At Truckin, we are always wondering what's next. We love it when companies push the envelope, and the company that pushes the farthest often gets the most love. I am sure just about all of you have seen the 6-door Raptor built by a prince in the United Arab Emirates. Well, so did Hennessey Performance, and it inspired them to create something new.

Sealy, Texas-based Hennessey is known for taking cool cars and trucks and making them even cooler. Well, now they have taken one of their trucks, the VelociRaptor 600, and made it off-the-chain cool; converting it to a 7- or 8-passenger SUV. From the front and side, it merely looks like a Raptor with a camper shell. But, upon closer examination, the back half is all molded together. Even better are the Excursion-style rear barn doors and lift gate. Then you open the doors and look inside. According to the renderings from their website, the Velociraptor SUV is offered in two different interior configurations: 2 rows of bucket seats and a third row bench seat or 1 row of buckets and 2 rows of bench seats. Either way, this thing is set to be the coolest SUV on the market. Especially with the 600 horsepower offered by the TVS2300-equipped 6.2L engine under the hood. Pricing isn't listed online, but a call to their headquarters revealed that the price will be around $160,000. At that price, we'll take a black one and a white one. Just kidding...but seriously, we need to get our hands on one of these!

Photos: Courtesy of Hennessey

If you have a truck that you think is feature worthy or want to get into our Readers' Rides section, send some photos of your ride to patrick@truckin.com. For a couple lucky folks, we'll send you a copy of Broken City on DVD.

Here is a little snippet about Broken City:

Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, and Catherine Zeta-Jones star in a gripping crime thriller where everyone has a motive and no one can be trusted. Broken City is on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday April 30th.

Ward's Auto released their top 10 list of 2013 Best Interiors. Surprisingly enough, a half-ton truck made the list. The 2013 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn beat out luxury brands like Audi, Range Rover, and Porsche.

Ram also won in the sibling rivalry category, being the only Chrysler to make the top 10, beating out the SRT Viper GTS. It has been obvious that the OEMs have been really trying to increase the quality of the interiors. In years past, the interior seemed to be the first place the manufacturers skimped on.

With amenities like heated and cooled seats, power EVERYTHING, saddle leather upholstery with intricate, western themed stitching, and real wood accents, it is no wonder why the 2013 Ram 1500 made the list.

Other top contenders in the list of 46 vehicles tested include:

• Audi RS 5
  
• Fisker Karma
• Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
• Lexus LX570
• Mercedes SL55
• Scion FR-S

If you've ever had to park your truck in a rough neigborhood, you know the uncomfortable feeling that somebody might mess with it while you're gone. Coming back and finding smashed glass all over the seats and your stereo torn out is simply gut-wrenching. And, even with the best alarm system there is, it's tough to stop these quick smash-and-grab attacks.

Fortunately for us, 3M has come up with a clever solution that will leave would-be thieves scrambling. The new Scotchshield Automotive Security Film holds glass in place even when it's completely shattered, and provides another layer of protection from break-ins. In fact, the film turns a 3-second crime into one that takes nearly a full minute. 3M even filmed a demonstration, so you can see for yourself:

As you can see, the 3M film provides a serious roadblock for thieves, and even if they're persistent enough to keep trying, it gives you time to go out and greet them (preferably with a 12-gauge). 3M also offers it in a variety of tints, so you can add both privacy and security. Pretty cool stuff if you ask us.

For more info, check out www.3M.com or www.facebook.com/3MWindowFilm

We are always looking for input from our readers. If you can think of anything we can improve on or if you just want to tell us something, shoot us an email to editorsinbox@truckin.com

Also, if you have a truck you want to try to get into Readers' Rides. Send some hi-res photos to readersrides@truckin.com. We will select a lucky couple of readers to win a copy of Planet Ocean, which goes on sale April 9.

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Directed by highly acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Home) and narrated by actor Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Life As We Know It), Planet Ocean is a cinematic adventure that invites viewers of all ages to change the way they look at the world and appreciate its greatest natural mystery.  Planet Ocean will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on April 9, 2013 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. 

Through dazzling aerial and underwater imagery captured in extreme geographical conditions worldwide, Planet Ocean delivers an unprecedented journey into the least known regions of our planet. The stunning documentary aims to captivate as well as provide understanding of humankind’s relationship to the ocean and stress the urgency of making sustainable change.  Brought to life with dynamic and relatable narration, this groundbreaking film can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Planet Ocean will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD April 9, 2013.

