Time waits for no man. It catches up with all of us. If you wait too long to finish your truck, your wheels will be outdated. If we wait too long to print photos of your truck, then some other magazine will beat us to the punch and then our stuff will be old news. 2009 brought hurricane-like change to our industry, much of which we'd like to forget about over a case of beer. But, it wasn't all doom and gloom. Sure, we did have manufacturers going bankrupt left and right, but in the midst of an economic recession we also saw some of the coolest trucks ever built. We paired most of them with super hot models and added in some killer tips for building your ride. Our favorite moments from '09 are presented here and we aren't just rehashing the old stuff. We dug into the archives to find never-before-seen outtake photos from all of the shoots that made the mag. So sit back and enjoy our look back into '09.

In the September issue of ST, I collaborated with RJ at Eye Kandy Designs to render the ideas I had floating around in my dome for my latest project, a '73 Chevy C10, called The Parts Racer. This is my do-it-all truck-a daily driver that will haul more than ass but still look cool. Well, I've finally found the time to get crackin' on making that dream come true. Way back in January, I wrote a story about dyno-testing the new engine for the '73: a GM Performance Parts LS327/327 carbureted crate engine. Since then, I've slowly been scratching off items from the engine-swap to-do list. I've finally finished the swap and put some miles on the new drivetrain, just in time to shake the truck down and take a road trip you'll get to read about next month. Here is a look at what it took to trade up from the old 350ci small-block/TH400 combo and up to the new LS327 and Gearstar-built 4L65-E automatic overdrive transmission.

You guys are handy. You like a challenge. You enjoy those MacGyver moments when you have to make a fan belt out of women's undergarments. Yeah, we do too, but this isn't one of those moments. This story is about building your own dual exhaust system using a universal pipe kit from Flowmaster instead of whatever trash you have lying around the garage. Finally, you can put the mufflers where you want them and direct the sound where it sounds the best-anywhere you like! Follow along to see how our friends at Muffler Man put their own spin on this kit by customizing it to work on my '73 Chevy C10.inline_mediumwraptextright26714056/techarticles/0912st_flowmaster_dual_exhaust_1973_chevy_c100912st_01_+flowmaster_u_fit_dual_pipe_kit_installed_on_a_1973_chevy_c10+dual_exhaust.jpgTrue

Back in the day, any conversion you wanted to attempt ended up being very expensive and required hours of bodywork to blend lines and get things right. Then guys figured out you could hit up the dealer and get all the stuff needed to convert, let's say a Silverado, to an Escalade. Cool, but still expensive. Then aftermarket companies finally got involved and helped by offering kits at less than dealer prices. Well what if you want to use something from a different manufacturer? Luckily you don't have to find a custom body shop if you want to put a Range Rover-style grille and headlights in your '88-'98 Chevy or GMC truck. The Option Group has crafted a completely bolt-in conversion specifically designed for these trucks that will really change the way your truck looks. Not only can you completely transform the front of your ride, you can do it for less than 400 bucks. We figured it would take a ton of trimming and cutting to install the conversion and were happily surprised to find out it's a true bolt-in replacement that took us about 45 minutes to complete.inline_mediumwraptextright25466312/techarticles/0912st_range_rover_grille_conversion_kit0912st_01_+88_98_chevy_gmc_range_rover_grille_conversion_kit+custom_truck.jpgTrue

Last time, there were freezing temperatures and even snow flurries greeting attendees at Lay'd Out at the Park. The crew took a year off and then set a new date to party in Morristown, Tennessee. It had to be warmer in April, right? It was warm enough for bikinis!inline_mediumwraptextright30932766/eventcoverage/0912st_2009_layd_out_in_the_park0912st_02_+2009_layd_out_in_the_park+relaxed_atmosphere_sticker.jpgTrue

