With so much going on at SEMA, such as new product showcasing, educational seminars, industry celebrity meet up, product exhibition, and demonstration it is impossible for one to see everything at SEMA. So we decided to take a step back from all the chaos and check out some fine art that was being displayed at the show. Every year at SEMA there is an art walk section that displays oil paintings, line drawings that capture renowned rides, race action, and historic events and personalities. This year Art Walk was located at the base of the escalator leading from Central Hall to the Sky Bridge. We stopped by to look at some of the artwork and to talk to a few of the artists.
The first artist that we had a chance to talk to goes by the name of Bomonster. He is a Southern California native who has mastered the art of scratchboard. Scratchboard art is basically the art of drawing with a sharp knife. Each board starts off with a white clay surface with a smooth layer of black ink on top and is then scrapped away with a knife. We will be featuring Bomonster in the near future but for now check out some of his work at Bomonster.com.
The second artist we got a chance to talk to was James Owens, who was born in The Motor City (Detroit). James graduated with a B.A. in illustration from the Center For Creative Studies, and after working in the advertising business decided to venture off to become a fine oil painting artist. We will be following up with James in the near future and will be bringing you a full feature with him.
The final artists that we got a chance to talk to is Ken Eberts out of Temecula, California. Ken’s been painting for over 50 years and was a car designer for Ford. Ken has huge body of work, with over 1,000 original paintings. The pieces that he has on display at SEMA are some of his newest work. We hope to be able to bring you a full feature on Ken and his artwork as well.
In 2007 we featured a ’62 Impala hardtop with blue trim belonging to Herman “Pooh” Ashley of Los Angeles. It was built in honor of, and named after, his sister Shameka who lost her life, but if that wasn’t enough, the car was wrecked a year later and practically unsalvageable…well, almost. Many might have given up after suffering that much loss, but Pooh ain’t your average guy. He got word of a ’62 rag shell — no frame, no doors, just quarter panels, floor, and windshield. So he started borrowing what parts he could save from the hardtop and transplanting them onto what would eventually become known as “Shameka’s Revenge.”
Pooh wanted a car that’d hop and this time chose red accent colors to make it look different from his first car. It features a full frame reinforcement, chrome undercarriage, chrome 9-inch Ford rear that came out of a ’78 Lincoln Versailles with front suspension chromed and molded. Ten batteries power two chrome pumps with two Adex square dumps in back and one in front keep the juice pumping. Six-inch cylinders in front with 12 inchers in the back keep the 13-inch Zeniths jumping and rolling. Mikey from Hop Shop in Gardena, California, took care of the suspension duties. The engine is a 5.7L LT1 and tied to a 700-R trans, which propels the ’62 down the road with plenty of power.
Body mods include reinforcements to the quarters, firewall, and doorjambs to make it a hopper done by Dave Little at Little Customs in Palmdale, California, who also painted the car the white/red combo. An Alpine deck and equalizer, two Hifonic amps, with Pioneer 6x9s and Kicker subwoofers, also done by Mikey from Hop Shop keep the tunes thumping loudly. Interior appointments include a Dakota Digital dash with red upholstery done by Ultimate Hydraulics in Norco California.
Believe it or not, Pooh has already sold the Impala and is working on a ’56 Bel Air, but still gives thanks to Mikey, Fuzz, Dave Little, V-Max, Switchman, and to his wife and family for their ongoing support. We look forward to seeing the completed Bel Air rolling strong.
Tech Specs
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1962 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
Vehicle Nickname: Shameka’s Revenge
Owner: Herman “Pooh” Ashley
City/State: Los Angeles, CA
Club: Individuals
Engine: LT1 V-8 and 700-R trans
Body/Paint: reinforced and painted by Little Designs
Suspension: full frame reinforcement, chrome undercarriage, chrome 9-inch Ford rear. Ten batteries, two chrome pumps, two Adex square dumps in back and one in fron. Six-inch cylinders in front with 12 inchers in the back.
Interior: Dakota Digital dash, interior by Mikey from Hop Shop
Sound System: Alpine deck and equalizer, two Hifonic amps, with Pioneer 6x9s and Kicker subwoofers
New Mexico is known for its Native American/Hispanic culture, hot air balloons, adobe architecture, and of course the hit TV series Breaking Bad. If you were a fan of the show like I was, then you suffered withdrawals when the show ended in September of 2013. We were able to get a quick fix when AMC created Better Call Saul, a prequel spinoff of the show. A few of the episodes from Better Call Saul feature a parking lot tollbooth at a courthouse. In actuality, the tollbooth is located at the Albuquerque Convention Center, where the 2015 Albuquerque Car Show and Concert took place. Artemis Promotions brought this LOWRIDER Magazine tour stop to the Convention Center.
The indoor venue limited the amount of car entries, which in return made this a more exclusive show. There were also plenty of vendors at the show such as Harley-Davidson and Lowrider Car Care. Harley-Davidson had multiple booths throughout the show, including their Jumpstart Rider Experience, which gave everyone considering a buying motorcycle a chance to mount a Harley, fire it up, and experience the feel, while in a safe setting and under the watchful eye of trained personnel. Speaking of Harleys, La Vida Customs showed up with multiple full show bikes in every color you can think of.
Plenty of local car clubs showed up with quality cars such as Oldies New Mexico that had a 1937 Chevy Businessman Coupe on full display and a late-’30s Packard. New Mexico CC showed up with multiple Tri-Five and Impala convertibles and we are sure that the state is proud to have them representing its name.
Prestigious Car Club is no stranger to the pages of LOWRIDER Magazine as they have produced multiple cover and centerfold cars. This year Fred Rael broke out with a creme 1964 Impala, while fellow club member Ken Jacquez showed off his new 1959 Impala. Imperials New Mexico showed that they are one of the best clubs in that state with their multiple 1958 Impala convertibles and the all-original 1959 Impala convertible named Tiene Todo. Plenty of solo riders also came out to represent, such as Juan Bustos who threw everyone off by slapping chrome wire wheels with whitewalls on one side and big wheels with low-profile tires on the other.
Many of California’s finest rides made the 800-mile trip to take part in New Mexico’s largest lowrider show. Donald Tovar came over with his 1948 Chevy Fleetmaster. With a lot of bomb lovers in the state, his ’48 was definitely a crowd pleaser. Other Cali bombs included Lowrider Hall of Famer Ricardo Alavardo’s 1936 Buick Roadmaster. Uniques Car Club in California had multiple cars on full display, as did Nokturnal.
California wasn’t the only state to come out and represent. Bobby Garza brought out his 1987 Cutlass, which is the 2014 Lowrider of the Year. Other Goodtimes chapters that showed up were Utah with a full show 1961 Impala convertible. Washington State also showed up with a full radical 1939 Chevy that qualified for sweepstakes at this year’s Las Vegas Super Show.
