Tricking out Chevy`s Latest Kid Hauler

We Know What Your Ride Needs
12. The Cool
Tricking out Chevy’s
Latest Kid Hauler
Air Dam is
assembled
using the supplied hardware in the
Airaid kit.
Text and Photos by Travis Noack
7. Precision Grilles EZ solid billet inserts
were used to dress up the front end of our
fresh-off-the-lot specimen.
3. The first order of business was getting
more air into the factory powerplant with an
Airaid intake system. The Airaid kit comes
with a heat shield or Cool Air Dam as they
call it, air filter, filter mounting flange, and all
the necessary hardware and clamps to complete job.
4. A McGaughy’s
2/3-inch drop kit
would set the
Tahoe at the correct altitude. The
kit comes with
spindles, rear drop
coils, shock extension brackets, and
all the necessary
hardware.
Bone stock and boring, this Tahoe was ready for some serious attention in the customizing department.
5. For
THE VEHICLE: 2007 Chevy Tahoe
WHY: The new Tahoes have become extremely popular
and with clean lines and a pleasing shape take well to
customizing.
THE OWNERS: Michelle Venable and daughter Madison
Venable
THE PLAN: Lower this ’07 Tahoe ever-so-slightly with a set
of 22-inch wheels and tires as its new kicks. For more
power on the way to the playground an Airaid intake will
deliver more air to the factory V-8, while a custom exhaust
system will deliver spent fumes to the environment with a
rumble. Up front a custom billet grille will stylize the facial
features.
THE PARTS: McGaughy’s lowering kit, 22 x 9.5-inch
American Racing Cartel wheels, Yokohama Tires, Precision
Grilles billet inserts, Airaid intake system, JBA exhaust system
THE PLAYERS:
IMZZ Industries, Venable Koncepts, the StreetTrucks Staff
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soothing
exhaust
tones we
opted for
a JBA
stainless
exhaust
system.
6. Updating
the rolling
stock came in
the form of 22
x 9.5-inch
American
Racing Cartel
wheels with
black centers clothed in Yokohama Parada
Spec X rubber measuring P285/45R22.
Yokohama’s Parada Spec X tire is available
in 20 to 24-inch sizes to meet the demands
of the modern day truck and SUV enthusiast,
while also packing a smooth ride with plenty
of gripping capability.
S T R E E T T R U C K S M AG. C O M
S T R E E T T R U C K S M AG. C O M
8. First the
Mass Air Flow
sensor was
unplugged to
allow for the
disassembly
of the factory
intake system.
13. The
Cool Air
Dam unit
was
dropped
into position in the
engine
compartment and ready to accept the filter
adapter and filter.
14. Jim
installed the
Airaid filter
adapter onto
the Cool Air
Dam housing.
9. Jim
Iiams of
IMZZ industries
removes the
Mass Air
Flow sensor
and sets it aside to prepare for removal of
the factory air box.
10. The factory air box
was removed
to make way
for the Airaid
Cool Air Dam.
There are no
bolts holding the factory air box down, so a
little gentle negotiating and rocking from
side to side should enable it to slide out.
15. Once
the Mass Air
Flow sensor
was reinstalled, the
supplied
Airaid filter
was slid
onto the filter adapter and hose clamped.
16. Next on the list of add-ons was our
11. After removing four fasteners, the factory air box mounting plate was removed to
provide an uncluttered area for the Airaid
Cool Air Dam to mount.
custom billet grille inserts from Precision
Grilles. The first order of business in
installing these is to loosen the top bolts that
fasten the grille shell to the core support. We
opted for Precision EZ solid units, which bolt
over the factory mesh grille and fasten from
the back side with flat metal brackets.
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21. The
factory
sway bar
end links
were
unhooked
from the
sway bar
to allow for tension to be taken out of the
coil springs so they could be removed.
17. Tim fits the lower insert in place and
lines up all of the edges for a clean and tight
fit.
22. The
supplied
McGaughy’s
shock extension brackets were
bolted up to
the factory
shock mounts to accommodate the shocks’
new positioning with the 3-inch rear drop.
23. By releas-
18. Next Tim works from the backside of
the grille shell and installs the flat “keeper”
brackets in position over the grille studs
along with the supplied hardware to hold
everything in position.
ing pressure
from the jack
under the rear
differential, the
factory coil
spring was
removed.
