"One of my passions is bending custom stainless lines. On this project I couldn't just run rubber hoses for the fuel lines, so a custom fuel line assembly was needed to get it done right. Connecting the four Rochester carburetors was a challenge, until Automotion in Great Falls, Montana, was able to help me with a linkage kit that made it possible to get the carburetors moving all at the same time on the Man-A-Fre intake.
"During a build, a project will take on its own back story. This project is no different. The story that this truck tells is of a life where over the years it has transformed from one hot rod truck to another. What if a hot rodder built a truck in the '40s, and slowly transformed it over the years to gain more power? That is what I wanted to convey with the truck, so when it came time to look at the paint I decided to leave the weathered paint on the truck alone."
Which brings us back to the weather-beaten Round Up in Austin, Texas, last year, and this truck's debut, where we can remember being surprised at the four-carbed small-block sitting where we'd fully expected to see a Flathead. We'd already spied the swing pedals, noting that there was no auto in this truck, but rather a bullet-proof four-speed. However, Danny admits he'd use a five-speed if he did it again, as "an overdrive to drop the rpm on the freeway would be nice." Now if only he knew a hot rod shop that could fit one for him ...
Rod & Custom Feature Car
Danny Burroughs
Spring, Texas
1932 Ford BB pickup
Chassis
The sheetmetal on this spruce Deuce was originally affixed to a BB truck chassis, so obviously something a little more "lightweight" was in order for its new life as a hot rod. Danny used an original frame, though the slightly worse for wear center crossmember was replaced with a tubular version after the 'rails had been boxed. A Model A rear crossmember was added, complete with matching spring. A mix of original Ford and aftermarket parts make up the frontend, while a mid-'60s Halibrand quick-change with Dutchman axles is located on owner-made ladder bars out back, a Deuce Factory sway bar keeping things in check. Adjustable Chassis Engineering tube-type shocks are mounted at each corner, owner-built swing pedals operate an early '60s Chevy truck master cylinder, while a manual Vega steering box at the lower end of a custom column handles directional duties.
Drivetrain
A built-and-balanced 355ci Chevy small-block with ported and polished 327 "double hump" heads, "pink" rods, and an unknown spec COMP Cam powers this shop truck, fed by four Rochester 2G carbs on a Man-A-Fre intake. Old Cal Custom valve covers, SO-CAL Speed Shop air cleaners, and a carb linkage from Automotion round out the top end of the motor, with sparks supplied by an MSD Pro Billet distributor and 6A control box. Sanderson headers lead to a custom-built 2 1/2-inch stainless exhaust system built by Danny with Stainless Specialties mufflers. A Center Force clutch links the motor to a late-'60s Chevy four-speed, with a driveshaft by Houston Drive Train.
Body & Paint
Sean Ornduff, the in-house body and paint expert at Bruce's Rod Shop, handled the work required to match the pickup bed to the weathered cab, with Pat Maxwell adding the signage to the doors. Stock '32 headlights mount to a modified headlight bar in front of the commercial grille shell. The chassis, running gear, and wheels are finished in gloss black in contrast to the weathered green sheetmetal.
Wheels & Tires
Whereas most Ford wire wheel-equipped rods run the later 16-inch wires, Danny opted to stay with those offered in 1932, the 18 x 3 1/2-inch fronts wrapped in 4.50-18 Excelsior rubber. He widened the rears himself to 5 inches, adding 7.00-18 bias-ply blackwalls for a slight rubber rake.
Interior
This is a shop truck after all, so there's no plush leather, A/C, or even a stereo. Heck, there's not even a carpet or headliner! There are seatbelts to keep the occupants from sliding around on the black vinyl bench seat, and an EZ Wiring harness hooks up the Stewart Warner gauges. A stock '32 steering wheel is mounted on the owner-fabbed column, which uses a '32 drop bracket, but apart from new wood floor boards, those Danny-built swing pedals and a fabricated trans cover, it's about as bare bones as they come.