No matter what team you're rooting for, everyone can agree that half the fun of watching the Super Bowl is the awesome commercials. Of all the commercials we enjoyed during the game, Chrysler's two 2-minute spots were some of the best.

First, Jeep's "Whole Again" ad led us to support our returning troops, then Ram's "Farmer" ad encouraged us to remember those that work long hours in the fields to provide for the rest of us. Not only were they successful product promotion, but they caught our attention with great voice-overs and photography. While many of the Super Bowl ads made us laugh, these two were the only ones that left our friends and family saying "wow". In case you missed them, check them out here, and let us know what you think in the comments.

Starting in 1994, judges at Ward's Auto have selected the ten most groundbreaking engine designs for each year. This year, only one truck engine made it into the top ten: the Ram 1500's 3.6L Pentastar V-6. Thanks to a best-in-class tow rating of 6,500 pounds, improved fuel economy, and smooth power output, the new engine is being heralded as a huge leap forward for the Ram lineup.

With Ford's EcoBoost engine offerings gaining serious traction in the truck market, Ram needed a solid V-6 option to stay competitive, and the Pentastar design has delivered. We got the chance to get behind the wheel of a Pentastar-powered 2013 Ram recently, and with a 305-horsepower output and quick-shifting Torque-Flite eight-speed automatic, it felt smooth and responsive. The new Pentastar brings a massive 90 more horsepower and 34 more pound-feet of torque than the old 3.7L V-6. In fact, it makes nearly as much as the 4.7L V-8. It's even available in 4WD models now, making it a more practical option than ever.

Before you start thinking Ward's is playing favorites, both Ford and GM had engines that made the Top Ten (the Shelby GT500 5.8L V-8 and Cadillac ATS 2.0L, respectively). However, when it comes to new truck engines, we think they made a good call picking the Pentastar. It'll be interesting to see how it competes with the F-150's venerable EcoBoost in the years to come.

To read the full judgement and see more of the winners, head to Ward's site.

With GM recently releasing the 2014 Silverado and Sierra, and Ford teasing us with the new Atlas concept, the new truck market is an exciting place to be right now. Not one to be left behind, Toyota is expected to unveil the new 2014 Tundra at the Chicago Auto Show next week. We're certainly excited to see the changes they have in store. The enthusiasts over at Tundra Headquarters have put together a list of definite, expected, possible, and unlikely changes to the 2014 model:

 Definite Enhancements (confirmed by Toyota)

1. Larger fuel tank
2. More "traditional" and "aggressive" styling
3. Aerodynamic improvements and a lower ride height
4. New dash layout with higher-quality materials
5. Direct injection (on at least one of the available engines)
6. A hybrid option, although we may not see it for a few years.

Here at Truckin HQ, we're all big-time movie buffs. We love to get together with our buddies, gather around the flatscreen, crank up the sound system, and watch a good action flick. So, when we were offered a chance to check out an advance copy of the new police drama End of Watch, we jumped at the chance.

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In a nutshell, End of Watch is one of the slickest cop movies we've seen in years. From the same writer and director of one of our all-time favorites, Training Day with Denzel Washington, the style is clearly similar. Also, the gritty documentary-style filmmaking lends itself well to this type of story, putting you right there alongside the characters. Two cops against an overwhelming force of organized criminals—it doesn't get much better than that. It's out on Blu-ray and DVD this month, so take it from us, this one's definitely worth picking up.

Plot Synopsis:
Police officers (Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena) patrol the mean streets of south central Los Angeles in this riveting portrait of the young cops who risk their lives and family everyday. End of Watch comes to Blu-ray, DVD, Ultraviolet and digital download this January. www.endofwatchthefilm.com

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We've always been big fans of the high-performance Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, so we were pleased to learn that Chrysler released info on the newly refreshed 2014 model today. Revealed at the North American International Auto Show, the updated SRT features a few key changes that should make this sinister SUV even faster.

First and foremost, the SRT's old five-speed automatic has been replaced by a new, performance-tuned eight-speed. The engineers at Chrysler tell us this will improve both acceleration and fuel economy while retaining smooth shift points. A new "track mode" setting also sends more torque to the rear wheels, which will help bring the rear end around in tight corners. Though the tried-and-true 6.4L HEMI V-8 remains largely untouched, the new transmission should liven things up considerably.

