Lowrider

Chad Fincher, from Phoenix, says he first obtained the truck from his grandparents. His grandfather had done a mini restoration on it in the mid ’90s and then parked it in their barn out in New Mexico where it sat for quite some time. Chad had bugged his grandfather for 12 long years about giving him the truck. Eventually Grandpa finally gave in and made a phone call to Chad asking him to come pick it up!

Once Chad had the truck back in Phoenix, he took it over to Todd at Lowboy Motorsports to get the truck back on the road. Todd is a fellow club member and as far as Chad is concerned, is one of the best builders out there. The club founder, Courtney “Tito” Halowell, was in the process of building a Chevy when he suddenly died. This hit everyone in our club and our scene very hard. As Todd and Chad were going through this build, they would stop and look at the progress and wish that Tito was still around to see how it was coming along. They knew how excited he would be with the build and could almost hear his motivation pushing them forward. It was just another part of the “family theme” that was going on with this build. Between getting it from Chad’s grandparents and then the support and motivation of his truck club family, it really pushed him to build an awesome truck.

Todd’s custom suspension components were installed and equally important for both Todd and Chad was to use the truck’s original frame. In addition to the suspension, the LS engine swap, power steering and power brake upgrades, air conditioning unit installation, and an amazing interior from BW Upholstery, Chad just couldn’t be happier with how the truck ultimately came out.

Now that it is done, Chad takes pride in the fact that he drives it to the shows and he’ll even pull it into daily driver duties when needed. Chad says it is amazing to see the facial expressions that people give when the old truck passes them on the freeway!

Chad thinks of himself as not really that “exciting of a guy,” but he does try to be a good person, build cool stuff, and just be a good example of our sport and lifestyle to people both in and outside of it.

1950 chevrolet 3100 goodyear whitewall tire

1950 Chevy 3100 pickup truck

Vehicle Nickname
Ole Lady

Owner
Chad Fincher

City/State
Phoenix, AZ

Club
Negative Camber

Engine
2004 Chevy 5.3L Vortec LS with a 4L60E automatic transmission, built by Chad and plumbed and wired by Diego at Desert Auto Works. Dirty Dingo serpentine, custom intake tube, and stock AC Delco replacements, and electric fans were also installed.

Body/Paint
Chad’s own grandfather did the bodywork and paint during a minor restoration project on the truck in the ’90s.

Suspension
Todd Burton of Lowboy Motorsports in Mesa, AZ, installed an airbag suspension with independent front suspension consisting of 1995 Chevy spindles and a custom rear dual-wishbone four-link suspension. Full AccuAir management with ViAir compressors and Slam Specialties airbags. A rack-and-pinion and power steering were also installed. Disc brakes were installed up front. The bed was raised to give room to the lowered rear suspension.

Wheels/Tires
15-inch steel rims with Goodyear whitewall tires

Interior
Brian of BW Upholstery in Phoenix installed a 1965 Impala reproduction fabric with Symphony vintage vinyl.

Sound System
The hidden audio system consists of a Bluetood Kenwood head unit and Kenwood tweeter, midrange, and woofer speakers, all installed by Chad himself

The post Chad Fincher’s Slammed 1950 Chevy 3100 Truck appeared first on Lowrider.

Here’s a short compilation of parts and distributors you should know about. Although you may not need them now, it’s always good to know about the latest parts in the game so we’ve put together a short list of companies that might have what you need.

Make: NOS Impala Parts
Model: various parts
URL: www.nos.impalaparts.com

Overview: Scavenging for parts for your classic Impala has never been easer, so stop wasting time trying to refurbish bad parts and check out the fellas at NOS Impala Parts. With a complete lineup of emblems, bumpers, moldings, sheetmetal, accessories, and more, these guys have what you need.

They’ve got parts for your 1958-1976 Chevrolet Impala, and included in their extensive catalog are parts for your Biscayne, El Camino, Station Wagon, or Caprice.
Uncontested and unmatched when it comes to parts, they not only have the largest collection of parts and accessories for classic vehicles, but they have a customer service department that is knowledgeable and willing to help.

So save your knuckles, spare your brain from scouring through the net-and junkyards-and spend more time getting the parts you need so you can get to enjoying your ride.

Make: MSD Performance
Model: Black Chevy Distributors
URL: www.msdperformance.com

Overview: A faulty, old, or underperforming distributor can turn your showroom sensation into a limp nightmare, so be sure to scope out MSD’s new Black Chevy Distributors.

Created by the authority in high-performance engine parts, MSD has long been the benchmark, and it’s with good reason. Take these new distributors as an example. Crafted from CNC machined billet aluminum, the easy-to-adjust distributors feature a polished steel shaft and sealed ball bearing. In addition, the maintenance-free magnetic pickup never requires adjusting and they offer two models: PN 85555 and PN 83603. So step with pep and put a little action to your performance by installing one of these new units.

Make: CleanTools
Model: The Absorber
URL: www.cleantools.net

Overview: Stop drying your car with beach towels and old T-shirts and get The Absorber. With proper care these drying cloths will last for years and they absorb 50 percent more water than towels or those funky-smelling chamois.

Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should already be familiar with The Absorber. These superior drying towels consist of a material that creates less friction on the finish and it won’t pull off the wax. Not only have they become the trusted brand in car drying, but they’ve also been the leaders in their market. Besides, your paintjob is one of the most highly priced investments on your car, so protect it by making sure you give it a regular wash and dry it up with the best products in the game.

The post Parts to a Dream appeared first on Lowrider.

At first glance, Gary Villeggiante’s 1953 rag looks like something you’d see going low and slow, but that’s actually the farthest from the truth. In fact, his rag is a sleeper and a creeper of sorts. To be honest, his car may be pretty but get on the pedal and it moves like a bat out of hell and it’ll easily make enough donuts to feed the local police department.

