Cadillac has always been the highest standard of American automotive excellence. If you own and drive a classic or showroom-new Cadillac, you’re waltzing through high cotton and enjoying the good life. Cadillac Coupe DeVille dates back to 1949 during those first post-war boom years when America was on the rise and euphoria was in abundance. The U.S. and its allies had won the war and the only way was up. With that rush of excitement were jobs, cash flow and high-end domestic luxury cars.
Apolo’s motivation here isn’t your grandpa’s land yacht DeVille sporting a stodgy cast-iron 429-ci pushrod V-8 and Rochester four-jet carburetion. This is not only about technology, but a desire to build a cruiser you could pilot anywhere in the country.”
“DeVille” is French for “of the town,” an exquisite ride to be seen in with a massive front bumper and sea of chrome plating that arrived before you did. From 1949-58, the Cadillac DeVille was a glorious big-finned road-going vessel that exuded a commanding presence on the American highway. In 1959-60, DeVille became an incredibly massive wide body with a slippery and overwhelming fin treatment not seen since MISSING TEXT HERE. For 1961, the redesigned DeVille was fresh with a subtle treatment more in line with what was popular in the ’60s. The 1961-64 DeVille really was the last finned Cadillac.
Olympic speed skater and television personality Apolo Anton Ohno has a passion for classic Cadillacs. When he spied this ’64 Coupe DeVille convertible, he understood quickly that his fate was sealed and he had a duty to the breed. Once he had the title in hand, there would be no escaping the dreamy ride he had planned for himself.
It would have to retain the DeVille’s distinctive lines, yet be an edgy work of art. He interviewed the best top ten restoration/custom shops in the country, making the decision to turn his DeVille drop top over to Dave Kindig of Kindig-It Design in Salt Lake City for a little rework time.
Apolo’s motivation here isn’t your grandpa’s land yacht DeVille sporting a stodgy cast-iron 429-ci pushrod V-8 and Rochester four-jet carburetion. This is not only about technology, but a desire to build a cruiser you could pilot anywhere in the country. Beneath the bonnet is GM Performance’s own fuel-injected, plug-and-play Ramjet 502 fat-block for displacement, power and durability. The Ramjet 502 big-block commands our respect thanks to a 4.470 x 4.000-inch bore and stroke, steel crank and forged steel connecting rods, forged pistons, hot hydraulic roller cam, 2.250/1.880-inch valves in lightweight aluminum heads and HEI ignition. Call the Ramjet 502 real Chevy muscle in a tuxedo. This zero regrets Caddy DeVille demonstrates what happens when luxury meets an extraordinary level of creativity.
1964 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Convertible
OWNER: Apolo Anton Ohno
BUILDER: Kindig-It Design Salt Lake City, UT
FRAME: Factory original steel boxed and smooth
SUSPENSION: Air Ride Technologies custom rear trailing arms
BRAKES: Six-piston Wilwood 16 ½-inch disc brakes
WHEELS: Custom Curtis Speed 22-inch resembling 17-inch with wide white whitewalls
TIRES: Pirelli 265/35/22
ENGINE: GM Performance Ramjet 502 big-block, deburred castings, 4.470 x 4.000-inch bore/stroke, cast-iron block with a Aluminum GM Performance heads, 2.250/1.880-inch intake/exhaust valves, GM Performance hydraulic roller camshaft, EFI, custom one-off charge tube valve covers, Billet Specialties True Trac accessory drive with twin 145-amp alternators, Flowmaster mufflers, runs on 92-octane pump gas
TRANSMISSION: GM 4L80E with GM removable carrier rear axle
BODY & PAINT: PPG custom urethane paint, one-off mirrors, Kindig smooth custom door handles, custom exterior trim
INTERIOR: Shop: JS Custom Interiors/California Audio Custom Keyston Brothers white leather, Vintage Air climate control system, Creative Controls electronic parking brake, Steele Rubber soft parts, Hydro-Electric convertible top, New Relics window glass, Kinetik batteries, Dakota Digital gauges Olympic Ring pattern, Kicker sound system
Two of the world’s premier technology companies converting classic cars into electric vehicles – Zero EV based out of Bristol in the UK and Jaunt Motors from Melbourne — have merged to create Fellten.