We’d like to thank everyone from New Mexico and everyone that made the trip from out of state to make this show a success. Artemis Promotions would also like to thank all their families and great staff. Special thanks to Straight Street Automotive, M&F Auto, World Wide Automotive , Classic Cars of New Mexico, and Munoz Customs. Artemis Promotions and LOWRIDER Magazine will do this all over again August 6, 2016.
In 1993, Jose Gomez of Visalia, California, began working at a stereo shop. It was at that shop where he began to really get involved with custom cars. Jose had a 1996 Chevy S-10 that he found in the outskirts of Goshen, California. “It belonged to an irrigator who used the truck at his ranch. I was able to purchase the truck for $900 to use as a daily commuter.”
During that time, Jose’s boss had a 1963 lowrider and that inspired him to add 13-inch wire wheels to it. “While at a local parade, I saw a Mazda with 13s, candy paint, and hydraulics. That truck belonged to local car club and it helped me envision my S-10 as a lowrider.”
After talking to fellow club member Anthony De Leon, Jose decided that his truck had a lot of potential. Anthony pointed him in the right direction, as he knew a lot of people in the car scene.
The truck was taken to have the handles shaved and the bodywork done. It then went to receive a House of Kolor candy paintjob with patterns, striping, and murals. His club member Gabino Saucedo then installed the sound system and hydraulics. “Other than a few delays, the build went good and I was able to meet so many people. Winning first place at a lowrider car show made it all worth it to me and if I could go back, the only thing I would do differently is to work on a classic instead.”
Jose would like to thank Joe Morales of Joe’s Auto Works in Tulare, California, Jaime Delgado from Hampton’s Paint & Body, his car club, and his family for all their support.
Tech Specs
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1996 Chevrolet S-10
Vehicle Nickname: Gumby’s S-10
Owner: Jose Gomez
City/State: Visalia, CA
Club: Brown Society
Engine: Kiko’s Auto in Visalia, CA, worked on the four-cylinder engine with a red top Optima battery
Body/Paint: Shaved door handles and tailgate. Classic’s Paint and Body in Lindsay, CA, took care of the bodywork, while Rene’s Custom Paint used House of Kolor orange base and pagan gold over it. Chava Garcia of Woodlake, CA, striped the Chevy while Alberto Herrera of Visalia, CA, added all the airbrushing.
Suspension: Gabino Saucedo of Santos Auto Stereo & Hydraulics in Visalia, CA, installed two chrome Black Magic pumps with four batteries and four switches
Interior: Tan leather on the custom bucket seats
Sound: Gabino Saucedo of Visalia, CA, installed the Pioneer flip DVD head unit with JL Audio amplifiers, Pioneer front and rear mids, and 10-inch Kicker Solo-Baric subwoofers
We’ve all got that one car we’d want to buy if we won the lottery. Most of us only get close to that fantasy and pine over what we’d really want by looking at magazines or drooling over the real-life versions that we see at car shows. Antonio Gonzalez, however, was not going to be deterred from buying the ’57 Bel Air convertible he’d been fantasizing about since childhood. After selling several Impalas and another Bel Air he finally had enough cash to be a contender. Then months became years of perusing the Internet to find the right car. After looking at every posting on every website he could think of he finally found something that seemed to have some possibility.
Eventually Antonio struck a deal with the owner in Las Vegas to pick up the car that was originally from Los Angeles, and that he is now the proud owner of. It was in fair condition, and needed the typical revitalizing a car nearly 60 years old would require, but at least he had his dream car and could begin the process of accessorizing it to his liking. Antonio wanted to keep the stock aesthetics, as this car came from the factory lookin’ good, but of course make it a lowrider.
Everything you see on the car was done by Antonio. For suspension mods, he installed RideTech airbags all around. To accommodate smaller 13×7 Zeniths, he had to swap the stock rearend for a Buick Regal version and four-linked it. Four dumps, two switches, and four solenoids keep the air running to each corner. It all rides on 5.20 Premium Sportways. A Baer disc brake conversion up front helps the ’57 come to a quick stop.
Powering the Bel Air is the venerable 283 it came with. It’s one of the few Bel Airs out there that also sports the rare three-speed Turboglide transmission option, brand new for that year. Antonio has also spent a great deal of time finding factory accessories to adorn his ’57 with (some of which haven’t been installed yet), including a continental kit, spotlights, compass, bumper guards, and rear chrome strip. He’s still on the search for more, so we’re sure he’ll be scouring the web and car shows to complete his to-do list.
The interior still has the upholstery that Antonio bought the car with, which was already in great shape. It’s also still outfitted with the stock radio. The car came with black paint, but Antonio reshot the car in PPG black to get the tuxedo on this Bow Tie looking good again. Antonio named the car “Tranquilo ’57,” which if you don’t know means “just chillin’.” As he puts it, “The car looks good just standing still.”
Catching this dream wouldn’t have been possible without help from his dad and Carlos Munoz for keeping him focused on turning it into a reality. We hope you enjoy many happy years with it.
Tech Specs
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible
Vehicle Nickname: Tranquilo ’57
Owner: Antonio Gonzalez
Car Club: New Mexico Car Club
City/State: Gallup, NM
Engine: 283 V-8, Turboglide transmission
Body/Paint: PPG black by owner
Suspension: RideTech airbags, four-linked Buick Regal rearend. Four dumps, two switches, and four solenoids.
La Bulla art exhibit opened April 11th at Plaza De La Raza in Los Angeles. Antonio Pelayo, Dan Madigan, and Steve Guerrero curated the exhibit and the event was hosted by model Amandita Garcia and comedian Aurelio Bocanegra.
The show featured a live concert, famous DJs, face painting, five fully stocked bars, live Lucha Libre matches in an outdoor wrestling ring, and a Lucha Libre art exhibit. Over 100 artists participated in the exhibit with multiple Lowrider Arte artists making their contributions.
Some of those artists displaying their artwork included Chuy Quintanar, Shepard Fairey, Freddy Negrete, Francisco Franco, Johnny Quintana, Gustavo Rimada, and many more. This 21-and-over festival was jam packed with over 3,000 spectators. Not only did La Bulla support local artists, but it also teamed up with the American Diabetes Awareness organization to advocate diabetes awareness within the Hispanic community. For information on next year’s show, go to www.labulla.org and keep an eye out for more Antonio Pelayo shows that we’ll be covering.
Restoring a truck that has been in existence since the late ’40s or early ’50s is no easy task. Aside from all the normal wear and tear of having been used that long, there’s also the abuse and neglect it’s been through, which can sometimes only be fully apparent after it’s been disassembled. While you may have your work cut out for you with fixing up the body, interior, or engine, one the most daunting tasks for even the most skilled mechanic to deal with is assessing and making any repairs to the truck’s foundation.