Another cool feature we're glad to see added to the SRT is launch control. This supercar tech lets the driver hit near-perfect 0-60 times with the press of a button and a stomp of the gas pedal. And, when you're not lighting up the tires, a new Eco mode sips fuel for highway cruising. On top of all this, towing capacity is up a whopping 44 percent to 7,200 pounds.

Finally, the interior and exterior have received some new details, with a new SRT-specific steering wheel, larger shift paddles, and blacked-out light housings and trim. There's also a new 7-inch customizable LCD instrument panel and 8.4-inch Uconnect dash touchscreen for the tech lovers out there. Flanked by real carbon fiber trim, the central Uconnect screen features SRT Pages, which show performance data like 0-60 times and lateral G's.

Suffice to say, we can't wait to get our hands on it and put it through its paces.

 Yup, it's that time again - time for a fresh, new issue. Truckin #13 officially hits newsstands today, featuring a pair of Raptors on the cover.

Features

Baja-Ready Beast 56
This show-quality Raptor doesn't mind getting dirty

Sharp Sierra 64
This Refined GMC is the Definition of Clean

Black Mamba 72
Hulst Customs' Sleek Super Duty Bares its Fangs

Diamond in the Desert 80
A Raptor Ready for the Hazards of Mexico

Something Sinister This Way Comes 87
Classic Metal Turned Into a Modernized Road Warrior

Tech

Boosting the EcoBoost 92
Easy Way to Add 70-Plus Horsepower to Ford's Twin-Turbo V-6

Project Jekyll and Hyde: Part 1 98
McGaughy's New 6.5-inch Lift for 2009-2013 F-150s

Big Bang 5.3L 108
How to Squeeze 1,308 HP Out of a Vortec 5.3L

Save Your Seats 118
Coverking Protects Our Ultimate Work Truck's Seating in Style

Show

2012 Heat Wave 122
Heatin' Things Up in the State Capital

Departments

Blessings and Beatings 15

What'd You Say? 18

New Products 20

Tool of the Month 32

Truckin Tough 34

Radical Renderings 36

Factory Fresh 42

Busted Knuckles 48

Readers' Rides 132

You Asked, We Answered 134

MAXimum Exposure 137

When Good Trucks Go Bad 137

On the Cover: What's not to love about a pair of the sickest Raptors drag racing through the deserts of Baja Mexico? Editor Dan Ward captured this shot of the duo kicking up dust on his trip to Cabo San Lucas with Feature Editor Maxwell Matthewson.

Probably one of the most talked about new trucks to come out is the 2014 Silverado. After remaining unchanged for 7 years, GM will be unveiling a complete redesign for the 2014 model year.

 There have been a bunch of renderings and guesses as to what it will look like. Luckily, we got our hands on the most recent photo of the truck doing passes at GM's proving grounds in Milford, Michigan. From what we can see, the cab remains the same as the 07+, the front end will receive an update, and we are sure the interior will be refreshed as well. Kind of a let down after all of the hoopla...

All the stories, all online now!

Features

Biffle Raptor 50
Off-Roading in a 525hp Beast

Time Machine 56
Retaliating Against the Old and Embracing the New

Lead Sled 64
Ram Rebirth Thanks to Timeless Mods

Hang Time 72
Turning a Brand-New Sierra Into a Dune Slayer

Deliverance 78
How One Man Rescued This 1948 Chevy from Katrina's Wake

Tech

Clean Diesel Power 94
Banks Shows Us the Path to Clean Diesel Power Without Choking the Environment

Lowered Center of Gravity 108
Getting a Performance Stance with Belltech Suspension

Homebrew High-Tech 114
This '79 El Camino Gets a Handbuilt Stereo in the Driveway

Leveling the Playing Field 122
Our Ultimate F-150 Work Truck Gains a Few Inches

Show

10th Annual Texas Showdown 84
Hot Temperatures, Hot Girls, and Hot Rides

Departments

Blessings and Beatings 17

What'd You Say? 20

New Products 22

Tool of the Month 30

Truckin Tough 32

Radical Renderings 36

Factory Fresh 38

Busted Knuckles 46

Readers' Rides 132

You Asked, We Answered 134

MAXimum Exposure 137

When Good Trucks Go Bad 137

On the Cover: Old-school styling meets modern performance as these two slammed powerhouses duke it out for dominance. Photo by Wes Allison.

