We departed from our typical category range again with a new Spring book titled Composite Materials. Author John Wanberg takes the reader through the basics of composites, what they are and why they’re useful. Like any good how-to book, this one provides a number of start-to-finish sequences that show real people building a variety of projects from this sexy new material. If you’re looking to fabricate some very light and very strong components for that favorite two or four-wheeled hot rod, then this is the book you need.

Local Hot Rods

The opposite of light carbon fiber might be heavy, 14 gauge steel – like the metal used to build a 1948 pickup truck. Not too many street rod builders would take on such a project, but then Jon Kosmoski, founder of House of Kolor Paint, is not your average builder.

I received a call the other day from Jon, asking if I would take some photos of the new truck before it goes to Las Vegas. You can see a few photos nearby, and the entire truck if you’re luck enough to attend this year’s SEMA show.

In typical Jon fashion, the truck is massaged to within an inch of its life. All the sheet metal parts are FLAT, when viewed in any light and from any angle. The three paint colors are all custom mixed kandies. Little features abound - like the re-chromed International logos on the tailgate and hood, along with the very truckish grille. The spring-loaded pins that hold the tailgate up are handmade items.

One of Jon’s in-house fabricators created these simple and elegant spring loaded pins that keep the tail gate closed.

The chassis is entirely modern, including the Heidts-Mustang front end and Ford 9-inch rearend. The engine is a brand new Pontiac mill that sat in Jon’s basement for over 30 years before being set between the rails of this old Binder.

During the shooting of the truck I spent time walking through the shop and can only say it’s hard to tell that Jon is retired. Everywhere you look there’s a half assembled hot rod with an engine on a stand parked nearby. With at least two craftsmen working on the projects the payroll must rival the early days of House of Kolor.

Rather than try to modernize the old International, Jon chose to keep the trademark grille and abundant chrome.

Even the stain used on the wood is a custom Jon-Kos mix designed to enhance the natural color and grain.

The J Bird

Speaking of hot rods, the trees here are turning red and orange, a sure sign of snow to follow. Which means all the summer-season toys can be put away to make room and energy for a certain neglected old hot rod.

I finally found all the pieces needed to install the shortened driveshaft. When I worked as a mechanic about a hundred years ago it would have taken about ten minutes to slip the shaft into place. But in those days I didn’t have to go find the u-bolts, chase the threads, do a test fit, and finally chase the threads on the studs coming out of the emergency brake drum on the rear of the old Torqueflite transmission. It finally got so late the other night that I left the parts in a neat pile and hope to actually install the shaft tonight.

So it doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about the publishing business, or a rusty old car – hope does spring eternal.

The front of the driveshaft on an old Mopar bolts to the E-Brake drum located on the output shaft – which explains the funny looking driveshaft.