Rotted-out bushings, bad shocks, bent metal caused by wrecks and hidden from plain view, and of course rust may just be some of the problems you encounter with a stock frame. Then you may possibly have to reinforce or retrofit portions so you can add more contemporary parts. That may put additional stress on factory metal that is old, brittle, and not originally designed for such upgrades. In other words, attempting to make those changes to a frame that’s 60 to 70 years old may just not be realistic. To be done correctly, it will take countless amounts of labor, time, and money and after figuring the total cost involved, it’ll leave you wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze.
Well that’s a question you have to ask yourself and in all honesty — and in an almost comical way — restoring an older frame is much like an older woman getting plastic surgery. It’ll work, but it just won’t be the same … and you might be worse off than when you started.
But all joking aside, the cost of repairing rust, boxing a frame, replacing worn bushings, and going the full nine yards will add up quickly, which is why the better choice would be going with a fresh frame from the folks over at TCI. These frames are custom crafted in the good ol’ USA and feature main rails with an extended height from 6 to 8 inches for increased rigidity and clearance between upper and lower X-members. They also retain their original profile and their re-engineered upper coil-spring towers accommodate a traditional shim-style alignment adjustment instead of T-bolts.
In addition, Total Cost Involved uses a vertical plate to mount the upper control arm, thus increasing camber gain and anti-dive for better performance. Further enhancements also include a Parabolic leaf spring kit, which has been moved closer to the framerail and makes room for wider wheel and tire packages. Of course, all TCI frames can also be customized to suit your exact needs, so if you’re willing to spend a little more money you can have a bespoke frame designed just for your own unique application.
With all these technological advancements, these frames provide a solid foundation for a good build, but along with that, they were designed to improve ride quality and increase performance. The TCI frames are also more suitable for drivetrain changes and other aftermarket components. Let’s face it, many of us want that vintage feel with more contemporary drivability than what stock frames will allow and they may have to be reinforced to deal with additional stress. Those who’ve tried putting an LS motor in a stock frame where a six-cylinder used to reside will know what we mean.
So how easy is it to slap all the necessary components onto a lowrider-style TCI truck frame? Well this DIY was put together to show you just that. Starting off with a bare TCI frame, it took us four hours to bolt up the tubular control arms, air suspension, Wilwood brakes, and a Currie rearend. Now keep in mind that the frame has no finish, but it’s proof once again about how easy it is to work with because by the time this article goes to print we would have already broken it all back down to get the frame and components chromed, polished, or powdercoated for the right finish.
Be sure to follow this special ground-up build. This is phase one of our Project Fifty Three resto-mod, which will soon have a new LS-X crate engine dropped in.
Features & Benefits:
Made in the USA.
Limited lifetime warranty on all TCI Engineering manufactured parts
Frames are built specifically for ’47-’54 Chevy & GMC Pickups/Suburbans
All Heli-arc welded for the highest quality and strength
Frame height is 8 inches, rather than 6 inches for additional strength, yet retains the factory profile for ease of mounting the cab and bed
Heavy-duty 17-piece 2x.75x.120-inch center section allows plenty of room for even the most extreme exhaust sizes
The front suspension has been engineered to lower the center of gravity, decrease body roll, and increase handling performance, while allowing plenty of ground clearance
The front suspension crossmember is extra thick and uses the one-piece pin design for additional strength
Larger front brake calipers and vented rotors dramatically reduce stopping distance
Drastically increases the comfort and drivability of the vehicle
New coil-spring tower design makes alignment adjustments a snap</li
Greater spectrum of alignment adjustments available
Large anti-sway bar for greater roll control
Heavy-duty upper and lower screw-in ball joints for additional strength and durability
Camber gain has been increased to keep the tires flat on the ground for additional grip
Built-in anti-dive control for keeping tires flat on the asphalt during aggressive braking
Rear Parabolic leaf spring suspension creates additional room in the fender for wider tires
Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings help insulate road noise
New Currie Sportsman 9-Plus made of 65,000-psi nodular iron third member case is lightweight and strong
New case features 3.062 carrier bearings for additional strength
3-inch O.D. x .188-inch wall 10026 D.O.M. axle tubes to keep them from twisting under high-horsepower applications
Late/large billet steel 9-Plus bearing ends for strength
31-spline 1541 forged-induction heat-treated alloy axles will withstand 600 hp
2.80 center register with the common 2.5-inch brake offset
All axles use U.S.-made tapered roller bearings for strength and durability
Axles are available with either 1/2- or 7?16-inch wheel studs on 4.5-inch (Ford) or 4.75-inch (Chevy) bolt patterns
New round back Currie hot rod housing
1330 yoke is strong, lightweight, and common so driveshaft options will be plentiful
Your choice of gears (3.00 to 4.56)
60-inch axle flange to axle flange width is standard but custom widths are available
Included Products:
Complete coil spring front suspension
Complete leaf spring rear suspension
Complete 9-inch hot rod Currie housing with your choice of gear set (3.00 to 4.56)
31-spline axles and 11-inch drum brakes
Under-floor pedal assembly with master cylinder and booster (pedal bracket welded to chassis)
Fully plumbed custom steel brake lines complete with Wilwood residual check valves and proportioning valve
Stainless braided brake hoses
Small-block engine brackets mounted
Automatic transmission crossmember mounted
Core support crossmember
Running board brackets
Total Cost Involved ‘s engineer begins the ’47-’54 Lowrider truck frame assembly by mounting the foot brake pedal bracket onto the modern brake booster system.
Once Jeff installed the upper and lower tubular-style A-arms, he began mounting the Firestone double bellow airbags for the smooth and lowered air suspension system that also comes “involved” with this special truck frame package!
TCI’s patented line of high-performance rack-and-pinion components, like the one being installed here, add modern suspension capabilities and handling improvements for your old truck.
TCI pulls out all the stops right here, as a Wilwood disc brake system with larger front calipers and vented rotors come included and installed.
A complete Currie 9 “Hot Rod” rearend takes its place on the modern four-link rear suspension as part of the frame package to support any high-performance engine you want to drop in.
A new rear Corvette-style drum and disc brake assembly is then installed onto the rearend to complete the Wilwood performance stopping power.
Built in the USA, the TCI ’47-’54 Lowrider truck frame is Heli-arc welded and specially assembled with a limited lifetime warranty, and is ready to roll out and find its cab, bed, hood, and fenders.
Pedro Infante is without a doubt one of Mexico’s most legendary actors. As a kid, Eddie Cano can remember how much his dad loved to watch his movies. One in particular, A Toda Maquina, featured Pedro as a motorcycle cop riding a huge Harley. In fact, a statue of this famous role can be seen in Mazatlan where Infante was born. From then on, Eddie knew he’d have to get himself a big ol’ hog one day.
