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Orange Squeeze
When you do a lot of work, as Juan Navedo has on this hot vintage 55 Chevy, it tends to turn a lot of heads on the street and on the show circuit. This is not Juan’s first time down the custom road. As an electronics technician by trade and an automotive hobbyist by choice, he has owned 15 customized vehicles over the years, and his 55 Chevy pickup is the culmination of all those years of experience. It ranks at the top of his list.

GOOD OL’ BOYS
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you—you really are seeing a two-door Dodge Charger. A lot of car guys were very upset with DaimlerChrysler for releasing the Charger as a four-door sedan, rather than staying true to tradition with a two-door coupe—so much so that DaimlerChrysler gave production on the two-door Challenger the green light.

A UNIQUE CLASSIC
Simi Valley, California, holds the record as having more cars per capita than any other city in the country. As a hard-core car enthusiast, I am constantly on the lookout for cool cars in the neighborhood, and since I moved to Simi myself, I have seen quite a few great-looking rods and classic cars, and I have met some really nice enthusiasts who have introduced me to other owners of top-quality cars.
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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