The new company is now the world’s leading electric conversion systems manufacturer with a presence across three continents. Unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, the new company is scaling up to meet exponential global demand, establish a facility in North America and continue to lead the industry in quality, safety, reliability, and volume, as well as electric conversion training programs for the automotive industry.
Fellten (Welsh for lightning) designs, engineers, and manufactures bolt-in systems to convert classic cars into electric vehicles.
The merger gives the new company an international supply chain that allows automotive workshops and vehicle restorers across Australia, North America, and Europe to install electric conversion systems designed and developed by Fellten’s world-class team.
Fellten’s electric systems with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) levels of performance and reliability enable cars of any era to be a ‘daily driver’ and not just an enthusiast’s car. Fellten-powered vehicles are re-fitted to improve safety, handling, comfort, usability and performance, and sustainability, all without sacrificing the classic style of the car.
Fellten has engineered systems for various classic brands and models, starting with Porsche 911s, Classic Minis, and Land Rover Series and Defenders, with more electrification solutions for more classic brands and models coming.
Alongside the electric conversion technology, Fellten has developed City & Guilds-approved training programs. Leaders in up-skilling staff in working with electric vehicles, systems installation, and maintenance for bulk purchases, their team has trained a number of high-profile clients to date, including leading Universities, major Hollywood studios, and other film industry specialists and OEM garage technicians and mechanics across Europe and North America.
The merging of the two autotech leaders will allow Fellten to establish a global presence and build new partnerships with international motoring partners.
For more than 60 years, Chevrolet’s Corvette has been America’s sports car. Oh sure, there’ve been carlines that have tried to live up to this distinction, including Carroll Shelby’s two-seat Cobra, Ford’s Thunderbird, those short-lived two-seat Shelby Mustang GT350s, and even the Dodge Viper. None have done it for as long or with as much fiery passion as Corvette.
Ford’s Thunderbird was more a personal luxury car with a hearty V-8 in its two-seat days. It remains the darling of Dearborn. Shelby’s lightning-quick Ford 427 Cobra was a British/American hybrid with a Brit body and real American horsepower and it still knows how to shut ’em down. Dodge Viper, though impressive and born of Shelby blood, doesn’t have Corvette’s long-standing legacy or rich V-8 sound.
Blackdog Speed has infused 510 ci into this Z06 with 800 hp available as takeoff rated thrust.”
When Corvette arrived in the early ’50s, first as a concept car, then as an exciting two-seat sports car, it was a ride that elicited envy, long on testosterone, from the masses. Corvette invoked dreams with its slippery lines, twin bucket seats and high-performance engines. It still does. Through the years, Corvette has never wavered from its original mission, which is to be a true high-performance, dream-spinning, two-seat sports car for not only Americans, but also global occupants inspired by the excitement of America’s sports car.
From 1953 to 1982, Chevrolet’s Corvette factory was located on the north side of St. Louis, Missouri. It was a dreary, dark, old-fashioned early 20th century auto factory that bucked and assembled new Corvettes for 29 years. New car buyers had to do without Corvette in 1983 while GM finished building the new state-of- the-art Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. That was the only model year Corvette missed completely.
The car splashed across these pages is the Blackdog Speed Shop 510 2006 Z06 sixth-generation Corvette, “created to represent what we believed to be the ultimate street Corvette…” according to Jerry Kalzuna of the Blackdog Speed Shop in Chicagoland. Base ride is a 2006 Z06 Corvette with its all-aluminum V-8. Blackdog Speed has infused 510 ci into this Z06 with 800 hp available as takeoff-rated thrust. GM’s legendary LS series provides the platform for this kind of power without a blower or nitrous, and the damned thing runs on pump gas.
On the ground is the same kind of suspension Blackdog puts on its Corvette GT race cars. We’re talking spherical control arm bearings, which replace factory bushings. Three-way adjustable coil-over shocks deliver precise handling and dampening. What’s more, the 510 ’Vette is composed of Blackdog carbon fiber for weight reduction and even more slippery aerodynamics. The carbon fiber hood has air extractors that draw out excessive under-hood heat, while at the same time imposing downward force to keep this guy glued to the firmament. And there are elements not as obvious: rocker panels, Gurney flaps and a cool rear spoiler that exerts additional downward pressure contribute greatly to handling and stability.