That day came on his 40th birthday thanks to his wife Mayra buying him a brand-new 2012 Road King Classic, which was Eddie’s very first Harley. From there, Eddie got started making the necessary changes to modify it to his tastes and personality. For power, the Road King still sports its factory 103ci motor and six-speed tranny. Thirty-inch fishtails have been added to the exhaust as part of the overall lowrider look. Its also been upgraded with 21-inch Sinister wheels and Avon tires.
On the body, Mutazu fiberglass stretch bags were added and upholstered with ostrich skin on the inside to match the seat done by Ramon at Manaco Upholstery in Bakersfield, Caliornia. The stock paint was adorned with pinstriping by Bobby Negrete along with muraling by Jay Werner, both of Bakersfield, California. The audio system was upgraded with a custom iPod holder, an Alpine amp, four Alpine 6x9s, and a Clarion EQ.
Although Eddie wants to add some gold and silver leafing, he considers “El Chaka” pretty much a done deal. Special thanks goes out to his wife, and his club Aztec Image. Although his life was cut short, we’re sure Pedro is smiling down with glee knowing that his ’50s Harley-riding character has inspired people to become fellow riders.
Tech Specs
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2012 Harley-Davidson Road King
Vehicle Nickname: El Chaka
Owner: Eddie Cano
City/State: Bakersfield, California
Club: Aztec Image
Engine: 2012 Harley Davidson 103ci with six-speed transmission
Body/Paint: Stock black with muraling by Jay Werner and pinstriping by Bobby Negrete
Suspension: Stock
Wheels/Tires: 21-inch Sinister / 21-inch Avon
Sound System: Custom iPod holder, an Alpine amp, four Alpine 6x9s, and a Clarion EQ
We often lose sight of how good we have it. Going to car shows, spending time with family, having a healthy and stable life. Those opportunities come at the behest of people in our armed forces putting themselves in harm’s way so we can enjoy those things. The soldiers out earning their checks by defending our freedom don’t ever seem to get the credit they deserve, and when tragedy strikes, it can probably feel like the most thankless job in the world.
While Miguel Alatorre was deployed in Afghanistan, he was injured when multiple IEDs struck his gun-truck. He was lucky to be alive, and although injured, Miguel stayed in the fight. When he was eventually given a medical discharge, the emotional scars compounded the physical ones and the transition back to civilian life was not easy. Miguel had previously built a ’64 Impala after his first tour to help him cope with the stress he’d been through and thought it’d be therapeutic to take on another project. He set out to find his dream car — a ’59 Chevy Impala convertible.
Miguel found this one online and showed his friend, Miguel Aguirre, who told him that he in fact had built a model of this car as a kid and it was what got him into lowriding. The car previously traveled under the name “Poison” until it disappeared from the show scene. The car was running, but the interior was missing and the purple paint was old and faded. Miguel decided to keep the car true to its history, but add some touches that he felt reflected his personality. The new name it was given, “The Antidote,” seemed like not only a befitting title for its second go-around as a show car, but the build truly became the remedy that the Purple Heart-decorated owner was looking for to stay focused on something positive.
For suspension, Miguel kept much of it the same, but the wrapped frame was powdercoated to offset a lot of the chrome. A shock tower bridge on the frame was added for more support, along with reinforced stress points. A custom ’58 Impala wishbone and Lincoln Versailles rearend were also added with stainless tubing all around. Molded control arms with ’70 Impala spindles and brakes are connected to a CPP master cylinder and booster. The ’85 Chevy 350 and TH350 the car came with were dressed up a bit with an MSD HEI ignition, Griffin radiator, Hooker headers, and a K&N air cleaner. A two-piece driveshaft with slip yokes was also added. Work was done by Miguel Aguirre.
Four batteries power two Pro Hopper pumps, three LA square dumps, and four switches for the 6-inch front and 8-inch rear cylinders all running through stainless hardlines. It was installed by Carrot’s Hydraulics in San Diego. Rolling on 72-spoke cross-laced Zeniths with Premium Sportway 5.20s, it’s looking as old school as ever. Miguel wanted to keep with the original purple theme, but have it redone and patterned out to liven it up a bit. Robert Ceniceros and Sal Manzano at Riviera Brothers in Chula Vista, California, shot the car in House of Kolor Deep Candy Purple and did the amazing patterning. The convertible top was redone in Stayfast plum purple with the “gangsta” back window and a chrome-plated rack. The interior was done up similar to the original ’59 pattern and adorned with custom purple carpet, seat covers, and door panels by Klique Customs in San Diego. Dakota Digital gauges light up the dash, while a Kenwood head unit, Rockford Fosgate amps, Beyma speakers, and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer keep the tunes rolling in. Work was done by Ronnie’s Electronics in National City, California. The car was finished in 10 months and debuted at the Klique 50th anniversary party and couldn’t have been more well received. Miguel thinks there’s still more to do on the car, but believes it’s been about as close to a cure as possible to be able to channel all this thoughts into this effort. Thanks goes to his wife Bonnie, sons Joshua , Jacob, and daughter Crystal, as well as Robert Ceniceros, Miguel Aguirre, Sal Manzano, Oscar Pelayo, Zach Tackett, and Israel Serrano. “Lowriding has changed my life and this car is dedicated to soldiers who serve. I finally get to make up for lost time with my family by going cruising and that’s when I’m most relaxed. It’s been a blessing working on this car to help me get through what I’m going through.” Well said, Miguel. Thank you for defending our freedom. You truly deserve this.
Tech Specs
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible
Vehicle Nickname: The Antidote
Owner: Miguel Alatorre
City/State: San Diego, CA
Club: Klique
Engine: 350 V-8 and TH350 trans
Body/Paint: Paint and patterning by Riviera Brothers, Chula Vista, CA
Suspension: Four batteries, Two Pro Hopper pumps, three LA square dumps, four switches, 6-inch front and 8-inch rear cylinders. Wrapped, powdercoated frame. Lincoln rearend.
Interior: Custom by Hot Wheels Upholstery, Chula Vista, CA
Sound System: Kenwood head unit, Rockford Fosgate amps, Beyma speakers, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer. Work by Ronnie’s Electronics in National City, CA
Crosses and crucifixes are powerful visual reminders of God’s love, and they also serve as a witness of hope to the world. Being blessed with artistic talents, muralist Alberto Herrera had to be privileged when he airbrushed the praying hands and the background scene of the three crucifixes resembling the time when Christ died on the cross. Most Lowrider Murals depict religious scenes and or portraits on the trunks or hoods of cars as a sacred reminder of honor and faith towards their religion. Religious artwork has been a tradition for decades on custom painted lowrider automobile but like a tradition, the kids portray the same themes on their Lowrider Bikes and as you see here in these images, Pedal cars too! This Alberto Herrera creation was formulated and airbrushed on a little kids pedal car using different shades of Axalta Paint brand candy blues and pearlescent. To seal this creation up in this specialized spray booth, Axalta Chromax LE 8300 clear was sprayed on by our Axalta Paint specialist Steve Chaparro, who’s other departments also include giving paint tips for the Lowrider Paint Tip of the Month column featured in every issue of Lowrider magazine. For all Lowrider Artists who airbrush murals, custom paint or lay down gold leaf pinstriping, only the most quality products are used, especially when all the creative painted talents need to be covered deep and protected. It could be said that all paint materials used on most Lowriders are blessed only with the best materials!
