Earlier this year, Rezmade Car Club hosted their seventh annual car show at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. Since its inception, the show has grown exponentially each year, and along with it so have the cash prizes. This year the show gave out $25,000 in cash and prices.
Rezmade gave out $2,000 for their choice picks for the following categories: lowrider, truck, SUV, dub, bomb, and $1,000 for motorcycle as well as $750 for the bicycle category. Needless to say, that was all they needed to bring out all the heavy hitters. This show also marked the first time that legendary rides El Rey from Elite and Final Score from Tradicionals showed at the same show. Another hitter worthy of mention, and a definite crowd favorite, was the yellow 1962 that’s better know as “Breaking Bad.” A few of the lowrider clubs in attendance included Sangre Latina, Unidos, Majestics, LIFE, Imperials, Kleen, Goodtimes, and Parliament. Dub clubs Swift and Nokturnal rolled deep to the show, and Impalas Car Club had the strongest showing with the most members.
After the hop, the area was cleared out to make room for the entertainment. The stage kicked off with a DJ Battle followed by a bikini and hard body contest, and a few hours later the crowd was ready in eager anticipation as they waited for an all-star lineup of performances from acts such as DJ Quick, Lil Eazy E, and Warren G.
As expected, there were plenty of food vendors on hand, but all the food and drinks did little to help with the Central Valley sun that literally beat everyone up. So if you’ve never been to this show, then all we can say is bring some sunscreen, a pair of glasses, and don’t miss out on next year’s show.
For most of us, our first father/son project will forever be embedded in our memories. That day you were finally allowed to help Dad in the garage is truly something special for any little boy or girl. With a little inspiration from his friend, Jorge, who was building a bike for his kid, Johnny Cruz of Las Vegas decided that what better project to share the Lowrider passion he’s had throughout his life than to build a lowrider bike with his son.
With the decision to finish the bike for the upcoming 2013 Las Vegas Super Show the project was off and running. Once Speedy of Speedy’s Metal Finishing had completed the polishing and chrome work it was off to Miguel Chavez who would take on the custom engraving found throughout the bike. From there Jesse Cruz stitched and sewed the custom seat and matching display. Zack Felix of Felix Dezigns laid down the Oriental Blue Pearl paintjob with a combination of silver leaf and baby blue pinstriping.
As with most projects, the completion came down to the last minute. The night before the Super Show Johnny and his son were up late finishing all the final details. In the end it was all worth it as they wound up taking the Street Custom First Place trophy.
Johnny and his son would like to personally thank Jesse Cruz, Frank Salcedo, Raul Cruz, Jorge Velazquez, and their tata.
El Ejemplo
Owner
Johnny Cruz
Car Club
Big People B.C.
City
Las Vegas
Vehicle
1968 Schwinn Lil Tiger Stingray
Upholstery
Jesse Cruz, Compton, California
Body/Paint
Zack Felix of Felix Dezigns
When you decide to name your firstborn Felix after the iconic Felix Chevrolet landmark in Los Angeles it’s a no brainer that the Lowriding lifestyle will eventually become part of his childhood. So what better introduction than to build a lowrider bike and begin teaching him the various aspects of the car show scene, from the move-in to detailing and eventual display setup.
Soon after purchasing a 1979 Schwinn Lil Tiger on eBay, Jorge and Felix Velazquez began the build by sanding the frame and prepping it for his Tio Emilio to lay the black pearl paint resembling the old Felix the Cat cartoons. Zack Felix of Felix Dezigns in Las Vegas complemented the paint by adding his signature combinations of fine-line pinstriping as well as silver leaf. With the chrome metalwork and custom 12-inch 52-spoke wheels in place, it was off to Paradise Upholstery who brought it all together by sewing the black and red leathers with a combination of french stitching and custom embroidery found on the custom seat.
Jorge would like to give special thanks to his wife, Yvette, and to his Tio Emilio and Johnny for all their help.
Lil Felix
Owner
Jorge Velazquez
Car Club
Big People B.C.
