No one can forget their first ride, but few of us ever manage to hang onto them. In the case of Bobby Enz, he bought what he calls an “old beater” 1950 Chevy 3100 as his daily driver at the age of 16. The rest is a 20-year, on-and-off project that turned into this radical chopped pickup that Bobby says won’t be finished ’til he wins Truck of the Year. He’s definitely well on his way, though.
After college Bobby started working on the truck and sort of did it backward by doing the paint and body and then moving onto the mechanicals. The suicide doors are shortened in length and width, and a pop-out gas door has been added. The roof was lopped off, windshield chopped 3 inches, and the firewall was shaved, smoothed, and molded. Bobby did all the sheetmetal work, while Perfect Colors laid down the PPG and House of Kolor Forest Green, Light Mist Green, and Organic Green shades. Sal Elias handled the muraling while Angelo Maisano and Mike Lamberson put down the fine lines. Engraving was done by Jaime and Daniel Casteñeda.
The stereo, much of which is housed in the bed, is powered by a Pioneer Double DIN, 6×9 speakers, Kicker subwoofers, Hifonics amps, and JL Audio speakers in the front. The original radio was shaved off the dash and now has custom-detailed gauges done by Bobby, a fiberglass consoled, and Glide seats covered in vinyl. The stitchwork was done by California Auto Upholstery.
The motor and trans came out of a 1962 C10 and are the 235ci inline-six and three-on-the tree. They were given a simple rebuild and some dress-up components, like Fenton header, a custom radiator, 120-amp alternator, and Rochester carb. There’s plenty of chrome to pull it all together and it turns a 1969 Nova rearend with 11-inch ABS discs all the way around to stop the 100-spoke Zeniths.
Four Blue-Top Optimas are hidden underneath and power up four A1 hydraulic pumps, four Adex dumps, eight Accumax solenoids, and 10-inch cylinders, all pumping the juice through hardlines. The frame was reinforced and lowering blocks in the back with the straight axle in front keep it suspended in period-authentic style. All the work was done by Bobby.
It’s not as often as we like that we see trucks like this, but Bobby definitely lives up to that Uniques club name. Although the truck is called “Game Over,” we’re sure it’s not the last we’ve heard of it.
1950 Chevrolet 3100
Vehicle Nickname: Game Over
Owner: Bobby Enz
City/State: Whitewater, CA
Club: Uniques
Engine: 235 inline-six and three-speed manual
Body/Paint: Suicide doors shortened in length and width, roof removed, windshield chopped 3 inches, firewall shaved, smoothed, and molded. PPG & House of Kolor Forest Green, Light Mist Green, and Organic Green shades. Muraling by Sal Elias. Pinstriping by Angelo Maisano and Mike Lamberson. Engraving by Jaime and Daniel Casteñeda.
Suspension: Four A1 hydraulic pumps, four Adex dumps, eight Accumax solenoids, and 10-inch cylinders. Frame reinforced, 1969 Nova rear, lowering blocks in the back, straight axle in front
Interior: Glide seats, interior by California Upholstery, custom gauges by owner, fiberglass console
The Chevy Advance Design trucks debuted in 1949 until they were replaced by the Task Force series in 1955. This 1950 3100 would have contained the 216ci inline-six with 92 hp, which helped it become Number One in sales that year. The truck weighed about 3,175 pounds with telescopic shock absorbers replacing the lever action models previously used. It was the last year for the driver’s side cowl vent as well. A 3600 series was also available with a larger bed, as well as the 3800 series. The 3100 platform was also seen on smaller panel trucks and Suburbans. Here’s some of what you could get as options: leather seat trim, chrome radiator grille, rear fenders, oil bath air cleaner, and heavy-duty clutch. Dealer accessories could even include such novelties as a toolkit bag with tools.
Sergio Martinez has an admiration for 1959 Chevy Impalas that started when he was just a kid. At the age of 13, his friend’s older cousin pulled up in a 1959 sport sedan. It was like love at first sight seeing that stylish car. A few years later when in high school, his friend showed him his dad’s 1959 four-door sedan. They went for a short cruise and that’s when it all began. He was just taken by every aspect of the ride, from the front end to the wings and cat eyes. It was the ideal oldie car and came second to none.
Since then, it was the beginning of a dream. Bedroom posters, LRM clippings and pictures of 1959s have covered the walls. After years of searching and wishing to own a 1959, Sergio realized that a 1959 was out of his price range. For the moment that dream would not come true. So he bought a Trading Time magazine and found his first oldie car, a 1957 four-door sedan in March of 2010. Upon bringing it home, it immediately underwent a total restoration. In November 2011 he came across a deal on a 1939 Chevy Master DeLuxe he couldn’t refuse. Having realized that if he had waited and saved enough funds, he could have bought a 1959. Although it was too late for that, the 1939 was restored in 2012.
Just before the completion of the 1939, a longtime friend was selling his 1959. For Sergio, the moment he had been waiting for was finally here. Sergio got ahold of his neighborhood friend Cesar Perez from 20 years ago. After that car had been advertised on Lay it Low for a while and nearly sold, it was a done deal. Sergio finally had his dream car. The 1959 was finally home in Mar of 2012 and he started the frame-off restoration process that summer. The car was then restored to original condition after tossing different ideas around.
1959 Chevrolet Impala
Vehicle Nickname
Desti-9
Owner
Sergio Martinez
City/State
Chicago, IL
Engine
348 big-block painted Chevy orange
Body/Paint
Sergio and a friend of his did the bodywork and painted it highland green to keep the original look on the 1959
Suspension
EZ-AirRide airbag setup with two polished aluminum compressors and a single black seven-gallon tank
Interior
An original green interior kit from Cars1 was installed
Sound
The all-Sony sound system consist of a Bluetooth Sony Deck with USB Port, three 6×9-inch and two 6-inch mids, a single 12-inch subwoofer, and a single amplifier
Wheels/Tires
Player Wheels with a TruClassic look and 1959 caps on 5.20 Premium Sports
You’ve chromed and polished your engine components, got a new pulley kit but what do you do about that ugly stock intake system? You scrap it. I know a lot of you like painting intake pipes but let’s fall back from 80’s car fashion and get current by upgrading your intake system to one from AIRRAID system.