If you’re going to put 800 hp to the pavement, you better have a lot going for you on the ground. A big contribution to extraordinary handling is contact patch from Pirelli 285/30-19 stickies front, and 345/25-20 huggers rear, wrapped around Dymag carbon fiber 19- and 20-inch road wheels. As you might expect, Brembo six-piston binders courting slotted rotors in front and four-piston rear mean the difference between real control and total chaos because they get the job done under the most demanding conditions. The Blackdog 510 Corvette suspension and rolling stock package is about meeting the demand of serious drivers ready to cut canyons and accelerate at breakneck speed—a real driver’s car.
There are those who say nothing could ever replace the small-block Chevy first installed in a new Corvette in 1955. However, those who speak these words are not familiar with the LS series GM V-8s. The LS family offers traditional pushrod function and compact size with incredible short-block and cylinder head technology. Its traditional skirted aluminum block delivers strength for high-revving performance and durability. Think of the Z06’s LS7 7.0L 427 ci as a small-block that acts like a big-block without the weight penalty along with 500-plus hp. The LS7 has a high-tech dry-sump lubrication system for real durability. A magnesium alloy engine cradle offers further weight reduction and strength. Blackdog opts for the LS2 as a platform, thrusting this engine to 800 hp with a 4.200-inch bore and 4.600-inch stroke. Bore and stroke are complemented with custom-ported cylinder heads and a hotter cam.
Working hand in hand with the powertrain and suspension system is an inner world engineered for cruising and competition. Cobra Misano deep, high-back, wraparound bucket seats with diamond stitching mounted on the factory rails yield comfort and security never before seen in Corvette. Simpson restraint harnesses anchored to a Vetteworks Shark Bar provide true security under the toughest driving conditions. This is a high-performance Corvette you wear like a high-end suit. It’s a ride to be seen in and an all-compassing experience to be enjoyed.
2006 Z06 Blackdog 510 Corvette
OWNER: Blackdog Speed Shop, Lincolnshire, IL
BUILDER: Blackdog Speed Shop
FRAME: Factory original aluminum
SUSPENSION: Blackdog three-way adjustable coil-overs, rack-and-pinion steering
BRAKES: Six-piston Brembo discs front, four-piston Brembo discs rear
WHEELS: 19-inch Dymag carbon fiber front, 20-inch Dymag carbon fiber rear
ENGINE: 427-ci LS2, 802 hp, 682 ft-lbs torque, custom Wilson induction, custom-ported LS cylinder heads, hotter cam, American Racing
custom headers, Blackdog exhaust system, Burn stainless experimental headers
TRANSMISSION: Tremec ZR-1 six-speed
BODY & PAINT: Blackdog carbon fiber, carbon fiber hood with air extractors shaped to provide more downward pressure at speed, Gurney flaps,rear spoiler
INTERIOR: Cobra Misano wraparound bucket seats, diamond stitching on factory rails, Simpson safety belts
Superweave provides premium outdoor, all-weather storage protection. It is California Car Cover’s most UV, water, and weather resistant car and truck cover. The versatile Superweave material features unsurpassed moisture, dust, and pollutant protection. The encapsulation technology goes inside the fabric and around the fibers, resulting in a silky-smooth finish that glides over fine paint finishes. The Superweave car cover fabric is also dust-proof, so it will keep your vehicle clean whether it is stored indoors or out. It remains exceptionally breathable, allowing moisture, condensation, and heat to easily escape from under the car cover. Its unique lightweight design also enables it to fold up to one-third the size of your typical outdoor car and truck cover but does not take away from its ability to protect your automobile’s finish. The material is easy to care for because it is washer and dryer safe. Backed by a four-year limited warranty, the Superweave car and truck cover can be ordered in one or two-tone color combinations. Available in gray, taupe, blue, red, or black. Made in the USA.
