1987 GMC Jimmy "Square Peg" at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 7th installment of Best of SEMA Show 2013... One more custom truck that might be the cleanest Jimmy you've ever seen!     Laid out in the Painless Performance booth, feast your eyes on Mike and Sarah Losh's "Square Peg" Jimmy. To really appreciate this truck, look back on where it came from. How about starting with a 1987 GMC JIMMY 4x4, then with tons of patience and help from a few SEMA sponsors converting that into a 2WD, frame laying out on the ground LS powered custom hauler!   Here's the before pictures:     A solid old truck to start with, but the transformation is IMPRESSIVE!!   As beautiful as this truck is from the outside, the inside was a plush work of art... nothing less for Mike's beautiful bride, right? I especially like how the plaid interior fabric's a throwback to the original interior found in the 4x4. Those kinds of subtle-cool touches set this truck apart. That's a Painless Performance compact fuse panel hiding in the glove box.     Square Peg. Yes, in...

1954 COE with 450HP Cummins at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 6th installment of Best of SEMA Show 2013... Why not something totally unexpected?     First of all, what the heck is this? Well, if you're not familiar with Welderup, then this custom 1954 GMC COE (stands for cab over engine) might come as a bit of a shock. Then again, if this is shocking to you... you probably haven't ever been to SEMA!   Trucks like this... Yes TRUCKS... hammered on the ground rocking engines with grunt-enough to to rip your neighbor's Dodge a brand-new-one... That's really what SEMA showcases most! Filthy as the VIP salon of "Glitter's" in Las Vegas, over-the-top power and excess. Yep. WE LOVE THAT!     Plus, COE's are just cool. My buddy Rob built a long bed COE shown here in a keyless ignition how-to. I rode in Rob's COE. It cruises low and comfortable on air, A/C on, with plenty of power from a gutsy small block Chevy. Rob's COE turns heads like this one does, even without the bright green Cummins diesel out back!     Here it is... a...

Custom Chevy Corvair Even Ralph would Love at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 5th installment of Best of SEMA Show 2013... Carrie Strange's Corvair, eh FRONT engine Corvair!!     In the early 1990's, "Dare to be Different" was the battle cry of the street machine crowd, and many alternative body styles were sought out and made into some bad-ass rides. From radical little Nash-bodied pro-streeters to slammed Studebakers and odd-year Buicks, it all became fair game.   Tim Strange has built his share of different cars over the years, even a wild, Hemi-powered 1951 DeSoto, so it should come as no surprise that when his wife Carrie wanted a Periwinkle-hued, no make that orchid hued, front engine Corvair that he'd be all over it.   And all over it in record time!   Tim and Carrie built this stunning Corvair in three and-a-half months (between another SEMA build and customer cars, no less!) in their Nashville-based shop, Strange Motion Rod and Custom Construction.     Starting with a Fat Man front stub, Tim built a custom 2x4-inch tube chassis, mounting the side draft-carbed 4.3L V-6 and TH-2004R...

1923 Track T Hot Rod Roadster at 2013 SEMA Show   This is the 4th installment of Hot Rods at SEMA Show 2013. This ones so cool, I had to show it!     In case you didn't know, I have a 1927 Ford Roadster. It's built in the style of a "modified" roadster. In my wildest dreams, my hot rod roadster would look this great! I guess besides being old Ford Roadsters, they're not much alike...   Unlike the 4-banger in my roadster, this one's running a Chevrolet IMSA Spec LS3. What does that mean besides, "TONS of go in a small, lightweight car". According to the show card, this is 1 of 2 prototypes built using a monocoque frame. Careful design including a handmade steel body with an aluminum track nose and hood results in a featherweight 1600 lbs dry.   Look at that silhouette!   The builder is listed as Track Master Products. I looked and didn't find a website, but these guys killed it. I want to fold up my legs, forget ever having a full size man as a passenger and go for a long, but high...

