Photos Courtesy of Hill’s Hot Rods and JD Glassworks
Hill’s Hot Rods and JD Glassworks Reassemble This Classic Ford Hot Rod Truck Creation
Reassembling a custom truck project represents a milestone in the build process. As you turn every wrench and cinch down each bolt you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel—your project will soon be a stunning, low rolling reality. Suddenly all those late nights thrashing and transforming something from a battered basket case into a show-stopping head turner pay off as you get closer to turning the key, pulling the shifter into gear, applying pressure to the accelerator, and driving a truck that once seemed like it would never be road worthy again.
Back in 2007, Street Trucks launched the build series known as Project Fast Lane, a ‘56 Ford F-100 project that we aimed to build into a hot rod-styled classic truck project. Hill’s Hot Rods in Lubbock, Texas, took on the task of building the truck with interior and audio work to be handled by JD Glassworks. It all started with a guide in the August 2007 issue about how to find the right project truck, and from there each installment addressed the various stages of a frame-off custom truck project. We took you through everything from the teardown and sheet metal dip and strip to chassis fabrication and set up, drive train installation and set up, metal repair and custom bodywork, interior panel building and fabrication, and in recent months up to the finished paint work on the chassis, cab and body panels. Last month we showed the design and spray of the PPG two-tone paint scheme. This month we’ll see the truck transformed back into one piece, as body panels are bolted on, glass is installed, audio components are hooked up, upholstery panels are wrapped, and the Hill’s Hot Rods/JD Glassworks crew tightens down the final screws to complete Project Fast Lane.
Sources
Golden Rodtronics
Dept. STTR
13401 west 43rd Dr., #17
Golden, CO 80403
303.423.8597
Goldenrodtronics.com (http://www NULL.goldenrodtronics NULL.com/)
Magic Glass
806.781.3914
Finish Masters of Lubbock
806.763.5347
Hill’s Hot Rods
Dept. STTR
122 S.E. Loop 289
Lubbock, TX 79404
806.866.0586
Hillshotrods.com (http://www NULL.hillshotrods NULL.com/)
PPG Paint
Ppgrefinish.com (http://www NULL.ppgrefinish NULL.com/)
JD Glassworks
Dept. STTR
122 S.E. Loop 289
Lubbock, TX 79404
806.441.5137
Jd-glassworks.com (http://www NULL.jd-glassworks NULL.com/)
March Performance Pulleys
888.729.9070
Marchperformance.com (http://www NULL.Marchperformance NULL.com)
MSD Ignition
915.857.5200
Msdignition.com (http://www NULL.msdignition NULL.com/)
Metal Rehab
Dept. STTR
1908 Peyco Drive South
Arlington, TX 76001
817.466.3362
Metalrehab.com (http://www NULL.metalrehab NULL.com/)
Auto Meter Competition Instruments
Autometer.com (http://www NULL.autometer NULL.com/)
AVS
866.915.BAGS
Airbagparts.com (http://www NULL.airbagparts NULL.com/)
Be Cool Products
800.691.2667
Becool.com (http://www NULL.Becool NULL.com)
Blue Oval Truck Parts
866.258.6825
Blueovaltruckparts.com (http://www NULL.Blueovaltruckparts NULL.com)
Custom Autosound
Dept. STTR
1030 W. Williamson Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92833
800.888.8637
www.customautosound.com (http://www NULL.customautosound NULL.com/)
IXOS Speaker Wire
Ixos.co.uk (http://www NULL.Ixos NULL.co NULL.uk)
Currie Enterprises Inc.
714.528.6957
Currieenterprises.com (http://www NULL.currieenterprises NULL.com/)
Eaton Performance Differentials
800.328.3850
Eatonperformance.com (http://www NULL.Eatonperformance NULL.com)
ISIS Intelligent Multiplex System
847.232.1991
Isispower.com (http://Isispower NULL.com)
Ridetech
Dept. STTR
350 S. St. Charles
Jasper, IN 47546
812.481.4786
Ridetech.com (http://www NULL.ridetech NULL.com/)
Bebops Glassworks, Inc.
