The New 2013 Mustang

Everyone has an Inner Mustang. Unleash yours.

1953 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck

When you're 16 years old, life moves at a fast pace. Your mouth writes checks your proverbial butt can't cash, your vast amount of assumed knowledge is light years ahead of your actual knowledge, and dreams run much wilder than your wallet. Yet there is light at the end of the tunnel. For most things come full circle and eventually meet at an equal playing ground. On that ground dreams become reality. For Clayton Lashley his dreams and vision met head on when he turned 63 years old.


Growing up, Clayton's dad taught him to drive in his '56 Ford F-100. As Clayton cruised the streets of the Midwest his mind often drifted towards vivid visions of customizing the old man's truck. However, Clayton's pocketbook and skill didn't quite see eye-to-eye with Dad. In light of his misfortunes Clayton had no choice but to wait his turn. Years later-many years later-this '53 F-100 edged its way into the picture for $250! From that point on, Clayton set out to build the Ford that his 16-year-old self wanted back in 1962.
Not only did the look of the Ford need to match Clayton's '60's vision, but the ingenuity needed to as well. Instead of opting to take the chassis into the 21st century Clayton was content to stay in 1962. To bring the nose down to the appropriate stance Clayton installed a 2-inch drop axle with a reversed eyelet spring. The front axle was also moved forward 11/4 inches to satisfy Clayton's vision for the front wheelwell opening. The only feature out of place on the chassis are the '70 Chevy disc brakes mounted at opposing ends of the axle, but Clayton figured he'd sacrifice a bit of nostalgia for safety. In the rear, Clayton picked up a '57 Ford station wagon 9-inch with 3.70 gears. Coupled with the new 9-inch is a set of de-arched '80 Chevy leaf springs.


When it came to power, Clayton asked himself what would he have done in 1962? The answer was to set out and hit the junkyards looking for a Hemi, Cadillac, or Oldsmobile engine; therefore he followed his 16-year-old mind-set. What he found was 331 cubic inches of Chrysler Imperial Hemi power. Clayton had the Hemi bored 0.030 over, and from there installed a set of Egge 9:1 pistons with Sealed Power rings. At the heart of the motor lies an Isky 270 Mega cam with a max lift and duration of 0.450 inch and 220 degrees. Atop the Hemi sits an aluminum hi-rise intake manifold with a 600-cfm Holley carburetor. Various '60's-era speed parts meandered their way into the engine bay, including an original Moon fuel block, finned breather cap, and a chrome "helmet" air cleaner. Mated to the 331 Hemi is a Chevy 700-R4 tranny with a 2,200-stall converter. Combine the overdrive tranny with the 350-horse Hemi and not only is the Ford good for light-to-light action, but long hauls are just as efficient.


From the day Clayton entered the hot rod world he has dabbled in several genres. Whether it's hot rods, customs, or race cars Clayton has found himself knee deep in the throes of all. Pulling bits and pieces of each genre he conjured up the exterior look of his '53. For starters, an inch was taken from the A-pillars for a more streamlined look. Matching the newly reshaped top is the pie-cut hood, which also received a 1-inch slice. Another subtle look up front are the reshaped front fenders. Clayton added 11/2 inches to the rear of the front fender openings for a more symmetrical look. Next, all the door corners were rounded and the vent windows were removed. In the rear, the stake pockets were filled, the edges were rounded, the tailgate chains were removed, and various other little tweaks were performed as well. The key focal points of the bed are the '37 Ford taillights with the custom mounts and the "FirePower" logo from a Hemi valve cover inserted in the tailgate's skin.


With the metalwork finished Clayton was at a loss for color, but Clayton's wife had it all figured out for him, Hugger Orange. As it turned out the color struck a chord with Clayton so he filled up his gun with PPG Hugger Orange. Clayton then called pinstriper Ron Myers to lay down some lines for a distinguished, and period correct, look. The stock Ford rims were painted to match the exterior and outfitted with Spider caps and beauty rings. Finishing things off are a set of whitewalls, 215/70/15s in the front and 265/75/15s in the rear.


Under the dash Clayton installed a '61 Ford hanging pedal assembly. Providing heat and air to the cab of the '53 is a Nostalgia Air unit. Action Auto Trim, in Midwest City, Oklahoma, upholstered the interior in black and white rolls-and-pleats, and they finished the job off with a custom Hugger Orange tonneau cover. It may be a few years after that initial revelation, but as the old saying goes, it truly is better late than never!

John Force Racing: John And Courtney Force Prepare For Her Rookie Funny Car Season

John Force is getting anxious as another one of his daughters, Courtney Force, gets prepped for her rookie Funny Car debut in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Series.

Highway Products Semi, Pickup & SUV Accessories

Highway Products built this headache rack for one of our creative customers. We liked it so much we thought you might like it too.

 We can build this unit as is or make a few changes to fit your liking. We don't sell the caution lights on top but we carry the sealed beam stop/turn/backup lights in stock. Pick the caution light you want and we'll build the mounts to fit from manufacturer specs.