 The editors of Hot Rod are in the process now of building this '68 Chevy Van for the 2012 SEMA Show in affiliation with eBay Motors.

Working with Mackey's Hot Rods of Huntington Beach, CA, they not only sourced the love machine, but every single last part needed exclusively on eBay Motors. 

While they would love for you to vote for them, the key to this campaign is that you can be the winner. Vote for your favorite, even if it isn't the Gasser Van and at the same time enter to win a $5,000 dream garage.

So whether you're into rally, racing, off-road, or showcars, this competition has everything to offer so join in the fun and pick your favorite. See the entire video series now at www.builtfromebay.com.

 The editors of Hot Rod, Lowrider, european car, and Four Wheeler are in the process now of building SEMA projects sourcing not only the car, but every single last part needed exclusively on eBay Motors.

Best of all, you can vote for your favorite and at the same time enter to win a $5,000 Dream Garage.

The effort is BUILT from eBay® – A web series that takes four automotive magazines and their selected garages and creates a competition to showcase eBay Motors amazing selection. Each team starts with the purchase of a niche-enthusiast vehicle, and then searches out and purchases each and every part to go with them. Whether those parts be new, retro, performance or new-old-stock, these four teams are being tested to pull it off.

So whether you’re into rally, racing, off-road, or showcars, this competition has everything to offer so join in the fun and pick your favorite. See the entire video series now at www.builtfromebay.com.

 See all of Issue 11, online now!

Features

A Cut Above the Rest 48
An unmistakable '12 Sierra

Slammed SVT 54
This unconventional Lightning is the perfect blend of speed and style

Throwdown presented by Airaid 64
Truckin's West Coast performance truck battle

Show

Showfest 2012 110
The epic return to Sam's Town

Tech

All Pumped Up 84
Adding a Roush supercharger to a brand-new F-150 5.0L

Family Hauler Makeover 92
Cranking this Excursion up a notch with a 4-inch lift kit and new rolling stock

Ultimate F-150 Work Truck: Part II 100
Making our bed as secure as Fort Knox

Departments

Blessings and Beatings 17

What'd You Say? 18

New Products 22

Tool of the Month 32

Truckin Tough 34

Radical Renderings 36

Factory Fresh 40

Busted Knuckles 44

Readers' Rides 120

You Asked, We Answered 124

MAXimum Exposure 129

When Good Trucks Go Bad 129

On the Cover: Freestyle MX rider Cody Elkins knows how to go big; big jumps, big tricks, and big trucks. When he bought himself a brand-spanking-new GMC Sierra, it didn't take long for it to be sky high. Feature Editor Maxwell Matthewson flew out to Weatherford, Oklahoma, to shoot Cody's rig.

In response to overwhelming customer demand, Ford recently announced the addition of a new package to the 2013 F-150 lineup. However, this package, dubbed the SSV, or Special Service Vehicle, is not intended for the average consumer. Instead, the SSV is a modular platform targeted specifically for law enforcement and fire fighters.

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 The SSV package is available free of charge as an option on 2013 F-150 XL models, and can be ordered in several configurations. For example, if a smaller, light-duty truck is needed, Ford will supply the SSV with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine, SuperCab, and 2WD. On the other hand, it’s also available with a 5.0L V-8, SuperCrew cab, and 4WD for more demanding applications.

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The SSV package also includes a beefier 220-amp alternator to supply power for emergency lights, sirens, and other onboard electronics. Based on the feedback Ford got from their fleet vehicle clients, the truck’s seating arrangement was reconfigured for extra space in the center of the cab. Combined with the SSV’s lack of center console, this provides space for storage of weapons, supplies, and gear.

Expect to see the new F-150 SSV hitting the streets soon with police, fire, and national or state park agencies nationwide. We just hope you don’t see the police F-150 SSV in your rear-view mirror anytime soon.

If you pay any attention to the news, odds are you’ve heard about NASA’s recent successful Mars rover landing. After years of careful building and preparation, the rover, dubbed Curiosity, touched down on the rocky surface of the Red Planet. What you may not know is that this rover is the largest yet, at approximately the size of a small passenger vehicle. Since we always have trucks on the mind, this got us thinking: are there any Earthly production vehicles that compare to the Curiosity’s go-anywhere ruggedness? We could think of only one: the F-150 SVT Raptor.

