Fehra FanHey, my name is Jeremiah and I have been subscribing for a little over a year. I look forward to each and every issue in the mail. I had a question come up when I was reviewing some past issues, specifically the Apr. '04 issue. There is some art in that issue from Ed White of Fast Eddy's Hot Rod Art. Does he put any of his drawings to production? I really like the Colorado he did and I would love to see that truck in person. I think that would be awesome. Well, that is all for now. Keep on putting out good work. Thanks and hope to hear soon.Jeremiah Haightvia e-mail
Jeremy,Ed White does do many renderings that come to life, such as Associate Editor Dan Ward's S-10 project we are readying for SEMA. The Colorado you are referring to has also been built. We have seen it in person and it looks just like the rendering. We know of several other projects, including Truckin' projects, that Ed has drawn up and are currently being worked on. For more information on Fast Eddy's Hot Rod Art, point your browser to www.fehrarules.com
Airbag AnxietyI read an article in one of your issues of Truckin' where they desired to go back to when trucks were just lowered by springs, spindles, hangers, and shackles. The implication was that they had been stranded more than once because of failed solenoids, hoses, and 'bags. I have been considering converting to air ride, but I use my truck for daily transportation. How often do failures of this kind occur? I don't want to be stranded on my way to work. Is there a particular brand that is of higher quality? I've been a long-time subscriber and enjoy your publication. Keep up the good work.Richard B. Tipplevia e-mail
Richard,Well, as with any mechanical system, there is a potential for failure. However, you can mitigate the chances of a breakdown by choosing a quality airbag system, such as the ones offered by Air Ride Technologies, Air Lift, and many of our other advertisers. The other major factor that influences whether or not a system will be reliable is who installs it for you. You might pay more for a knowledgeable professional installer, but it will be well worth the investment down the road. Think of it as cheap insurance up front.
Short-Time ReaderI'm a new subscriber currently working on my first street truck, a two-door '85 S-10 Blazer. By the way, I love your magazine. It was Truckin' that inspired me to build a project of my own. Now that I am learning about trucks, my question for you is, what is the difference between horsepower and torque? I would really appreciate any input you can give me on this. Thanks again, and keep on bringing the kick-ass trucks to us!Ilija Kovacevicvia e-mail
Ilija,Thanks for writing. In case you missed it, our resident tech guru, Senior Tech Editor Bob Ryder, put together an awesome article on power in our Oct. '04 Power Special. He explained the definition and meanings of horsepower and torque. In basic terms, horsepower is equal to 746 watts or 33,000 lb-ft of work per minute. Torque is a measure of twisting force and directly proportional to horsepower discovered through a mathematical equation. In the most simplified explanation, horsepower makes you fast (think top speed) and torque makes you quick (think off the line).
Long-Time ReaderI have been reading Truckin' magazine since the mid-'80s. I have some right now that are at least 10 years old. I have read article upon article and would like to ask you a question about wheels and tires because information on this area is very crucial when trying to achieve the look of some of the awesome trucks and SUVs shown in your magazine. I own a '95 Tahoe 2WD and have been working on it for years (just never got the look quite right), and when it came to wheels and tires, I went with 20s and a 3/3 drop. Even though I told the local tire guy what vehicle they went on, I ended up with four 20x9-inch wheels. Shouldn't the fronts be narrower? Anyway, a while back I hit a pothole and my front fender gashed my tire on the front. Needless to say, I am now looking for a new tire. I am currently looking for a set of 22-inch wheels and would like to know the right offset, especially since I plan to 'bag it. Twenty-two inch tires are not cheap. Keep up the great work. Thanks.Miguel TrejoDumas, Texas
Miguel,You should be able to clear 20x9-inch wheels on your Tahoe without a problem. And if you are careful with tire size, it isn't necessary to run a narrow tread in the front. If you are rubbing, you might need to look at a different tire size. Now, if you go up to a 22-inch wheel, you will have limited choices in the offset that the wheel manufacturers offer, and you will have to be more particular to tire size selection. We recommend giving the good people over at Discount Tire Direct a call, since they should be able to help you chose the right wheel and tire package for your Tahoe. You can reach Discount Tire Direct at (888) 588-3544 or on the web at www.tires.com
Dakota EnthusiastI just wanted to thank you and Truckin' magazine for representing the Dakota R/T club by putting together a fantastic spread in Truckin' on our 2003 Dakota R/T club meet in Elkton, Maryland last year. It is few and far between that us Dodge owners see articles on our trucks, and this spread got a lot of Dakota owners very excited. This is just a small note to let you know how much it meant to us, and especially for me when I saw a picture of me and my truck in the magazine. That really made my month! Thanks again.Rachel ArabuckiTexas
Rachel,Thanks for writing in to us. With the response we have received from the Mopar crowd over our increased Dodge coverage, you can expect to see more Dodges in Truckin' in the future. You guys, especially members of the Dakota owners clubs, are an enthusiastic group of people. Good luck with the club and keep building up those clean Dakotas.
Banks RobberyAt the risk of sounding rude, I have a question concerning the Banks Six-Gun Bundles featured in your Truck Stuff department in the Sep. '04 issue. Ms. Gutierrez wrote that these packages for the 6.0L Power Stroke feature a new turbo in the kit. My question is this: Is the turbo omitted from the picture, is the claim of the turbo being in the kit a misprint, or am I overlooking the turbo in the photo all together? Either way, I do not see it. Thank you for setting this straight.Adam Kicklightervia e-mail
Adam,Did someone steal the turbo? Not quite. Banks does offer packages that includes an upgraded turbo for the 7.3L Power Stroke in kit form, but the Six Gun Power Pack system we featured for the 6.0L uses the factory turbo, but upgrades the turbo plumbing substantially, along with the intake, the exhaust, the intercooler, and the other parts we mentioned. It also includes the impressive plug-and-play Six-Gun diesel tuner. For more information, contact Gale Banks Engineering at (888) 839-5600 or on the web at www.bankspower.com.