For over 14 years, Brent Vandervort, owner of Fatman Fabrications, has written a technical column for the Goodguy's Gazette, the monthly publication of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. His new book, Building Hot Rods: 30 Years of Advice from Fatman Fabrication's Brent VanDervort, combines the best of those columns into one book.

Hot rodding has changed from being primarily populated by the mechanics and hands-on workers of years ago. Today, many Rodders have the enthusiasm, but lack practical experience for the problem solving that makes building a hot rod such an...