City
Las Vegas, NV
Vehicle
1979 Schwinn Lil Tiger
Upholstery
Paradise Upholstery brought together the black and red leathers with a combination of french stitching and custom embroidery
Luis Lupercio was attending the Pomona Swap Meet with this 1951 Stepside when our web producer, Josh Ching, spotted it. Josh then approached him about the possibility of having it shot for the magazine, and while most people would be ecstatic about the opportunity, Luis negotiated with Josh and proposed that we shoot his ’47 Delivery instead.
I then followed up with Luis to try to convince him to shoot both, but again, he was adamant about shooting just the Delivery. Then I thought about it, if I was going to drive from the OC to the Valley (a 70-mile drive), then I’d better make it worth my while so I was lucky enough to get him to shoot both the Delivery and the Stepside, which is being featured here.
At first I assumed that Luis only wanted me to only shoot the other car because it was at a higher level than this one. After all, the delivery truck was his new toy so I assumed that he was treating the other like a redheaded stepchild. It was only during the shoot that Luis made it obvious why he only wanted me to shoot one car. “You had me busting my ass all day yesterday trying to get both of these cars ready. It was a lot of work and I almost canceled on you because I didn’t think I could get them ready.”
Not really knowing he was going to get into a full detail, which is one of the things us photographers forget. But luckily for us, we were able to coax him into doing so and by the time this feature hits the shelves I’m sure all that work was well worth the memories both features will create.
Home Depot Truck
Vehicle Year/Make/Model
1951 Chevrolet 3100
Owner
Luis Lupercio
City/State
Arleta, CA
Club
Bad Bombs
Engine
261-engine with Fenton headers and 2-inch straight pipes
Body/Paint
Mint and Forest Green. Chrome by Astro Plating.
Interior
Falcon Upholstery in Reseda, CA, brought the bench seat to life by using an off-mint color in an original pattern
Sound
Alpine stereo with Kenwood amps/mids and 10-inch subwoofers
Wheels/Tires
15-inch Artillery with Firestone tires
Up until recent years, I had never heard off Switch Car Club—a lowrider club based out of San Diego, California. Upon first hearing about them, I thought they might be a new start-up club, but after seeing their cars, as well as their bronze plaques, it became quite evident that they had been around for quite some time.
Switch had a good display of cars, which included a 1965 Riviera, 1971 Continental, 1967 Cadillac, 1979 Mark V, and a 1970 Monte Carlo. In short, the lineup was one that replicated the gold era of lowriding.
So just recently they celebrated a fourth annual Day at the Bay at Embarcadero Marina Park (Seaport Village) in downtown San Diego. That alone should tell you that this wasn’t going to be your average car show. The lowriders were scattered all over the park and no matter which way you looked there was a breathtaking backdrop that made for the best photo ops. Free to attend, the show came complete with an eclectic crowd, a gathering of some of San Diego’s best low-lows, as well as the mandatory DJs and live bands.
Needless to say, we’ll back next year to enjoy the festivities and thanks to Switch Car Club for having us.
Before becoming the Production Editor for LOWRIDER I used to work the returns desk at a Best Buy. Walking around Extreme Auto Fest Anaheim it was quite a surprise when I bumped into Tony Alcala Jr, one of my coworkers from my Best Buy days. What was even more surprising was when I found out that Tony was there with his club, Showdown Familia showing off his car, a ’65 Impala SS.
Nicknamed Sexy 5 SS, Tony’s Impala was originally just a rolling chassis when he got it. Over the years Tony had an original 327 small block put in under the hood as well as a custom paint job by Coast 1, cut and buff by Sammy over at Speedway OC, chrome plating by Tomas Santa Maria, and engraving by Salas Engraving, while Tony himself built his own custom trunk setup as well as the audio and video systems.
Beto has already been in contact with Tony about getting his car in LOWRIDER so make sure to check back on our site as well as a future issue of LOWRIDER for a full feature on Tony’s Sexy 5 SS
The ’70s were a time of disco balls, platform shoes, and iconic TV shows, like Chico and the Man. Jose Guizar, of Garden Grove, California, decided to pay homage to this iconic decade by restoring one of the most popular cars of that era. This first-generation Monte Carlo, billed as the “luxury personal car,” would go on to be one of Chevrolet’s most memorable vehicles in that decade’s lineup. Jose, who already had several builds under his belt, found a great deal on Craigslist and got to work on his latest masterpiece.