Don’t believe me? Then check out his IG profile (@cadbomb) because it definitely does justice to the work he puts in. The first time I saw the video, I was speechless. I remember the rag with its top down and headlights on and after that he launched the 1953 into a violent launch that left me in the clouds.

So how did this bat out of hell come to be? Well Gary bought the restored 1953 after a friend sent him a link for it. To his understanding the car was built buy someone in San Diego and today it still looks the same, at least cosmetically speaking.

So with the help of his friend, Allen Magrini, the 1953 underwent a frame and suspension fabrication overhaul. They changed the drivetrain out, added an LS motor to it, and all the bells and whistles they felt necessary. When I asked him why he went with the style he did, his response was, “I like them when they look like low-lows but run like white boy hot rods.”

Since he and his wife don’t own new cars, it was essential that they have their classic in prim and proper condition, which is why there’s so much invested into it. To add to that, a car of this caliber might be a garage queen to many, but for Gary it happens to be his daily driver.

Don’t believe us? Then hang out at the Bay Bridge and you’ll see him riding to and from work. It’s yet another great example of how classic cars can be built to be dependable daily drivers with that necessary oomph.

1953 chevrolet deluxe convertible spot light

1953 chevrolet deluxe convertible color bar

1953 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

Vehicle Nickname
Project ’53

Owner
Gary Villeggiante

City/State
Millbrae, CA

Club
Sin Nombre

Engine
4.8 LS with aluminum radiator

Body/Paint
Axalta

Suspension
Mustang II front suspension, Ford 9-inch rearend, four-link, disc brakes, ViAir 400c compressors and airbags

Interior
black leather

Sound
Rockford five-channel amp, two 6-inch Infinity mids, and two 10-inch JL Audio subwoofers

Wheels/Tires
15-inch artilleries and 3-inch whitewall Coker Tires

1953 chevrolet deluxe convertible wheel skirt

1953 chevrolet deluxe convertible fender

1953 chevrolet deluxe convertible ls motor

The post ’53 Bel Air with Lowrider Style & Hot Rod Performance appeared first on Lowrider.

Makeup Artist: Marilyn Ramirez (IG @mua_marliyn)

Hey you. Yeah…you. You ready to read yet?

Now that you’ve wiped the drool off your bottom lip and clicked “Save to Desktop” on your favorite pictures, let us introduce to a model that probably doesn’t need an introduction.

Her name? Amber Grace.

A bonafied hustler, model, speed demon and a damn gorgeous female, Amber’s been a global sensation ever since she hit the scene. In So Cal she became a household name almost overnight and till today she commands the respect so many others try to demand.

But what makes this humble, well rounded, model such a hit? Well there’s plenty. Aside from being known as a model that makes you want to pinch your helmet, Amber is also an avid street bike lover and stunt queen. Yes you read, that right, Amber can out stunt about a lot of riders out there and because of that she’s built a pretty damn big fan base. With both street cred and industry cred, she’s built a cult following of fans and it’s with good reason.

As I write this piece, I’m thinking back to the day I first met this half Mexican and Arab girl that loves tacos and how she became family to us over here at Lowrider Magazine but the girl really does have skills.

So how did she get into bikes? At 18, Amber vividly remembers the time some random guy pulled up to her on as street bike. As he approached, he popped a wheelie, blew her a kiss and that life-changing moment was better served for the bike industry that it was for the guy.

You see, the guy didn’t end up getting the digits, but his stunt created such an impact that shortly thereafter, Amber wound up getting herself a Kawasaki Ninja 250cc. As time passed, her passion for the bike life became evident and as her skills increased, so did her accompanying bike game.

Though she’s gone through plenty of bikes, she’s currently riding a KTM 1290 RC8R and the confidence in her skills has made her a global sensation. She’ll throw it up, wheelie and do all kinds of tricks and just recently she became the talk of town when she raced a GTR through South Beach…but that’s a whole other story.

But here’s the crazy thing, since moving her apple bottom to the Big Apple, her fan base has literally expanded from coast to coast. Since moving out there, she’s pretty much remained low key and focused on her daily grind, but the good thing is she’s never too big to reach out and call us when she’s back in town.

That said, enjoy these flicks from the last time she was around and be sure to follow her on IG.

Model Name: Amber Grace
Hometown: Duarte, CA
Ethnicity: Mexican and Arabic
Instagram: @_AmberGrace

The post Amber Grace – Cali Girl at Heart appeared first on Lowrider.

If you’re a sucker for detail and expect nothing but the best, then remember the brand that’s established themselves as the best in the game: ididit. Since 1986, ididit has become the staple steering column of choice for custom rodding, classic cars, and lowrider enthusiasts who want the best aftermarket upgrades.

They’ve got everything you need for custom replacements and in this issue we’ll be covering the Universal Tilt Series, which are sold by length. Aside from their standard lineup of columns, ididit can create custom applications for your project and they are 100 percent American made; no China products here, buddy.

To be honest, all one needs to do is see an ididit column and you’ll be able to understand why they’ve created such an impact on the market. The finish is perfect, the function stupendous, and the installation is so easy that when your friends asked who installed it, you can reply, “I did it.”

Installation

For proper installation, be sure that the steering column is installed in sync with the rest of the steering system. To do this, be sure to follow the quick-and-simple instructions below as turn signal cancellation, wheel position, and smooth steering operation depends on it.

*Below are the basic fundamentals of the steering column install. If you are in need of information for nine-bolt steering wheel installations, or installing the shift knob or other issues, visit their comprehensive tech section on their website.

1. The front wheels of your vehicle must be pointing straight forward with the steering toe set reasonably close.

2. Rotate the input shaft of the gearbox or rack from lock to lock and set the box exactly halfway between. For example, if the shaft rotates three full turns from lock to lock. The center will be at 1 1/2 turns from either locked position.

3. Install the steering arm and draglink and adjust tie-rod ends to get the draglink to fit without moving either the box/rack or the front wheels. Rotating each tie-rod end the same number of turns will preserve adjustment.