Dept. STTR
392 Country Rd. 609
Athens, TN 37303
877.577.8480
423.263.9594
Bebops-glassworks.com (http://www NULL.bebops-glassworks NULL.com/)
Doug’s Headers
Dougsheaders.com (http://www NULL.Dougsheaders NULL.com)
Edelbrock Corporation
Dept. STTR
2700 California St.
Torrance, CA 90503
310.781.2222
Edelbrock.com (http://www NULL.Edelbrock NULL.com)
LMC Truck
Dept. STTR
15450 W. 108th ST.
Lenexa, KS 66219
800.LMC.TRUCK
800.562.8782
LMCtruck.com (http://www NULL.LMCtruck NULL.com)
Bed Wood & Parts
877.206.9663
Bedwoodandparts.com (http://www NULL.Bedwoodandparts NULL.com)
Fisher Trim & Glass Company
Dept. STTR
8907 Avenue P.
Lubbock, TX 79423
806.745.8832
Flaming River Industries
800.648.8022
Flamingriver.com (http://www NULL.flamingriver NULL.com/)
Fast Eddy’s Hot Rod Art
281.455.2883
Fehrarules.com (http://www NULL.fehrarules NULL.com/)
Holley Performance Products
Holley.com (http://www NULL.Holley NULL.com)
JRD International
909.460.9288
Classic-new.com (http://www NULL.Classic-new NULL.com)
Kinetik
888.522.8346
Kinetikpower.com (http://www NULL.Kinetikpower NULL.com)
No Limit Engineering
Dept. STTR
455 South D. Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
909.386.7637
888.297.6032
Nolimit.net (http://www NULL.nolimit NULL.net/)
Electric Life
Dept. STTR
5990 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
800.548.2168
Electric-life.com (http://www NULL.Electric-life NULL.com)
Lokar Performance Products
Dept. STTR
10924 Murdock Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
877.469.7440
Lokar.com (http://www NULL.Lokar NULL.com)
Pro’s Pick Engineered Components
Dept. STTR
330 Smith St.
P.O. Box 70
Arthur, ON NOG 1 AO
Canada
800.865.7366
Pros-pick.com (http://www NULL.pros-pick NULL.com/)
Paul Horton’s Welder Series
888.648.2150
Welderseries.com (http://www NULL.Welderseries NULL.com)
Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation
Dept. STTR
11470 Main Rd.
Clarence, NY 14031
800.448.7722
Ssbrakes.com (http://www NULL.ssbrakes NULL.com/)
Sign Design
Signdesigngraphics.com (http://www NULL.Signdesigngraphics NULL.com)
Suicide Doors-Thorbecke Brothers
812.782.3581
Suicidedoors.com (http://www NULL.suicidedoors NULL.com/)
TREO Engineering
Dept. STTR
www.treoonline.com (http://www NULL.treoonline NULL.com)
Totally Stainless
800.767.4781
Totallystainless.com (http://www NULL.Totallystainless NULL.com)
Truck Shop/Car Shop
Dept. STTR
808 West Nicholas Ave.
Orange, CA 92868
714.771.7871
Truckandcarshop.com (http://www NULL.truckandcarshop NULL.com/)
Tuff Stuff Performance Accessories
Dept. STTR
9004 Madison Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44102
800.331.6562
Tuffstuffperformance.com (http://www NULL.Tuffstuffperformance NULL.com)
Ford Racing
Fordracingparts.com (http://www NULL.fordracingparts NULL.com/)
Art Carr’s California Performance Transmissions
Dept. STTR
5502 Engineer Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
800.278.2277
Cpttransmission.com (http://www NULL.Cpttransmission NULL.com)
bonspeed Wheels
714.666.1966
Bonspeedwheels.com (http://www NULL.bonspeedwheels NULL.com/)
BF Goodrich
Bfgoodrichtires.com (http://www NULL.Bfgoodrichtires NULL.com)
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- Kyle Black bolts up the reworked factory core support to the leading edge of the chassis to allow the fenders and hood to be bolted up.