The Lowrider “Time Machine” cruises back into the future of the late 1960’s to a place known as the Tail Fin Era of Automobile styling. Here’s what the Car Show circuits looked like back in time when Lowriders landed for exhibit completely customized with Tail Fins intact. As you can see we are trapped in a time warp as these 1957 through 1960 Models are still as popular today. Bunny ear antenas, show pipes and angel hair are the only things dated here, other than those fads candy apple & customizing is a future past!
That’s right, it’s just that easy to convert from a carb to EFI. All you need is a beer, a few tools, and once it’s all plugged in it’ll tune itself in just the touch of a few buttons. Did we mention it could also manage your MP3 tracks? Yes…it’s true. Read on.
Owning a classic car with a carb is much like having a trophy wife with all the problems. From the outside, everything looks fine and dandy up until all the evil gremlins come up when you least expect it. OK…maybe it’s actually better to deal with carbs, but you get what I mean. Now don’t get me wrong, not all carbureted classics are bad, but the carb dilemmas always seem to tweak out during the most unsuspecting moments and wrong times.
From the engine hunting to not starting to the engine misfiring under load, carburetors need a whole lot of attention and fine-tuning. To solve that problem, Edelbrock has come up with a system they call the Edelbrock E-Street EFI system. This easy-to-use, simple-to-install system converts your carburetor setup to modern electronic fuel injection in just a short time. There is no tuning experience necessary and the bolt-on kit gives you all the performance potential of electronic fuel injection, while offering an electronic management system that will help you tune the system all through a touch-screen tablet PC.
The EFI throttle body communicates via Bluetooth to the included tablet, which can either be mounted or stashed in your glovebox. The system is perfect for any V-8 engine equipped with a 4150 square-bore flange.
So how do you install it? It’s really easy. Remove the old carb, bolt on the new kit, plug it into a pre-installed interface, give it power, and then with the touch of a few buttons it’ll tune itself. But what if you’re planning on upgrading your engine in the future? Well that’s no problem at all. Edelbrock developed this kit to be expandable so it can easily be transferred to other engines. All you have to do is recalibrate and retune from the tablet.
Installation Note
This system will require a high-pressure EFI-compatible fuel delivery system. Fuel delivery kits are available and sold separately. Selecting the right fuel delivery system is critical to the performance of any EFI application.
What’s Included
1. Ready to run right out of the box with a pre-loaded tune.
2. Integrated wide-band O2 sensor.
Highly accurate monitoring in the 10-20 AFR range
3. Dynamic fuel control.
No tuning experience required
Self-learning system will optimize the tune for you
4. Fully assembled and pressure tested throttle body with injectors, fuel rails, linkage, and sensors that readily accepts standard air cleaners for a traditional look.
5. Includes a fully assembled OEM-quality wiring harness with pre-terminated connectors for an easy installation.
6. Multiple fuel system options available.
7. Compatible with popular ignition systems and distributors.
8. Great with large, high-overlap cams with low vacuum.
9. Easy-to-use 7-inch touch-screen tablet PC that features…
Wireless connectivity between the ECU and the tablet
Capable of controlling two fans
Digital gauge cluster for engine monitoring while driving
Includes Android operating system for added functionality with downloadable applications and future upgrades
10. System will automatically adjust for future engine upgrades.
11. Performs under all weather and altitude conditions.
Once you remove your old carb, just drop the new Edelbrock EFI throttle body into place and get ready to plug it in.
The fully assembled OEM-quality wiring harness comes complete with pre-terminated connectors for an easy step-by-step (labeled) plug in instructions.
Once this engine is installed in our “Cadillac DeVillain” project, we will connect the remaining harness wiring and tune this system through the touch-screen tablet PC shown here. Stay tuned for our next Part 2 series as the E-Street EFI throttle body communicates via Bluetooth and with the touch of a few buttons it will tune itself!
Axalta Paint Tip of the Month
By Axalta Coatings Systems
Value in a Hurry
Axalta Paint has a specially formulated brand known as Nason SelectClear 468-00 2K Urethane Multi-Panel Clear. This is a 2K, urethane clearcoat designed for multi-panel and overall repairs. It is easy to spray, features excellent gloss and DOI, and provides a fast build in just two coats. All of Axalta’s Nason products are formulated to be fast, easy to apply, and they are designed to work together as a system to give you an option when time and money are limited. Nason 468-00 Multi Panel Clear is mixed from four parts of clear to one part of 483-86 Activator. Your spray gun should be set up from 1.3 to 1.6 HVLP to apply from medium to wet that allow 12 to 15 minutes flash time between coats. A real benefit of this clearcoat is that it has a three-hour “pot life” at 75 degrees. Most conventional clears usually have a 45-minute pot life, so this is a major benefit! Also, please remember that when you’re looking for that deep look in your paintjob’s finish, all you have to do is let it air dry overnight, cut it with 800- to 1,000-grit sandpaper, then reclear it with two more coats. For more technical advice, contact product specialist Steven Chaparro at steven.c.chaparro@axaltacs.com.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve had or continue to have dreams of owning your own lowrider. We have all at one time or another daydreamed about hitting switches or cruising to our favorite oldies. Lowrider dreams, however, are not easily achieved. Few know the sacrifices we make to live this lifestyle, filled with compromises, sacrifices, and, more importantly, an understanding family where wives seldom get the credit they deserve for our lowrider builds. Cesar Arias of the Majestics Car Club, together with his wife Maria, went on to build one of the most admired street-show cars in Las Vegas.
This custom show car’s many features include a custom Black Magic whammy tank hydraulic setup complete with chrome hard lines and three dumps. Other points of interest are the MTX audio subwoofers along with a fully chromed-out 350 Chevy small-block engine installed by Tracy Rodriguez of CARS automotive in Las Vegas. Rick of Pro Custom laid down the House of Kolor candy Champion Gold found throughout the vehicle, as well as undercarriage and engine compartment. With the infamous Wicho cutting, sewing, and stitching the custom peanut butter interior, OG triple gold 13-inch Dayton wire wheels installed, and a custom-engraved Majestics Car Club plaque hanging in the back window it was finally time to show the lowrider community what lowrider dreams really look like.