4. With the column mounted in position, two joints are used on a shaft, the forks of the yokes closest to each other should be in line or “in phase.” Premature wear or binding can result if the U-joints are not phased properly. Sometimes if the U-joints are at a severe angle, even if they are phased correctly, a hard spot in the steering may occur for no apparent reason. If this happens, index the U-joints two or three splines in one direction. The hard spot should disappear or be minimized.

5. Install the shaft or joint on the gear box/rack. Leave the upper part of the shaft unconnected for the time being.

6. Position the column housing so that the signal switch arm is level to the lefthand side.

7. Install the column through the firewall, into your joint.

8. To properly synchronize your column, the horn wire hole needs to be in the 10:30 position.

From tilt to telescopic, they have plenty of options and they also do every type of make and model. Even if you have a car that’s dated and rare, all you have to do is send them your original and they’ll make a custom unit for ya!

The post Chrome Tilt Column by ididit appeared first on Lowrider.

There’s no denying the culture of lowriding is a family affair. Stroll into any of our shows and you’ll find the place littered with families in full swing. But take a deeper look and you’ll often find countless fathers teaching their children about the tradition, styling, and values of lowriding—and that’s essentially what we’re all about.

You see, lowriding is about passing not only the torch but also passing along the culture and the heritage of lowriding. And for Roy Gutierrez, these childhood memories and valuable lessons have resulted in him creating this beautiful, award-winning bomb. Then again, what would you expect? Roy didn’t have just any ordinary teacher. His father is none other than Viejitos Car Club cofounder Roy Gutierrez Sr. who, in 1985, also happened to own a similar 1949 Chevy—the inspiration for this build.

After purchasing a Chevy Fleetline DeLuxe from an 18-year-old kid, Roy soon found out that the young man he purchased the vehicle from had actually inherited this gem from his 92-year-old grandmother, who incidentally had purchased the vehicle brand new off the lot at a Flagstaff dealership.

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe hood ornament

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe side mirror

Upon its return, the Chevy was off to Bell Auto Upholstery where the transformation would begin. There they would install a brand-new cloth interior with original stitching and patterns with Gordo, of Fontana, California, redoing the woodgrain dash and window frames. Roy and wife, Jychelle, just as they would on a great deal of the car, took on the task of wiring the Alpine stereo, which controls the mids and highs powered by two JL audio amplifiers. From there, they would drop in a 1959 Chevy 1/2-ton 235 with three-speed transmission and custom split manifold connected to 1/2-inch straight pipes. Roy and Jychelle themselves would also apply the enamel PPG Vanilla Shake custom paint found throughout the car.

Longtime friend Ramon of Long Beach, California, would be called in to install the custom Helix airbag suspension with 1/2-inch line setup. With the original five-lug 15-inch Chevy rims painted and chrome beauty rings installed, it was finally time for the unenviable task of tracking down all those hard-to-find OEM accessories that make every bomb build complete. The long list would eventually include an original 1949 Bango steering wheel, Fulton suicide knob, original Pres-A-Lite cigarette lighter, GM reverse backup light, and GM vent shades.

Roy and Jychelle would like to personally thank all those involved with the build, “especially, Roy Sr. and Lydia Gutierrez, my five brothers, and our kids Kylee, Tico Jr., Robert, and our baby girl who is on the way. Many thanks, as well, to our friends Martin Ochoa and all of the Viejitos familia.”

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe window blinds

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe swamp cooler

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe front grill

1949 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe

Nickname
Miss Beauty

Owner
Roy & Jychelle Gutierrez

Car Club
Viejitos

City
Tolleson, AZ

Engine
1959 Chevy 1/2-ton 235 with custom split manifold and three-speed transmission

Upholstery
Bell Auto Upholstery installed the cloth interior with original stitching and patterns

Body/Paint
Roy and Jychelle applied the enamel PPG Vanilla Shake custom paint themselves

Suspension
Ramon in Long Beach, CA, installed the Helix airbag suspension with 1/2-inch line setup

Wheels/Tires
Original five-lug 15-inch Chevy rims with chrome beauty rings mounted onto 5/60-15 whitewall tires

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe front bumper

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe door handle

1949 chevrolet fleetline deluxe bumper ornaments

The post ’49 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe – Lessons Learned. Stripes Earned. appeared first on Lowrider.

Like most men, the guys at LOWRIDER love to eat steak. However when we have a craving for a steak we’re not thinking of going to Morton’s, Black Angus, Ruth’s Chris, or even Outback (although we are big fans of their Bloomin’ Onion). Instead when we want steak, we head over to Pinnacle Peak in San Dimas. A LOWRIDER favorite for years, the thing that attracts us the most is the atmosphere. Here at LOWRIDER we’re not big fans of places that require a suit and a tie; we like places that are beyond casual, places that are just straight-up down and dirty, and with its rustic cowboy atmosphere Pinnacle Peak is as down and dirty as you can get.

When we go to Pinnacle Peak our go-to dish is the Cowboy, a 20-ounce T-bone prepared the way a steak should be: flame-broiled over mesquite charcoal and served with a baked potato. As an added bonus we also like to get a few orders of Pinnacle Peak’s famous traditional cowboy beans.

LOWRIDER Editor-in-Chief, Joe Ray enjoying a nice big steak.
Full Caption

So next time you have a hankering for a nice big steak, check out Pinnacle Peak—just make sure you don’t show up wearing a tie. They have tradition of cutting ties off their customers’ necks and hanging them from the ceiling.

Every tie that is cut off is hung from the walls as a warning to future tie-wearers. As you can see, not many people get the hint.

The post Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse appeared first on Lowrider.

Deciding which car would grace the cover of our annual LS issue has always been somewhat of a challenge. For starters, the car needs to possess just a little bit of everything. From custom paint to a unique setup, the only obvious requirement was that it needed an LS engine, but beyond that there was so much to consider.

