media blasted and lifting it off the frame. The second photo shows the chassis with the Nova subframe and fuel-injected small-block Chevy in place, while the third photo is from last year, as the car was delivered to the exhaust shop. Roger tells us he recently took the Cad for a maiden cruise and will be getting it ready for paint next.
Dave Krough has a garage that makes us jealous, complete with a lift and three sweet rides – his custom ’49 Studebaker pickup, chopped ’28 Dodge coupe, and mid-’60s Thunderbird convertible. We’d have a hard time deciding which one to cruise!
“Just doing a good look-over and getting ready for the summer season,” say Keith and Sherry Miller of their Model A coupe.
We love it when boxes of new parts show up to help us with the next step of a project. Richard Eib shared a photo of the goodies that arrive for his ’56 Chevy. “New brakes and suspension for summer!” he says.
James Biggs sent us a photo to let us know he just did a rebuild on the 324c.i. V8 in his ’55 Olds Super 88. Should be good for cruising later this summer!
