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ON BORROWED TIME
When you go looking to make huge power from your 5.0-liter Ford, the limiting factor will always be the weakest link in the chain. In the case of our supercharged 331 stroker buildup, the weakest link turned out to be the production block. Like most enthusiasts, we had no budget for a DART racing block or even a Ford Racing Sportsman block, but we decided to tempt fate nonetheless and go for a big power number on the dyno. Considering that the stock fuel-injected 5.0-liter was rated at a measly 225 hp, even a 300hp buildup would offer a welcome change in performance.

PRISTINE PRETENDERS
In a world often divided between Chevy and Ford lovers, these pristine pretenders bridge this gap with matching themes and paint schemes, leaving some to wonder and others to say, “Wow!”

’07 Cadillac Escalade : Black Beauty
The 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV was one of the most eagerly anticipated SUV releases in recent history. The ESV is spacious, powerful and elegant from the factory, but most owners will choose to add their own touches to personalize this truck, just as they did with the old one. Ryan Friedlinghaus, owner of West Coast Customs in Corona, California, wanted to personalize his own Escalade ESV, but he wanted to do it in a stealthy and subdued sort of way so that he could then offer the WCC package to other Escalade owners.
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Colorado Drop Kit
Story and Photography by Marshall Spiegel
DJM Introduces a Slick 3X4 Chevy Colorado Lowering Kit – Here’s How to Install It
Since its incorporation in 1985, DJM Suspension in Gardena, California, has grown to become one of the leading manufacturers of lowering kits for a wide variety of trucks. The company’s goal has always been to design and manufacture drop kits that help preserve the factory ride quality, and that goal was a big consideration when DJM set out to create a kit to lower the new Chevy Colorado (and the GMC Canyon). The DJM engineers created a 3-inch front drop, based on a specially designed lower control arm, and a 4-inch rear drop, which was achieved with DJM’s new, stronger steel lowering blocks. DJM strongly recommends that its new steel lowering blocks be used on vehicles with high-output engines.
The new 3×4 drop kit turned out to be relatively easy to install. The stock ride height measured 19-1/2 inches in front and 20-1/2 inches in the rear (measured from the center of the wheel to the fender lip). After the installation, the front and rear measured 16-1/2 inches, showing a 3-inch drop in front, and 16-1/2 inches in the rear for a 4-inch drop. At the new ride height, our test 04 Colorado had a ride and handling that seemed nearly as good as when the truck was at the stock ride height, but the new stance was far more aggressive and the looks were much improved.
DJM informed us that the stock shocks would work fine with this new drop kit for those on a budget; but it is recommended that the stock shocks be replaced with higher-quality, high-performance gas shocks to further improve the ride and handling. DJM owner and company president Jeff Ullmann performed the installation himself as we followed along so that we could witness for ourselves just how straightforward the swap is. Our test vehicle is a white 04 Colorado, and the accompanying photos show the highlights of the installation.
Author
TheAutoBuilder Staff
ARTICLE SOURCES
DJM Suspension, Inc.
Dept. TB
580 W. 184th St.
Gardena, CA 90248
800/237-6748
310/538-1538 (Tech)