Custom and Deadly 1940 Ford Truck at 2013 SEMA Show   Another SEMA 2013 Hot Rod and this one's KOSMIC!   Looks like I'm on a 1940 Ford Hot Rod kick for SEMA Show 2013. Picking some of my favorite hot rods, it just so happens that one's the 1940 Ford from Chaotic Customs (and #2 in my best of) and the other's the "Kosmic Outcast" 1940 Ford Pickup, aka: "Intergalactic Weapon of Destruction!"  (at least that's what the show card said!!)     I didn't get a chance to talk with the owners or builders on this terrific custom hot rod, but I had to post pictures... if you can stand out in the shadow of the HUGE Ford display, then you've really stepped up, don't you think? Hats off to the builders at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle!     Luckily, the show card tells part of the story... Besides proclaiming this the Intergalactic Weapon of Destruction, we learned the blown beast up front is a 1959 Oldsmobile 371 Rocket. And no, it's not hooked to an old lady's automatic... it's hooked to a 5 speed TKO600! I totally dig...

Streched and Custom 1940 Ford Truck at 2013 SEMA Show   Once again, is SEMA known for Hot Rods? Ahhh... maybe it's time we changed our minds! I've got a couple more hot rods from SEMA Show 2013 to share with you! This one's from our friends at Chaotic Customs in Kansas. Owners Chris and Karma Carlson hooked up with NAPA Auto Parts and Martin Senour Paints to have the freshly done hot rod pickup in their SEMA booth. A wise choice!     We ran through the details on how truck owner Mike Young had his eye on 1949-1951 Chevy Fleetlines but Chris knew of a fairly clean 1940 Ford pickup. When Mike saw the 1940 Ford, Mike said confidently, "You can't drink it pretty!" (turns out that wasn't quite true...)   The story's your typical "barn find" truck out of Mulvane, Kansas that was... was going to be a nice driver. "It got out of hand..."     When you review all the build pictures, you'll start to see all the customizing work done by Chris totaling 200 body mods. After trying some body work myself, I'm most impressed on how...

Injected Ford SOHC 1932 Ford Roadster at 2013 SEMA Show   Is SEMA known for Hot Rods? I have to say late model cars (unfortunately) dominate at the SEMA Show. There are times when I felt like I was tripping over the new Camaro, Mustang and of course, the Scion FR-S.  Those are the "modern day hot rods" I guess, so it could be worse.   But could it be any better than this?     I think not!   The beast you're staring at is an original, "Sock" motor. If you heard that and said, "WHAT??" Then let me clue you in. Sock refers to SOHC or single over head cam. You'll also hear it called a "Cammer" motor refering again to the overhead cam design. Ford, in the glory days of racing, back in 1964, set forth on the world one of it's most glorious creations. Why? (besides why not!) They were merely trying to compete with the Chrysler 426 HEMI at the track. What's the harm in that?     The Ford Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) 427 engine left the drawing board based on the hipo 427...

2013 SEMA Show Custom Car Pics   Hot rod and classic car parts makers, buyers, sellers or just gawkers all came and went this last week November 5-8th.   The 2013 SEMA Show is done.   The show, from everyone I talked to, was a huge success. Everyone commented on how full the show floor space was, and how many people came by. Despite all the gawkers and media hacks (like me!) business was handled, so now it's time to do mine!   See all of the 2013 SEMA Show Stories here. Or... if you just want pictures, check out the very large... and still growing SEMA Custom Car Picture gallery here.   Here's just a few samples...   Something EXOTIC Something CUSTOM   Something REALLY CUSTOM   Something HOT ROD   Something OFF ROAD   OF COURSE there's more!!!  See the rest of the pictures here: SEMA Custom Car Pictures   Thanks for stopping by! What'd we miss that you want to see?   Catch all the action from SEMA - "Live from SEMA" - Click the banner below or follow this link to see all the coverage from SEMA...