The project was off and running with a visit to Frank’s Customs. Once there, Frank would begin the ’70s theme of a heavily modified vehicle by shaving door handles and side mirrors, creating a custom dash, door panels, and center console, as well as the fiberglass found throughout the interior. With the bodywork completed by Cesar P., Frank G., of Frank’s Customs, would then lay down the Lime Green Candy paint with vibrant patterns, offering over 14 different color combinations resembling those of the ’70s era. A-Designs, of Corona, California, brought it all together by adding a variety of pinstripe lines and gold leafing. Once the original 1970 small-block Chevy 350 was rebuilt by Frank’s Customs (with custom exhaust by A Ok Mufflers), it was now off to Hoppos Hydraulics for the installation of a custom chrome two-pump setup, complete with four dumps and four switches. With the 13-inch chrome Truespoke wire wheels wrapped with 5/20-13 Premium Sportway whitewall tires bolted on, it was time for Frank G. to wrap up this latest masterwork by installing the custom leather and cloth interior, along with a Pioneer sound system, custom steering wheel, and custom gauges. With all the metalwork completed by Anaheim Plating, it was finally time to put this “disco dream” on the road.
“Special thanks are in order to Frank Guizar and Cesar Pena,” Jose says, “along with all my Klique Car Club brothers who lent a hand.”
Freshly Squeezed
Owner
Jose Guizar
Car Club
Klique
City
Orange County, CA
Vehicle
1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Engine
Original 1970 small-block Chevy 350 rebuilt by Frank’s Customs with custom exhaust by A Ok Mufflers
Upholstery
Franks Customs created the custom dash, door panels, center console, as well as fiberglass found throughout the interior
Body/Paint
Many a custom modification was completed, such as shaved door handles and side mirrors with Frank G. laying down the Lime Green Candy paint with ’70s-inspired patterns. A-Designs of Corona, CA, brought it all together by adding a variety of pinstripe lines and gold leafing.
Suspension
Hoppos Hydraulics installed a custom chrome two-pump setup complete with four dumps and four switches
When Roy Martinez was just 16 years old he was already out cruising Hollywood Boulevard. At that time, it was the allure of the nightlife and the custom cars that got him going but since then times have changed, and changed drastically. For starters, police began enforcing anti-cruising laws, which killed the scene; and on the flipside, Roy has done much the same by creating this custom Harley, which is also killing the scene—but in a good way.
His 2000 Harley-Davidson Road King is a definite looker. It’s a neck snapper that makes you look thrice, and with enough chrome to get a Turtle Wax rep giddy, it’s easy to get lost in the massive amounts of candy, chrome, and custom engraving by Gabriel Martinez. This Harley represents his dedication to the customizing scene.
Encasing the engine and frame are the fairings, which were painted by Cesar Quintero, and his use of Cobalt Blue and deep purples by House of Kolor give this bike a luster that can’t be beat. From there it was muraled by Shinji Hara and then outlined and leafed by custom artist Leo of LG Pinstriping of Simi Valley, California.
Out front, this beast is led through local shows and traffic by a set of Ridewright Wheels that measure in at 21 inches up front and 17 inches out back. To keep the bike grounded and levelheaded, Roy had a ViAir setup installed, which was done by Rapture Customs.
When asked what started this build, Roy says it’s his passion for building cars. But he’s also quick to mention, that all he wanted to do at first was chrome one simple piece, and once that happened it was game over. Five years later, along with the help of his son, Gabe, and his wife, Sonia, he was able to create what you see here.