Stacy Lee is the kind of guy that like's tackling a build himself. Sure, he relies on his friends for help, but for the most part he's spinnin' wrenches and doin' the dirty work on his projects. An automotive enthusiast since he was old enough to legally lay tracks across Tennessee, Stacy only recently got back into the game after a 10-year hiatus spent getting his business off the ground. His sign shop doubles as the fab shop for his projects as well as those of friends and family. Whatever can't be accomplished within the confines of his spot is farmed out to locals that take as much pride in their work as Stacy does.inline_mediumwraptextright30929508/featuredvehicles/chevy/0912st_1988_chevy_15000912st_02_+1988_chevy_silverado_1500+rear_right_view.jpgTrue

Girls of 2009

Jerrad "Peebody" Keeling, a member of the Utah chapter of Severed Ties, is the kind of guy who wanted his truck to tuck big wheels and throw sparks. Unfortunately it took a thief to push Peebody's hand with this S-10. What started as a low-mileage Extreme has been transformed into what Peebody calls "Blackjack Plus One" as an homage to his 22-inch wheels. Peebody is a pretty outgoing, guy so we sat down and asked him the standard set of gearhead questions to get a feel on how his truck came to be.inline_mediumwraptextright30928119/featuredvehicles/chevy/0912st_2000_chevy_s100912st_02_+2000_chevy_s10+custom_truck_bed.jpgTrue

Black On Black
Gary Leach JR. '05 GMC Sierra
Windsor, California
We Say: Gary has performed a few well-placed modifications to get his ride just the way he likes it. He still wants to install a custom grill on the murdered out GMC, he just can't decide which one to get. At some point a Pioneer double-DIN touch-screen DVD player with navigation will find its way into the dash. The truck is simple and clean and we hope the Mothers stuff will help Gary keep it that way for years to come.

Plumbing a brake system is sort of an art if you ask us. Sure you could just use straight tubes and a bunch of brass unions, but that would look like crap. To make the system look nice you're going to bend and curve the line and when you do that you'll need to cut the tube to length. The problem with that is you will have to put the proper double flare back on the end of the tube so it will seal.

THE SHOWS

Chris "Big Body" Tisdale, owner/operator of Big Body Custom Interiors, built this F-150 as a second option. His first truck was being customized by a local shop, which hacked it up so bad it had to be scrapped. He purchased the F-150 to drive while the other truck was being built and didn't really have a plans to do anything to it until he saw how bad his first truck was. Instead of tucking his tail between his legs and giving up, Chris decided to build up the driver.inline_mediumwraptextright30883089/featuredvehicles/ford/0912st_1998_ford_f1500912st_03_+1998_ford_f150+rear_view.jpgTrue

Black is Beautiful
I love it when I see an interior shot of a truck and all of the gauges match. It looks very nice and clean. That's how I want my truck to look but I'm running into a problem with the gauges. I'm trying to find some black-face gauges for my air system, however my air tank gauge needs to go to 200 psi and I can't seem to find a single-needle gauge that goes beyond 160 psi. I found one through Glowshift, but they don't sell dual-needle gauges and I kind of want all my gauges from the same company. My other two current gauges, one for the front and one for the back, are dual-needle and go to 200 psi even though when the bags are inflated they don't go past 160 psi. Is there any help I can get with this? Also, at night, I want the colors to be the same, to include my main gauge cluster behind the wheel. Can this be accomplished by simply changing all the light bulbs? Thanks for any help!
Michael
Via email

Painful Ending For C.A.R.S. Engines
It's bad enough that the government is bankrolling a "cash for clunkers" program that not only won't help the environment but is just an expensive bandaid that won't help OEM car sales down the stretch. Now we come to find out that there is a specific process for disposing not just the vehicles this program collects but catastrophically disabling the engines in those automobiles. What does it mean to me and you? Fewer good engines in recycling yards across the country for engine swaps. It's blasphemy! Here's a look at the procedure for killing a perfectly good engine.inline_mediumwraptextright30870087/editorial/0912st_front_page_news_december_20090912st_01_+front_page_news_december_2009+cash_for_clunker.jpgTrue

I wish I could say that this idea was hatched during an extended drinking session or something dramatic like that, but it wasn't. It's the direct result of what happens when you chain two gearheads to their desks for far too long. We get bored and start daydreaming about leaving California for greener pastures. We also daydream about doing the damn thing in something a little cooler than our daily drivers.inline_mediumwraptextright30868800/editorial/0912st_on_the_floor_editorial_we_are_outta_here0912st_01_+on_the_floor_editorial_were_outta_here+1973_chevy_c10.jpgTrue

SHOW: 2009 SEMA
DATE: November 3-6, 2009
LOCATION: Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
The following lowered custom trucks feature the cutting-edge products, accessories, parts, and modifications that have made SEMA the premier automotive trade show.