AIRRAID makes intake kits for many applications but if you don’t find one that’ll work with your motor swap then you can always go with their Universal kit. The kit not only enhances the overall appearance of your engine bay but it also helps when it comes to performance.
The U-Build-It Universal Air Box is a complete air box and filter kit for making a custom high-performance air intake system. The air box is a one-piece, roto-molded unit featuring a stylish aluminum lid. In addition, the box is designed to allow fresh air to freely flow into the air filter while protecting the intake air from engine bay heat in order to further promote additional horsepower and torque in the engine. This kit includes an AIRAID premium washable performance air filter as well as mounting hardware.
Air box measures in at 9.68 inches tall, 9.5 inches wide by 9.75 inches in overall length. Total length of air box including fresh air inlet is 14.98 inches
Included is an air intake tube, which includes several straight sections of pipe along with 30, 45, 60, and 90-degree tube bends to help you create your custom air intake system.
Lightweight and durable roto-molded design
AIRAID premium air filter included (part number 700-462)
Aluminum cover lid, couplers, reducers, adapters, mass airflow adapters and all air intake adapters and brackets.
Instructions and decals
1. Begin by unboxing the kit and making sure that all the parts are present. Once done, you will have to figure out where you want to mount the main air box.
2. Once you mount the air box with the supplied hardware, you will need to figure out how you will be running the intake pipe. From there, you will cut the included pipe in the proper sequence, and angles and the begin installing them with the included couplers until it mates to the air box with the least amount of resistance.
3. Once all the clamps have been tightened, you can begin to reinstall all the necessary breather lines and air mass sensor.
4. Install the aluminum lid and pull back the protective film.
If you were lucky enough to drive a car you liked in high school, we’re sure you have a sentimental attachment to it, and are even luckier if you managed to hold onto it. Efren Cuevas wasn’t able to keep the ’85 Buick Regal he drove back then, but he did manage to get the same year, make, and model off one of his cousins. A story we typically hear is when guys purchase something that is “just supposed to be a street car,” but things have a way of deviating from the original plan.
As you can see, Efren’s Buick got a little more involved than being just a street cruiser. “Once it starts, it just keeps on trickling,” he says. We understand, and we’re certainly glad it did. From stem to stern, the car shows off how you can keep it clean and functional, but get a little crazy with some of the modifications. It would be seven long years before Efren got to see his project finished, but since he had a hand in practically every aspect of the car’s transformation, we believe his patience truly paid off.
In terms of the body, it’s the one time we enjoy seeing the expression “suicide” used, with said treatment being given to the doors, forward-facing hood, and rearward-opening trunk. A new core support had to be built for the aluminum radiator to work with the customized hood. Next to the shaved firewall resides a 350 transplanted from a Suburban and dressed up with Billet Specialties valve covers and serpentine system, Edelbrock Endurashine carb and manifold, with engraving by Cadillac Jay to show it all off. MagnaFlow mufflers keep it sounding lively.
Inside the molded trunk you’ll find a Whammy pump juicing up four Hoppo’s dumps, and four candlesticks with 8-inch front and 10-inch rear cylinders. A quartet of Optima batteries keeps things lit up. A reinforced rearend, molded frame, 2-ton front and 3-ton rear coils with extended A-arms round out the underpinnings. Like the engine, all the hydros are hardlined. It’s all sitting on four 13-inch G Boys wheels.
That hole you see in the top is no moonroof. You could say it’s a combination sunroof/cabriolet that never closes, as that’s the way Efren wanted it. After he, Ralph Nino, Cesar, and Tim McIntyre completed all the body mods, Francisco Herrera sprayed House of Kolor Sunset Pearl as the base before Bugs Auto Art added the fine pinstriping. Inside you’ll find Lexus front seats with a split seat in the back with fiberglass center console and rear seat divider holding the iPad head unit that’s powering JL Audio amps and speakers with JBLs in the decklid, and Pioneer speakers in the door. Different color vinyls, along with a billet wheel and gauges by Classic Instruments continue the clean and functional theme that Efren and Michael Wilkins brought to the interior.
When the finished product finally made it to the street, Efren named it Brighter Days as a nod to his mother who we’re sure is smiling down on what she said he’d probably never finish. Efren would also like to thank his family, club, Mike Ortiz, Angel Contreras, Tim McIntyre, Michael Wilkins, and everyone else who had a hand in building this car. Seeing his kids’ excitement when people crowd around it at shows makes it all worth the wait. Well done, carry on.
1985 Buick Regal
Vehicle Nickname
Brighter Days
Owner
Efren Cuevas
City/State
San Tan Valley, AZ
Engine
Chevy 350 with a TH350 trans
Suspension
Whammy pump, four Hoppo’s dumps, four candlesticks with 8-inch front and 10-inch rear cylinders, all hardlined. Four Optima batteries, reinforced rearend, molded frame, 2-ton front and 3-ton rear coils with extended
Sound System
iPad head unit, JL Audio amps and speakers, JBLs in the decklid, and Pioneer speakers in the door..
Interior
Lexus seats, split back seat. Custom fiberglass console and rear seat divider. Billet steering wheel. Classic Instruments gauges.
Body/Paint
Suicide doors, hood, trunk. Opening in the roof. House of Kolor Sunset Pearl by Francisco Herrera. Engraving by Cadillac Jay. Pinstriping by Bugs Auto Art.
Wheels/Tires
13-inch G Boyz/Premium Sportways 5.20-13
Regal-Est.1973
The Buick Regal was introduced in 1973 and is still manufactured to this day. It started life on the same A-body platform that you found under Chevy Monte Carlos and Pontiac Grand Prixs of the same year. During its second generation, which started with the ’78 year, it moved to the G-body platform. Weak six-cylinder motors could only be upstaged if you wanted to opt for the more powerful turbocharged Grand National version, which has become collectible among muscle car enthusiasts after only being offered for five years. With a three-speed automatic and respectable fuel mileage, the Buick Regal in 1985 was rather unassuming with a sticker price of around $12,000 in its day. In 1988 the Buick Regal was changed again for its third generation to the W-body platform. With a production run spanning 43 years and counting and five generations of platform modernizations, the Regal has held its own and doesn’t appear to be going away, unlike the Oldsmobile and Pontiac counterparts it used to compete with.
Would you feed your baby with an old and dirty bottle? Probably not. So if you’re thinking of rebuilding your motor or maybe putting in a newer LS then don’t forget about what’s feeding it. Simply put, your engine gives you exactly what it gets so feed it properly.
