BRACE FOR IMPACT
December 1, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Patina Power
The Time-Worn Look Is More Popular Than Ever Author Defining Patina in Street Rods Patina is defined as “a pleasing surface sheen on something that develops with age or frequent handling.” When that definition is applied to street rods, a patina rod can take on any number of variations. The exterior can be close to original, with age showing through the painted surface in the form of primer. Sometimes the faint appearance of rust can also classify a rod as having patina, provided the rust has not taken over the entire car. Many times these patina rods are built from those treasured “barn finds” that seem to be discovered by undaunted rodders scouring the country searching for the Holy Grail of hot rods. The Art and Trend of Patina One of the modern trends of the street rodding hobby has been to create that cherished patina look. The art of patina can be tricky. We have seen patina rods crafted in such a fashion that the naked eye cannot tell the difference between real and invented, the real old and the fabricated old. The Appeal of Patina Rods As with all aspects of rodding, each of us has a different definition of what makes a patina rod. There does seem to be one theme that runs through each variation, though: the owners have a lot of fun with their cars. For some, it is a chance to get back to the basics. For others, it is a chance to reverse the high-end trophy-hound trend.
Product Spotlight: Borgeson Street & Performance Series, K-10, 12.7:1 Power Steering Box
Borgeson Universal now offers an all new modern quick ratio power steering box to replace the Saginaw/Delphi 800 series in 68-86 Chevy K10 trucks. This all new power steering box has a quick 12.7:1 ratio with firm modern steering feel. The Borgeson Street & Performance power steering box will bolt directly to the stock location and fit to the original power steering pitman arms.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: The Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft from Brian Tooley Racing
Every once in a while a part drops that isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a movement. That’s BTR’s Truck Norris HEMI Camshaft — the martial-arts master of Gen III HEMI valvetrain violence. If the name sounds familiar, it should. This is the HEMI evolution of the wildly successful Truck Norris LS cam. It’s been dyno-proven, driveway-tested, and it just works.
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