Da Rapture
Vehicle Year/Make/Model
2000 Harley-Davidson Road King
Owner
Roy Martinez
City/State
Santa Clarita, CA
Engine
Chrome and engraved V-2 four-stroke motor with fishtail pipes
Body/Paint
House of Kolor Cobalt Blue
Suspension
ViAir
Interior
Blue alligator skin
Sound
Alpine amplifier and Infinity 6×9-inch speakers
Wheels/Tires
21-inch Ridewright Wheel in the front and 17-inch in the back
The first time I laid eyes on Johnny Salters impeccable ’56 was when it was shown at the LOWRIDER Arizona show. To set eyes on this magnificent build leaves much to ponder. From the color combo, to the attention to detail, it definitely earns right to wear the South Side CC plaque. Today, I got a chance to see it again at the LOWRIDER Fresno show, and this time around I had a few questions to ask Johnny.
How long did the build take?
The build took three years to build, and that was after trading in my ’57 Bel Air for it.
How did you decide on the paint scheme?
Originally I wanted to go with that green and yellow, but there are already a few cars with that color combo. Knowing that I was trying to figure out a color scheme, my wife suggested to stick with the green but to go with a black instead of the yellow. To be honest, I’m a body guy and I know the type of upkeep it takes to have a black car, and I didn’t really know if I wanted to do it, but I did, and in end it worked out great.
So your wife is responsible for that color scheme?
Exactly, my wife backs me 100%.
If anyone wants to see your ’56 in person, what shows will they be able to see it at in the near future?
I’ll be hitting the LA, Las Vegas and New Years Picnic.
The Tovar family is no strangers to the world of lowriding. In an almost iconic way, they’ve built their family name into something of a brand, and throughout the past few decades the four brothers have literally bombed the pages of LOWRIDER.
Whereas they’re known best for building Chevys, this time around they’ve switched the game up by building their first Merc/Ford. And here’s the kicker: it’s been Eddie Tovar’s dream to do so.
Looking back, Eddie still remembers the day he first laid eyes on the Merc. Eddie was sitting on the couch with this father and family as they watched Rebel Without a Cause, a film featuring James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo. In that film, he saw the black 1949 Merc and he vividly recalls the details, “It was skirted down, wide whitewalls, nosed and decked, and I never forgot that custom car.” With the death of their father, the images of the 1949 Merc in the movie really stuck with him. “I always wanted a Merc but I either couldn’t find one or when I could I couldn’t afford it.”
A few years back, Eddie had his green 1948 Fleetline at the Long Beach Motorama. As he walked around the show with this wife he saw a lineup of about 15 Mercs from 1949-1951. “They were all chopped, except for a black one. That’s the one that stood out to me the most.” After that show, Eddie got home and went straight to the computer and began searching for one. He found this one up in San Jose, California, but before he could buy it he needed to take care of two things. The first was to get the OK from his wife. “She knew that the Mercs did something to me and how I felt about them, so she gave me her blessing.” The second thing was that he didn’t have enough money to buy it, so his brother, Michael, stepped in and made sure Eddie had the additional funds to purchase it. The very next weekend Michael, their friend Nacho Camarena, and Eddie all went up to San Jose to see the car. With no motor, transmission, and the necessity for a full restoration, it was still a solid project car but they still picked it up, and after a lengthy five-year restoration we now have this amazing creation.
Tovar’s Merc
Vehicle Year/Make/Model
1949 Mercury Eight
Owner
Eddie Tovar
City/State
Hawaiian Gardens, CA
Club
Tovar’s
Engine
283 small-block Chevy and turbo 350 transmission rebuilt by Ed Johnson of Hawaiian Gardens
Body/Paint
Eddie did the bodywork himself and Gato of All Glass & Upholstery in Long Beach, CA, sprayed the Dakota gray two-stage PPG paint that was provided by Ricky Garcia
Suspension
2.75-inch body drop, four-link triangular rearend with stepdowns, bridged, C-notched, tunneled, 2.5-inch dropped front spindles; two old-school lift gates with cast-iron block pumps, four Italian dumps, stainless steel hard lines with 6-inch cylinders in the front and 12-inch in the back; all powered by three group 24 batteries
Interior
The interior had to have been completely modified to accommodate the body drop. This was done by shaving 2.75 inches off the seats. Herick of Jaime’s General Upholstery in Hawaiian Gardens re-stitched the interior back to its original shape.