They say that the heart of a car is its engine, but far too often we’ve seen people get so lost in the chroming, polishing and engine accessories that they forget what feeds it. Now look, we understand that it’s easy to get lost in the glitz and glamour of aftermarket pullies, superchargers, steel braided lines and all that good stuff, but without the proper fuel delivery you’re left with nothing short of a big ass paperweight.
That said, it’s important you pay close attention to your fuel system. We’ve seen our fair share of people install new motors (or refresh old ones) and fail to do the same for the fuel system. Simply put, the motor is your world, and just like the world, it gives you back what you put into it.
There’s many things to consider when revamping your fuel sytem. From replacing lines, to flushing out gas tanks and resealing them, there’s a ton of things you can do but in this article we’ll go over the basics.
Now if you’re going EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection), the first you need to understand is that you will need the appropriate electric fuel pump. While there’s plenty of options, be sure to choose an inline pump which was built for your specific application. Now when it comes to buying components for your build here’s a few things to consider:
INTERNAL vs. EXTERNAL:
When it comes time to buy a fuel pump you have two options: 1) Internal or 2) External. External pumps are typically much easier to install but using an internal fuel pump has it’s advantages. For starters, a submerged fuel pump will run cooler, which translates to longer life and of course pump noise is reduced dramatically. In addition there is less chance of starvation with an internal pump. Here’s a few other factors to consider:
In-tank pumps may also be used with carbureted systems. Depending on the pump used a fuel-pressure regulator may also be required.
Most low-pressure pumps for carbureted systems are internally regulated to around 7 psi.
High-pressure pumps for carburetor or fuel-injection applications often require a regulator—most are adjustable to provide the proper pressure for the application.
The system shown here has an Aeromotive 340 in-tank fuel pump with a regulator that includes a return line and a port for a pressure gauge.
FILTRATION
You need to understand that fuel has contaminants that needs to filtered out. These particles can come from the gas station tanks, the erosion of your own tank, dirty lines and the list goes on. Filters rated by the size of contaminates they will trap (a micron is 1/1000 of a millimeter or 0.00003937 of an inch).
Aeromotive recommends that 100-micron stainless steel filter elements be used on the suction side of the fuel pump. On the outlet Aeromotive recommends a 10-micron fabric filter (the saying is suck through stainless, push through paper). The reasoning behind this is simple. Electric fuel pumps are fairly forgiving of small particles, but what they don’t like is pulling against restrictions to flow. That causes the pump to cavitate, which normally results in a noisy pump that growls in protest and wears out quickly.
CONNECTIVITY
Once all the components are decided on, it’s time to figure out hot to connect them all. There are several ways to go—standard automotive rigid lines, fuel hose, inverted flare, and pipe fittings are the most economical, AN fittings and braided hose are a little more spendy but trick looking (the reference “AN” stands for Army/Navy and it was a system devised by the government to ensure interchangeability and compatibility of parts made by various manufacturers). In many cases (ours included) a combination of these components will be used so it is critical that the connections are compatible.
Conventional automotive lines use 45-degree double flares and inverted flare fittings while AN lines and fittings use 37-degree single flares (another application of 37-degree flares will be found on JIC hydraulic fittings).
AN fittings are often found in combination with pipe and inverted flare fittings, which means special adapters readily available from Aeromotive will be required.
Another important distinction when using AN fittings is port threads, such as those that may be found on filters and other components, are not NPT or “pipe thread.”
These connections have straight threads (like any normal fastener) and use SAE O-ring Boss (ORB) technology for sealing. ORB ports and adapter fittings are measured in inch/fractional sizes. AN system lines and fittings are identified by a system that uses a dash and number, such as -6. The number after the dash indicates the internal size of the components in increments of 1/16 inch. As an example a -6 line is 6/16, or 3/8 inch.
SEAL THE DEAL
No discussion of plumbing any kind of a fluid system would be complete without including Teflon tape. Teflon tape or Teflon-based sealing compound is often used on pipe threads as it can prevent leaks, make it easier to tighten fittings and disassemble them later and it can reduce/eliminate thread galling and protect fasteners made from corrosion. However, properly flared and installed SAE and AN fittings should seal by themselves and Teflon tape should not be used. In such cases the flared components make the seal, not the threads.
Jorge Maldonado has been involved with cars his whole life. His father was an auto mechanic and was always working on cars. Ever since he could remember, he used to wake up early to go with his dad to car show swap meets to find car parts. When Jorge was 7 years old, his first build was a 1964 Impala Model Car. This in turn led him to build a 20-inch Schwinn lowrider bike and at the age of 12 he joined Superiors O.C. Bike Club. It was Jorge’s childhood dream to build a lowrider. When he was 16 his dream came true. His father helped him purchase his first lowrider, a 1966 Chevy Impala. Like father like son, Jorge also became an auto technician and fabricator. He did a full ground-up restoration on his Impala. Since then he has owned numerous lowriders—a 1979 Monte Carlo, 1954 Bel Air, 1965 Impala, and now a 1964 Impala convertible.
Jorge bought his 1964 Impala SS convertible six years ago. The car was in fair condition and driveable, but had minor paint defects. He took it straight to Rudy from R&R Auto Body to touch up the paint and then to Edgar from Maxima Imagen to do a mural on the dashboard of his daughter, Rosalinda, who had died. Once that was completed, he threw on some wire wheels for a clean look and drove it like that for two years. He took his ride to local car shows and events and enjoyed cruising with his family. Eventually, Jorge decided that it was time for a new look and opted for a color change, taking his car to a different body shop. Eight months later and unhappy with the quality of the work, he decided to bring the car home and do it himself. Jorge had his entire family and friends helping him to remove all the paint and primer right down to the metal. So began the long process of rebuilding the body. Every weekend for six months his friend Javier Saucedo helped him work on his Impala. Finally, the hard work paid off and the car was ready for paint. Jorge rented a local spray booth and Javier sprayed the car charcoal gray. Now that the car was coming underway, he made a goal to have his car ready for the Las Vegas LOWRIDER Super Show in October 2015.