California Car Cover Company
818-998-2100
www.calcarcover.com
Transform your 1969-1972 Chevy K5 Blazer into a pro touring or restomod masterpiece with the all-new Total Cost Involved suspension and chassis packages. Experience comfortable daily driving, a personalized stance, and superior handling—all rolled into one beautiful package. Enjoy an industry-unmatched warranty, the shortest lead times, and expert installation support to elevate your build to the next level. Currently, there is a 12-week lead time for chassis orders and a 48-hour lead time for suspension orders. Give the expert team at TCI a call today or visit them online for further information.
Total Cost Involved Chassis & Suspension
866-925-1098
www.totalcostinvolved.com
LEED Brakes recently launched Power Brake Booster Kits for 1973-1987 Chevrolet and GMC trucks. These Compact-10 Series boosters provide increased engine and wheelwell clearance compared to stock power brake boosters. Each kit is direct fit to your factory firewall, hand-polished, and available in zinc-plated or chrome. Works with most disc/drum and 4-wheel disc brake applications. LEED Brakes has been manufacturing high-quality aftermarket brake products and accessories for muscle cars, classic trucks, street rods, and Jeeps for nearly 20 years. The complete product line includes Disc Brake Conversion Kits, Electric Vacuum Pumps, Master Cylinder kits, Power Brake Booster Kits, and hard-to-find brake accessories that are affordable and easy to install. LEED Brakes offers the most comprehensive aftermarket brake conversion kits on the market; each is a direct fit and as fully assembled as possible. Our knowledgeable staff of industry enthusiasts are always on hand to provide technical and install support for customers.
LEED Brakes
716-852-2139
www.leedbrakes.com
Taking it to the next level, the all new Hi-Performance coilover suspension kit for the 1963-87 Chevy C10 and GMC C15 trucks offers superior handling and performance. The tubular upper control arms incorporate heim-joint adjustability, which vastly improves frontend geometry. The new lower tubular arms include three lower shock positions to tailor your suspension for all driving styles. The frame plate offers two upper shock positions as well to dial in your suspension. All new Aldan Phantom Series single or double adjustable coilovers deliver superior handling and ride quality for a drastic improvement over stock suspension. Aldan’s high tensile coil springs are designed as a direct fit and true stand-alone coilover suspension. Ride height adjustable shock saddle allows adjustment up to a 2-inch drop. The entire system is bolt-on, or you can choose to also weld the frame plates in place. Requires rack-and-pinion steering; not compatible with factory gear box.
Performance Online
800-638-1703
www.performanceonline.com
TMI Automotive Products, Inc. introduces the latest addition to its Cruiser Collection: all-new Saddle Brown Vinyl material. This Saddle Brown Vinyl is completely new to TMI, enhancing its already renowned product line. Building on the success of the existing Cruiser range, these seats maintain the same timeless design and budget-friendly pricing while introducing a sophisticated modern upgrade that complements the factory classic truck OE styling. Available in both bucket seat and bench seat configurations, these seats are designed for comfort and seamlessly integrate with your vehicle’s interior. For those who prefer the OE look of a bench seat, this new Saddle Brown Vinyl is also available in both 55-inch and 60-inch Cruiser bench seats. The split-back design of these bench seats allows for easy access to the rear seat or storage area in a truck. They offer moderate bolstering to prevent sliding during cornering while ensuring comfort.
TMI Automotive Products Inc.
888-460-0640
www.tmiproducts.com
With Tesla progressively opening up its worldwide Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles, we are eagerly looking forward to the opening of the network in the US. So we could soon be able to charge our Retrofits rides there!
(Now, when a Supercharger is next to a Taco Bell, we’ve got a winner!)
The latest one being built is a massive 51-stall Supercharger station in Sutherlin, OR, right off of Interstate 5 in the empty lot between Taco Bell and Starbucks.
This would make it the largest Supercharger site in Oregon and one of the biggest in the country.
But wait, there’s more! The world’s largest Tesla Supercharger at 164 stalls is coming to Coalinga, CA (halfway through LA and SF)!
Several other 100-stall locations have been announced, too, all with CCS connectors.
One of the benefits of Supercharging stations is they lead to more travelers stopping and supporting local businesses while charging their Teslas, and soon EVs in general.
We’ll update you on this particular charger, but let us know if you are making cross-country trips in your retrofit and if the Tesla System would be a game-changer.