Well this time around things went south—literally. The perfect candidate happened to be based just south of the border in Tijuana, Mexico. This isn’t the first ride from Mexico to be shot in the LOWRIDER studio, but it’s definitely the first one to ever grace the cover.

Alejandro Penaloza used to compete for Bike of the Year a couple of years back, but that all changed once he decided to buy this 1959 Impala five years ago. When he first got it, he had a certain direction he wanted to go with it but that changed as soon as he saw an opportunity to be a member of the illustrious South Side Car Club.

As most already know, the club is real picky on what kind of car and style of car can join. To build a car of South Side’s caliber is no easy task and it’s even more difficult when you consider the limited amount of resources found in Mexico. Luckily for Alejandro, his brother, Victor, happens to be a talented car builder and owner of South Side Customs in Tijuana, Mexico.

At South Side Customs, Victor installed the 5.7 LS1 and added a few goodies, such as a Street & Performance serpentine kit, Spectre air filter, Lokar dipsticks, aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, and a Blue Top Optima battery. The body was prepped so that Choche could lay the crown sapphire blue paint. Mike D. of Davey’s Auto Body was then called in to layout flaked-out patterns in different blues. For the setup they found some rare Pesco aircraft pumps in swap meets or through friends and once they had everything they reached out to Homies Hydraulics to have them restore it. For the interior they went with a Ciadella interior kit and loaded it with N.O.S. accessories, such as vacuum ashtray, tissue dispenser, speed liner, throttle holder, and so on.

With everything locked and loaded, and every screw polished and tightened to perfection, the final product is this magnificent ride, which now graces to the cover of this highly sought after issue. We would like to thank Alejandro for taking the time to shoot with us, while also congratulating him on a job well done.

1959 Chevrolet Impala

Vehicle Nickname
El Junior

Owner
Alejandro Penaloza

City/State
Tijuana, Mexico

Club
South Side

Engine
5.7 LS1 with Street & Performance serpentine kit, Spectre air filter, Lokar dipsticks, aluminum radiator with duel electric fans, and Optima Blue Top battery

Body/Paint
Choche of South Side Customs laid the crown sapphire paint and then Mike D. of San Diego laid the patterns with Hawaiian blue and oriental blue colors

Suspension
1-inch extended and molded A-arms, molded wishbone with everything candy painted or chrome. The setup consists of four Pesco 777 pumps, four original Zig Zag slowdowns, four Adex dumps with stainless steel candles, shorten oxygen tanks, and four Optima batteries

Interior
Ciadella interior kit with Dakota Digital gauges and stockpiles with N.O.S. accessories, such as cigarette vacuum

Sound
Alpine stereo with JL six-way amp, four 6×9 JL Audio mids, and a 12-inch JL Audio subwoofer

Wheels/Tires
13-inch skinny spoke cast hubs of Zenith from Campbell with machined short ear three-wing knockoffs and 5.20 Premium Sportway

The post 1959 Chevrolet Impala Built in Tijuana appeared first on Lowrider.

Now that you’ve got your parts back from the machine and chrome shop, there’s only one thing left to do: assemble it. But before doing so, you want to make sure that you put it all back together using the only trusted source for bolts and fasteners.

That company? ARP (Automotive Racing Products).

ARP is not only a trusted source but their work speaks for itself and the client roster they possess is not only comprehensive, but also top-notch and impressive. ARP bolts have not only stood the test of time, but they’re the top choice for racing professionals in NHRA, IHRA, NASCAR, and even Formula 1. As if that weren’t enough, they have set the benchmark since 1968 and are globally known for supplying the best bolts, studs, nuts, and fasteners for engines, cylinder heads, wheels, transmissions, and more.

All that said, ARP bolts are an absolute must when it comes time to putting your lowrider back together. Virtually everything you need comes completely organized in one convenient package and more importantly, each and every fastener is superior in strength when compared to OEM bolts (significantly stronger than Grade 8 hardware).

Furthermore, each kit has a dozen different types of fasteners, all neatly organized and labeled in protective vacuum-wrapped packages. Kits are available in both premium-grade chromoly steel with black oxide finish and polished stainless steel. Both materials are rated at 170,000-psi tensile strength and available in hex and 12-point heads.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a set of ARP bolts and make sure that your engine is bolted up to sheer perfection.

The post Use ARP Bolts to Reassemble your Motor appeared first on Lowrider.

Do you have old rusted parts that for whatever reason you can’t bear to throw out? If so, try cleaning them up with some Evapo-Rust.

Evapo-Rust is the number one non-toxic rust remover in America. It is an environmentally safe, waterbased product that can clear away rust in minutes. Why spend money on special tools or on professional metal refinishing and cleaning when Evapo-Rust can do the same job without any scrubbing, sanding, mixing, sweating, or babysitting, like other rust-removal methods. In fact, unlike other commercial rust removers, Evapo-Rust not only removes rust but also provides long-term rust protection for un-rusted steel.

Evapo-Rust is biodegradable and earth-friendly. It is water soluble, and pH-neutral, and is non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable, and contains no acids, bases, or solvents. Evapo-Rust is completely safe to use on metal and is not harmful toward other materials, such as rubber, plastic, wood, glass, PVC, most paints, most chrome, or non-rusted steel. Evapo-Rust is also completely safe on eyes and skin, which means using it will not require any gloves, masks, or protective eyewear. Evapo-Rust is reusable, with 1 gallon Evapo-Rust capable of de-rusting up to 300 pounds of steel.

To see Evapo-Rust in action, check out this short video of LOWRIDER Editor-in-Chief, Joe Ray using Evapo-Rust on an artillery wheel and on some other rusted items.

For more information on Evapo-Rust, check out their website at www.evapo-rust.com.

The post Evapo-Rust: The Super-Safe Rust Remover appeared first on Lowrider.