Wheels/Tires
Original 1949 Merc wheels, hubcaps, and rings with BFGoodrich Silver Town 640-15 wide whites
Growing up around the Lowrider community, Sebastian Madrid of Phoenix knew he had to share those influences with his son. Before he was even born, Sebastian had purchased an original 1950 Taylor Tot stroller. With no time to waste, he immediately began customizing the stroller. He knew this project had to be a detailed and meaningful process.
Once the disassembly was complete, Irwin Madrid would prepare the stroller for a complete custom paintjob. A custom blend of Candyapple Red served as a basecoat as the detailed task of spraying the intricate patterned artwork began. Keeping with the traditional decadence of lowriding, Irwin added various flaked-out tape shade techniques in Dark Cherry and Silver Bullet Gray color combinations, as well as bold pinstriped outlines. The original metalwork would be re-plated, with much of it receiving meticulous diamond-cut accents. The result? A family heirloom worthy of being passed down as a piece of nostalgia throughout the years. Nowadays, you can find Sebastian strolling through your neighborhood car show displaying his latest creation and making sure the Lowrider spirit continues with the next generation.
1950 Taylor Tot
Owner
Sebastian Madrid
Car Club
Unity
City
Phoenix, AZ
Body/Paint
Madrid’s Automotive Designs layered the red candy pattern designs with flake and pinstripe outlines
Los Angeles Bombs may not be one of the biggest car clubs on the scene but that doesn’t mean they don’t have big hearts. As a close family oriented club, one of their primary goals is to help those in need. Recently the club took over the SpeedZone parking lot in City of Industry for their inaugural cruise night and fund-raiser to help benefit the American Diabetes Association.
Despite it being their first cruise night, the turnout was far from a disappointment. By the time the California sun had set, the parking lot was filled to capacity as dozens of people made their way out to check out the cars, enjoy the music, and show their support.
When asked what they thought about their first cruise night members of the Los Angeles Bombs answered by saying that their only regret was that they only wish they had a bigger venue to hold more cars.
Los Angeles Bombs would like to thanks all those who were able to come out and show their support and they look forward to seeing them all again at their next event.
Step foot into the main hall at the Fresno Super Show and two things became quickly apparent. One, the air condition didn’t work too well, and two, the Carnales Unidos dominated the hall in style.
The club had about 30 cars from their Bakersfield, Fresno and Merced chapters on display but one of the cars that stood out was Andrew Cisneros’ 1980 Monte Carlo. While the car used to be out in the scene, Andrew decided to redo the whole car so he began by having Stone Cold flip the script on entire paint job using a variety of Axalta hot hues while a touch of magenta was used to highlight the famous bodylines.
He then took his Monte Carlo to California Upholstery for the custom interior and during the rebuild, a life halting moment took place when Andrew lost his father. After much self-healing and self-realization, he found it only right to dedicate this build to the memory of his father, and that’s why he decided to give it the moniker, “The Boss”.
While the Monte remains pretty much flawless, there are still a few minor details to finish up such as the setup and trunk. It’s also only a matter of time before Andrew goes back to the drawing board and we’ll be sure to deliver updates as the upgrades start getting done.
In closing, we’d just like Andrew to know that his father is surely looking down with pride and we can’t wait to see the final results of this sentimental project.
While cruising through posts on theChive we came across a post on 10 famous Instagram models and what their networths currently are. Naturally out of curiosity we clicked on the post and we were quite surprised to find out that one of the ladies featured was former LOWRIDER Girl, Chantel Zales.
With over 3.8 million followers on Instagram Chantel has a net worth of $5.36 million dollars. However before Chantel gained such a big following on Instagram and before she was making the big bucks she had not one, but two LOWRIDER Magazine covers under her belt.
Check out some of our never before seen photos of Chantel, and if you’re interested in picking up the issues with Chantel on the cover (November 2014 and February 2015) or any other back issues of LOWRIDER, check out the TEN: The Enthusiast Network Magazine Store.