Jorge worked on his ride all day and night, along with his friend Gary Reynolds who helped him put his car back together. After finishing up the moldings and chrome, it was time to work on the hydraulic setup. Jorge put together gravity pumps that he had designed himself and had CNC-machined blocks. He then used aircraft dumps, known as click clacks and zig-zag slow down valves, with the help from Saul Vargas from Wild Child Customs. They hardlined the whole system and powered them with four Optima batteries. Jorge was very proud that he accomplished his goal. He made it to the Super Show in Las Vegas with a clean, simple lowrider. He could not have done this with without the support of his wife, Rosa, his family, friends, and his Superiors Car Club family.
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible
Vehicle Nickname
Mi Gusto Es
Owner
Jorge Maldonado
City/State
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Club
Superiors O.C.
Engine
1964 Chevy V-8 327
Body/Paint
Bodywork by Javier Saucedo & Jorge Maldonado, painted by Javier Saucedo with Glasurit Paint, Mural by Edgar Rodriguez at Maxima Imagen
Suspension:
Hydraulic setup: two pumps, Adel Click Clacks Aircraft dumps, six switches, four solenoids, 8-inch front and 10-inch back cylinders, four Optima batteries, stainless steel hardlines
Wheels/Tires
Zenith 13-inch, 72-spoke wheels; Coker Premium Sport 5.20-13 tires
Interior:
Original-style upholstery
Sound System
Alpine, 2 ppl Art Series Amps, Focal K2 6-3/4 speakers, JL audio W-3 2-8-inch subwoofer
Dakota Digital VHX
Speedometer, Tachometer, Oil Pressure, Water Temp, Fuel Level, Voltmeter www.dakotadigital.com
You’ve spent countless amounts of hours boxing your frame, getting the body straight, chroming your engine bay, and making sure that your interior is spot on, but what happens when you fire up the car? Well, the first thing that comes to life after you hit the ignition is your instrument cluster.
With the twist of a key, we watch the rpms gather, check our fuel levels, and make sure that everything’s up to par, but with a boring, dated, dusty cluster it can kill the vibe, which is why Dakota Digital has long been the answer to the simple problem.
The new VHX Systems fit directly into the stock dash of a ’61-62 Chevy Impala without modification. The upper (speedometer/voltmeter/fuel level/message centers) display utilizes the stock trim ring, whereas the lower displays (tachometer/oil pressure/water temp) include machined aluminum/chromed new instrument housings.
Fully lit needles, backlit faces, and highly visible LCD message centers are a few of the things that you can see, which set the VHX Series apart from yesterday’s traditional approach to instrumentation. A few of the features you don’t normally see are the micro-controlled precision stepper motors, solid state sensors for unparalleled accuracy, and user-customizable display feedback, all supported by an unrivaled limited lifetime warranty.
By creating these modern clusters, Dakota Digital has given life to older, archaic technology, and they’ve been in business since 1986. Since then they’ve had tens of thousands of units shipped, installed, and running in sheer perfection. In this DIY segment we’ll be showing you a step-by-step article on just how easy it is to install this cluster into a ’61 Impala.
Additional Options For This Unit Are:
Fuel Level Sensor
ODB II/Can face interface module
Compass/Outside temp module
Universal Gear Position Sensor
Light Dimming Knob
1. Prior to install, unbox the package, lay out the parts, and make sure to check that the contents are complete.
2. Remove all gauges and your dashboard.
3A.-3B. Install the new gauges in your dashboard. Insert the three satellite cans from the front of the dash. From left to right: temp, tach, oil. Run the threaded nuts up finger tight to the back of the dash with the gauges off-center a quarter of a turn. Once you have the nut finger tight, hold the nut in place while you clock the gauge to center. This will help you torque the gauge properly. Repeat this step if necessary.
4. Install the speedometer cluster, aka main gauge, and use the two nuts provided to thread into the factory studs. Attach the ribbon cables to the matching ends.
5. Connect the CAT5 cable to the system and safely route the wires to the control box. Then re-mount the dash cluster. Mount your control box in an easily accessible space.
6. Install the water temperature sensor and oil pressure sending unit.
7. Follow the main manual to complete the installation. This manual also shows you how to program the gauges.
Dakota Digital LED Taillight Installation
Keep distracted eyes on your rearend by installing a set of Dakota Digital LED taillights. While you really don’t need a step-by-step on this topic, it’s a good way to emphasize just how easy it is to install an improved look.
1. Remove the original bulb connector from the back of the housing.. Remove the light bulbs.
2. Remove the taillight light lens. In this case, the screws for the ’61 are directly in the lens, but that didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out.
3. With the lenses removed take the time to clean out the lens and housing. Remove the screw and aluminum backplate from the new LED assembly.
4. Take your time and install the new lights making sure not to pinch any wires. Reinstall all lights, screws, and make sure your gaskets or seals are good.
5. Test your lights. Now that you’re done, light it up.
Jovan Valenzuela was hooked in the lowrider scene after his first time going to a car show with his uncles. Jovan bought himself this ’73 Schwinn frame in hopes of building it and becoming part of the scene. “It became my dream to have a lowrider bike. I wanted to build it to go out to car shows and go riding with people who enjoy the scene,” Jovan says. He began the build but found himself overwhelmed with the amount of time and money it would take to build one. He began losing motivation and interest in it. That all changed when he saw his cousin Damian Trevizo building his three-wheeler. “His build gave me the motivation to finish mine.
“I decided to go with an Aztec theme, not because that’s what everyone does but because that is part of my culture and I’m proud of it.” Murals of Aztecs were airbrushed throughout the bike. Jovan did a twisted with birdcage look throughout the bike because that is a style that he fell in love with when he was younger and always wanted it. “I didn’t build the bike for points, I built it for myself. If it gets me points great, but I won’t be adding anything to it just for points.” The build has taken him over a year and over $1,000 and he still isn’t done with it. The bike wouldn’t be where it’s at now without the help of his uncle Steve Trevizo, who has been helping him along the way.
Built to impress the owner not the judging sheets.
Sergio Muniz’s interest in custom cars began as a teen in New York. His father, who was a fabricator, was a big influence. Sergio became one of the original members of the most well-known and respected car clubs from the East Coast, Drastic Auto Club.
Sergio ended up moving to Pennsylvania to raise his family and create a home. “I took six years off from the lowrider scene to take care of my family. In that time, my kids saw old photos of my cars and trophies I had around the house. That gave me the urge to build another one,” Sergio says. “My wife, Manuela, and I were dating back when I was originally in the club and she supported me if I wanted to get back into it. Her support was all I needed to get back into it.”