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- To rejoin all of the truck’s body panels we used quality stainless steel fasteners from Totally Stainless, Inc. Totally Stainless offers a wide variety of stainless nuts, bolts, screws and washers and had a packaged vehicle specific kit for our ‘56 F-100 project as well as all the hardware for all of the truck’s engine accessories. This beats the hell out of running to the hardware store every hour on the hour to chase down the correct hardware.
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- The cab and front fenders are bolted together and mounted on the chassis. The hood is bolted up for a test fit and to double check the gaps. It will be removed as things are buttoned up in the engine bay and reinstalled later.
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- The core support, fenders, splash apron, radiator and LMC hood latch assembly are all installed to lay the foundation for our custom front end. Note the custom Totally Stainless hardware holding the fender tabs to the core support.
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- Mark Spencer and Max Heersink proceed with installing the doors to complete the smooth, flowing body lines of the cab.
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- Jason holds the door tight to the door jamb while Mark cranks the hinge hardware down inside the cab. LMC weather stripping was used to reseal the cab.
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- Our fresh grille and headlight housing from Truck Shop/Car Shop is installed and filled with new Euro headlights and chrome trim rings from LMC Truck. Note the custom AVS LED turn signals frenched into the grille shell. The LMC Euro headlights contain LMC halogen bulbs and were wired with a harness from LMC Truck
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- We paused to examine the progress. The truck is starting to take shape.
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- The guys from Magic Glass, a local Lubbock custom glass installation shop, came by to install our flush fit JRD International Auto Glass. Installing glass is an art form in itself, so we suggest having professionals like the guys from Magic Glass handle the job for you.
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- The one-piece JRD side glass and Electric Life window regulators are installed in the doors.
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- Mark bolts up the custom Lokar billet door pulls to provide a clean street rod finishing touch to exit the cab.
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- Here are the custom floor panels built and covered by Jimmy Davis of JD Glassworks. They wear Whisper Cinnamon leather.
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- All of the custom interior panels by JD Glassworks are covered in a combination of Whisper Cinnamon leather and chocolate brown carpet. Lots of woodworking and fiberglass shaping were done on these panels to get them perfect before they were covered in leather. TREO audio components will kick behind the panels when the volume knob is pinned.
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- The custom door panels are sprayed with upholstery glue and are prepped for the Whisper Cinnamon leather.
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- The custom armrest panels receive the same treatment.
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- Here is a shot of the completed door panel with the Whisper Cinnamon leather and custom ‘50s Edsel passenger car pattern. Holes are cut for the Lokar oval billet interior door handles and the custom JD Glassworks courtesy light.
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- The Glide split back bench seat was upholstered in Whisper Cinnamon leather with custom Edsel insert patterns by David Fisher at Fisher Trim & Glass Company in Lubbock.
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- Jimmy Davis of JD Glassworks built the custom back cab panel for the TREO amplifiers and the Littlefuse ISIS Multiplex wiring system. A TREO MSX 1 amplifier for the subwoofer was used and an MSX 2 amplifier for the mids and highs was installed. A TREO 8-inch subwoofer was mounted in a custom enclosure that fires underneath the dash with 6-inch TREO mids with tweeters mounted in custom kick panels.
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- Mark Spencer addresses installations inside the custom interior. Check out the flat cinnamon paint on the dash and the flat graphite gray stripe pulled down the center of the completely shaved and smoothed dash.
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- Here you can see the inner cab framework based in flat cinnamon. Note how the paint flows onto all of the inner cab structure surfaces, even the door jamb frames, so that when you look in the cab all you see are the interior colors.
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- The custom audio and wiring system panel is installed against the back cab wall. The TREO amplifiers and audio gear were wired using IXOS wiring, fuse blocks, RCAs, power wire and speaker wire. The ISIS Multiplex wiring system will control all of the truck’s numerous power needs from ignition, headlights, taillights, power windows and the Vintage Air A/C system.
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- Jimmy fed the IXOS wiring for the TREO audio goods underneath the custom Whisper Cinnamon-covered floor panel. All of the wiring for the Custom Auto sound Secret Audio SST unit and the Ridetech air control panel is neatly concealed underneath the custom floor panels.