Aside from the small bells and whistles and the fancy leather trim and bigger wheels, the biggest difference between a Toyota and a Lexus—or a Tahoe and an Escalade— is one simple thing: sound deadening.

Sound deadening offers a quieter ride, a better acoustic interior, and thanks to the folks at Dynamat, you can have the same technology in your lowrider. Dynamat is recognized and respected as the leader of quality sound enhancing products, which prevents unwanted noise and vibration. Their product is easy to install and not only does it add the much necessary “thud” when you close your doors, but it also quiets down the interior noise of your vehicle, thus making it acoustically pleasing.

So how does it work? Well, Dynamat works by adding weight to the panel. This in turn lowers the resonance frequency of the panel, greatly reducing rattles and vibrations by stiffening the panel. In short, it transforms the energy of vibrations into silent energy.

Dynamat will offer a significant auditory difference and not only does it take away the unnecessary chatter but it lets you enjoy your ride in peace.

Insulate before it’s too late! Here’s how easy it is to install:

1. Expose the panel you’d like to apply the Dynamat to. Be sure to bag all your screws and clips to ensure you don’t lose any of them. If you think you may forget what goes where, take pictures. I know, it sounds stupid, but I’ve met some dumb installers throughout my life. Also, if you happen to find any broken or loose clips or screw anchors don’t be a cheap ass, replace them—loose mounting points are the enemy.

2. Make sure all wires and anything that interferes with your install are pulled or pushed to the side. Look for flat edges of your body panel that are prone to flexing and this is where you will want to apply the Dynamat. From there be sure that the application area is clean and use a quick-drying, residue-free solvent.

3. Using a very sharp utility knife or scissors, trim your pieces. If you want a pretty application that looks picture perfect then you can always trim cardboard templates to help you.

4. Once you have the trimmed pieces, peel back the “release liner” from the Dynamat and apply it to the area you want using pressure from your hands. Follow that up with even more pressure from a roller or the butt end of a smooth and rounded screwdriver handle to apply pressure to make sure that it adheres to the body panel.

5. Connect all your wiring, reassemble the panels, and you’re good to go!

Keep in Mind:

You want to consider several things when you compare Dynamat to other materials. Dynamat exceeds other materials because of proprietary VECTOR Chemistry and damps better at an extended higher temperature range.

The post Restoring Acoustic Excellence appeared first on Lowrider.

The Fresno Fairgrounds has always been a hot spot for California riders from both NorCal and SoCal to show. The show didn’t happen last year and it left a huge void for car lovers and music goers in the area. David Lopez of Kings of Cali promotions noticed this void and decided it was time to step in and fill it. With the help of Motorsport Showcase and LOWRIDER Magazine they put together a show that neither the scorching Central Valley heat nor the grapevine could keep real riders from attending.

All five buildings at the Fresno Fairgrounds were filled with some of the hottest lowriders from all over California and beyond. In the Industry Commerce Building, South Side Car Club had a nice lineup that included a set of Tri-Fives. In one end of the lineup they had Anthony Fuentes’ 1955 Bel Air convertible. The 1955 debuted at the show and flaunted a wild orchid paint that was reminiscent of previous car called “7 Teaz.” In the opposite side of the lineup, we had Johnny Salters’ 1956 all the way down from South Carolina. In the same building we had multiple chapters of the Oldies Car Club with a solid mix of ’30s-’40s bombs, from original to full show status. Impalas Car Club was also in the same building. At the show Jeanette Aguiniga, a member of Impalas, debuted her lemon-ish yellow 1967 convertible with black powdercoated bumpers and trim. She showed next to her dad’s all-original red 1965 with a matching display.

The next building over was the Agriculture Building and it was loaded with 1957s from Orange County that included Steve Noesser’s candy red one. His 1957 was out last year with a “LowRod” look to it but decided to bust out his full-blown lowrider look at this show. Steve got rid of the big wheels and added a Hoppo’s air setup that looked like a hydraulics setup.

The Commerce Building is also known as the main building and Carnales Unidos Car Club, of Bakersfield, Fresno, and Merced, dominated it. They had 30 immaculate rides including Andrew Cisneros’ 1980 Monte Carlo. The rebuild of this candy yellow MC is something that Andrew takes great pride in but that also tugs at his heart. During the rebuild his father died and Andrew dedicated it to him. In the same building was Jose Gutierrez’s candy purple Cougar with a Merc frontend from Evil Threat Car Club. Some have mixed feelings about the crazy mod that was done but at the end of the day Jose built it for his taste and we can’t help but tip our hats for someone who isn’t afraid to go against the grain.

Right outside of the main building we had “The Blvd Art Exhibit” with some of the most talented lowrider artists with a variety of backgrounds. The artists who were there doing live exhibition included Efrain “Bugs” Gonzalez who was ‘striping, Hernan D’Aloia engraving, and Alberto Herrera airbrushing.

The other two smaller buildings housed cars such as the pink 1961 that was a LOWRIDER cover car called “Candy Kisses” and a yellow 1962 owned by Eric Wistermen with a Breaking Bad theme to it. Outside there was a candy brandywine raghouse soaking in the sun next to the LOWRIDER rig.

2016 fresno super show tangerine monte carlo

2016 fresno super show alberto herrera art

Tyga headlined the concert and we also had Lighter Shade of Brown performing. LSOB has been performing at our shows for countless years and we’d like to take a moment and offer our condolences to the family of Bobby “DTTX” Ramirez.

We’d like to thank all who came out to battle the Central Valley heat to enjoy a day of fun, music, art, and cars.

The post 2016 Fresno Super Show – Bringing the Heat to Fresno appeared first on Lowrider.

L.A. traffic is much like its weather: Unpredictable.

From adding 10 degrees to what the newscaster says to never believing the ETA given to you by your navigation, this is something SoCal residents simply have to live with. Just ask Miggz, he’ll tell you firsthand. His usual drive from San Diego to L.A. took well over three hours—a drive that should have been easily done in about half that time.

