A "Muscle Truck" can be a fun hot rod....

While I was saddened at the lack of premium cars-i.e.-Superbirds,Thunderbolt Fairlanes,Boss 429s,409 Impalas,Super Duty Pontiacs, etc,etc at this years Hot August Nights-I did see quite a few very nice hot rod pickups. Besides the usual '53-56 Ford F100s and 1960-66 Chevy / GMC's there were a lot of other cool ones in attendance. The good thing about a truck project is they already have heavy-duty suspensions and rear ends, and their engine bays will swallow anything. Here's my list of trucks that can be very quick for relatively low bucks. # 1. 1967-79 Chevy / GMC 1/2 ton. The '67-72 models already have kind of a cult following, but you can still find them at reasonable prices if you look hard enough. Most will have 350 power which certainly isn't a bad thing. There's a million ways to build power into a small-block Chevy. 396 / 402 models will be pricier but you'll have Rat power. Chevy purists will howl-but I've seen many of these trucks with 500 inch Cadillac V8s under the hood, as well as 428 Pontiacs and 455 Olds V8s. Hey-massive torque is cool, regardless of where it comes from, right? The '73-79 models will have more luxury options and the 454 was available all years. Again most will be 350 powered, and 454 models will be pricier. The good thing is-there is a ton of suspension and brake upgrades and performance parts for these trucks out there.  # 2. 1972-78 Dodge D100 / D150. These came with everything from the 225 inch slant six to a 440 V8. 318 models make nice drivers and get good gas mileage, but are a little underpowered. Obviously the 400 and 440 models are the most desirable from a performance standpoint, but 360s can be made to really run as well. Again-if you have or are buying a 318 model and want a massive power boost-like I said in the last post-junkyards are full of Dodge trucks and vans and Jeep Grand Cherokees with 360 Magnum V8s in them. Edelbrock sells 4bbl intakes that work on the "Magnum" engines. # 3. 1967-79 Ford F100 / F150. These were available with everything from a 240 inch six to a 460. The upside is a lot of them will have 390s. Edelbrock claims 452 hp and 434 lbs of torque from the "Performer RPM" package on a 390. Obviously the later models with 460s would be the most desirable, but quite a few will have the 400M. These got a rep as "dogs" because they were saddled with 2bbl carburation, single exhaust, and a lazy cam, and in the cars at least-salt-flats gearing. ( Trucks had reasonable axle ratios like 3.25:1 ) However-a 4bbl carb and intake and headers and dual exhausts really "wakes up" a 400-and if you need serious power Edelbrock and Trick Flow offer hi-performance aluminum heads and Crane, Comp Cams, Lunati etc offer cams. Some may have 302s-which again make nice drivers and get good mileage but the trucks are too heavy to go fast with only 302 cubes. Also avoid the 360 V8s. They are an "FE" engine-but they are a small-bore design and had the dual attributes of no power and crappy gas mileage. Stock or modified they don't make anywhere as much power as a 390.  Anyhow any of these trucks would be a good base for a street machine and your limited only by your imagination and your wallet. Mastermind