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Now, before you go calling us crazy, we realize these vehicles have some massive differences. The rover’s price tag, for example, is—pun intended—out of this world. With a total program cost of $2.5 billion (yes, you read that right) you could buy a whopping 56,857 2013 SVT Raptors for the same money. Also, the Curiosity isn’t exactly a speed demon. Its top speed of approximately 0.09 mph pales in comparison to the SVT’s 100 mph limit.

However, there are more similarities than you might think. The rover’s height and width are similar to the Raptor, although it’s only half as long. The motors’ outputs are also in the same ballpark, with the Curiosity’s Plutonium-reactor-powered electric motors producing 500 lb-ft of torque at the wheels, compared to the Raptor 6.2L V-8’s 434 lb-ft. Since the ballers at NASA spared no expense on the rover, it’s rolling on 20-inch rims with metal cleat treads. SVT, on the other hand, chose some more Earth-friendly 17-inch  beadlock-capable wheels for the 2013 Raptor. Both vehicles were also designed with suspension travel in mind, with the Raptor’s 12-inches of travel vying against the rover’s impressive 43-inch setup. For added visibility, the Raptor has a pair of front and rear cameras, while the unmanned Curiosity has 14.

At this point, you may be thinking that this comparison is a little ridiculous. That may be true, but it does prove an important point: the updated 2013 SVT Raptor packs a serious punch, even when compared to a multi-billion-dollar space-traveling robot. And that’s certainly good enough for us.

For more info on the 2013 SVT Raptor and Mars rover check out the infographic below.

 Issue 10 is completely online! Click on the stories below.

FEATURES

Project 12-Gauge: Part Four 46
Ready to hit the trails

Sucker Punch 52
Rusted, rodded, and ready to run

Hammer Time 58
When the urge hits, Dale Robertson drops a 1,318-whp hammer

Rehabilitated 62
A rolling rehab center for Hollywood's finest

Status Symbol 70
This beast is driven . . . daily

One Fine '59 78
Living the pampered life for 63 years

SHOW

Danger Zone 2012 84
A tidal wave of customs invade Central California

TECH

Ultimate F-150 Work Truck 94
We build it, you win it: Part 1

Dressed to Impress 108
Vintage Air LS engine front runner install

Face Off: Part II 116
Finishing the '07+ GM front clip swap with LMC Truck

Beast Within 122
CST 9-inch lift install on a GMC 2500HD

Project Lead Sled: Part IV 132
Adding looks and security with a fiberglass tonneau from Gaylord's

DEPARTMENTS

Blessings and Beatings 17

What'd You Say? 18

New Products 20

Tool of the Month 30

Truckin Tough 32

Radical Renderings 38

Busted Knuckles 42

Readers' Rides 136

You Asked, We Answered 140

MAXimum Exposure 145

When Good Trucks Go Bad 145

ON THE COVER: The craziest thing about this Super Duty is not the suspension, but the fact that it is driven daily. Feature Editor Maxwell Matthewson braved the humidity in Tunica, Mississippi, to get this Blue Oval captured on camera.

 Issue 9 - The First Ever Black Edition - is online now!

Features

Here Comes Trouble 52
Classic Styling Meets New-Age Silverado

Black Smoke 60
Hard-Core 1,000 lb-ft Excursion

Tarmac 64
Pavement-Pounding 2012 F-150

Outta My Way 76
An F-250 Taking No Prisoners

Black Widow 84
Driving the Wheels Off an American Classic

Show

2012 Forbidden Fantasy 130
SoCal's finest showing off

Tech

Project Lead Sled: Part 3 92
Going Buck Wild with Kolor

Face Off: Part 1 108
'07+ GM front clip swap thanks to LMC Truck

Project Tarmac: Part 2 118
Sheetmetal, suicide doors, and a splash of red leather

Project 12-Gauge: Part 3 126
It's a Wrap!

Departments

Blessings and Beatings 17

What'd You Say? 20

New Products 22

Truckin Tough 28

Tool of the Month 34

Radical Renderings 36

Factory Fresh 40

Busted Knuckles 44

Readers' Rides 138

You Asked, We Answered 140

MAXimum Exposure 145

When Good Trucks Go Bad 145

On the Cover: For our first-ever "Black Issue," Wes Allison shot Casey Scranton's Project Tarmac in the studio in El Segundo, California.