Tech Tip
Sometimes New Is Better
There were a few elements that no matter how much I scrubbed just wouldn't come clean. I picked up new radiator overflow and windshield washer tanks along with the upper portion of the fan shroud to complete the restoration side of the install.

At one point or another we have all encountered a truck that is slammed down over a wide set of tires and the outer edge of the tire is sliced up from contacting the lip of the fenderwell. There are many ways to roll the fenderwell lip to prevent those expensive tires from getting cut up when the suspension sacks out. Hammers, pliers, baseball bats, and even tin snips have all been used in the past. Pliers and hammers will leave uneven results and tear up the paint. A baseball bat will give you smooth results, but it's very sketchy having some one drive your truck forward and back while you try and control the bat rolling between the tire and fender. It's very unsafe and I have personally seen someone's toe get crushed in the process. Tin snips will give you clearance, but the edge of the fender becomes very weak and can buckle. As you can tell, these tools will get the job done, but they won't do it as good as a tool specifically designed for the task. Enter the Fender Roller from Eastwood.inline_mediumwraptextrightEastwood Fender Roller25808668/techarticles/0911st_eastwood_fender_roller0911st_01_+eastwood_fender_roller_installed_on_a_1994_chevy_truck+eastwood_fender_roller.jpgTrue

We all understand the need for fenderwell modification when it comes to stance and rolling stock versus clearance. Building inner fenders for the rear section of a truck is relatively easy, but what about the front? Interfering components such as the engine, brake system, suspension, and wiring make tackling front wheeltubs a little more difficult.inline_mediumwraptextrightTools30327279/techarticles/0911st_competition_engineering_universal_wheeltubs0911st_01_z+competition_engineering_universal_wheeltubs+tools.jpgTrue

There are lots of trucks out there that get tons of attention. They sport mammoth wheels, a huge body-drop, and so much custom paint that parking at the mall is no longer an option. These trucks become less about function and more about style; pretty showpieces that look good lying on the ground but then get hauled off on a trailer instead of being driven. But sometimes, the really cool trucks slip between the cracks. They don't get as much attention as their flashy brethren, but the fact is they are better. That's the truck on these pages. Kelly Dickinson, a sheetmetal worker from Sacramento, California, decided to build this ride as a pretty showpiece, but with lots of little details that most people miss at first glance. And it's those little details that make this truck such a work of art once inspected further.inline_mediumwraptextrightCustom Truck Bed25725928/featuredvehicles/chevy/0911st_1991_chevy_silverado0911st_02_+1991_chevy_silverado+custom_truck_bed.jpgTrue

Carl & Kelly Peters
Freeman Spur, Illinois
'84 Chevy S-10 Blazer

I read a lot. On airplanes or during lunch breaks, pit stops in the bathroom, car rides to my mother-in-law's house-it doesn't matter where I'm at or what I'm doing, I'll probably be holding a book, newspaper, or a magazine. I've learned a lot of useless things from reading, like the fact that in 1972 Ford built a 3/4-ton RV called an F-250 Ranger XLT Styleside Camper Special, but I've also forgotten some really important lessons as well. For instance I really wish I could remember those trigonometry and geometry classes I took in high school when it came time to build the chassis for my '67 Chevy. Boy would Ms. Hoyle love to tell me, "I told you so!" if she saw this column. Out of all the stuff I've read though, I mostly love to pore over automotive magazines.inline_mediumwraptextrightHere I am adding fuel cell mounting brackets to the tube chassis.Tube Chassis25551511/editorial/0911st_on_the_floor_editorial_we_kick_ass0911st_02_z+on_the_floor_editorial_we_kick_ass+tube_chassis.jpgTrue