More Custom Vans at 2013 SEMA Show   I already mentioned the "Chrome Gypsy" custom For Econoline van, now it's time for a Dodge and Chevy custom van.   Has the SEMA Show changed their criteria? Are they letting just about anything in the show now? Or... are these some RAD, well done vans that make a clear statement: Custom Vans are back!     First up, a van named, "Van del Oro" and we'd have to agree... Van of GOLD! In the morning sun (unfortunately parked in the shadow of a huge column) this van was glowing. A quick peak inside said the beauty was more than skin deep.     With more gold, and I think a little more metal flake on the interior highlighted by a Mooneyes steering wheel, chrome dash and Moon pedal, there's a clear attention to detail. Upholstery was by Howdy Ledbetter Upholstery and looked clean, custom and comfortable.   Under the engine cover? How about a 380 HP 360 Dodge. Toy's by Tommy and owner ??? (help here) are keeping it in the Dodge family. Thank you for not dropping in a...

Best Hot Rod Parts at SEMA 2013   What is SEMA? A reason to meet friends, drink too much and gamble? No! Not during the day!   It's a trade show for all things automotive aftermarket... I tell people, "Anything with wheels" is at the SEMA Show. Lucky for me, helping out with the Live from SEMA website, I get to cover my favorite part of the show: Hot rod parts! So here's 13 of my picks for cool new hot rod products from SEMA 2013. Blown LS - For Function and Style   Edelbrock's E-Force Supercharger system for Chevy LS engines is a hard piece to miss! Who wouldn't want to have this polished positive displacement bad-boy poking out of their hood? The E-Force Systems run dual 4150 style bolt pattern flanges, so bolt up your favorite carb or run a set of EFI throttle bodies...  Your final choice? Get your blower polished like this one, or go with a satin finish, either way, both get the job done better than the stock intake setup. No? See a tasty 750+ HP in the video here.   Boost, RPM and Pressure...

New Entries Selected from the SEMA 2013 Show Floor     OPTIMA® Batteries Announces “Golden Ticket” Winners for the 2013 Ultimate Street Car Invitational Best-of-the-Best SEMA Show Vehicles Selected to Compete In Sixth Annual Invitational on November 9th   November 7, 2013 (LAS VEGAS) – OPTIMA® Batteries announced the final vehicle participants for the 2013 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, during a press conference at the SEMA Show. These qualifiers were selected by a committee of OPTIMA and industry representatives who walked the SEMA show floor in Las Vegas to recognize the best of the best across all performance vehicle segments.   The following drivers are the finalists selected, earning a spot to compete in this year’s OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational: 2010 Audi R8, William Horan 1950 Chevy Thriftmaster Truck, Jonathan Ward 1993 Mazda RX-7, Scott Sangpiel 1973 Chevy Camaro, Randy Johnson 2013 Ford Focus ST-M, Mark German 1969 Pontiac GTO, Darren Nickleson 1965 Ford Mustang, Alan Palmer 1995 Toyota Supra, Joe Delgato 1968 Chevy Camaro, Karl Dunn 1967 Ford Mustang, Ed Moss   “There are so many extraordinary vehicles at SEMA and we are always impressed with the quality of unique vehicles that are at the show,”...

Custom Vans at 2013 SEMA Show   Vans. They're not just for living down by the river anymore. (RIP Chris Farely aka Matt Foley)   One of my EASY picks for "Favorite at SEMA" has to be this custom Ford Econoline Van. Not since Church's VanGO has a van made a statement like this. With metal flake shining in the Las Vegas sun, I had to grab some pictures and share. If metal flake's your thing, make sure to look at the other metal flake paint stories and pictures we've done including a "how-to" about spraying flake yourself.     Complimenting the cooper-gold flaked flames and stripes, the gold leaf lettering spelled "Chrome Gypsy Tattoo" a Las Vegas based tattoo and piercing shop. A perfect calling card for the shop, yea??     How do you paint metal flake on a roof with this detail? Standing on a latter for days!!?? Someone lets us know who did the paint... they deserve credit!     Custom details and more metal flake covered the interior. I heard the engine's detailed and flaked too. I'll try to grab a picture tomorrow.  ...