 Brawny Industrial Products to Salute Unsung American Working Heroes with the Chance to Win a 2012 Ford F-150

Brawny Industrial Products is looking for capable, dependable, and efficient great American workers who contribute initiative, leadership, and participation to their community, and who are committed to finding ways to create safer work environments. Are you a Great American Worker, putting in countless hours working in a manufacturing facility, garage, restaurant, the military, hotel, or other business that has served as the backbone of the economy? If so, Brawny Industrial wants to hear your story - and so do others! Thank you for what you do!

The nomination deadline for this contest is July 9th, 2012. To enter, visit http://www.brawnyindustrialGAW.com.  Hit the "Enter Now" button, where you'll enter your email address to begin the 3-step submission process consisting of a simple registration form, a short essay describing why you're a Great American Worker, and a photo. The top 10 finalists will be voted upon by the public; the Grand Prize winner will be announced in October and will drive away in a 2012 Ford F-150.

The winner could be YOU!

Although Issue 8 is no long on newsstands, you can still check out all of the articles by clicking on the links below!

Features

Classy 'Hoe 52
A Three-year Therapy Session

Fever Pitch 58
This '08 Tundra Is the Cure

Domino Effect 64
An '86 GMC Built in Memoriam

Capt. Hays' Apache 72
America Rallies Around a Hero Who Had a Dream

Show

Inaugural Lone Star Throwdown 38
Best First-Year Show in Recent Memory

Tech

More Power Please 78
Project Lead Sled Receives a Dose of Tire-Churning Power with Help from MagnaCharger

Project Tarmac: Part One 92
Taking the Word Custom to the Next Level

5.3L Bow Tie Builds Mild to Wild 106
Mild to Wild Power Recipes for the 5.3L LM7

Project 12-Gauge: Part Two 118
Getting accessorized for work and play

Departments

Blessings and Beatings 14

What'd You Say? 16

New Products 18

Factory Fresh 26

Tool of the Month 28

Truckin Tough 30

Busted Knuckles 34

Readers' Rides 128

You Asked, We Answered 130

When Good Trucks Go Bad 135

MAXimum Exposure 135

On the Cover: With 1,000 ponies underhood, this '86 C10 has no trouble getting squirrelly. Freelancer Anthony Grimes shot this beauty at Sittin' Pretti in Seattle.

Issue 7 - no longer on newsstands, but forever accessible on truckinweb.

 FEATURES

Hollow Point 56
This F-650 is at the top of Darth Vader's Christmas list

Imitator SS 64
Regular cab SS clone

King of the Concrete Jungle 70
Top of the food chain

Apocalypse Now 76
Superlift and Matchbox's F-350 is ready for anything

Heirloom 84
The gift that keeps on giving

Online Lifted Truck Gallery 90
Even more sky-high trucks at truckinweb.com

SHOW

Bring the Noize 2012 94
A perfect day in the Arizona sunshine

TECH

Project Lead Sled 98
Part 1: Ekstensive Metalworks slams our Ram

Super Duty Makeover for Under $2,900 116
Looking good without compromising ride or breaking the bank

Kookin' in the Horsepower Kitchen 122
Adding Kooks long-tube headers to GM's 6.2L

Project 12-Gauge 128
Locked and loaded Silverado thanks to Auto Anything: Part 1

DEPARTMENTS

Blessings and Beatings 16

What'd You Say? 18

New Products 20

Tool of the Month 30

Truckin Tough 32

Radical Renderings 36

Busted Knuckles 42

Factory Fresh 44

Readers' Rides 136

Maxwell Matthewson

When Good Trucks Go Bad 138

You Asked, We Answered 143

On the Cover: Superlift teamed up with Matchbox to build this big-boy toy of a Super Duty. Check out page 76 to see it in all of its glory and to see how to win a toy version of this truck! Photography: Dan Ward

 The Eastwood Company has engineered a revolutionary, new Spot Weld Kit that produces professional spot welds using just a MIG welder.

 This first-of-its-kind kit combines Spot Weld Pliers and a unique Spot Weld Nozzle to help do-it-yourselfers produce full-penetration, OE-look, spot welds from one side of the repair panel.
 
