ChassisYou can't see it, but trust us, the 1 1/2-inch tube chassis, painted body color, is a knockout. Heidt's independent suspension was used at both ends, along with Heidt's antiroll bars, and Aldan coilovers with gas shocks, and Wilwood 11-inch disc brakes. Independent ladder bars are set up in the rear. And actually, you can see it by going to www.roybriziostreetrods.com/progress/gloy.
DrivetrainRoy likes Fords in Fords, and Tom's '36 is powered by a 351 fresh out of the crate. The intake manifold and single 600-cfm four-barrel are from Edelbrock, crowned by a Moon finned air cleaner, painted to match the Edelbrock valve covers. Patriot headers feed into a 2 1/4-inch Brizio exhaust system with Stainless Steel Specialties mufflers at the other end. Tremec T5 gears are shifted via a Hurst stick. The rearend runs 3.70:1 gears.
Wheels & TiresBeauty rings and '50 Merc caps from Wheel Vintiques, plus a shot of interior-matching red paint set off the 17x9 and 16x6 steelies, also from Wheel Vintiques. The front and rear radial rubber is from Goodyear.
Body & PaintIt had to be a topless car, because that's what Tom likes, but it had to have windows and a convertible top, so he can drive it year round. The original steel body, chopped 2 inches, was sent to Lucky 7 Customs (Antioch, California) for bodywork and paint. Tom's early race cars were yellow, so he chose this Volkswagen color for his street rod. The pale tone fits the overall theme of the car. Jack Hageman created the aluminum hood, slanting down to a slightly dropped nose. The '36 headlights were lowered just over an inch; taillights are '39s. SO-CAL side mirrors and '40 Ford bumpers provide a touch of flash.
InteriorSid Chavers (Santa Clara, California) upholstered the split bench seat and custom door panels in leather, and carpeted the floor in matching wool. All that red is broken up by yellow and white on the original steel '40 Ford dash. Classic Instruments built the gauges to fill the '40 insert. Completing the picture is a '40 Ford steering wheel from Juliano's riding on an ididit tilt column.