“Without the help of my fellow car club members, and more importantly Maria my wife, none of this would have been possible. I thank each and every one of you for continuously showing me support. This is for you and all the Majestics worldwide.”
Tech Specs
Vehicle: 1967 Chevy Impala
Vehicle Nickname: Desert Dreams
Owner: Cesar Arias
Car Club: Majestics C.C. Las Vegas Chapter
City: Las Vegas, NV
Engine: Fully chromed-out Chevy 350 built and installed by Tracy at CARS Automotive in Las Vegas
Upholstery: Wicho in Las Vegas stitched the custom two-toned peanut butter interior
Body/Paint: Rick of Pro Custom covered the car with House of Kolor Champion Gold Candy paint
Suspension: Partially reinforced frame with a Black Magic Hydraulics-built whammy tank setup
The goal for all exhibitors at SEMA is drawing attention to their booth and giving product awareness. There are multiple tactics used to draw that attention. The most effective ways I saw was by unveiling a custom build or by having a celebrity or model at their booth. Most celebrities are reality stars from cable shows. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have cable, only Netflix. So to get to know an exhibitor better, maybe I should chill with some of the models.
We first got a chance to talk to Magda Angel (@MagdaAngel) and Christina Brooklyn (@Christina_Brooklyn). Magda Angel started modeling in her native country of Colombia 13 years ago before moving to Los Angeles.
LOWRIDER: What made you pack up and move to the America?
Magda Angel: The American Dream! I moved because I wanted a better life for my family and myself. My family was going through a hard situation and I figured I could help them out economically by moving to America.
LOWRIDER: Did you move in with family/friends? Did you have a job before moving?
Magda Angel: No. I didn’t have anyone here and I also didn’t speak any English but I was able to work really hard and accomplish a lot of my goals.
LOWRIDER: Christina, how long have you been modeling?
Christina Brooklyn: I’ve been modeling for five years. I began networking through a modeling website and slowly building up my name.
LOWRIDER: Are you originally from Vegas?
Christina Brooklyn: I was born in Maine, raised in Florida, Las Vegas, and California.
LOWRIDER: Why did you move a lot?
Christina Brooklyn: My dad was a Marine and we moved around a lot.
LOWRIDER: Was it hard being the new girl?
Christina Brooklyn: It was really hard because girls can be so catty, but I’m real personable so I made the best of it.
Next we got the opportunity to talk with Julie Mel (@_JulieMeka), a Las Vegas hottie who’s been modeling for three years.
LOWRIDER: What do you enjoy about modeling?
Julie Mel: I love networking and meeting new people.
LOWRIDER: Do you travel a lot?
Julie Mel: Yes. I go to L.A. all the time, East Coast, Atlanta, Tennessee, and Texas.
LOWRIDER: What direction would you like to take your modeling career?
Julie Mel: I want to be published more. I was just recently published in an art magazine, also one a magazine from Singapore.
Our next model Ericka Kenny (@ErickaOfLV) is no stranger to the page of LOWRIDER Magazine as she was featured in the June ’15 issue. This former Arizona Cardinals cheerleader took a few moments out of her busy schedule to talk with us.
LOWRIDER: What did you think about your recent feature in LOWRIDER?
Ericka Kenny: I loved it. I had a lot of fun at the shoot and loved the way my photos came out. I would definitely do it again.
LOWRIDER: How much published work have you done?
Ericka Kenny: I’ve done a lot with different bikini lines, rim and tire shops. I was also an NFL cheerleader so I did a lot with the NFL.
LOWRIDER: What’s your favorite thing about modeling?
Ericka Kenny: I love everything about modeling, but mainly I love meeting all the people along the way. There are just some many different types of people with a lot of character.
While checking out an all engraved Skyline from Japan (engraving on paint) we were able to talk to Marie Madore (@Marie_Madore). Marie is a Dallas-based model who got her big break in 2014 when she made the top 100 of Maxim Hometown Hotties.
LOWRIDER: What made you want to model?
Marie Madore: I used to model local boutiques but I decided to make it a career after getting to the top 100 Maxim Hometown Hotties.
LOWRIDER: What area in modeling keeps you the busiest?
Marie Madore: I go to a lot of car shows from coast to coast, and hopefully I’ll be going international pretty soon.
LOWRIDER: What’s one of your career highlights?
Marie Madore: I’m grateful for everything I’ve achieved but I’d like to think my career highlights haven’t happened yet.
We hope that you guys enjoyed getting to know these lovely ladies as much as we did and don’t be afraid to follow them on instagram.
Most of us know that building a lowrider takes time and patience. Just ask Ray Martinez, whose restoration journey lasted over 28 years. Shortly after purchasing this 1949 Chevy 3100 stake bed 1/2-ton truck from its second owner, “El Chilero,” as it would come be known, began its transformation from an average everyday work “trokita” to a full-on award-winning masterpiece.
After several paintjobs, none of which met Oldies Car Club’s high standards, Ray’s father, Ray “Bolitas” Martinez Sr. said, “It’s time for a full restoration to build this one up real nice.” So with his father as the inspiration and driving force behind this build, Ray called upon some of Arizona’s top car builders.
The project began with Steve “The Master” Young spraying the unique blend of Fire Engine Red two-stage PPG paint found throughout the truck with Tony’s Pinstriping adding his signature lines. While Angel Viloria of Angel’s Upholstery covered the original seat frame with custom camel-colored leather and red embroidery accents, Adam “The Wizard” Shaw in Casa Grande, Arizona, was rebuilding a 1954 Chevy 235 bored out with an original dual-carb intake manifold and a Fenton split manifold exhaust.
With the project in full swing, Ray would complete this build by tracking down some hard-to-find NOS accessories, which are a must in any vintage restoration. Some of these rare items include dual “unity” spot lights, a Screaming Eagle hood ornament, dual marble reflectors, thermador cooler, and an original butterfly steering wheel.
“I would like to thank everyone that was involved with this project, especially all the members of Oldies C.C. Phoenix chapter, my brother Mario, and to the most patient person I know, my beautiful wife Marcia Bravo-Martinez,” says Ray. Sadly, Ray’s father passed away before this build was completed, but we assure you your “Jefito” would have been proud of the final result.
Tech Specs
Vehicle: 1949 Chevy 3100 stake bed 1/2-ton truck
Vehicle Nickname: El Chilero
Owner: Ray Martinez
Car Club: Oldies C.C.
City: Phoenix, AZ
Engine: 1954 Chevy 235 rebuilt by Adam “The Wizard” Shaw in Casa Grande, AZ
Upholstery: Angel Viloria covered the original seat frame with custom Camel-colored leather and red embroidery accents
Body/Paint: Steve Young of Phoenix, AZ, sprayed the unique blend of Fire Engine Red two-stage PPG paint
Matthew Pasion of Waipahu, Hawaii, has always been into custom cars and bikes since high school. “The need to stand apart from the rest is why I always customize my rides whether it was a mini-truck, car, or bike.” His need for customizing landed him a feature in our August 2013 issue with his Deluxe. “I wanted to see if I could do it again with a different platform.”