Saturday, August 6th LOWRIDER is coming to the Albuquerque Convention Center for the 2016 Albuquerque Super Show.
Come out and check out the lowriders, motorcycles, bikes, car hop, and more!
Check out the live performances by Troublesome, Lighter Shade of Brown, Beanz, One, Carolyn Rodriguez, Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, and more!
VENDOR AND EXHIBITOR SPACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!!!
To apply to be a exhibitor please click here.*
To apply to be a vendor please click here.
*Exhibitor preregistration deadline is July 29, 2016. An additional $10 fee will be applied to any other applicants after this date.
Save time at the gate by purchasing your tickets now at Straight Street Automotive, or the Albuquerque Convention Center or purchase them via phone by calling 505-433-2702.
Advance tickets are $25+tax.
Tickets purchased at the door are $30+tax.
Kids 12 and under are free.
Look up the word “lowrod” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary and it’s not acknowledged. But look it up in the Urban Dictionary and it pretty much sums it all up. In short, a Low-Rod is a classic vehicle that merges the styling elements from the best of two worlds: Hot Rods & Lowriding. As a prime example, take a look at this ’57 Bel Air, which belongs to Steve Noesser.
While the car was always immaculate, it’s gone through some pretty extensive changes. You see, last year the car flaunted the same paint, interior and LS motor, but this year he opted to get rid of the big wheel and coil overs, and instead take the car over to Hoppos for a little altitude adjustment.
It was there that Alex and the Hoppos crew built a one-off airbag setup that completed the trunk. In order to give the a car a whole new look for the show season, Steve slapped some engraved cross-laced Zenith with diamond cut dishes, and then had them all massaged into a set of 5-20’s.
In the end, the car took on a whole new appearance and while the couple may not look like your traditional lowriding audience, they’re definitely a part of our family and we’re proud to see how lowriding has once again influenced change in the car customizing world.
We all know that one guy. You know, the guy with the super clean truck that pulls up to the spot with a gangster lean. He’s the same guy who usually steps out with pride and then boom! Seconds later you can’t help but laugh as he struggles to slam his door shut.
Believe it or not, it’s a common problem for older trucks and the culprit is usually a bad door latch. That said, if you’re the owner of a 1952-1954 Chevy truck then we’ve got a solution that’ll have your doors opening and closing with ease.
Thanks to the Altman Easy Latch, they have now created a vehicle-specific bolt on, bear jaw rotary claw latch kit. The kit comes complete with contoured jamb plates to match the features of your vehicle’s doors and they were created specifically for your year, make, and model—no cheesy universal applications here.
Designed and engineered to work with your exterior handles, interior handles, and the exterior door lock cylinders of the specified vehicles, Altman hinges are a work of art. Each piece is zinc plated to fight corrosion, and all internal claws are case hardened and black oxide coated.
No welding necessary
Works with exterior handles
Works with interior handles
Works with exterior lock cylinders
Case hardened latch paws
Stainless steel striker pins
Everything you need for both doors
Each kit comes complete with everything you need for two doors. Latch plates, vehicle-specific bear jaw rotary claw latches, templates, hardware, detailed instructions, striker plates, and even stainless steel striker bolts.
Designed, manufactured, and assembled here in the good ol’ United States, Altman hinge kits are purely bolt on and there is absolutely no welding or modifications necessary. It’s a simple, quick, and effective solution to fix that stubborn door, so get up on game and grab a set because life’s too short to be fighting your doors shut.
One of the wildest trucks we saw on display at Extreme Auto Fest Anaheim ’16 had to belong to Laurence Salazar of Showdown Familia’s ’63 Chevy C10.
At first glance the biggest and most eye catching mod has to be the custom plexiglass dump bed. Underneath the split hood is a 350 crate motor. Inside the cab, Laurence had a ’59 Impala dashboard fitted along with a pair of ’74 Monte Carlo swivel seats. Painted by Al Martinez, Laurence’s truck also features chrome plating by Eli’s Polishing & Plating, engraving by Miguel Chavez, patterns by Art’s Customs, and murals by Sal Elias. For suspension, this C10 is sitting on an airbag/hydraulic setup which Laurence built himself in his backyard.
