To Each His (or Her) Own!

[aboz]

Greetings All! I just discovered my open letter to Classic Trucks was published (Oct.'09) and I didn't even know it 'till I was reading the Postage Paid section in the new Feb. issue. Another reader swore he'd cancel his subscription if they dared to print an article that I suggested. All I said was that I was tired of most every article showing top dollar restorations with giant gas guzzling V8 engines. When will we see a resto with a "gas sipping" Honda or Toyota engine and tranny grafted in? Now before I make any of you blow a gasket, let me say I do love my 1970 250 six that came with my '63 and wouldn't dream of such a thing. But if I wanted to I would and couldn't give a rat's a** what anybody thought! The very word CUSTOMIZATION means doing what YOU want to do to your car or truck despite what other people's opinions might be. In every hobby there are steadfast "purest" who think it's a crime to alter what the factory produced. I'm already getting grief for wanting to replace my stock short step bed for a newer "88-"98 sportside. I just happen to think it gives the entire truck a modern retro look that I find pleasing. Isn't that what this hobby is all about? We all seek to express ourselves in our own individual way. Myself, I can't stand seeing what the younger guys do to their modern cars and trucks. Cheap, flimsy Daytona body mods, those rediculous tiny wheels that were so popular some years ago, etc. But if any of those guys showed up at my door, there's beer in the fridge and I'm sure we could find something in common to talk about. Keepin' it peaceful...Aboz.

[62 short step]

I agree, thats what its all about. I might not like what people do to their rides, but I keep it to myself.

[ol Curt]

I'm tracking you brother. I coach high school soccer and often have conversations with those young men about what was/is popular for us, and ask about their mods to their vehicles. I think we both enjoy it.

[62gmc910]

I agree on your definition of customizing . I have my own pet peeve ,the new diesel or gas 4x4 trucks with big tires and lift that will never see offroad just my peeve. Now a nasty offroad truck i like but like you said costom izing is just that to each their own

[bubba327]

I hear you!! Customize means different things to different folks. Other wise everybody would have the same thing. I like to go to a rod run and admire the skills and hours that went in to a custom though I might not approve of it personally
As for Your thought of a rice burner in a chevy, Why not??? I have thought and dreamed of an electric motor in a chevy truck with the batteries in the bed!!

[markeb01]

I read that response article too, and showed it to my wife so we could both share a good laugh. I’m a former Marine, and for years believed everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but if it didn’t match mine theirs was wrong! Many decades of life have proven that everyone really is entitled to their own opinion, period. And the writer of the response was entitled to his opinion, myopic and self serving as it may be. It also gives the impression he is both ignorant and rude.

I told her “they start putting that stuff in the magazine, and I’ll re-subscribe”! My primary passion is semi-stock or street rodded vehicles from 1936-1964, but I try to find something I enjoy about almost everything I see at a rod run. Like 62 short step said, even if I don’t like something I figure the owner has invested a lot of work and money, and is proud of the result. That doesn’t warrant offensive comments.

I also am bored with mostly six figure cars and trucks in modern magazines. I prefer the old magazines from the 50’s and 60’s, when regularly driven customs and street rods were actually published. I enjoy looking at works of art, but don’t relate, as they have little to do with the auto hobby I’m part of.

My GMC is old school, V8 4 speed, noisy, fast and doesn’t even have a radio. It will pretty much stay that way as long as I’m around. My wife asked what I’m going to do when new cars run on something else and they outlaw gasoline. I responded, I’ll run down to RadioShack and pick up one of the new Neutron cells, make my own adapter and get it back on the road with whatever they are running on by then.

I’ve owned a lot of domestic cars over the years and enjoyed working on most of them, and probably spent enough money on maintenance and repairs to pay off my house. When it came time to buy vehicles for retirement there was no consideration given to any domestic vehicle. We decided on a Honda and a Toyota. The only repair on either one has been a timing belt at 100k. Even Nascar now has Toyotas. So I don’t see myself close minded to better technology.

LS motors are much better than mine, and I study the threads pertaining to them in our trucks. The Hydroboost seems to have a lot of advantages over the vacuum booster. Air suspensions are certainly popular. I’ll probably never have any of these due to interest or money, but try to stay on top of what’s popular so I don’t become out of touch and narrow minded. Good for you for having written your comments in the first place.

[ccstreetbob]

First off, let me start by saying that I read the reply to your letter in Classic Trucks, and I belive everyone has a right to his/her own opinion. However, I also think you need to take into consideration the forum where you placed your suggestion. If the same question was presented in Sport Truck or Truckin magazine I think you would get a much more positive response. I belive Classic Truck magazine is more oriented towards classic/hot rod trucks and the people buy this particular magazine and not the others, for that reason. IMO, stuffing a import motor into a classic truck would be dishonoring the heritage of the vehicle, again, just my opinion. I would love to see magazines full of everyday rides like your and mine, but how many people are going to buy a magazine full of your average everyday rides? Again, just my opinion. Let the flaming begin.

CC

[joedoh]

my 62 C10 is a 2.2 liter 4 cylinder 5 spd

[gimmy 64]

i dont write much on here but this time i have to reply. i saw both write ups and very much like the answer of the editor. i believe that if you are a real car person you will like or at least look at any car that has been modified in some way. hot rod magazine a few months ago had a 68 camaro with a 1000 hp toyota supra motor in it and i was thinking as i read about that some people were probably freeking out. but the guy that built it was a young person and he really had some cool mods to the car. i personly like a varity of cars from lowriders to trucks i was into VWs for a while in the 70s. this hobby is about every person being an indivdual. i have to say one thing about this sight that the people on here are very cool people and that they are ready to help everbody in what they are trying to do to there trucks no matter what THANKS:

[P_A]

There are a lot of custom things people are doing to their cars and trucks these days that i don't particularly care for, but i can appreciate the time and effort that they put into them. The talent and fabrication skills some of you guys have is amazing. I like to see something different as much as l like seeing builds that cater to my tastes. I say build what you like the way that you like and don't worry about what everyone else thinks. There will always be someone who will appreciate what you have done.

.....but how many people are going to buy a magazine full of your average everyday rides?

I think it would be a hot seller.

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by aboz

But if any of those guys showed up at my door, there's beer in the fridge and I'm sure we could find something in common to talk about. Keepin' it peaceful...Aboz.

I agree with you 110%. The kids nowadays, are doing with what they have, it just so happens those happen to be imports and like cars. But dude honestly, I'm impressed at the HP that can be gotten out of those little motors.

Pm me your address because where there is beer and a good truck/car/ vehicle conversation. I would like to be there.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Originally Posted by 62 short step

I agree, thats what its all about. I might not like what people do to their rides, but I keep it to myself.

Yea me too for the most part lol!