Cruisin' Style Builds & Projects

Cruisin' Style magazine regularly has a series or two about ongoing project or build cars by the staff as well as readers themselves. Also check out our Tech & How To page. If you can document your projects and restorations with words and pictures, send them to ray@cruisinstyle.com. Don't worry if you're "not a writer" - we'll help with some editing. If you would like to sponsor Projects & Builds, contact CSM or call 941-729-6669.
	`57 Chevy Belair Part 1 We're replacing the `96 Vette engine with a 383 stroker motor from Smedings Performance topped off with a 4 bbl, air cleaner & Valve Covers from Edelbrock. The 605 steering box and accessories from Borgensen and the tilt steering column from ididit have already been installed. Read More (text). PDF.
	`57 Chevy Belair Part 2 Let’s take the exhaust off. First Mike removed the bolts at the manifold then a torch was needed to remove all the hangers. If you don’t have a torch, an electric sawzall will do the job. But we all know that playing with fire is so much more fun – faster too. Read More (text). PDF.
	`57 Chevy Belair Part 3 You can see the frame with the engine removed – think it looks nasty – it is. With the frame secured to the lift we cut the old coil springs with a torch (since we had the motor out and no weight). Then removed the upper and lower control arms. Read More (text). PDF.
	`57 Chevy Belair Part 4 What is Powder Coating?Powder coating is a type of dry coating, which is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is... Read More (text). PDF.
	Restoring a Chevy Nomad Pt 1 Basic metal cleaning services chemical cleaning, metal restoration basics, sand or media blast? This method of removing coatings and rust has been around for many years. It generally does not require disassembly of items to be cleaned and uses simple time proven technology. Blasting, however, has limitations. Read More (text). PDF.
	Restoring a Chevy Nomad Pt 2 Cleaning a car in preparation for restoration by chemical immersion requires total disassembly of the car. Read More (text). PDF.
	Restoring a Chevy Nomad Pt 3 Many primers are on the market: etch, high build and epoxies. Etch primers generally “clean” the metal; spot repairs are made and etch the surface, usually with an acid, to provide a “tooth” or rougher surface for better paint adhesion. Properly cleaned metal requires no etching or conversion coats, such as phosphates, to enhance coating adhesion. Read More (text). PDF.
	`34 Ford 3-Window Coupe Part 1 Jim McMillan of Randy's Ring & Pinion, in Everett WA, sent us a Ford 9¨ 3rd Member with 1350 yoke, posi-unit, and 3:70 gears for the build of our Street Beast. Donna at Sanderson Headers, in South San Francisco CA, sent the headers for the Jon Barrett 351 the very same week. To install the carrier in the rear housing, the brake calipers and axles needed to be removed. Read More (text). PDF.
	`34 Ford 3-Window Coupe Part 2 A trick here is to use a ball peen hammer to knock out the holes in the pattern for the studs to go thru. All you have to do is place your gasket material over the part you need a gasket for and start tapping. The ball peen side is great for inside holes and the flat side of the hammer cuts the outside edge of the gasket. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 1 By Larry Crain. It took me until October of 2005 to locate exactly what I wanted, a bus produced sometime in the 40's-50's, rough but with little or no body rot and reasonably priced. The one I found in a heavy equipment yard on the backroads of Mississippi is a 1954 4500 Series Chevrolet. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 2 By Larry Crain. The first step to giving the bus a new look was to get away from that high riding look that all school buses have. The idea was to drop the bus about a foot in ride height and give it a killer stance at the same time. This was accomplished by doing away with the stock front and rear suspension and the 20-inch commercial tire/wheel combination the bus rode on. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 3 By Larry Crain. My first step in getting myself comfortable was to locate a drivers seat and I went with a 2002 Chevrolet truck seat with built in lap belt/shoulder harness ... With the seat in place it was time to determine the length of the steering column, location of hydroboost brake system/pedal assembly and location of the gas pedal. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 4 By Larry Crain. A quick call was placed to Lokar for one of their awesome 23” Nostalgia Shifters, shifter boot, transmission mounted emergency brake, cable kit and boot. These parts combined together make for a very easy installation that also dresses up what used to be just an old bus driver’s compartment. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 5 By Larry Crain. Stripping and interior. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 6 By Larry Crain. A change I made to the bus shortly after it was sandblasted is a standard change for all hot rods that were produced prior to 1955. This is the removal of the cowl vent that was a great way to keep cool in ’54 but is also known to allow for water leaks to the interior and eventual rust or rot problems in the cowl. By unbolting and cutting away the cowl... Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 7 By Larry Crain. The only parts that will adorn this area of the bus will be the hydroboost brake system, accelerator cable and a 4-way bulk head panel for the a/c and heater hoses. The majority of the holes that needed to be filled were small enough to be welded closed with just the mig wire. Read More (text). PDF.
	`54 Shorty Part 8 By Larry Crain. You have to have a clean engine before you can make it pretty and this motor was ate up with the grease & dirt uglies from farm use. My weapons of choice for this task are Easy Off Oven Cleaner in the yellow can (be sure to use gloves & goggles) and Greased Lightning de-greaser. Read More (text). PDF.
Most Common Restoration Questions A proper restoration is not an inexpensive proposition and the goal is not only to get the car of your dreams but that you will never have to have that automobile restored again. Melvin Benzaquen of Classic Restoration Enterprises has been answering these questions for years and below has outlined some of the basics to help anyone in need. Read More (text).