Sergio had always been into Oldsmobiles when he came across this one. “I liked it because it was something different. The kid who had it was looking for a sports bike and we ended up trading straight across for one I had.”
The car was in fair condition with typical rust and big rims. Sergio began by prepping the body of the car and then spraying it with a PPG candy cobalt blue. He then sent it out to have fellow club member Marvin Shivnarian lay out some patterns. Sergio then extended the upper A-arms 1 inch and installed two Pro Hopper pumps, three dumps, and six batteries. His interior was sent out to Rudy in Philadelphia to install the blue tweed, suede, and vinyl interior. Unfortunately Rudy died shortly after finishing this interior. Sergio was able to complete the build in seven months and debuted it at the Drastic’s annual barbecue.
1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Vehicle Nickname
The Natural
Owner
Sergio Muniz
Car Club
Drastic
City
Willow Grove, PA
Engine
260ci V-8
Body/Paint
PPG candy cobalt blue
Interior
Billet Specialties steering wheel and blue tweed, suede, and vinyl interior
Sound System
Pioneer speakers and MTX subwoofers
Suspension
Two chrome Pro Hopper G-Force and six batteries
What happens in Vegas starts with One1Luv Car Club. This club’s history started back in the late ’70s when President Jim Brown sat in third grade drawing pictures of the neighborhood lowrider club Ebony Lows. “These guys were the local celebrities,” Jim says. “They had such an influence on us that my friends Tyrell, Mike, and I began building model cars and lowrider bikes.” It wasn’t until 1987 when Big Jim tricked his mom into buying a supposed reliable car for college that his lowrider journey really began. Unbeknownst to his mom, what she really ended up buying was an ’80 Cutlass Supreme, complete with a front-back-side-to-side hydraulic setup.
Two decades of commitment to family, community and lowirder luv.
After the Rodney Kings riots, Las Vegas found itself in a time of unprecedented peace among once-feuding neighborhoods. This peacetime would lead to block parties where once rival gangs and riders forged new friendships, which would eventually turn into new car clubs, like Darkside Car Club, which held a dynamic membership from Gerson Park, Marcus Estates, and Berkley Square. While this club enjoyed several years on top of the Las Vegas car scene, its rapid growth would be its ensuing downfall. While some of the displaced members enjoyed the courtship of the larger, more established, Los Angeles clubs, a meeting held in the States would eventually bring everyone together under the newly formed One1Luv Car Club, setting an unbreakable foundation that still remains in 2015. Learning from the now-debunked Darkside, Jim Brown was thrust into the role of president, with Marcus Allen as senior vice president and “One Switch” Rick as vice president. They would go on to establish rules and regulations that still remain to this day.
Within a few short years One1Luv began beating some of the nation’s top contenders, making a statement throughout the lowrider scene. “With hard work, focus, and dedication we soon began gracing magazines covers and appearing in music videos with some of the industry’s top entertainers,” Jim says. “And although we are humbled by these accolades, it’s our involvement within our community that we are most proud of.” Networking with local politicians and focusing on the youth has led to recognition from former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman for their endless hours of volunteering in events such as back-to-school drives, homeless youth outreach, parades, and holiday events that help change the lives of their community’s youth.
Coming up on their 20th anniversary, they are more focused than ever and continue to grow with the addition of their motorcycle club, clubhouse, as well as chapters in Oklahoma, Utah, and New Mexico. Their members have also grown, turning a hobby into a flourishing businesses like TKO Customs, Switch Hitter Hydraulics, Dream Factory Films, tax services, barber shops, and much more. The sky is the limit with these guys and with new cars busting out on a monthly basis, don’t forget that what happens in Vegas will be coming to a car show near you.
A “side piece” is a slang name given to a man or woman who you are seeing outside your marriage. For 35-year-old Manuel Perez Jr. of Pueblo, Colorado, that’s exactly what it means to him in his ’65 Chevy Impala with the assist to his wife, Jennifer. Manuel bought and built a ’94 Caddy for her and when he found the ’65 it took a lot of convincing for her to allow him to trade the big body for the Chevy.
The Impala wasn’t in the best shape, but Manuel had big dreams for his side piece.
In order to make sure the old Chevy would crank every time, Manuel removed the stock motor and replaced it with a Corvette motor. The very next step was removing the old stock, ripped-up interior and replacing it with a more modern upgrade of materials and colors.
As you can imagine, the body lines weren’t perfect or even straight when Manuel received the Impala. The dents had to be worked out of every side and new metal had to be welded to put the classic back together. The paint was the next step, which included some ghost patterns from front to back. From there, the attention was turned to the undercarriage. Once perfected, it was time to install the hydraulic suspension to bring the Chevy to the ground at the touch of a switch.
As the president of PlayTimes Over Car Club in Colorado, Manuel must set an example of clean, well-built rides. “Side Piece” came a long way and fills that spot perfectly.
Manuel wishes to thank his wonderful wife, Jennifer, and their four children for supporting him throughout the build. He also wishes to thank his brothers, Arnold and Louie, and his father-in-law, Carlos. Extra thanks goes out to cousins who pitched in and helped, and his car club members. Having a side piece usually gets you in trouble, but for Manuel, it’s getting him attention.
1965 Chevy Impala
Vehicle Nickname
Side Piece
Owner
Manuel Perez Jr.
Car Club
PlayTimes Over
City
Pueblo, Colorado
Engine
’69 327 SBC built by Carlos Gutierrez
Suspension
Arnold Perez installed the two Showtime pumps with six batteries
Interior
Joe Carrio from Joe’s Auto Upholstery handled the worn-down interior by adding fresh new white vinyl
Body/Paint
Omni red and orange basecoat with silver patterns, House of Kolor Kandy Tangerine
Wheels/Tires
72-spoke, 13×7 gold center Dayton Wire Wheels with Hankook tires
The day and age of crude assumptions and horrible stereotypes about lowrider owners are slowly dissipating and here today is an automotive culture that not only embraces what we do, but is also interested in what we do for a living.