Laurence built this truck as a tribute to his club president and father. Like his fellow club member, Tony Alcala Jr. Laurence has been talking with Beto about doing a full feature on his truck. Check soon on our website and future issues of LOWRIDER for a full feature on this crazy C10.
Building a showstopping lowrider is one thing, but navigating your prized possession through the streets is a whole different responsibility. Seriously, what good is a car that you can barely drive?
This product section here is dedicated to keeping you in control, so get your lowrider in gear by starting off with show-quality, automatic transmission column shifters from Lokar Performance Products! Not only is it as good as it looks, but the installation process is just as clean and simple.
The Lokar Column Shift Billet Linkage Kit (PN ACA-1800) shown here is fabricated from billet aluminum or steel (depending on application) and the units are also adjustable. Included in all kits are all the hardware needed, including column bushings and adjustable-to-size-required rod ends.
The LOKAR Adjustable Column Shift Linkage Kit (PN ACA- 1800 ) fits the following transmissions: GM TH350, TH400, 700-R4, TH200, TH200-4R, 4L60, 4L60E, 4L80E, and 6L80E, excludes Powerglide.
Installation
Installing Lokar’s billet linkage from your transmission to your steering column is simple. Here’s a breakdown of the major steps involved, and if you have any questions you can always call their customer service line.
1. Set the parking brake and chock your tires to avoid accidental movement of the vehicle. The Lokar column shift linkage (connecting rod) is universal and designed to be cut to fit individual applications. The identical rod end design allows the hex connector to attach to the trans or column (for optimum clearance). Just remove all existing linkage from your transmission selector shaft and column.
2. Rotate the trans selector shaft clockwise into the Park position. Put column shifter into the Park position.
3. Place the splined bushing onto the trans selector shaft, making sure flats in splined bushing slide over flats on trans selector shaft. Then slide the aluminum arm over the splined bushing while in the 8 o’clock position (Park).
4. Positioning of the swivel rod-end mounting bolt into aluminum arm slot will be dependent upon the column distance between gears.
5. Then bolt the swivel rod end onto the column with the washers and spacers provided. You can fit (cut and/or bend) the stainless rod starting at the column rod end to trans rod end.
6. Adjust the length of the stainless rod by cutting the unthreaded end with a hacksaw. Insert stainless steel rod into adjustable hex connector and tighten setscrews with an Allen wrench only tight enough to mark stainless steel rod.
7. After final adjustment, remove the stainless steel rod and grind a small flat spot on the marked rod. This will help maintain position of the shaft. During the final installation of setscrews, we recommend a thread-locking compound on setscrews.
8. Just like that, you can kick your ride into cruising gear with a cool Billet-style Column linkage from Lokar Performance Products.
To add even more style, you can always opt for a billet aluminum dash insert and matching interior accessories-all polished to a head-turning shine. When it’s time to step on the gas, Lokar has you covered with throttle assemblies and cable mounting carburetor brackets.
But that’s not all. They also have oval design taillights, hood and trunk cable releases, and steering column accessories. But there’s more, so be sure to visit them online to see a complete catalog of all their parts, which are built in the United States with quality and timeless style.
Axalta Paint Tip of the Month
Acquire Plus EFX Color Matching with a Camera
This month’s Axalta Coating Systems Paint Tip of the Month is about paint color matching with advanced optical technology.
Axalta’s Acquire Plus EFX is an advanced, handheld spectrophotometer designed to help you achieve the most accurate color match possible, even for complicated metallic pearl and effect colors, faster and easier than ever before. Its advanced optic technology looks deep into the paint film to acquire the flake and color characteristics that are the keys to determining the best color match. And it’s so fast and easy to use that it can make color matching feel almost automatic.
What’s In The Box:
Reads color and flake characteristics to help you get both dimensions of accurate color match at once.
The color touch-screen was designed to be super easy to navigate and use.