Oh, by the way, ¿le gusta Taco Bell?
In case you didn’t already know, Ronnie Wetch is kind of a big deal in the C10 community. As host of the C10 Talk podcast and head cheese at C10 Nation, Ronnie has been bringing together classic Chevy truck aficionados and showcasing the movers and shakers in the community since 2014. Beyond that, he is also a firefighter by trade, so folks really don’t get any cooler than Ronnie.
Ronnie wanted his family to enjoy the C20 as much as he did, so it had to be as comfortable as it was awesome looking.
When Ronnie went looking for his latest project, he was open to just about anything, but it had to have good bones. After finding a clean Ochre Yellow and white ’73 Cheyenne Super 3+3 C20 just west of him in Arizona, he just couldn’t turn it away and ended up bringing it home. Being both a crew cab and a long bed, this thing was already gargantuan, but then he went and found a vintage camper unit for it, which made it even longer and taller. The funny thing is, 10 to 15 years ago it would have been just plain weird to add a giant camper to a truck to make it cooler, but here we are in 2019, and it’s just plain awesome. We couldn’t love it more.
As its name implies, YelLOWstone was built to hit the road in style, so having a fresh, perfect paint job wasn’t on the agenda for Ronnie. Choosing instead to maintain the Cheyenne Super C20’s original, if weathered, finish, Ronnie has kept the truck as stock as possible for maximum retro appeal, with the exception of the slammed stance and some personalized touches.
Ronnie had originally dropped the truck with a 7/9 static lowering kit with helper bags from Switch Suspension, but eventually took things a step further by having the guys at Switch add Slam Specialties airbags to the front, with an AccuAir E-Level setup for even more low and towing capacity. When aired out, most of the Toyo Open Country 225/75R16 tires get swallowed up underneath the fenders. As a convenient side effect, it’s also a lot easier to get into the camper unit. The flip side of this, though, is that the rare “granny step” underneath the front passenger door isn’t really necessary anymore. But, being as awesome as it is, Ronnie decided to leave it on as a neat conversation piece.
One of the coolest things about the truck is that it’s still powered by its original 454 engine, although it has been rebuilt and upgraded by Johny G’s Garage with some fresh items like an Edelbrock cam, Holley Dominator intake manifold, Holley Terminator EFI kit, AC Delco HEI setup and a Magnaflow exhaust system.
The biggest update to the drivetrain, however, was the addition of a rebuilt 4L80E transmission, which replaced the original Turbo 400 tranny to give the truck much better fuel economy and drivability on long trips. This swap required that the driveline be shortened, however, so Arizona Driveshaft came to the rescue and set things up perfectly. A GC Cooling setup keeps the temps nice and manageable.
Ronnie wanted his family to enjoy the C20 as much as he did, so it had to be as comfortable as it was awesome looking. To accomplish this, Empire Custom Upholstery stepped in to restore the interior with NOS textiles, while a complete Kicker sound system was also installed. The camper’s interior is original, and just oozes ’70s in all the right ways!
YelLOWstone has been seeing plenty of miles, hitting up shows such as Eastbound & Down, Lone Star Throwdown, LS Fest West, Dino’s Git Down and the Brothers Show & Shine, but it’s been known to pop up at a random campground or two along the way as well.
Special Thanks: There are so many great people and companies that have gotten behind me on this build that I hate to miss even one of them. I hope you all know who you are. Most importantly would be my amazing wife Autumn and three wonderful kids. This truck is truly a family affair. My buddies Goose, Johny G and Big 10 Bowman are responsible for as much wrench time as myself. Thanks to Joe Yezzi and Dino Battilana for fielding my square-body questions as this was my first. Seth and his team at Switch Suspension put the LOW in YelLOWstone! Last but not least the C10 Nation! If this truck could run off of praise and people shouting “That is RAD!”, I could drive coast to coast and back again! Thank you all.
John Bailey’s grandfather and his dad Robbie were the main influences in his life who got him hooked on custom cars and trucks.
He remembers growing up with his dad’s ’56 Ford F-100, and all through high school John was the guy with bitchin’ rides.
