You know that old familiar saying, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone”? Well, that was exactly how I’d describe the old electrical system on my ’53 Chevy pickup. Since the day I purchased her a couple years back, I’d always suspected some fishy things going on with the truck’s wiring, but here again another proverbial axiom came into play: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, that’s exactly what I did. Over that two-year period (during which, I drove the truck quite often), I only had one real issue with the wiring. But the failure of the stock Delco starter switch turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Had that not occurred, I may not have become fully aware of the imminent chance of a vehicle fire due to not only faulty wiring, but improperly wired components. The first clue was the fact that the entire 12-volt system had only one 20-amp fuse in use…and it was wrapped in tin foil! If … [Read more...] about 1953 Chevy Truck Wiring Harness – Down To The Wire
Trucking owner operator jobs
1947 Chevrolet Truck – Porsche Man’s Pickup
Inspiration can come from an infinite number of sources. Do you remember what it was that inspired you to build your first custom classic truck? Was it the pickup you drove as a young gun and now regret selling? Was it somebody else’s cool old hauler that made you vow to build one just like it someday? Was it your dad’s or granddad’s old work truck-the one you taught yourself how to drive in? Was it an eye-catching show truck you saw at the fairgrounds or in the pages of some magazine? For Mike Gurley, the inspiration for this burgundy ’47 1/2-ton came from a few disparate sources. The year 1947 was not only the first of Chevrolet’s successful Advance Design truck series, it was also the year Mike was born. The enduring popularity of these pickups combined with Mike’s personal nostalgia were the reasons for building this particular truck. The inspiration for building this particular truck with this particular look is a bit less expected: a Porsche … [Read more...] about 1947 Chevrolet Truck – Porsche Man’s Pickup
1954 Chevy 3100 – Papa’s Truck
Two decades ago, this one-owner 1954 Chevy 3100 five-window was found in a barn by Guy Copeland, from McAlpin, Florida. He and his son Nick spent the next two years completing a nut and bolt restoration, bringing it back to original. Guy liked it stock, bouncy ride and all, and it became his daily driver for a decade. Nick comments that, “the truck had 100,000 miles on it and it never got to see one car show!” When Guy passed away, Nick and his family began another complete restoration as part of the grieving process, only this time they chose to update Papa’s truck with a few modern conveniences. Nick was particularly well-suited for the task. He acquired many of his talents from high school vocational programs where he picked up auto mechanics, welding, autobody work, and small engine repair. Farm life added several more skills along with a sense of hard work and motivation. Since he always loved everything about automobiles, he decided he would continuously refine … [Read more...] about 1954 Chevy 3100 – Papa’s Truck
Getting a Job in Racing
So you are a race fan – maybe a hardcore, diehard fan – and you want to get involved in the racing industry as your day job. So much so, that you might think a career in racing is the path you would like to follow. You may need to ask some questions just prior to jumping in with both feet because “you just don’t know what you don’t know.” So some questions might be a good way to start this particular thought process / adventure. What do you want to do in racing? Do you want to be a driver, a Crew Chief, an over-the-wall pit person who travels with the team? Or, do you want to work behind the scenes back in the shop? Is being a fabricator working on cars back in the shop more in line with what you want to be associated? Is performing Engineering work what you would enjoy doing? Do you want to be paint and body person or an engine assembler/builder? Possibly a machinist working to build the parts the engine guys use to assemble the modern day … [Read more...] about Getting a Job in Racing
Baja vs. Boss: Baja Trophy Truck at the Drags!
Think your sport is spendy and dangerous? Try this on for size: Cameron Steele is about to drop $20,000 in fuel to go racing—not for the season, but for a single event that lasts less than two days. His pre-race prep includes pre-running an 1,100-mile course through the mostly untamed Mexican desert a week before the green flag drops to find the ruts, holes, and cliffs that will try to swallow his $500,000, 6,000-pound Trophy Truck. Further complicating things are locals who aren’t always excited about having 120dB exhaust pipes and 40-inch tires roosting their front yards. They like to dig holes in the spots racers didn’t mark on their GPS maps, just to keep everyone on their toes. The total cost for bringing Cameron’s entire Desert Assassins Racing team to Mexico, competing in the Baja 1,000 with two unlimited-class Trophy Trucks, and getting everyone safely back on U.S. soil will exceed $100,000. If he wins, he’ll receive a massive trophy, a firm … [Read more...] about Baja vs. Boss: Baja Trophy Truck at the Drags!