Long, low, and lean. The epitome of a lowrider bike.
Matt had mentioned to Jay Soares of 66 Rides that he wanted to put saddlebags on his Deluxe. Jay replied with, “Buy yourself a real bagger.” So his journey to purchase one began. “I purchased this Road Glide new in 2013, on my girl’s birthday. Kind of like, “Happy birthday, look what I bought myself.”
His desire to standout from the crowd meant that he wasn’t going to order parts from a catalog or online. Instead he made sure that every part of his bike was chopped, cut, raked, channeled, contoured, or redesigned altogether. Matt custom built the fairing and stretched the saddlebags, side covers, and rear fenders. Custom fiberglassing came easy to him, as he had learned from Chad Parades a well-known audio fabricator in Hawaii.
Jay Soares of 66 Rides did all the mechanical and engine work as well as the 26-inch wheel conversion. Jay cut the neck and raked to accept the large front wheel as well as internally running the wires, brake lines, and clutch lines. “The hardest part of the build was changing my mind a million times with all the fiberglass fabrication.” Once he felt it was perfect, he sent it out to Scott Beans who laid out the multi-based candy red with a ton of flake.
Matt, Jay, and Scott were able to complete the Road Glide in six months, just in time for the first annual Hawaii Motorcycle Rally. “I was literally putting on the last screws at the show. Thanks to the efforts of Scott Benas, Jay Soares, and the 66 Rides fam for making this possible and to my girl Marissa who put up with all the madness.”
2013 Harley Davidson Road Glide
Owner: Matthew Pasion
Vehicle Name: Fiberglass Monster
City/State: Waipahu, HI
Club: 66 Rides
Engine: 2013 twin cam, Woods 555 camshaft, Trask turbo/fuel injection/blower and exhaust system
Body/Paint: Carlini Menace 17-inch ape hangers, 6-gallon tanks. Sikfiberkationz custom built the fairing and stretched the saddlebags, side covers, and rear fenders. Scotts Benas used House of Kolor candy apple to paint the bike.
Suspension: Dirty Air fast air setup. 13-inch Performance Machine brakes.
This blower is sure to give “Road Glide” new meaning.
Creating a successful car show in the states is no easy task. It’s even harder when your state is divided into eight islands and separated from the mainland, but that’s what Tommy Sampaga of Hawaii has accomplished. His Arts in Motion car show at Aloha Stadium is one of the most anticipated car shows in the state. The recipe to the show’s success comes from bringing together all the different automobile styles found in Oahu. A show catering to a single style of cars wouldn’t succeed in the island as they don’t have the luxury of being able to drive from state to state to attend “lowrider only” shows.
Even thought the show had a mixture of custom styles, it had more than enough lowriders for us to focus on, like the early ’90s Lincoln Town Car from GoodTimes car club. The fully patterned black luxury car sat on top of a turntable to show off its fully chromed undercarriage. Another ride sitting on a turntable is Michael Pantil’s 2007 Harley-Davidson Heritage. His Harley was featured in 2014, but busted out at this show fully redone. Michael fully flaked and patterned out his bike in candy red and every piece that was able to be chromed and engraved was.
Other than eye candy on wheels, there was also plenty of eye candy on heels. Some of that eye candy included LOWRIDER Magazine models Tanya Love and Ling Fero from California. Also in attendance from Canada was import model Steph Ly. The model that everyone came to see was reality start Brittanya Razavi who signed and took photos with her fans all day.
I’d like to thank Tommy for inviting us to his show once again and to Charlie and the rest of the Supremacy members for their hospitality.
When it comes to sedans, there is no denying that we – as the Latino market – love the Nissan brand. From the Altima to the Maxima, these sedans have become a part our automotive make up.
Since the 1st generation Nissan Maxima’s were introduced back in 1980, the bloodline of this magnificent brand has been what dreams are made of. But ask any Maxima enthusiast and they’ll be sure to agree that some of it’s luster was tarnished from the 5th to the 7th generation – but not now. For 2016, the engineers at Nissan have reclaimed their glory and introduced a newly redesigned Maxima that’s worthy of its namesake and heritage.
STYLING
With fresh new lines and a striking presence, the new Maxima is a sports sedan with a bold persona. Its sleek styling and free flowing lines, provide a dramatic visual escapade that truly lets onlookers enjoy the design. Whereas most new sedans are void of contour lines, the Maxima’s design proves to be aggressive and sleek. The scalloped doors, and aggressive front fascia give this family sedan an ominous presence, and the integrated LED running lamps are sure to make you do a double take.
POWER
Powered by a newly redesigned 3.5-liter, 24 valve, V6, the new 300 hp motor provides more than enough salsa to get you in an out of traffic. With 261 lb.-ft of torque, more than 60 percent of the engine boasts newly designed parts, and flaunts a new intake manifold and valve train which help the motor breathe thus increasing overall hp and torque. For seamless and smooth shifting, the V6 is mated to a new Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).
While in CVT mode, occupants of the vehicle will experience linear acceleration void of the “jerk” between gearshifts but during hard driving Nissan’s “D-Step Programming” will create the sensation of shifting gears. In addition to a wider gear ratio and adaptive shift controller, the transmission not only provides a more connected and spiritual driving experience, but a pavement pounding thrust that also helps increased fuel economy.
INTERIOR
The interior of the new Maxima left us speechless. For a mid priced sedan that doesn’t fall into the “luxury” category, the guts of the Nissan Maxima come from rich bloodlines. In it’s simplest form, the interior of our test car was stunning. At first glance, most everyone that got to experience the car thought that the interior had been customized and reupholstered when in fact it was stock. The attention to detail on the interior was beyond impressive. From the knurled buttons, to the split diamond stitching, the interior of the Maxima was much more impressive then it’s German counterparts which are double the price.
Many who sat in the car mentioned that it felt like the cockpit of a luxury jet fighter, and that’s exactly the inspiration of their design. Nissan mentioned that it’s designers spent time studying the U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A 18 Hornets, and much of what you experience was inspired by the cockpit of those legendary aircrafts. That said, little subtleties like a 7-degree angle of tilt on the dashboard, intertwines the driver with all the necessary instrumentation.
SUSPENSION
While fighter jets may have inspired the interior, the suspension of the all new Maxima was inspired by it’s bigger brother – and infamous street fighter – the GTR. With multiple modes, we drove it mainly on “Sport Mode” and the responsiveness of the throttle becomes sharper, steering gets heavier and shifts get quicker. In short, the best way we could describe “Normal Mode” vs. “Sport Mode” is much like the difference between a sprinkle of Tapatio vs a few drops of Habanero.