John and his wife Karen were celebrating their twenty-sxith wedding anniversary while attending the Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach, Florida, where they noticed an eye-catching Yellow Flash ’65 Ford F-100 Flareside pickup highlighted with silver pearl flames. Karen fell in love with the truck, and like all good husbands, John exchanged a stack of greenbacks for the pink slip from the previous owner/builder Glen Van Buskirk from Castro Valley, California. After driving the ’65 for about six months, John decided to personalize the truck to his taste. He and his friend Tim Davis began the journey together.
Van Buskirk had removed the cab, front fenders, hood and bed, exposing the factory chassis. John and Tim extracted the twin I-beam front end and replaced it with a Jim Meyer Racing IFS cross member with upper and lower control arms that sandwich a pair of ’78 GMC truck spindles with Wilwood 13-inch cross-drilled, ball-milled, vented rotors with six-piston calipers. A Mustang II rack-and-pinion gives Yellow Flash lateral direction. The rolling bling is in the form of a pair of 18 x 8-inch Budnik Rocker polished satin aluminum wheels covered in 225/45R-18 Goodyear Eagle tires.
The original QA-1 coil-over shocks to allow for adjustable front suspension ride height. The factory rear leaf spring suspension was eliminated and substituted with a Jim Meyer Racing 4-link setup that anchors the Ford 9-inch rearend stuffed with 31-splined axles, 3.73 gears and a limited slip unit.
The factory gas tank was removed from inside the cab, and a 20-gallon stainless steel gas tank from Rock Valley was dropped in between and behind the Ford 9-inch rearend.
A Jim Meyer Racing panhard bar was mounted to the frame rail and rearend housing, and a pair of QA-1 coil-over shocks supports and dampens the rear suspension. In the rear, 20 x 10-inch Budnik Rocker polished satin aluminum wheels were wrapped in 275/45R20 Goodyear Eagle rubber.
The factory Ford-Edsel series V-8 was swapped out for a 1996 Ford 460-ci engine with EFI by the previous owner. John decided he wanted more grunt under the hood. The engine was totally disassembled, cleaned, machined and reassembled with all new performance components by Brinkley’s Auto Machine in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The factory crankshaft was machined .010 and fit with a set of SCAT H-beam connecting rods and SRP pistons with Total Seal rings. A healthy Comp Cams camshaft and double roller timing chain kit were added. A set of Comp hydraulic lifters was linked to the Comp Magnum roller rockers with Magnum pushrods. The factory cast-iron heads were machined and set up with Comp single springs and Sportsman stainless steel intake and exhaust valves. A pair of chromed stock center bolt valve covers caps the valve train. A Pure Power 5-quart chromed oil pan was installed underneath the block. To circulate the engine’s coolant, a Weiand high volume aluminum water pump was bolted on, while a Be Cool four-row aluminum radiator completes the engine’s cooling system.
The electrical system stays charged with a Power Master 130-amp chrome alternator. A set of custom billet aluminum pulleys routes the serpentine belt. The rest of the electrical system is comprised of an MSD Blaster coil, Electronic Engine Control distributor and Taylor Spiro Pro 8mm blue silicone ignition wires. A pair of K&N air filters ensures clean air enters the fabricated Deetz Performance aluminum air box that feeds the EFI throttle body. A pair of Jet Hot ceramic-coated Sanderson shorty headers collect into a 3-inch exhaust that flows into a pair of Flowmaster Hush-Power II muffs. When all was said and done, the mighty 460 produces 400 lb-ft of torque and 425 hp.
The Ford C6 automatic transmission was rebuilt by Chuck Carter Transmissions in Davidsonville, Maryland. Chuck installed all new clutch packs, planetary and stator gears with a 10-inch convertor and 2,800-rpm stall. A Lokar tall shifter was also bolted up.
The original body mods, prep and paint work were split between Deetz Performance and Bartoni Auto Body of Dublin, California. Before sending the truck over to Bartoni, the cab, front fenders and custom one-piece Flareside bed were body dropped 8 inches. The front and rear 1965 bumpers were also narrowed for a snugger fit. The factory doors were shaved, and a pair of 1982 Fiat Spyder door handles was fused into the door skins, and one-piece electric side windows were installed. Bartoni was responsible for straightening and finishing the body’s sheet metal then priming and block sanding every little imperfection. The exterior/interior was sprayed PPG Flash Yellow, and then a set of very cool silver pearl flames with blue pinstripes was laid by Basil Platt of Concord, California. Some of the road chips and other minor imperfections were touched up by Nelson Body and Paint in Maryland. The truck bumpers were chrome plated by Hayward Bumper in Hayward, California.