Calibration is required once a month, not once a week, and there’s no black trap calibration necessary, so it should be much quicker and easier than other methods.
It is designed to select the best formula when more than one is available, to ensure the best match possible.
Can store up to 999 readings in its large memory.
If no paint code is available, it is designed to scan the entire database to find the best formula, to reduce shading time to a minimum. Once the Axalta EFX Camera reads the
paint color you are trying to match, you simply plug the camera into the computer and put your paint manufacturer info into the system. What this does is give you the ability to see the actual color and variant chips on the color screen before you even make the color.
For more Information on obtaining the Aquire Plus EFX Camera or any other technical advice, please feel free to contact Axalta product specialist steven.c.chaparro@axaltacs.com.
In this male dominated sport we call “lowriding” we see a countless amount of fathers and sons showing their rides next to each other but we almost never see a father and daughter doing it. So when I came across this pair of rags belonging to a father and daughter out of San Jose, CA I had to get a couple of more photos and information on them.
The red 1965 belong’s to Jose Ruvalcaba and the lemonish yellow to his daughter Jeanette Aguiniga. The ’65 has been in the show circuit for a while but the ’67 made its debut at the Fresno Super Show. The rags were showing next to each other with a matching display that was built by Jose.
Even though the ’67 is showable, the car is far from done. It will be receiving a few more engine upgrades and getting juice. So keep an eye out for it at shows and a magazine feature after its been juiced.
Creating a cool set of wheels is one thing, but to create a wheel brand that evolves into a household name is an entirely different feat – and that’s exactly what Gary Jerjerian has accomplished.
Back in 2000, Jerjerian set out to do one thing: create a wheel brand. In turn, he not only accomplished that, but also created an automotive lifestyle brand, which has since evolved into a strikingly popular, and profitable, empire. His wheels have become a staple fixture for many of the top show cars throughout the globe, and event after event he continually reinvents his company and introduces styles and options that speak to his audience. That name of that company: Diablo Wheels.
To date, Diablo has sold over a million wheels and it’s all come to fruition as a result of his team’s collective effort—a team that is comprised of staff who have been with him for more than 15 years. That in and of itself is testament to how well he treats his employees, and the pride he takes in his staff is clearly evident, as he proudly refers to them as his family. When asked to dive deeper into the topic, Gary enthusiastically replied, “I eat with them; I have coffee with them; I work alongside with them. But like any business, sometimes we get on each others nerves, but we work our way through the kinks and support each other.” He also adds, “I’m very transparent. I have a passion for this and I know when it’s time to play and when it’s time to work.”
Amongst the ruling elite within his market segment, Jerjerian has more than 30 years of experience in the wheel game and his list of accolades is long. A community activist, a business leader, and a man of God, Mr. Jerjerian is an influencer with a great past, but ask him what has made his company successful and he’ll once again refer to his team—which he has nothing but great admiration and respect for.
Jerjerian sees value in the people he hires. He’s the first in and the last one out. He’s also the same person who’ll admit that his company’s levels of greatness came as a result of his their collective actions. “[Diablo] is not the largest wheel company out there,” Jerjerian says. “We found a niche. I was fortunate to have great people on my team and my goal was to create a family oriented business that cares about their products and their people, and not a stiff corporation focused solely on profits. And that’s exactly what happened.”
But his appreciation doesn’t stop there. He takes great pride in knowing that Diablo has become a part of the car community. “We value and appreciate our customer’s support and we not only wanted to create wheels but stand behind a movement that feeds creativity, loyalty, and allegiance.” In short, Jerjerian is the coach for the winning team at Diablo and he understands that it is both customer and employee, acquisition, and retention that creates his recipe for success.
In parting, I asked Jerjerian how it felt to own the Diablo brand and his response was one that resonated old-school values as he said: “I don’t own this company. This is not about Gary Jerjerian this is about what truly defines us, and that is our customers. The customers own this brand and I’m always in the battle zone and in the trenches alongside the staff to ensure that we deliver the best products and service. As for my boss, well my boss is Jesus Christ and when Jesus is with you no one can be against you, right?”