We've also added a few new headache racks to our web site for you to choose from as well. Take a Look.


 http://www.highwayproducts.com/

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Presidents Day

The third Monday of February celebrates the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and George Washington (Feb. 22). Most Americans refer to this day as President's Day.

Here are some interesting facts about the day and the two presidents it honors:

1) It's Not Really Presidents Day, Federally Speaking

The official name of the holiday remains Washington's Birthday. A draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 would have renamed the holiday to Presidents' Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln, but this proposal failed in committee and the bill as voted on and signed into law on June 28, 1968 kept the name Washington's Birthday. (Source: Wikipedia)

2) Happy Harry Truman Day?

In 1971, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the that the third Monday of February would honor ALL past presidents of the United States of America. Since that change the day is commonly referred to as "Presidents Day".

3) Check Your Calendar

In New Mexico, state government employees are given a paid holiday on Presidents Day - the day after Thanksgiving!

4) Washington Didn't Sleep Here

George Washington is the only U.S. president who did not live in the White House; it wasn't completed until after he left office.

5) Where's the Party?

Washington did not belong to a political party; he fervently opposed them. Before the establishment of the Republican party, Lincoln was a member of the Whig party.

6) Mailing It In

George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp. Abraham Lincoln is the only president honored on a U.S. Airmail stamp.

7) Tall Tales

Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6' 4" tall, while George Washington was 6' 2" tall.

The Lincoln Memorial is 99 feet tall and President Lincoln's statue is 19 feet tall. The Washington Memorial is 555 feet and 5 1/8 inches tall, according to the National Park Service.

8) Home Sweet Home

Although the state of Illinois is known as the "Land of Lincoln", he was born in Hardin County, Kentucky on February 12, 1809.

Lincoln began his political career in Illinois, serving as a State Assemblyman in 1834.

9) Honesty Is The Best Policy

Both men were highly esteemed for their honesty. The "I cannot tell a lie" cherry tree tale paid tribute to Washington's reputation for truth. Lincoln's nickname was "Honest Abe", for legend has it he once walked several miles to return a customer's overpayment of 6 cents when he worked at a general store.

10) Washington defeats Lincoln, 31 -17

Thirty-one counties in the United States are named for Washington while only 17 counties are named after Lincoln.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5939194

The 1966 Ford Bronco

The 1966 Ford Bronco

In 1965 Ford designers began sketching a newcomer to the then fledgling SUV market; the Ford Bronco. Code named U100 by Ford engineers; the 1966 Bronco was designed to compete with the Jeep and International Scout. Those two being the only American competition, Ford saw an untapped market and poised itself to take advantage of the growing trend. The new Bronco, light weight, nimble and four wheel drive, fit that market perfectly and went on for a successful 30 year run.

That first Bronco, like the Scout and Jeep, was a true utilitarian vehicle. It was marketed as a work truck to farmers and ranchers in rural parts of the country and as a hunting and camping vehicle for the growing group of outdoorsmen. While it could also take the family to the grocery store and road trips, that really wasn't its strong suit. More than a few automotive magazines of the day commented on how much better the Bronco shined off the pavement then on.

There were few creature comforts in the early years; no power steering, power disc brakes or automatic transmission. A stick shift was your only choice and that was a "three on the tree" style with the shifter awkwardly mounted to the steering column. The interior was sparse to say the least with a painted metal dash and metal door panels. A large rubber floor mat was stock. Customers had to special order something as luxurious as carpet.

There was no air conditioning and all seats but the drivers were optional. One of the more unique features of the early Broncos was the windshield wipers mounted above rather than below the windshield. And for 1966-1968 the wiper motors were troublesome vacuum operated units instead of electric.

Bronco Body Styles

Body style choices for the first early Broncos consisted of 3 choices; Wagon, Halfcab pickup and Roadster convertible. All three were essentially the same vehicle, simply with a different top and door configurations. It was an efficient design solution combined with a great marketing strategy. With very little extra tooling and a minimum of special parts, Ford could offer three distinct body styles without the typical extra expense.

The Wagon was by far the most popular and eventually would become the only body style offered. It featured a removable all-steel top that went the full length of the cockpit and bed. A lift up rear window provided access to the small storage area behind the rear seat. The full wagon top provided protection from the elements in bad weather, but if the owner wanted to go topless it was just a matter of removing some bolts and getting a friend or two to help lift the top off.

The Halfcab model was in reality a short pickup. Unlike the full length top of the wagon, the halfcab top only covered the front two seats. A metal bulk head right behind the front seats formed the forward wall of the pickup bed and gave a support for the short top to bolt to. Ford touted the 32.8 cubic feet of cargo box as the largest of any vehicle in its class, although in reality there was no other pickup of that size to compare to. The 1966 halfcab Bronco was one of the first trucks to have the moniker "Sport Utility Vehicle" attached to it.

Rounding out the three body styles was the Roadster convertible, rolling off the dealer lots with no roof or doors. This was marketed as the fun, carefree open air car for the beach or mountains. Fiberglass inserts helped round off the otherwise squared off door openings, but they really provided no protection. To complete the "wind in your hair" feeling, the Roadster front windshield could be folded down to lay on the hood, secured by a special mount. The Roadster was the shortest lived of all the Bronco body styles and only 5,000 were made before it was discontinued in 1968.