Inside, the factory gauges and speed cluster were removed, filled in and smoothed. The original owner installed Autometer white face gauges, and water temp, fuel level, tachometer, speedometer, oil pressure and volt gauges were neatly inserted were the factory cluster used to reside. Keeping the audio simple, the crew at Ultimate Car Toys of Dublin installed a Ford six-CD head unit with iPod adapter into the dash. The sound was amplified by an Alpine unit that powers two tweeters in the dash and two 6-inch speakers stuffed in the kick panels; a pair of 8-inch subwoofers was mounted behind the bucket seats. A Vintage Air system with vents was mounted into the dash, and an Ididit chrome tilt steering column was capped with a Budnik Shock split grip black leather four-spoke black powder-coated billet aluminum steering wheel. The custom interior was created by the team at Finish Line Interiors from San Jose, California. A layer of Dyamat was installed before laying down the black carpet. A pair of 2008 Chevy Tahoe bucket seats was covered in dark charcoal leather and separated by a custom storage center console.
John’s Yellow Flash ’65 Ford draws attention wherever he rolls. The first two shows he attended, the truck took home an assortment of trophies. It’s pretty cool when you raise your garage door and see your ’65 Ford F-100 Flareside parked next to your ever-so-cool custom ’61 Ford F-100 unibody.
High octane, high performance, high maintenance – sounds familiar? The good news is you have a dream car, but worrying about how to keep it looking great can be a nightmare. Even if you pamper your baby with tons of TLC, once you are out on the open road your expensive finish can take a pounding from shooting stones, flying gravel and swarms of insects. Until now, there were not a lot of ideal options to preserve your investment and avoid a five-figure repaint.
Strapping on a black vinyl bra has been one traditional method to shield the leading edge, although this could often do more to damage your car’s finish than protected. In the nineties, the use of clear paint protection film became more prevalent and replaced bras, but the reality was these first-generation materials left a lot to be desired. Old-school film was not very flexible, which made it difficult to apply smoothly, and the adhesive often showed through, creating an orange peel effect. Other drawbacks began to rear their ugly heads as the film aged, including a loss of clarity, yellowing and paint fading issues. All in all, not a pretty picture for an appearance-enhancing product!
With the understanding that the concept of paint protection film is a great idea if done right, in 1997, XPEL Technologies was established to begin the pursuit of “building a better mousetrap” in paint protection.
From the outside, paint protection film can look relatively simple, but it is actually quite complex. XPEL incorporated new adhesives, polyurethanes and clear coats to create their ULTIMATE film, a high-performance paint protection product that provides the optimum combination of clarity, flexibility and durability.
The foundation of the film is an easy-to-handle two-mil matte polyester release liner. To that, XPEL applies an ultra-clear acrylic copolymer adhesive formulated to provide optimum tack, resist distortions during installation and create a smoother foundation for the film layer. Then the patent-pending, six-mil aliphatic urethane film layer with excellent flexibility and memory allows for precision installation and creates a thick and invisible paint covering. Topping it off is a revolutionary clear coat that employs special elastomeric polymers that allow scratches and swirls in the surface to heal over time, eliminating the need for frequent polishing to maintain a high-gloss appearance, while also shielding the film from contamination and deterioration.
There are many upgrades that owners can install themselves, but applying sheets of sticky film on a costly car is usually a “don’t try this at home” endeavor. Your car’s finish is worth entrusting to a professionally-trained installer. Installing clear film of any kind takes practice, patience, and finesse to do correctly. Mentor, Ohio XPEL installer Albert Helcberger, owner of Block A Chip LLC, describes the road that led him to becoming an in-demand paint protection film expert.