So as we sat in the parking lot waiting, we finally heard a 5.7 rumbling into the parking lot. With his top up, and sweat dripping down his head Miggz replies, laughing, “I still need to add the A/C to this thing!” When asked if he had second thoughts about driving his lowrider to the shoot (instead of towing it) he said, “No, I built it to drive it and I want to enjoy it; plus I have good insurance on it.”

Being that this is our fourth all-LS issue, an interesting fact to mention is that Miggz has installed an LS in at least one car in each of those past issues. His LS installs are known for being in some of the cleanest rides in San Diego so when he pulled up we were excited to see what he had created.

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible compass

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible brake booster

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible hood ornament

When it came time to upgrade his own vehicle, he opted for an LS motor, except he went with a third-generation LS and kept the stock serpentine kit off a Camaro—but had it all polished. A few little additions included having the ribs and covers painted dove gray, and then went on to add a high mount alternator, aluminum radiator, and Lokar dipsticks.

When it came to the rest of the build, Miggz wanted to go with a smoother look to it so he didn’t load it with accessories and deleted a lot of the emblems. “I did want a touch of accessories so I just kept the antennas, skirts, and spotlights. I’ve been thinking about adding a continental kit on it but I’m still undecided on that.” Moving to the interior, Miggz added a Dakota Digital dash. The reason he went with Dakota was because it eliminates all the guesswork you have to do when you have stock gauges and an LS motor. The Dakota gauges give him an accurate reading of his temperature, voltage, oil pressure, and everything else. The steering wheel is a reproduction of the original 1957 steering wheel on a CPP chrome tilt steering column. The difference on the steering wheel is that it’s 15 inches wide instead of the original 18 inches for that sleeker look.

To finish off the interior, Miggz went with an original-pattern Ciadella interior kit. He decided to go with the vinyl instead of the cloths because they were made for a convertible and are easier up-keep. Everything was made to look sleek on the car but when it came to adding the headlights, Miggs went a little crazy and installed 7-inch LED beam headlights for motorcycles.

In all, this exceptional build was well worth the wait, and we can see why he didn’t mind taking the long trek up to L.A. This lowrider was built to drive, built to last, and built to impress, and because of that we tip our hats to a job well done!

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible air filter

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible

Owner
Miggz

City/State
San Diego, CA

Club
Majestics

Engine
Generation 3 LS motor with an overdrive transmission, polished Camaro serpentine kit, CPP brake booster, Lokar dipsticks, K&N air filter, Speedway high mount alternator, aluminum radiator, and Optima battery.

Body/Paint
Davey’s Auto Body shot the dove gray paint on the 1957 rag

Interior
Dakota Digital gauges, CPP tilt steering column, and a vinyl Ciadella interior kit

Sound
Bluetooth Pioneer deck with Pioneer speakers and amps

Wheels/Tires
100-spoke with N.O.S. Zenith 3-ear knockoffs and skinny whitewalls

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible high shot open hood ls

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible lokar

1957 chevrolet bel air convertible open hood fender

The post 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible – The LS Plug appeared first on Lowrider.

I received a text message from Gary in the morning when we were supposed to shoot his 1953 convertible for our LS issue. It read, “My 1952 ‘Burban also has an LS,” followed by photos of it. This was the cleanest looking, LS-powered ‘Burban I’ve seen, so I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to shoot it. I knew that we never feature two cars from the same club, let alone from the same owner, but I would rather have the photos of it than not to possibly use in a later issue. As it turns out we ended up using both his rides in this issue.

Gary found this Suburban on eBay. It had a reserved price but he offered $5,000 less than what the asking price was, and after it didn’t sell the poster gave him a second chance offer for his bid. Gary couldn’t resist the deal and jumped on it. Cosmetically the ‘Burban was in great condition, so he left that alone. It was a whole other story when it came to the drivetrain and suspension. He replaced the original rearend with a 10-bolt posi. Since he wanted it to be reliable he had his buddy Allen Magrini swap in a 5.3 LS out of a 2008 Chevy. After Gary installed the stereo system he gave the seats a refresh look by having Todd Vers wrap them in red vinyl. In the end, Gary never tried to build a show car, he just wanted a cool-looking driver, and he succeeded.

1952 Chevrolet Suburban

Vehicle Nickname
LS Burban

Owner
Gary Villeggiante

City/State
Millbrae, CA

Club
Sin Nombre

Engine
5.3 LS from a 2008 Chevy with aluminum radiator

Body/Paint
pistachio and mint green paint

Suspension
10-bolt posi rearend

Interior
red vinyl

Sound
Bluetooth head unit with a two-channel Rockford Fosgate amp, Infinity mids, and a 10-inch Bazooka tube subwoofer

Wheels/Tires
15-inch steel wheels with Silvertown Radial tires with 3-inch whitewalls

The post 1952 Chevrolet Suburban – LS ‘Burban appeared first on Lowrider.

Installation

1. The front wheels of your vehicle must be pointing straight forward with the steering toe set reasonably close.

5. Install the shaft or joint on the gear box/rack. Leave the upper part of the shaft unconnected for the time being.

6. Position the column housing so that the signal switch arm is level to the lefthand side.

7. Install the column through the firewall, into your joint.

8. To properly synchronize your column, the horn wire hole needs to be in the 10:30 position.

The post Chrome Tilt Column by ididit appeared first on Lowrider.

Cruising South 6th Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, was something you did during the mid ’90s. It was the place to be seen, a place to show off your latest mods, and for Phillip Canales, he can attest to the times he spent there as an 18-year-old.

Phillip was one of the many faces in the crowd. Young, eager, and intent on hitting the streets with a ride of his own. Little did he know when or how it would take place. What he did know is that he wanted to hit the streets hard, and soon thereafter his parents noticed his passion for lowriding and made him a deal. The deal was that as long as he attended school, they would help with his passion of cars.

