PONY EXPRESS
December 20, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
BARKER WITH A BITE
When a good portion of your life has been immersed in Pro Mod, Pro Stock, Top Sportsman and other forms of drag racing, it’s likely those interests will carry over to other, similar interests. And so it is that many legendary racers end up building what often turns out to be milder versions of the vehicles and engines that were so instrumental in their lives. Just imagine the knowledge they could apply.
STEALTH OPULENCE
Building a cool new truck to show off at SEMA is nothing new for Jim Lewis and his team at ProMotorsports in Edmond, Oklahoma, as that’s what they do. This stunning new ’07 Cadillac Escalade EXT is their most recent creation. Like so many other enthusiasts, Lewis used the latest generation Escalade because it was an immediate hit, especially among the urban lifestyle crowd, so team ProMotorsports thought one would make a great representative demo vehicle for their shop. Billy Lewis came up with the flat black concept, with tons of chrome and polished metal to contrast the flatness of the finish. While the paint may be the first item that attracts you to this truck, the crew at ProMotorsports actually started the build underneath it all by increasing the performance of the Escalade.
Ford Fever in the Smokies
Every September, the Smoky Mountains turn Ford blue when the F-100 Supernationals takes over Sevierville, Tennessee. This isn’t just a truck show—it’s the largest gathering of classic Ford haulers on the planet, and it’s been pulling fans in for decades. If you’ve never been, imagine rows of F-series as far as you can see: bone-stock survivors, slammed shop trucks, high-dollar builds, lifted 4x4s, and everything in between. Other Fords are welcome too, so whether it’s a compact pickup or a big block Mustang, there’s a spot for every Blue Oval fan.
Spotlighter
ON THE LEVEL
DJM Engineers a Leveling Kit for the 2007 Tahoe
Author
Marshall Spiegel
The ’07 Tahoe, Chevrolet’s premature baby, hit the street in late March 2006. Introducing the next generation of Tahoes so early was part of some master marketing scheme, born and nurtured in the hallowed halls of Chevrolet corporate. In any case, the ’07 Tahoe’s rear ride height measured 23-1/8 inches from the center of the hub to the lip of the fenderwell, while the front measured only 20-1/4 inches. As usual, the rear stood considerably higher than the front.
For those who don’t see this suspension configuration as “cool,” DJM Suspension of Gardena, California, a manufacturer of suspension lowering kits, immediately set to work engineering a leveling kit to put the “ass-end” of the ’07 Tahoe on the same plane as the front. In other words, DJM engineered a cool-looking kit.
The DJM leveling kit features 2-inch rear drop springs, for which the installation is rather straightforward.
After the wheels are removed, the lower shock mounts are unbolted. The sway bar is then unbolted but not removed. The rubber isolators are removed and saved to be re-installed. The 2-inch rear drop springs are then installed. When the springs are securely in place, the lower shock mount is rebolted. The sway bar is then retightened in place.
At the completion of the DJM leveling kit installation, the rear had been brought down exactly 2 inches and its ride height measured 21-1/8 inches. The installation of the DJM leveling kit made all the difference in the world to the stance of the ’07 Tahoe.
The accompanying photos follow the highlights of the teardown of the stock suspension and the installation of the DJM lowering springs. Check it out if you are looking for that cool stance on your new Tahoe.
ARTICLE SOURCES
DJM Suspension
580 W. 184th St.
Gardena, CA 90248
310/538-1583