Helcberger says his love for his dream car, a 50th anniversary Corvette, was the start of his film career. “When I got my car I wanted to preserve my investment, and a co-worker at the graphic design company where I was web director told me about film. In 2002 it was hard to find an installer, so I put it on myself. After seeing how the film was protecting my Corvette and also enjoying the art of installing it, I gradually developed this business,” said Helcberger. Because skilled installation is essential to creating satisfied customers, Helcberger went to the XPEL Training Center in San Antonio to receive in-depth film installation training, and has practiced his craft on hundreds of vehicles over the past twelve years.
Recently, a 2015 Viper received the VIP Block A Chip treatment. Handling the wide clamshell-shaped hood and intricate indentations of the Viper could be a daunting assignment, but for Helcberger it was business as usual. Working with pre-cut film patterns from XPEL’s extensive film pattern library for over 70,000 vehicles, Helcberger deftly applied XPEL to this black beauty. Watching him as he carefully positioned and trimmed each piece made it clear that this is a job for a professional, and that an installer with years of practice and skill can perfectly contour the film for invisible protection and a long-lasting new-car finish.
Before the film was applied to the car, the paint had been thoroughly cleaned and clayed to create the smoothest surface possible. After that, all panel edges are treated with a wax and silicone remover to ensure a firm film bond. Next, Helcberger sprays XPEL’s installation solution across the entire surface and the film is positioned on the area to be covered. Once the film is in place, Helcberger uses a squeegee to carefully move the solution out from beneath the coating, allowing the adhesive to bond firmly to the surface. The edges of the film are tightly wrapped and sealed around each section, with minimal knife work involved.
XPEL’s design engineers were ready for the compound curves of the Viper when they created this precisely-designed pattern. They achieve a perfect fit by altering the shape of the pattern to allow for subtle amounts of compression, stretch and rotation of the film so that it lays down effortlessly and with minimal material manipulation.
If you think you have what it takes to get the job done right, XPEL does have film patterns and supplies for courageous and handy car owners, but as with anything, it takes skill and practice to do this job right. But you have some help in making your decision: XPEL pattern kits are coded with the degree of difficulty.
Helcberger works with hundreds of car owners and dealers who want to preserve an expensive vehicle’s original paint and can see the value of paint protection film. “Clients knew that if their vehicles were damaged, refinishing would cost thousands of dollars, and even then, it still would not look as good as the OEM coating.”
In response to the continued interest in matte and frost vehicle finishes, XPEL has also created STEALTH, a matte film with the same protection characteristics as high-gloss ULTIMATE. One of Helcberger’s clients in Pittsburgh had ordered a Viper with a rare matte finish option, and Block A Chip was called in to protect the whole nose, hood, bumper, rocker panels, mirrors, and then all panels to minimize finish difference between film and non-film areas.
The XDP Xpressor OER Series Replacement Turbocharger is a direct-fit replacement for the failed turbo in your Dodge/Ram, GM, or Ford application. The Xpressor OER Series Turbochargers follow a rigorous remanufacturing process to ensure it meets O.E. specifications. The wheels and rotating assemblies are balanced to OEM specifications and all critical wear parts such as seals, thrust plates, bearings, and fasteners are replaced. To ensure the highest quality turbochargers and components, a 100% end-of-line testing is performed through the full RPM range along with a Noise, Vibration, Harshness (NVH) analysis. In addition, hydraulic and pneumatic leak testing is performed along with hot gas stand and burst test validations.
FEATURES
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-888-DIESEL-4 OR VISIT WWW.XDP.COM
The XDP Xpressor OER Series Replacement Turbocharger is a direct-fit replacement for the failed turbo in your Cummins, Duramax, or Powerstroke. The Xpressor OER Series Turbochargers follow a rigorous remanufacturing process to ensure it meets or exceeds O.E. specifications. The wheels and rotating assemblies are balanced to OEM specifications and all critical wear parts such as seals, thrust plates, bearings, and fasteners are replaced. To ensure the highest quality turbochargers and components, a 100% end-of-line testing is performed through the full RPM range along with a Noise, Vibration, Harshness (NVH) analysis. In addition, hydraulic and pneumatic leak testing is performed along with hot gas stand and burst test validations.
FEATURES
XDP
1758 State Route 34 North
Wall Township, NJ 07727
Ph: 732-719-0955
Fax: 732-681-9500