“What do you do?” has now become a common question among lowrider owners and that could have happened for a variety of reasons. Could it be the astronomical prices of today’s classics that sparked this interest? Or the fact that many of our lowriders are fitted with some pretty pricey motors and paintjobs? To be honest, we don’t really know and it’s not up to us to figure that out, but regardless of what has changed, all we can say is that we’re glad and actively doing our part by releasing yet another segment of our Roll Models Series.
The series, which is presented by Shell and Quaker State Oil, brings to life the personalities behind certain lowriders and in this specific episode we’ll be speaking to Mr. Gray—a businessman who is no stranger to the world of gambling and finance. He’s an astute businessman who’s good with numbers and it’s safe to say that his job is to take the risk out of gambling—at least from the business side of things.
To find out more about Michael Gray, be sure to tune into our latest series, which is online now. In yet another fascinating episode, we show you the colorful and diverse background behind another lowrider owner and this latest episode is sure to bring a compelling story, which will engage, entertain, and educate all who are car crazy.
We would also love to here your comments and suggestions, so please be sure to address them to our editor. Thank you for your continued support and we’ll see you online and at a show near you.
Travis Bielert has been into custom cars for as long as he can remember. Growing up he loved lowriders and Harleys so when it came time to build a Harley it was only natural that he would build it with a Cali Vicla style. Having previously owned an old-school shovelhead bobber he found himself wanting something more comfortable and dependable for those long cruises, so it was off to the Harley dealer for a brand-new Harley Softail DeLuxe.
For most people in the Harley world chrome is king, but Travis wanted to stand out from the crowd and went against the norm and came up with a blacked-out theme. With a vision in mind, the seven-month journey from average cruiser to major head turner began. The first step toward giving the bike a lowrider style was building a full front and back air suspension. Rather than ordering an aftermarket fender and tank Travis went to work on putting his own custom touch on the stock parts. Countless hours were spent stretching, molding, and smoothing every piece on the bike. Both front and rear fenders were stretched and molded to add to the lowrider look he wanted.
Having done virtually all the work up to this point with his own hands in his garage Travis was now faced with the one aspect he needed help with: paint. After asking friends for recommendations and talking to several different painters, Travis decided to load his tins on a pallet and ship them to a painter across the country in California he discovered through Instagram. With a few instructions on a basic color scheme, painter Jake Blancas was given free reign and set free to get creative. Final assembly brought about a series of challenges, including where to mount the compressor for the air ride, a custom saddlebag solved that problem. After countless hours over a very fast-paced, seven-month build, Travis’ only regret is that he didn’t have another bike to ride while this masterpiece was built.
Years ago, mentioning the name Harbor Freight would earn you plenty of laughs and almost discredit your mechanical prowess, but those days are long gone. Today, Harbor Freight has lasted the test of time, and most of their products have impressed even the harshest of critics.
Considered by many elitists to be “throwaway tools”, that perception has quickly changed over the past decade. We’ve seen our fair share of shops use many of the products from the Harbor Freight catalog and their results have been stellar. Especially when one considers building a home-based DIY shop—or for the extreme hobbyists—these tools will last the test of time so long as you clean and maintain them properly.
To be honest, the tool game has a lot of ego involved in it. We’ve seen guys with full Snap On tool sets that couldn’t build a car if Boyd Coddington was by their side, and on the flipside we’ve seen guys build incredible cars with the most obscure and inexpensive tools. In short, the tools don’t make the car, the person using them does.
That said, Harbor Freight really does make some great tools. In the cost versus quality comparison, they are perhaps the best tools on the market in many segments. Especially when you consider building a car at home, these tools are incredible and will definitely last a lifetime. To be honest, you also have to consider how much you’ll be using the tools. If you’re running an industrial or commercial operation where heavy tool use is required on the daily, some of their products may not be as stellar as some commercial-duty brands, but we wouldn’t sign off on them right away.
Do your homework, give them a try, and you’ll see that the stereotypes and rumors are mostly false. In this section we’ll be doing a review on some of their tools and we were more than satisfied with over 95 percent of the products we tested. Now when you consider the price we paid, the savings are incredible, and the jobs still got done while also leaving behind plenty of money saved—only to be put back into some good food and beer for the friends who dropped by to help.
Air Needle Scaler
Compact and easy to use, this air needle scaler comes with 19 hardened steel needles, which offers a 1/2-inch stroke with a maximum speed of 4,600 bpm. With an average air consumption of 10 CRM at 90 psi, this tool is perfect for removing welding flux, rust, paint, and cement on just about any surface that needs heavy scouring. For us, we tested their air needle scaler to remove layers of paint from the control arms on a 1963 Impala, and we even used it to remove some old chrome off bumpers. It did the job, and it did it well.
7-Piece Body and Fender Set
We put this 7-piece set to work and it worked wonders. Again, at the hands of an expert, the job was done and there were no complaints about the build quality of the tools. Ideal for autobody repair and fabrication, this 7-piece set comes in a handy container for safekeeping. Designed to handle most fabrication and repairs, use the hammers and dollies in this body and fender set to remove dings and dents, flatten metal panels, create curves, and shrink metal. Constructed from heat-treated, dropforged carbon steel, they are sturdy enough to take a beating and come with fiberglass handles with nonslip-rubberized grips.
Gravity Feed Spray Gun Stand
The perfect support stand for your spray gun, this nifty device is made of durable steel and comes predrilled so you can mount in on your workbench or your wall. You’ve spent more money buying a burrito at your favorite Mexican restaurant, so why not invest less into a stand that makes you the money that affords you those good meals.
200Z Pro HVLP Gravity Gun
This HVLP (High Volume, Low Pressure) spray gun is gravity fed and not only is it better for the environment, but also a great savings when it comes to material costs. With a 20-ounce capacity, we used this gun to lay down a few fine coats of paint and the quality is definitely there.
3/8-Inch—50-Foot PVC/ Rubber Air Hose
Made of rubber/ PVC, this hose from Central Pneumatic, is lighter than rubber, more flexible than PVC, and after a few weeks of use it still held up. This hose, as with any hose, needs a longterm test plan, but for the price, we were definitely impressed by the build quality. With brass fittings and bend restrictors, the hose is well built at an affordable price point, so it won’t hurt your pockets to throw it away and buy another should it happen to fail.