The family sat down and decided that only a Chevy would do. So after some wheeling and dealing, they would eventually wind up with a 1952 3100 pickup. The first step for this pickup would be a stop at the infamous Bomb Factory, where fellow club member Andy Suarez would begin this restoration by applying a custom Sea Foam Green to the frame, engine, and body. The top was then covered in a pearl Casa Blanca White with the woodgrain finishes on the dash and bed, also completed by Andy Suarez. With every piece of metal chrome plated and polished by Royal Plating in Tucson, the original 235 would then be rebuilt by Carlos “Carlitos Way” Smith at Chevy Classics. The job of installing the Sandstone Brown tweed bench seat, with original stitching, fell into the hands of Jose Luis, also of Chevy Classics. Longtime friend Tony Magana would build the wood stake that sits along the top of the bed. The remaining assembly would be take place back at Bomb Factory with the help of Johnny Arevalo.

It’s been 20 years since that 18-year-old kid was a mere spectator. That daydreamer has now gone onto represent the Old Memories for over two decades. “Without the help of my friends and family, none of my dreams would have come true,” Phillip says. “I know my projects take me away from the family. To my wife, Leslie, I would like to say thanks for your patience and understanding. But most of all, I would like to say thank you to my mom and dad who helped me become the man I am today. My dad, Pelon, never got the opportunity to see this truck completed. But I know he’s watching over me as I cruise the streets of Barrio Centro.”

1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup

Nickname
Pelon’s 52

Owner
Phillip Canales

Car Club
Old Memories So. AZ

City
Vail, AZ

Engine
Original 235 rebuilt by Chevy Classics

Upholstery
Chevy Classics installed the Sandstone Brown tweed bench seat

Body/Paint
The Bomb Factory crew sprayed the Sea Foam Green found throughout the truck

Wheels/Tires
All chrome 13-inch Galaxy Wire Wheels mounts onto radial whitewalls tires

The post 1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup – Daydreamer appeared first on Lowrider.

Very few places on earth offer the rich blend of cultural heritage and values like New Mexico. Highly popularized for their intimate and striking sunsets and scenery, New Mexico has long been known for their festivals and hot air ballooning, but there’s so much more to this incredible place.

Beyond the superficial elements, New Mexico also has very deep-seated roots in cultural history and values. They are home to dozens of Native American pueblos, tribes, and nations, and there is over 500 years of Hispanic culture to discover. From the great history of the True West and Billy the Kid, all the way to the history of lowriding, there is a little something for everyone to discover.

So what do lowriding and New Mexico have in common? Well, lowriding has long been a part of their cultural DNA and because of New Mexico’s influence, passion, and their recognition of lowriding it makes them the perfect portal for an annual celebration.

2016 albuquerque super show old school lincoln continental

2016 albuquerque super show new mexico line up

In fact, visitors to the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe are usually in awe to see that they have a portion of their venue dedicated to lowriding. Inside, you’ll find lowrider traditions and memorabilia captured in photographs, hubcaps, and hood ornaments, in addition to a display of lowriders and a section dedicated to LOWRIDER magazine memorabilia as well.

This past August, we did our annual visit to the Albuquerque Convention Center and along with Artemis Promotions we kicked off the celebration with over 500 custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles on display. Every single ride at this show was nothing short of award winning and exhilarating, and it was kind of funny to see a banner sitting in the middle of the show that read “SHOWCASE LANE.” To be honest, the only reason I found it kind of humorous is simply because all of the cars there were so clean that it should have just been called “SHOWCASE GALLERY.” All of the vehicles on display were incredible and the quality of the builds and the attention to detail was simply overwhelming.

Of particular importance were the “LOWRIDER of the Year” vehicles on display, including SoCal’s “El Rey,” along with a Cutlass from Texas “RM Series.” Goodtimes Car Club and chapters representing different cities and states took up three rows, and they were surrounded by a plethora of custom builds that were highly impressive. Being that it’s a one-day show there’s a lot to soak in, but I can tell you firsthand that it’s worth the time.

As always the entertainment was plenty with on-stage appearances by Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, Lighter Shade of Brown, Carolyn Rodriguez, Beanz, One, Troublesome, Lil Lu, Lu, Meshika Sin, J-Rydah, and DJ Mix Competition. Special guest and Arizona’s very own custom paint and pinstripe talents of Bugs Auto Art was also on hand with his art class demonstrations of custom paint and gold leaf designs.

2016 albuquerque super show concert crowd

2016 albuquerque super show goodtimes car club

In closing, I would highly encourage everyone to come out and experience this show. It’s unlike any other show we’ve experienced and it should be on your bucket list of things to do. Now if you can’t make it out to next year’s show then be sure to follow our coverage online here at www.lowridermagazine.com.

To be honest, you haven’t truly experienced a lowrider show of this magnitude and character. This show, “The Land of Lowrider Enchantment,” is seriously an event you must attend and it’s a humbling experience to see how New Mexico encompasses all the lowrider culture and traditions.

In closing, I’d just like to say that we should all appreciate what we have and never take it for granted. Whether it be your lowriders, your project rides, your friends or family, we should never take what we have for granted. The lowriding culture is one that is handed down from one generation to the next, and it’s up to us to pass it along as accurately as we can. Remember, this industry, this culture, and this way of life was built through a lot of pain, sweat, and dedication, and the least we can do is preserve our culture by passing it along with accuracy, respect, and admiration.

We’ll see you all next year!

The post The 2016 Albuquerque Super Show appeared first on Lowrider.

Growing up poor will lead you to one of two things: A life of complacency and acceptance, or a life of filled with dreams and determination. Unfortunately for most, their dreams remain nothing more than just that.

Dreaming gives us a chance to escape the realities of life. Whether you’re searching for inner peace or material goods, dreaming does much to soothe the soul, but it’s what you do once when you wake up that counts. The bottom line is we all have to wake up from those dreams in order to put in the work to achieve our goals. While most people focus on the material goods and luxuries that the lifestyle affords, many are blind to the countless amount of hours-if not years-of pain, suffering, worrying, and failures that comes as a result of trying and trying again.