"Prior to the launch of the Eastwood Spot Weld Kit, the only options the DIY auto-restoration enthusiast had were expensive, 'spot weld only' tools, resistance welders, or plug welding. There were no other options on the market that were economical and assured a perfect spot weld every time," said Mark Robidoux, Spot Weld Kit creator and Eastwood product manager.
 
The new Spot Weld Pliers have forked jaws that securely clamp two panels together and properly position the Spot Weld Nozzle, ensuring factory-correct spot welds that are functional, with full penetration on the back side of the weld. The Spot Weld Nozzle has "leg extensions" that create the exact standoff distance required for spot welding of 20- and 18-gauge steel.
 
"Specifically, spot welding is accomplished by clamping two panels together and fusing them with a number of welds sequentially-placed to hold the panels together, rather than a continuous bead," commented Robidoux.
 
"A perfect spot weld will be completed by following three simple steps..." Robidoux explained.
 
1)    Attach the Spot Nozzle to the Eastwood 175-amp MIG Welder (or any other 220-volt MIG using a Tweco(r)-style gun);
2)    Set the MIG to the highest power setting and 1/3 wire speed;
3)    Finally, clamp the Spot Pliers over the desired area, insert the Spot Nozzle between the pliers' forked jaws, pull the trigger and hold for three seconds, then release.
 
"Then simply move on to the next desired spot, and you'll be creating exact duplicates of the spot welds," instructed Robidoux.
 
For MIG welders running on standard 110 volts, the kit includes HSS drill bits for drilling pilot holes in the top panel to help achieve a strong, fully penetrated weld.
 
Eastwood's newly launched Spot Weld Kit now gives DIYers an economical, consistent welding system they can easily use to help replace automotive sheet metal such as quarter panels, rocker panels, floor pans and general patch panels.

 DYNOMAX(r) 'POWER SURGE' PROMO GIVES ENTHUSIASTS A $75 PRE-PAID DEBIT CARD FOR EXHAUST PURCHASE

MONROE, Mi. - The DynoMax "Power Surge" promotion that offers enthusiasts a $75 mail-in rebate for the purchase of a qualifying cat-back system will be available this spring and summer at leading performance exhaust retailers nationwide.

The "Power Surge" promotion will run from March 1 through June 30, 2012. Consumers who purchase a qualifying performance exhaust system during the promotional period will be eligible to receive up to a $75 pre-paid debit card.

"The 'Power Surge' promotion will give enthusiasts an opportunity to choose from several high-flow powerful exhaust system series including the DynoMax VT, Ultra Flo Welded, Super Turbo and Race Bullet mufflers," said Joe Pase, director, performance products, Tenneco. "It's a great time to buy the ideal exhaust system to suit your vehicle, sound preferences and desired flow characteristics."

DynoMax performance exhaust systems are available for a complete range of muscle cars, diesel and gas trucks, Jeeps, sport utility vehicles and sport compact cars. DynoMax exhaust systems often feature full stainless steel construction in high-grade stainless steel to provide protection against corrosion and permanent discoloration. Every DynoMax system is application engineered to deliver the most power and the preferred sound characteristics for each specific vehicle platform.

All DynoMax exhaust systems are covered by a limited lifetime warranty and stainless steel systems are also covered by an exclusive 90-day Performance and Sound Guarantee, an offer that lets enthusiasts try the product for 90 days. Consumers can return the product within 90 days for a full refund of its purchase price. Additional restrictions apply and can be found at www.DynoMax.com.

One of North America's leading brands of dyno-proven exhaust technologies for late-model and classic muscle cars, diesel and gas trucks and SUVs, DynoMax Performance Exhaust products are manufactured and marketed by Tenneco (NYSE: TEN).

For program details and necessary forms, please visit www.dynomax.com after March 1, 2012. All completed rebate forms and copied sales receipts must be postmarked by Aug. 1, 2012.

For additional information about the DynoMax "Power Surge" promotion, qualifying product lists, mail-in promotion forms and more, please visit www.dynomax.com after March 1, 2012. For more information regarding DynoMax products, check the website, contact your nearest DynoMax dealer or call 1-734-384-7806. To locate your nearest DynoMax authorized dealer, please use the "Dealer Locator" at www.dynomax.com to generate a list of nearby retailer stores in your selected region and other online retailers.

Tenneco is a $7.2 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 24,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe(r), Walker(r), Gillet(tm) and Clevite(r) Elastomer brand names.