P95 Maintenance Free Dual Cartridge Respirator
For the price, these respirators work. We’ve definitely seen better quality respirators in terms of build quality, so we’d have to pass on using this in the paint booth and use it for lighter projects such as sanding and light primer work. They’re definitely throw-away respirators because there is no way to replace the cartridge, but in all they’re a great general purpose respirator for the DIY guy.
6-inch 320-Grit PSA Sanding Disco (50 piece)
These sanding discs with PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) are easy to use and attach and they come with an anti-clog zinc stearate coating to resist dust buildup and a “hole-free” design, which reduces tearing. Crafted with durable carbide abrasive, the heavy-duty C-weight paper backing works great. While we have seen other sanding discs with better bite and action, the price point of these discs makes them still our top pick, and the difference in performance between leading brands doesn’t make the squeeze worth the juice, so in the end it’s our top choice for a DIY build.
6-Inch Dual Action Sander A dual motion orbital sander with 10,000 rpm and an adjustable speed regulator is what you get when you open up the box, and it does what it’s supposed to do. It’s really that simple. We used it for most of our projects, and the only problem we faced was user error when we over-lubricated the product. Again, tools don’t make mistakes, people do and we were proof of that.
Stud Welder Dent Repair Kit
Perfect for repairing dings and dents without drilling, this stud welder comes with a high-powered low heat transformer with a resettable breaker. In addition, a 2-pound slide hammer and a 1-second cycle time makes it easy to use, and it’s got a 2 percent duty cycle. Once again, we used this tool to pull 16 dents ranging from small to large, and we had no problems at all. Once again, the perfect tool for a home garage at a fraction of the cost.
Mechanics Gloves Medium
Protect yourself from heat, cold, abrasions, and cuts with these breathable gloves. Created from 50 percent synthetic leather in the palms and fingers, these gloves were good but we’ve definitely seen better. Again, this is a matter of personal preference, but when working with your hands, we like to use better-fitting gloves and we found these just a tad bit sloppy. Just to emphasize the point, this review is coming from a bunch of glove snobs who are extremely picky with what they wear, and it’s a glove that would work perfect for most of the general public.
4-Piece Doorskin Repair Kit
If you need to repair or replace a doorskin, then this is the ultimate kit for you. The 1.45-pound doorskin hammer is made of forged, ground, and polished alloy steel and features a cushion grip to help absorb the impact. Heel and toe dollies are also included in the kit, as well as 12-3/4-inch dinging spoon.
We had one of friends test the kit out, and it’s safe to say that the tools easily outweighed his skill set. That said, after hours of practice—and frustration watching—we had one of our body guys come over to do the job for him and even he was impressed with the quality of the kit in comparison to the price.
Air Inline Sander
This dual piston straight-line sander generates 3,000 strokes per minute and features a 1-inch stroke and tensioned spring clamps for easy paper changes. This tool requires 90 psi of working pressure, and it’s a great tool for garage body shops. When given to body guys that are still new to the game, they had nothing bad at all to say, but when given to professional body guys, they said that it worked well but lacked just a bit of power. Again, a great tool for DIY guys and worthy of its excellent price point.
2-3/4×16 AO Sand Asst 5-Piece
What more can we say? These sanding sheets are incredible. Perfect for wet and dry sanding, you can use these for all types of material. We used it to strip down fenders with rust and patina, used it to sand down our woodwork for the speaker boxes and custom trim panels, and even used it on some furniture projects we were finishing off.
6-Piece Panel/Trim Removal Tool
What can we say? These tools do exactly what they’re supposed to do and they’re a must for any garage builder or professional shop. Seriously, if you need a set of “brand name” panel and trim removal tools, you’re definitely doing it to compensate for something to be discussed with your wife or girlfriend.
60 G 5hp 165-psi Two-Stage Compressor
The priciest item on our list is this two-stage compressor. I’ll admit that I’d probably buy a similar and used Ingersoll Rand compressor at this price, or a smaller-capacity brand name unit, but to be honest, it’s more of a vanity issue than a performance issue. For me personally, I like to see a nice compressor tucked away in my garage, but again that’s just me.
But if you must have a brand-new compressor, then this Harbor Freight unit is definitely a steal. A bit louder than oil-less compressors, this one fires up a bit slower than other dual stages I’ve seen but it works and it fills up quickly. On another note, here’s a free tip: Buying a big compressor is always better because it gives you more time to use tools without the motor firing up and your neighbors and friends won’t be so quick to borrow it.
In closing, all we can say is that the ROI (return on investment) on these tools are epic. Harbor Freight Tools are no different than most mid- to high-level brands in the fact that you have to do your own research and see what works best for you. As with any product line, there will always be the good and bad part of their lineup, and while Harbor Freight may have had a shoddy reputation to begin with, things are slowly changing so don’t sign off on them anytime soon because they’re here to stay.
So in short, worry more about your skill set than your tool set because in the end just remember that pencils don’t make mistakes and great tools don’t make great cars. It’s all about the person or the operator behind the instruments, which help us get where we need to be. It’s all about working with what you have, and what you can afford, and as I type up this story I’m smirking because I’m doing it on a $5 imitation-Mac keyboard that has worked flawlessly for the past six years.
Shawty Bentacu is a gorgeous makeup artist and hairstylist from Albuquerque, NM. Her first modeling gig was for a friends shop. She enjoyed being in front of the camera and dabbed in the modeling scene but never pursued a career in it. Her goal is to one day own and run a barbershop/salon. With this in mind, she is currently attending barber school and is focusing on finishing up school to get one step closer to her goal.
During one of our trips to Albuquerque, we were able to meet and shoot Shawty. Unfortunately for us, it rained on the day of the shoot and we had to move the shoot from its original location to La Vida Customs garage. Regardless of the location, we guarantee you fall in love with her down to earth attitude and her beautiful smile.
Lowrider: What kind of girlfriend would you be?
Shawty: I think I’m fun but I’m Latina, so you know I’m a little crazy! Haha!
Lowrider: How much fun and how crazy of a girlfriend would you be?
Shawty: I’m not a jealous girlfriend. I’ll go to the strip club with my boyfriend and give him his space but I do need a lot of attention and need to be loved all day.
Lowrider: According to the Hot Crazy Matrix, you fall into the Wife Zone, so we are ok with your level of crazy.
Lowrider: What do you like to do for fun?
Shawty: I love to go to the movies, do makeup and go on walks and hikes.
Lowrider: What would be the perfect first date?
