All together now...
Anyone who spends any time at all in their garage knows how frustrating it is trying to find the right fastener when in the middle of a job, digging through old coffee cans of used bolts. Of course you always intend to sort them by size and have 'em organized, but it never happens does it? Which is where Copper State's Portable Fastener Kit comes in. It contains more than 100 pre-sorted fasteners in a steel organizer with two carrying handles and five plastic drawers, each with 16 compartments.
The hardware includes an assortment of popular grade 5 to 8 coarse-thread hex head cap screws in 1/4- to 1/2-inch diameter, from 3/4- to 3-inch lengths, grade 8 nuts metal crimped-lock nuts, hardened flat washers, hi-alloy lock washers, fender washers, sheetmetal and machine screws, Keps nuts, hex-head self drilling screws, a bottle of Loctite, three sizes of hose clamps, assorted electrical terminals and rivet nuts. For more information contact the Copper State Bolt and Nut Company at (800) 603-6887 or www.copperstate.com.
Bring your '55 Alive
Whether you're bringing a '55 Chevy back from the dead or prefer cutting up virgin sheetmetal when creating a kustom, Sherman and Associates just made the job a little easier with the introduction of reproduction front fenders for the first year of Chevy's triumvirate. Matching all the details of the originals, the new fenders are die-formed in Detroit.
In addition to the new fenders, Sherman offers a full line of exterior and underbody sheetmetal and repair panels, as well as accessories, for older GM, Chrysler and Ford vehicles, shippable worldwide, with the highest standards of fit and finish. For more information, contact Sherman and Associates at (800) 345-9487 or www.shermanparts.com.
A Clean Sweep
Living out here on the West Coast, it probably comes as little surprise that we get to see a number of hot rods without windshield wipers, though the rain earlier this year probably left a number of people wishing they'd fitted them! Of course many other areas don't enjoy such dry weather, and wipers are essential equipment. If you have a '59-64 full-size Chevy you can now ditch those weak wipers and install a Clean Wipe high performance replacement motor kit. These kits feature an all-new, heavy-duty two-speed, self-parking drive motor that is smaller yet more powerful than the originals. They are direct bolt-in and connect to your stock linkage arms. New Port also offers an optional intermittent delay switch, washer pump kit and switch conversion designed to work with your original knob and bezel. For more information contact New Port Engineering at (800) 829-1929 or www.newportwipers.com.
Beltin' 'em Out
If you run an A/C compressor and power steering in addition to an alternator, the bracketry involved can become a little overwhelming, especially when it comes to lining all the pulleys up perfectly. There are numerous aftermarket accessory bracket kits, though Rocky Hinge's new Street Drive SD1 V-belt system uses a unique one-piece mid bracket, making it very rigid and easy to install, as well as ensuring perfect pulley alignment.
CNC-machined from aircraft aluminum and polished to a mirror finish, the SD1 is supplied complete with a polished Weiand high-flow water pump, polished Sanden A/C compressor, polished Power Master 105A alternator, polished GM type 2 power steering pump, polished pulleys, Dayco belts and stainless mounting bolts. For more information contact Rocky Hinge at (888) 539-6295 or www.rockyhinge.com.
Crafty Caps
If you remember Kirk Brown's B-Line Special pickup that we featured last year, or have seen it at any shows in and around his home state of Michigan, you'll have noticed the number of one-off cast-aluminum parts that seems to grow every time he ventures out in it. Kirk took his ideas and ran with them, and now produces a line of sand-cast aluminum parts under the Crafty B banner, including friction shocks, shifter arms, lights, breathers, gas caps and very trick buggy spring mounts, with new items being added almost daily it would seem!
The gas caps are particularly novel, as you can build your own depending on your taste and style preference, and Crafty B will produce it for you. Just check the website for ideas, which can include raw, brushed, polished or glass beaded finish, brass, aluminum or stainless levers, lightening holes, rivets, faux socket head screws, and a number of different diameters ranging from 31/2-inches to 6-inches, with a couple even manufactured with a radiused base to fit curved rear quarters on Model A or B bodies. For more information contact Crafty B at www.crafty-b.com.
Shiny 'zorst!
You've probably heard of Borla Performance, makers of exhaust systems and mufflers, especially if you have any interest in street-driven drag race cars. Borla pioneered the use of austenitic stainless steel, which is superior to 409 or aluminized steel, for exhaust systems, and has now created a cleaner/polish specially formulated to restore the shine to stainless steel systems.
Borla Exhaust Cleaner and Polish helps remove colorization and cuts through layers of dulling oxides safely and easily, offering protection from the elements. Sounds perfect for polishing those blued lakes-style headers or for keeping a full system in top condition. For more information contact Borla at www.borla.com.