karl-kustoms-chat

Chatting with Bill Martens Of Chevrolet Performance

Here’s a fun fact. There are about 4,000 Chevrolet dealers in the USA, but only 100 of these dealers specialize in performance parts. Karl Kustoms is one of them. In fact, we’re one of the highest volume circle track dealers in the country. We took the time to chat with Bill Martens of Chevrolet Performance’s…

Read More
1970 GSX

Karl Kustoms Restores A 1970 GSX

At Karl Kustoms, we adore the 1970 Buick GSX. It’s a rare car you don’t see very often. We always jump at the opportunity to restore one. In the winter of 2020/2021, we started restoring a 1970 GSX brought in by a customer of ours named Tracey Lambert. We thoroughly enjoyed this project and the…

Read More

5 Reasons To Lift A Jeep Wrangler

Have you ever thought about lifting your Jeep Wrangler? If you ask us, it’s a great idea. There are several good reasons to lift your Jeep Wrangler: 1. Lifting Your Jeep Gives It A Rugged Look Jeep Wranglers are as rugged as they come. Yet, lifting one will make it look even more rugged. It’ll…

Read More

June Summer Nights: Classic Cars, Hot Rods, Custom Police Cars, And More!

In case you haven’t heard, we host a fun event called Summer Nights monthly or bimonthly every summer. This family friendly event is always a smashing success. It’s because every Summer Nights event has plenty of delicious food, good people, fun activities, and incredible cars on display. To see what we mean, check out the…

Read More

The Karl Kustoms Crate Engine Program

At Karl Kustoms, we know dirt track engines quite well. We’ve been building championship-proven engines and selling Chevrolet Performance dirt track engines for decades. In fact, we’ve been around the whole time these crate engines have been used for racing. We know these engines like the back of our hands. If you buy a turn-key…

Read More
karl dyno test

Dyno Testing At Karl Kustoms

At Karl Kustoms, we have a dyno room. The dyno is the most valuable tool you can use when it comes to tuning an engine. If you’re curious about how we dyno and tune engines in house, check out the videos we put together: How We Set Up Our Dyno Equipment If you’ve ever wondered…

Read More

Custom Paint Work On A Z06 And A 370Z

In the world of custom cars, the first thing to catch your eye is almost always the paint job. A great paint job can be the difference between a nice car, and a show-stopper. Whether your prized possession is a full-time show car or a head-turning hot rod, Karl’s is your go-to Des Moines paint…

Read More
Karls summer nights

See What’s Happening At Karl Kustoms’ 2021 Summer Nights

In case you haven’t heard, our famous Summer Nights events are in full swing for the 2021 season. Unlike last year’s Virtual Summer Nights, this year’s Summer Nights are in person at Karl Kustoms. If you missed the first two Summer Nights events of the season, here’s a recap of each one: April 2021 Summer…

Read More

All About The GM 350/265 Small Block

In case you haven’t noticed, we added a new GM engine to our inventory: the GM 350/265 small block! Check it out: This new small block engine is a basic entry level engine. Yet, you can load it up with many upgrades. It’s designed to be a drop in replacement for 60s, 70s and 80s…

Read More

Military-Themed Custom Corvette

At Karl Kustoms, we work on some pretty cool projects. When we were offered the opportunity to help build a custom Z06 Corvette in honor of America’s fallen soldiers, we jumped all over it. We worked with Bad Boy Vettes, a group of Corvette enthusiasts all over the world, to bring a 2016 Z06 Corvette…

Read More