Eight Wild and Crazy Ford F-Series Trucks at SEMA
Customized Ford F-Series trucks are usually the most popular rides at SEMA and this year is no different from last season’s batch. For 2017, FoMoCo has 11 custom builds and dozens of cars and trucks on display at the big show inside and outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. Here’s what you can expect to see on the convention floor if you are lucky enough to attend. 2017 Ford Super Duty XLT Regular Cab This 2017 Ford Super Duty XLT looks like a Tonka truck on steroids and is called Project SD126 by its creators. Under the hood, there’s a 6.7-liter V-8 diesel engine that’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The regular cab truck was converted to a short bed and now rolls on a 126-inch wheelbase with massive 42-inch BFGoodrich Baja tires. It also features a BDS suspension and FOX coilovers. Inside the blacked-out cab gets racing seats and harnesses along with an off-road GPS, and a booming custom stereo system by Kicker. 2018 Ford F-150 … [Read more...] about Eight Wild and Crazy Ford F-Series Trucks at SEMA
A Ride Around the Track in Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Semi Truck
Moving 80,000 pounds is no easy task. It is normally reserved for semi trucks equipped with large diesel engines producing thousands of pound-feet of torque. Yet, the automaker known for the Prius is taking on the job with a unique fuel solution–hydrogen. We traveled to the hot, dry desert surrounding Toyota’s proving grounds to see how this water-based fuel system works in a Class 8 semi. Toyota’s “Project Portal” is a zero-emission Hydrogen fuel cell truck capable of hauling the massive 80,000-lb load up to 200 miles. It is a “proof of concept” vehicle that was built in just 8 months–a ridiculously fast timeframe for the conservative company. How Does it Work? With its hood open, it is easy to see why development was so quick. Toyota quite literally took two of the powertrains for its Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car and swapped them into a Kenworth T680. Engineers started by removing both the massive diesel engine and the 18-speed … [Read more...] about A Ride Around the Track in Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Semi Truck
DNA truck roaming NYC asks “Who’s Your Daddy?”
Jared Rosenthal, owner and operator of the "Who's Your Daddy?" truck, says the people of New York keep him busy all day every day."They flag us down, they pull us over, they talk to us," Rosenthal tells CBS New York. "Sometimes, because of the nature of the services, they want to be a little more discreet about it, but they do come or they'll call the number."For as little as $300, Rosenthal takes a swab of a customer's inner cheek and results are available in a couple of days. He says some men have shown up with a baby for testing only to find out it's not theirs. But there have been positive results as well, like a man who found his long-lost daughter.Because of the sometimes emotionally tense situations, Rosenthal says half the job is being a psychologist to his customers.So, what's next in truck-based-businesses? Mobile beer canneries? Done. Blood donations? Done. Lasik surgery in a van? Coming soon!Watch the video below for more of the story. … [Read more...] about DNA truck roaming NYC asks “Who’s Your Daddy?”
GM announces $1-billion US investment, brings truck axle business back from Mexico
General Motors confirmed Tuesday it will invest $1 billion in its manufacturing operations in the United States for new vehicle, advanced technology, and component projects. The move will add or retain 1,500 jobs. Specifics on the projects were not immediately available."As the US manufacturing base increases its competitiveness, we are able to further increase our investment, resulting in more jobs for America and better results for our owners," GM chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. "The US is our home market and we are committed to growth that is good for our employees, dealers, and suppliers and supports our continued effort to drive shareholder value."GM also said it will bring production of axles for its fullsize pickups to Michigan from a facility in Mexico, creating 450 jobs. A supplier is also moving work from Mexico to the US, adding 100 more jobs, GM said. The Detroit-based automaker said it announced $2.9 billion in investments in 2016 and has spent more than … [Read more...] about GM announces $1-billion US investment, brings truck axle business back from Mexico
Pennsylvania: I-80 Tolling Would Cost Jobs
A recently released study concludes that Pennsylvania’s plan to toll Interstate 80 would burden taxpayers and potentially cost thousands of jobs. Grove City College economics Professor Tracy C. Miller’s analysis extended beyond the simple issue of how much money such tolling would raise for government coffers and, instead, attempted to quantify the effect of increased transportation costs on local businesses and residents. I-80 runs 311 miles across the state, serving as a vital commercial link between New York and Chicago. Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell (D) has been promoting the tolling effort in the hopes of generating $405 million in new revenue. Rendell and others refer to the toll as a “user fee,” but Miller disagreed with this characterization. “It is better understood as a tax or tariff, since much of the revenue will be used for purposes other than maintaining and improving Interstate 80 and since vehicles that use Interstate 80 already … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania: I-80 Tolling Would Cost Jobs