It’s been said that success is the result of a series of failures and we couldn’t agree more. It’s that resilience to failure, that drive to achieve and the willingness to endure short-term pain that results in a successful business-to which Cesar Lozano is the quintessential example.

You see, Mr. Lozano is living the American Dream. Not only did he get his own slice of the pie, he’s also got a collection of Impalas that make his deal even sweeter. Growing up, Mr. Lozano was always fond of toys and baseball cards, but a lack of money left him hustling the streets just to save up enough money to get into it. With a small arsenal of loose change and a few dollar bills he began collecting baseball cards, action figures, and die-cast cars, and with that small collection in hand, Cesar hit local swap meets looking to flip and reinvest his inventory. In turn that would soon became his informal education, and decades later he would take those acquired skills and turn it into a self-made empire.

Fast-forward to present day, and Cesar’s fascination with toys hasn’t stopped; if anything it’s grown. Aside from a stellar collection of lowriders, Cesar is a budding entrepreneur who has his hands in a few pots, so join us on this journey as we find out how he became recognized as one of the biggest toy distributors on the West Coast.

You can watch it all on the next episode of Roll Models. Till next time, keep your batteries charged, your chrome clean, and your dreams alive.

The post Roll Models: Cesar Lozano’s Success Story appeared first on Lowrider.

To most, the 1957 Chevrolet is the Holy Grail of all collectible cars. This automotive icon is considered to be one of the most desirable vehicles ever made so it comes as no surprise that it would sit on top of the automotive food chain as a classic to have.

To own one is a dream come true, but to own a few of ’em is something that’s just downright incredible—and that’s exactly the case for Tim Rodriguez. You see Tim’s infatuation (and eventual love/hate relationship) with this vehicle began at age of 13 when his father gave him his first 1957 Chevy. He would be influenced by the custom, high-performance builds his uncles and dad would often display at the world-famous Irwindale racetrack, but soon enough he would take his own approach to these classics.

“For years, I worked at Oldie but Goodie Truck Parts,” Tim says. “That’s where I learned how to take cars apart and refurbished parts for resale.” With Montebello, a suburb of East Los Angeles, serving as his backdrop, it was there that he would first encounter the now infamous Lowrider culture. As Tim’s knowledge for cars grew, so would his car collection. So much so that it would eventually take up a 3,500-square-foot warehouse. It’s there that a weekend hobby of working on his own cars, as well as his friends, eventually led to the creation of R&R Restorations. “We were doing everything from full-frame restorations to custom hydraulic setups,” Tim says. These days R&R Restorations continues to stay active by doing piecework, such as minor hydraulics repairs and paint finishing. “It’s the projects that local shops just can’t seem to finish that really keep us in demand,” Tim says. Though most of their clientele know him for his ability to locate hard-to-find, high-end accessories, it’s his custom billet bumper guards found at billetguards.com that everyone is really after.

r and r restorations tim rodriguez bel air

r and r restorations tim rodriguez 57 bel air

It’s at R&R Restorations that the concept for the now world-famous “Gold Digger” first began. As a member of Lifestyle Car Club, not only did he have to build something that stood out among the crowd, it had to be something custom. “At the time, all the 1957s were either black or red,” Tim states. He would eventually go on to borrow a page from the Hot Rod handbook and integrate a tubular suspension and purge the traditional carburetor … something that has now become commonplace within lowrider projects. With over $100,000 invested in the car, “Gold Digger” would go on to make its lowrider debut in 2003 in San Diego. “I’ve owned all types of 1957s, from Nomads to Volkswagens,” Tim says. He even built a pair of matching 1964 Impalas named “Four Play,” which, after being featured in the movie Escape from L.A., were sold to a collector in Japan. His latest project, of course, is another 1957 Chevy. With plans to do modifications that were not done to “Gold Digger,” you can rest assured it will be nothing less another game changer to our sport. “This next one has to be over the top. I have to make up for the fact that the top doesn’t come down on this one,” Mr. 1957 says, jokingly.

R&R Restorations

Owner: Tim Rodriguez
Car Club: Lifestyle
City/State: Santa Fe Springs, CA

The post R&R Restorations Shop Stop appeared first on Lowrider.

Sacrifice is what makes a goal worth it—at least most of the time. Some will sacrifice time, others will sacrifice health, and then there are the ones who’ll do a deal with the devil to get the job done. Fortunately for Raul, he didn’t have to go that far to build his Yukon.

It was during our shop stop at Diablo that we met Raul, along with a few of the Nok members. That brief meeting resulted in this shoot at Elysian Park and like many before him, Raul’s only intention was to slap a set of rims and a system in the truck.

Yeah right.

So we already know what happens. The creative juices started flowing and from there the birth of this beast was formed. Wanting to take it to the next level, he knew what it was going to take. He knew his 2001 had potential to compete at the shows and all he had to do was brainstorm and formulate what he wanted.

For starters, he decided to update the look of his truck by a decade. Raul had Modern Auto Collision add a 2011 GMC Sierra frontend, taillights, and side mirrors. They made sure all the body lines lined up nicely and also decided to add an Escalade roof rack, rear window, rear pillars, and third light. He then took it down to J&A Auto Body to have Jaime Ramirez repaint it with an organic candy green. Rudy Alvarado then came in to add pinstriping. With the body looking like he wanted, Raul then dropped it off at A3 Fabrication & Performance to upgrade the seats, dash, door panels, and center console to a 2011 Escalade. Angel’s Custom Upholstery stitched everything in cognac vinyl. Cali Custom Motorsport then installed the system with dual speaker boxes and adapted the iPad2 to the dash. To finish the look he added T-Rex grille and the 30-inch Diablo Elite wheels.