After it's introduction in 1966 the early Bronco would continue for 11 years until finally a new larger body style was introduced in 1978. Each subsequent year of the early Bronco brought new options, upgrades or safety equipment, but it's hard to beat the original. The 1966 Bronco was the first of a new breed and remains an excellent and very collectible example of a pure classic 4x4.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2438498

Free Alternative Fuel Training Class!

To register, call Warren Johnson at (530) 893-5209, ext.12 or email wjohnson@transferflow.com.For more information go to http://www.transferflow.com/propane_training.html

Our Next Event Is Announced!

Our next Nor Cal Ford Truck Club event is all lined up and being announced today. It will be our 2nd Annual Ford Customer Appreciation Day and is scheduled for April 19th, 2012.

This is an opportunity for dealers, general managers, sales managers, service and parts managers, and commercial truck sales people to say thank you to some of their great customers. Invite your customers out for a day of fabulous food, great golf and socializing.

The event will be held at the ever-popular and centrally located Woodbridge Golf and Country Club in Woodbridge at Lodi, CA.

Our guest speaker will be 4-Time NHRA World Champion, Gary Scelzi.

Golf will be a shotgun start in a Shamble format. Dinner will be filet Mignon, chicken cordon Bleu. Yum!

Get sign-up form, and see PayPal buttons for convenience on our website at www.NorCalFordTruckClub.com or www.NCFTC.com.

2013 Shelby GT500 Clips

The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 running footage with a segment of Tanner Foust running a lap at VIR.

FORD RACING SWEEPS ROLEX 24

Historic events are often filled with special moments, and the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 was no exception. Ford powered cars managed to sweep the podium of North America's greatest endurance test at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday to kick off the 2012 season of the Grand-Am Rolex series.

Michael Shank Racing's No. 60 Daytona Prototype claimed the checkered flag, followed by Starworks Motorsport's No. 8 DP and the MSR No. 6 DP, giving the Blue Oval its first DP victory at Daytona since 2003, and its first overall victory in the 24-hour marathon event since 1999.

A.J. Allmendinger piloted across the finish line seconds ahead of pole winner Ryan Dalziel, and Filipe Nasr soon followed to complete the impressive feat.

Each of the three Ford teams on the podium led at least one lap, including a race-best 295 by the No. 8 and 249 by the No. 60. The three teams combined to pace 545 of the 761 completed laps.

Can A Car Survive The Toughest Terrain?

Aussie carpenter Caleb set off, with three of his mates, on an epic 40-hour drive in search of a legendary place to go fishing. And he certainly took his Ford Ranger off the beaten track to get there. See Caleb (and his Ranger) travel through the inhospitable outback and over the harshest, car-breaking terrain to find that perfect spot. Real world challenges don't get much more 'real', or challenging, than this.

A Real Ford Monster Truck

Can a Ford 4x4 really pull an 18 wheeler truck from the mud? Or is this just hype to sell Ford trucks. Watch this video and decided for yourself. Is it something to the slogan build FORD tough.

Ford Truck History -- Rise Of The F-150

Truck sales and SUV sales have collapsed but the All-American pick up truck still commands a loyal following. And truck buyers are the most brand loyal consumers who swear their Ford, Chevy or Dodge is better than the competition. This was one market foreign competitors haven't been able to conquer. This short video takes a look at the rise of the Ford F-150, the best selling truck in America.

2 Min On Course With Chris Duplessis

Sno*Drift has 24 stages and 130 miles of icy, slick often treacherous roads. On Friday Chris Duplessis spent 1 hour 39 minutes and 27.3 seconds on stage in his Team O'Neil Motorsports R2 Fiesta. Here are two minutes in the car with Chris.

Accessories - Productivity, Safety, Efficiency

There are so many jobs a truck body can be used for, and the more things that need to get done, the more options there needs to be to suit those tasks.

Accessories can make all the difference in how safely work can be done, how efficiently adding to your productivity and to add additional security to keep your valuable tools and equipment safe. Some very popular accessories are adding drawer assemblies inside compartments in service bodies, contractor bodies, plumber bodies, then there is the Sortimo brand storage products to insure that you have the most organized truck. Master locking system helps keep your stuff safe. Then there's winches, generators, air compressors, electrical power, special lighting to be able to work at night, cargo bed enclosures, power locks, and so much more.

Some of these accessories can increase your productivity so much that you can't imagine living without them again. Just think about carrying a lot of small items that you need to fix things in the field and then having a set of drawers to hold all of it and make it easy to access. We can make suggestions of the right accessories to help you get your work done better. Just give us a call and we'll introduce you to some good ideas.

Below are a very small selection of these kind of accessories.

http://www.calworktrucks.com/productofferings/accessories.html

HD Drawers

4 Corner Strobe Lights

Warn Winch with Brush Gaurd

The Series 1000 Standard Truck Rack by Rack-it

Gary Kank give us a tour of the standard series 1000 truck rack by Rack-it. This great rack is an all welded one piece rack made of schedule 10 pipe with premium features. Rack-it has been building tough racks since 1986. See more at http://www.rackitinc.com.