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- The Flaming River steering column is reinstalled and the Auto Meter gauges are reinstalled and wired.
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- The interior was coming together with the Whisper Cinnamon leather-covered floor panels secured to the floor; the Flaming River steering column installed; The Auto Meter gauges installed; the Lokar interior accessories, shifter and pedal kit installed; the Vintage Air A/C controls mounted in the custom console; and the brown carpet tacked to the floorboards.
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- Jimmy installs the custom steering column base he made, which was built by hand and covered in Whisper Cinnamon leather.
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- Here you can see the rear custom cab work start to take shape with the hand-built panels by JD Glassworks surrounding the TREO audio gear. A matching panel will be installed for the passenger side to surround the ISIS Multiplex wiring system power cells.
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- To house the Ridetech control panel and the Custom Autosound Secret Audio SST (stealth sound technology) unit Jimmy built a custom pod in the floor right in front of the driver seat. This allows for easy adjustment and a stealthy mounting location for these items. The Secret Audio SST is designed for street rods, classics and customs, and features an LCD unit that can be mounted virtually anywhere. It’s also satellite radio and iPod-ready. Secret Audio features a 1-inch deep LCD, making mounting clean and easy with tuning built into the unit with classic, pop, jazz, beat and rock settings and the ability to pre-set up to 24 stations.
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- The interior nears completion as the door panels are installed and the custom ‘50s era Edsel insert pattern is laid into the sculpted section of the panel.
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- Pausing for a moment, we take a look at Fast Lane. All that’s left is to do is remount the hood and bed, complete some wiring, mount the air management system for the air ride, install the custom wood bed floor and strips, mount the wheels and tires and set the truck on the ground.
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- The Ford Racing Boss 302 crate engine is installed and topped with a March Performance pulley system, MSD ignition, Doug’s coated headers and an Edelbrock carburetor. A Be Cool Radiator will keep it cool for extended cruising.
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- The custom leopard wood bed floor planks from Jeff Majors Bed Wood & Parts are set on a cart and cleared prior to installation.
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- The custom Pros Pick bed with custom Sir Michaels roll pan and AVS LED taillights is set on a dolly to enable the installation of the Ridetech air management system.
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- The Hill’s Hot Rods build team mounts all of the Ridetech air management system components underneath the bed, including the air tanks, compressors and Ridetech air valves.
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- Here is a shot of the completed Jeff Majors Bed Wood & Parts custom leopard wood bed floor with polished speed bump strips. This truck’s hauling days are officially over.
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- The 20-inch bonspeed Quasar billet wheels and BF Goodrich rubber are bolted on out back before the bed is set back on the chassis.
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- Jason and Mark inspect the rear of the chassis prior to mounting the bed for any last minute details. The chassis is ready for the Pro’s Pick bed to be installed.
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- The bed was lifted back onto the chassis and lined up for hardware.
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- Here you can get a clear look at the custom false floor built to run over the top of the step notch and conceal the fuel tank. The Jeff Majors Bed Wood & Parts bed floor and polished Speed Bump strips liven up the bed, while the Totally Stainless fender bolts provide nice detailing contrast to the custom-mixed cream paint.
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- The interior is all buttoned up with custom stitch work by David Fisher on the Glide Seat. The custom console, door panels and floor panels by Jimmy Davis of JD Glassworks and a smoothed dash hit with flat tan and gray by Hill’s Hot Rods round out the cruising chamber. The Auto Meter gauges, Flaming River column, Lokar shifter and interior accessories and Vintage Air A/C control panel provide polished contrast.
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- To keep the amount of switches to a minimum the power windows and horn button are activated through this custom horn button from Golden Rodtronics. It keeps a window switch off of the door panel for an ultra clean look, and they are discretely hidden inside of the horn button.
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- The hood is remounted and the front clip is complete.
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- Sign Design made a custom plate for the back of Fast Lane that ties in the door graphic and project builders.
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- Completely reassembled, Project Fast Lane sits laid out on the shop floor ready to cruise.
Tags: Be Cool Products, Custom Autosound, Hill’s Hot Rods, MSD Ignition, Street Trucks, ‘56 Ford F-100
