Just Needs Welding...
Whether you're after lakester-style headers, or there simply isn't a specific fit header available to fit your application, Patriot Exhaust Products has introduced a weld-up kit for big- and small-block Chevys. Using 16-gauge mild steel tubing and specially designed tapered collector cones, primary tube applications are available in 1 5/8-inch for the small-block and 1 7/8-inch for the big-block, with a choice of 3- or 4-inch cone diameters.

Keeping you in Suspense
Okay, so R&C isn't a truck magazine, but we know virtually all of you run a truck as a parts chaser, not to mention that more early trucks are being built as rods or customs as they offer affordable early body styles. However, the hard-riding stiff truck suspension, especially in the rear, can get worn pretty quickly. Total Cost Involved obviously thought so too, hence their new leaf spring kit for '37-54 Chevy trucks.

Feel the Force
The new Force wheel from Boze Forged is a simple five-spoke design with two-piece construction. Available in diameters from 17- to 22-inch and 5- to 15-inch widths, the choice of backspacing from flush-fit up to 8 inches means a combination is available to fit almost any project, yet still clear bodywork. Big brakes are also accommodated with ease.

Oil's Well That Ends Well
I'm sure these days everyone is aware that oil isn't just oil, and specific grades can provide superior performance and maximum protection depending on the application. AMSOIL now offers three new premium synthetic racing oils specially formulated to withstand the rigors of high-performance and racing applications, all three featuring the same additive package to provide maximum durability in multiple viscosities. The proprietary friction modifier in Dominator Synthetic Racing Oils reduces friction for maximum power and cooler engine temperatures.

Think Pink
If you're a regular R&C reader you may remember when we ran a feature on the Model A coupe in bare metal built by Pinkee's Rod Shop with their sectioned '32 chassis rails back in September 2007. If so, the 'Spring-over' front crossmember may have caught your eye. Well, Pinkee's Rod Shop is now offering this crossmember for sale individually, as well as a flat front crossmember and a cool rear crossmember, the latter two both drilled for appearance. All are fabricated from cold finished 1018 steel, water-jetted, and jog-welded.

Nose Art
American Speed Company manufactures the Speed 33 convertible-the roadster with power windows and integrated convertible roof that stows under the hinged rear deck area which we showed you in these pages back in May 2008-so a natural progression from producing the body would be to manufacture a grille shell to match, and that's exactly what the company has done.

Lethal Injection
A quartet of 48mm downdraft carburetors always looks good. Think AC Cobra or GT40. The guys at Dynatek Racing think so too but prefer fuel injection for drivability and performance over the temperamental carb setup, which is why they came up with this retro-modern Classic Fuel Injection, offering the looks of downdraft IDAs without the synchronization issues. Thanks to a sophisticated management system, Classic Fuel Injection has all but eliminated hard starting, plug fouling, and the compromised air/fuel mixture associated with the original downdraft carburetors. The best part is the self-learn, closed-loop capability that can perform the majority of the required tuning all by itself.

Get Down
How would you like to be able to be able to lower your '55-'57 Chevy by simply adding spindles, and keep your stock ball joints and steering arms, yet have the choice of a wide range of disc brake options? Classic Performance Products' new Modular Drop Spindles allow you to do just that. Precision cast from high-quality ductile iron and featuring 4140 chrome-moly CNC machined pins, they will lower your '55-'57 Chevy a full 2 inches.

Hangin' In There
If your project is as detailed underneath as it is on top, those clumsy exhaust hangers might be letting down an otherwise trick undercarriage. If that's the case, take a look at these billet hangers from Deeds Engineering. Available polished or unpolished to accept 21/41/4-, 21/21/2-, and 3-inch-diameter exhaust tubing, they feature a soft high-temperature bushing to dampen exhaust vibration transfer to the chassis. Stainless steel hardware clamps the two halves of the hanger together. For more information, contact
Deeds Engineering at (818) 842-2500, or www.deedsengineering.com.

Gauging Success
Auto Meter introduced a limited-edition short-sweep tachometer to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary in 2007. However, after production ceased, consumer response was so strong, and requests for the tachometer so numerous, that Auto Meter is now offering a restyled, non-limited-edition version, complete with a retro Auto Meter logo for a vintage look.

Pipe Dream
If you've ever tried to figure out how to cut tubing to fit perfectly against another piece of tubing, such as when fabricating a rollcage, you know just how hard it can be. Even cutting tubing to fit against a flat section at an angle can be awkward. No longer, though, thanks to Pipemaster's tool for perfect contour fits. Made using spring-tempered stainless pins and an aluminum outer shell, it allows you to transfer the shape of the cut perfectly, at any angle.