Shawty: Going to eat some crab legs and the date is already perfect for me. Haha. I guess going somewhere with a nice view after would be a nice way to end the night. I’m simple, I don’t need too much. I just need you to listen to me and be an active listener.
Lowrider: How do you like living in Albuquerque?
Shawty: I love it! I’m a Burque girl for sure. Everything is perfect here. It’s never to hot or to cold and I think people are friendlier over here.
We will be visiting Burque later this year, so keep an eye out for a follow up feature with our favorite New Mexico girl.
Model Name: Shawty Bentacu Hometown: Albuquerque, NM Ethnicity: Hispanic Occupation: Makeup artist and hairstylist Height: 4’9″ Measurements: 34-26-40 Instagram:@shawtee_11
In this episode of LOWRIDER Roll Models we take a look at Michael Grey of USO Car Club.
Raised in the small, farming community of Durham, California, Michael grew up spending his summers changing sprinkler pipes in the fields. Laboring in the fields gave Michael a strong work ethic and also inspired him to want to do more with his life. After getting interested in accounting in high school, Michael would later go on to become the president of the Accounting Society at Chico State, where he met the Chief Financial Officer of Harrah’s.
Inspired by the CFO of Harrah’s, Michael applied to work for Harrah’s after graduating from college and was hired the next day. Today, Michael is the Chief Financial Officer at Caesar’s Palace, and is a great example of what one can accomplish with dedication and determination. This is why we look up to him as a LOWRIDER Roll Model.
Previously, we’ve featured a 1961 ragtop owned by Tanya Maxwell, wife of Ultimate Hydraulics owner Vernon “V-Max” Maxwell. Going back further, we featured V-Max’s 1958 Impala ragtop in its previous guise. So when Tanya’s ride was finished off with a supercharged LS9, he couldn’t have her showing him up with a faster car. Time to go all in and give the 1958 a makeover.
Originally this car sat in the backyard of V-Max’s friend for roughly 15 years. With enough persistence, eventually V-Max’s friend caved in and sold him the car. Although it was in rough shape, it wasn’t beyond salvaging and was eventually given an onyx black finish and fitted with an LS3. Now it was time for a brighter color and more horsepower.
For suspension, the previous 9-inch was removed and replaced with a Currie rearend as well as CPP air ride, CPP tubular A-arms, and a full set of Wilwood disc brakes. The older motor was exchanged for a new Chevrolet Performance LSA. It’s hooked to a 4L60E trans and is also fitted with MagnaFlow exhaust, along with Lokar cables, Optima batteries, and components from Airaid and Aeromotive. With over 500 horses, it really didn’t need anything else. Remington whitewalls on 14×7 original Daytons makes for the perfect rolling stock.
A Cars1 reproduction interior keeps everything period authentic and the Dakota Digital gauges, ididit column, 605 steering, and Vintage Air put all the creature comforts into the modern age. A Retrosound stereo gets plumbed through Cerwin Vega components for an old-school look with contemporary sound quality. For color, V-Max went with an Axalta fawn that was found on the 1964 models.
It took eight months to dress the 1958 in its new clothing, but V-Max assures us he’s done and just enjoys driving it. With a vintage pair of OEM Trail Master mirrors added, he still probably finds it hard to see any cars keeping up with him. A nod must be given to the crew at Ultimate Hydraulics for their work on the car as well as Brad Rogers and Louis Castillo. We think it’s a beautiful ride and hope you and Tanya are burning up the SoCal streets.
1958 Chevy Impala convertible
Owner
Vernon “V-Max” Maxwell
City/State
Norco, CA
Club
Ultimate Riders
Engine
LSA with 4L60E trans
Body/Paint
Stock with Axalta 1964 model fawn paint
We met 4-year-old KenNiyia Holley’s father, Kenneth, of Los Angeles when he came into our studio this past December. Kenneth was there detailing DMack’s 1963 from Majestics before its shoot. It was there that Kenneth showed us his kid’s bikes and we knew we had to get them in the studio.
The 1976 Schwinn 16-inch bike and seat was painted cotton candy pink and pearls by Danny A. After the paint was done he added hot pink striping to the frame, seat, and fenders. To finish it off Kenneth added twisted pedals, twisted apple crate, mirrors, and a headlight.
Tony Tone of High Class Car Club painted the pedal car using candy purple with pearls and pink pinstriping. Jesse Cruz of La Gente Car Club custom-made a seat; all the chrome was done by Speedy’s Polishing in Long Beach, California.
Culture and technology has changed … a lot. Smartphones have replaced home phones, Google has replaced libraries, and photo albums have long been traded in for computer screens. Seriously, remember when you used to have to lick your fingers and flip through the pages of a photo album? Remember when you used to look through a pile of photos? Well that’s all gone. Technology has given us much, yet robbed us of plenty.
On the flip side, culture has changed as well. Do you remember when actors and actresses actually had talent? Do you remember when you could actually understand the lyrics in rap songs? Well, those days are long gone and here today are the Kardashians and Young Thug. But I’m not here to gripe about the state of the world, I’m here to just say that now more than ever we appreciate old-school values and tradition. That said, this is exactly why we appreciate our culture. Lowriding (for the most part) has remained relatively unmolested by technology. Cars are still built by hand, and the core values of lowriding still revolve around manual labor. From car painting, pinstriping, to upholstery, our hands have been the tools to make our imagination come to life, and the same holds true for our car club jackets, shirts, and plaques. So when I run across an old-school company that stays true to its roots, it’s always an honor to feature them, and this story here is a great example.
Logos Two has become an institution that serves our lifestyle with the finest old-school sewing, embroidery, and screen printing. They’re responsible for crafting plenty of the car club jackets you’ve seen around town, and at car shows, and they’re a family business that’s been serving our industry for over 40 years. From club jackets, to custom Ts, they design and create apparel for small and large orders. But of particular interest has always been the old-school embroidery that’s done with Chenille thread. Each of their pieces are manually sewn by hand, and there’s something so significant, and so official, when you see one of their complete pieces.
Located in Paramount, California, the staff at Logos Two is phenomenal, and with over 100 years of collective experience it makes them true to it, and not new to it. So we’d like to tip our hats and salute Randy and his team for serving our community and becoming a staple in our community. In short, they’re part of the reason why our roots run deep and why we’d never trade tradition for technology.