The new suspension is 1.3 inches lower and 2.2 inches longer than previous models thus making it an able bodied sedan than can handle a cool canyon run. In addition, the use of high strength 1.2 GPa steels improves torsional rigidity while providing a reduction in weight of 82-pounds, thus giving it a better power-to-weight ratio than a BMW 335i or Acura TLX V6.
TRUNK SPACE
With enough trunk space to fit at least four large coolers, 20 pounds of carne asada and just about everything else you’d need for a fiesta, it’s more than ample and capable. Again, the Nissan Maxima may be considered a sports sedan but it’s functionality makes it much more than that.
AUDIO
Back in the 80’s stereo shops were all the rage because of inadequate car stereos, but the optional Bose sound system in our test model is proof that it’s only getting better. With clear front staging, and crisp audio reproduction, there’s nothing more we’d want out of a system.
When it comes to an exhaust system, MagnaFlow offers the best of both worlds, bringing you great performance and great sound! Using decades of experience, extensive research, and field testing, MagnaFlow develops and manufactures durable steel mufflers tuned to provide the proper amount of backpressure and a deep resonance-free tone.
MagnaFlow Exhaust is so confident in their muffler systems, that every part produced is guaranteed for life! MagnaFlow offers an entire line of performance tubing, tips, hardware, catalytic converters, and complete exhaust systems for any custom or classic ride. Why should you prefer MagnaFlow Exhaust? The fact that their exhaust systems do not trap heat and also include performance gains should be reason enough.
To prove that point, we took a full custom ’65 Impala show car with a high-performance engine and a custom painted underbelly over to their facility for a complete stainless system install. The owner of this special vehicle wanted to have the least amount of heat as possible, avoiding damage to a painted undercarriage from the exhaust’s heat. Other benefits of MagnaFlow kits are that they only come in stainless steel. That’s a plus because all you need to do is polish the tubing so you can have a show finish exhaust the next time your off the streets and up on jackstands at a car show. Now follow along as the pros at the MagnaFlow facility install a custom show exhaust on this customized Impala.
01. & 02. This exhaust kit was built using their universal fit hot rod kit. This complete exhaust system was built and test fitted before it went back onto the car.
03. The 2 and 1/2-inch mandrel bent stainless steel was cut to fit.
04. Each part of the exhaust was fitted to make sure that nothing would be in the way.
05. The header collector flanges were welded to the exhaust tubing, allowing no restrictions.
06. As you can see, the wheels were turned to the left to make sure that the Pitman arm cleared and would not interfere with the exhaust.
07. To even out the flow and the engine tone from both sides of the engine, the exhaust system included an X-flow section.
08. The 2 and 1/2-inch stainless steel mufflers where held in place before they received the custom hangers.
09. The Deed’s Engineering hangers were custom made from solid aluminum on a CNC mill.
10. Custom mounting brackets assured that the mufflers were in a very solid position to prevent any rattling while running.
11. The rear up-and-over exhaust tubing was produced in two pieces.
12. So far, the exhaust system was tightened down snug so that the rear part could be mocked up.
13. The rear tip section was routed to the outside of the frame.
14. The last piece of the exhaust went on with ease.
15. The Deed’s hanger was bolted to the frame finishing up the install. With the exhaust system completely installed, all that was needed was to wipe off any residue that was left on the pipes.
16. From every angle you can see, not only does this exhaust system have that car show look, it also performs and sounds like a muscle car too!
17. This ’65 Impala was ready for the next step of its build.
E3 Spark Plugs Tech Tip of the Month
Spark Plugs Just Aren’t What They Used to Be
There was a time that if your car’s idle had a miss to it, or the takeoff was hesitant, it was common to remove the spark plugs, clean the deposits off the ends with an emery cloth, or file the end of the electrode to restore the sharp edges. That practice has become less frequent from years past because cleaning with other tools such as a wire brush would leave traces of metal on the insulator, which would provide a weak conduction path and diminish the spark, therefore increasing emissions. The fact that plugs are so cheap relative to the labor cost, economics dictate replacement, particularly with modern long-life plugs. E3’s newly developed design is made for improved horsepower, increased fuel efficiency, and reduction in engine emissions. With decades of successful experience in spark plug engineering, E3 discovered an efficient new approach to the design of the spark plug’s electrode to allow for improved ignition of raw fuel inside the engine’s combustion chamber. This meant their spark plugs burned fuel more efficiently, improved power response, and cut toxic emissions drastically, and are guaranteed to last 100,000 miles! Today, E3 has separated themselves from other spark plug competitors and they remain dedicated to providing their numerous fans with a better burning spark plug.
In 1956, Chevrolet toyed with the idea of making a two-row Corvette after learning of Ford’s plan to enlarge the 1958 Thunderbird by including four seats. That same year, Chevrolet introduced the 1956 Chevrolet Impala concept at the GM Motorama show. The 1956 Impala had Corvette-like front and rear ends and design elements that would later be used on Impalas like the C-pillar that showed up in the 1958 Impala.
Chevrolet ended up abandoning the two-row Corvette and introduced the Impala in 1958 as a top-of-the-line Bel Air. The Impala would go on to be one of Chevrolet’s most historic vehicles. The 1959 Impala broke away from the Bel Air with a radical redesign that is still considered to be one of the most distinct-looking cars in American history. The brand’s most defining year was the 1961 model as it introduced the Super Sport model and 409 engine, making it one of the first true American muscle cars.
The fifth generation began in 1971 and it was the biggest Chevy ever made. The ’76 model was the last year of the fifth generation and the end of the large sedan. Chevy discontinued the Impala from 1986 to 1993. Eventually, Chevy brought back the Impala and for the first time made a four-door Super Sport.
After the 1996 Impala, Chevy discontinued the Impala once again to bring it back in 2000 and for the first time didn’t offer a V-8 option. For its 10th generation, Chevy decided the Impala should have cutting-edge technology and new fresh styling. The 2014 Impala took slight cues from the Malibu and Camaro. Body lines reminiscent of mid-1960’s Impalas were added to the rear fenders. With the new slick design, Chevrolet hopes to eliminate the boring look the last two generations Impalas had.
Tech Specs
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2014 Chevrolet Impala
Engine: 3.6L DOHC V-6 DI engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
Body/Paint: Philip’s Fine Lines used silver metallic base and Axalta Paint Products to lay candies, pearls, and fades. Philip’s Fine Lines then added blue and lavender striping before finishing it with gold leafing. The exterior was finished with an E&G Classics mesh grille.
Suspension: Lowered by the Engle Brothers
Interior: 2LTZ Titanium grey package with Leather and Luxury MoonRoof
Sound: Chevrolet MyLink radio with an 8-inch touchscreen and 11 Bose speakers for a surround-sound feel