Selection Detection
It's all very well having a shifter that disguises an auto transmission as a manual, but oftentimes this leaves you guessing as to which gear you're in. That is unless you have a gear indicator, which these days will most likely be in LED form. Lokar's cable-operated billet-aluminum LED Shift Indicator unit is designed to enable it to mount to the transmission as shown, but also mount to the frame, floor pan, firewall, or inner fender. In fact, it can be mounted anywhere the 6 feet of cable can reach! There's also a remote mounting kit for locations like the trunk or behind the seat.

Wheel Deal
Ford fans have long been well looked after when it comes to reproduction parts, but what's been great to see in recent times is the increasing number of companies tooling up to supply other brands. Thanks to The Filling Station, you can now exchange your cracked and decidedly old-looking '31-40 Chevy steering wheel for a precise reproduction molded in hard rubber. There are three styles available, the '31-37 Master car and truck (except '37 Master Deluxe), a '33-36 Standard car, and a '38-40 truck wheel. In addition, The Filling Station can supply horn rings, horn buttons, and repair parts. For more information, contact The Filling Station at (800) 841-6622, or www.fillingstation.com.

Armed & Not Dangerous
As much as many of us like the look of '50s cars, their handling quality leaves more than a little to be desired by modern standards, which probably goes a long way in explaining the burgeoning aftermarket these cars currently enjoy. Classic Performance Products' 1958-64 Chevy Tubular Control Arm set provides the 5 degrees of caster required when running a modern power steering box; they can also run with as little as 11/2 degrees for manual steering. The arms come fully assembled with new billet cross-shafts and new OEM-type ball joints. CPP's unique pivot assemblies will never squeak, never need grease, and will last longer than any other bushing. They also have the added safety of interlocking pivot sleeves, unlike the originals, so these bolts will never come loose. The cold-formed spring pockets feature a helical stamped shape that securely locates the coil spring.

Dashing Good Looks
Think of all the aircraft influences seen on a number of rods recently. Seats, rivets, nose art, and gas fillers come immediately to mind, but one of the most striking airplane components, namely cockpit gauges, are always absent. That's not surprising when you consider they'd virtually all be of no use in a car, though we'd bet all you high-altitude rodders would like an altimeter!

(Led)Sleds
So you're mulling over what taillights to use on your hot rod-'46-48 Ford? Nah, too common, as are '59 Caddy lights.1948 Chevy perhaps, but they've been done to death too. You fancy teardrops but again they're everywhere. The shape's cool, though, so how about '38-39 Lincoln versions? Perfect, but where to get a hold of a pair? Well, funny you should mention that, as Technostalgia just introduced a recreation of the rare Zephyr light, incorporating 21 LEDs, guaranteeing ultra-bright performance and maximum visibility. The LED also features Technostalgia's RapidFire brake lights (the brake lights are pulsed rapidly three times within the first half-second of pressing the brake pedal followed by constant on).

Keep Your Cool
Heat has always been the number one cause of premature automatic transmission failure. Adding a trans cooler is the most effective way to keep your transmission cool and extend its durability and performance. TCI Automotive has just what you need with its new Max-Cool Transmission Cooler. Available in four different sizes, the TCI trans coolers utilize a special "plate and fin" design generates internal turbulence for highly efficient heat transfer, which reduces transmission temperatures by 33 percent over tube-style transmission coolers.The Max-Cool trans coolers

Gauging Opinion
A reliable set of gauges lets you know exactly what's going on under your hood, as well as in your gas tank, and can help prevent expensive or awkward breakdowns. Dolphin Instruments has made a couple of changes and additions to its range, namely the removal of its jumping dolphin logo, replacing it with the company name, and the introduction of the new EZ Touch speedometer that features one-touch programming for trip, hours, and a maximum-speed alarm. The full range of gauges including five- and six-gauge sets, and quad-gauge designs can be seen on the company's Web site. For more information, contact Dolphin Instruments at (386) 437-1944 or www.dolphingauges.com.

Wheel Neat AgainIf you're reading R&C, there's a strong chance you like your hot rod to lean toward the traditional style, and if so, this will reflect in the parts you choose for your ride. Juliano's is with you, and already offers numerous classic-style steering wheels, but the new Lake Wheel is a simple three-spoke, competition-style wheel for "those who yearn for hot rods of the early days."

Almost Blue
Do you use a general-purpose metal polish on your chrome? Tut, tut. You could be causing irreversible damage, as they contain abrasives that cut into brass and aluminum to remove contaminants. Deep Chrome is specifically designed for the delicate requirements of chrome surfaces, and can be used very aggressively yet never cause a scratch. It will, however, remove harsh chemical stains or clouding caused by wax-based polishes.

Under Pressure
The automatic transmission has reigned supreme in rods and customs since rodding shifted from "hot" to "street." But, as of late, there seems to be a return to using three pedals. Whether it's the rise in popularity of traditional rods, or simply a backlash against the increasingly reduced feedback a driver gets from even more automatic and electronic systems on daily drivers, we're not sure, but we're seeing a bunch of stick shifts lately. And, if your latest project has that third pedal, it follows that you'll need a clutch!