19. Pictured
are the top
grille insert
brackets,
which are
designed to
slide over the
grille studs
on the back of the insert and then tightened
onto the back side of the insert and against
the shell with the supplied hardware.
20. With a
few simple
additions
made we
moved onto
dropping the
stance and
adding the new rollers. The first step was to
get the vehicle elevated and secured front
and rear on jack stands. Then we proceeded
with unbolting the factory shocks from their
lower mounts.
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26. The factory spindle was loosened at the
upper ball joint and will be given a wake up
call with a sledge hammer to break it loose.
27. The
impact was
taken to the
lower spindle
nut at the
lower ball
joint. Again
the connection was broken loose later with a sledge.
28. Finally
the brake
caliper bolts
were loosened
and the caliper
was pulled
free from the rotor and hung with a strap
from the frame. Never let the caliper dangle
by the brake line as doing so can stretch the
line and cause damage.
29. During
24. The McGaughy’s 3-inch rear drop coils
were mounted on top of the rear axle and
seated at the coil bucket up top and onto the
spring pad at the bottom. Once the springs
were seated, the shocks were secured into
their new extension mounts and the sway
bar end links were reconnected.
25. With the
front wheels
and tires
removed and
the front frame
rails supported
with jack
stands, Marcel
unbolted the tie rod from the spindle.
their time on
the assembly
line a socket
head cap
screw is used
to hold the
rotor in place until the caliper is hung and
bolted up. The socket head cap screw is
removed to allow the rotor to be pulled free
from the hub assembly.
30. Marcel
removed the
brake rotor
to allow for
removal of
the spindle
and hub
assembly.
S T R E E T T R U C K S M AG. C O M
31. The
hardware
securing
the ABS
sensor wire
to the spindle was
removed so
that the wire could be routed through the
new McGaughy’s spindle and hooked back
up to work like factory.
36. The stud was
then tightened
firmly in position on
the spindle into the
top mounting hole
for the hub.
41. As a side note,
32. The
ABS sensor
wire was
pulled
away from
its mount
in the spindle to allow
the factory spindle and hub assembly to be
removed from the vehicle.
50. The
make sure to use the
McGaughy’s supplied
hardware to secure the
dropped spindle at the
upper and lower ball
joints as using the factory hardware that
Marcel is pointing to on the left can cause
damage to the ball joint. Replacing ball joints
on these Tahoes requires buying new control
arms because Chevy does not sell the ball
joint alone. Ouch!
socket head
cap screw
that is
installed at
the factory
to hold the
rotor on during the assembly line process is reinstalled.
51. Marcel
46. Finally, the spindle and hub assembly
37. Now that
were mounted and we were ready to do
some mild trimming of the backing plate
before mounting the rotor and caliper.
the spindle
was prepped
it was mounted to the hub
using two of
the three factory hardware bolts. The third fastener is a
lock nut which will be installed on the front
side with more loctite.
47. According
to McGaughy’s
instructions, a
section of the
backing plate
must be trimmed
for clearance.
42. The spindle and hub assembly were
48. The
mated back up to the upper and lower control arms and lined up with the ball joints for
mounting.
McGaughy’s
spindle was
secured at the
upper and
lower ball
joints with an
impact before
the brake
assembly was
reinstalled.
43. The nut
33. The spindle and hub assembly were
removed and disassembled to prepare to join
the hub assembly with the McGaughy’s spindle.
34. This comparison shot
shows the factory spindle
next to the
McGaughy’s
spindle, left.
35. With the
dropped
McGaughy’s
spindle you
cannot use the
top bolt to hold
the hub in place
because there
are clearance issues on the backside of the
spindle. To get around this McGaughy’s supplies a stud and hardware. The stud is first
hit with a dose of red Loctite.
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38. The impact was used to give the hardware securing the spindle to the hub a firm
torque.
39. A lock
nut supplied
in the
McGuaghy’s
kit was used
to secure the
hub to the
spindle at
the top. More Loctite was employed here.
hooked the tie
rod end back
up to the steering knuckle on
the spindle and
cranked it
down with the
impact.
securing the
spindle to the
upper arm at the
ball joint was
threaded in place.
It will be hit with
the impact to firmly grip it in position.
52. The American Racing 22 x 9.5-inch
Cartel wheels with black centers and
machined lips were mounted on the
Yokohama Parada Spec X 285/45R22 rubber
and balanced for smooth roll-ability.
44. The
ABS sensor
wire for
the antilock braking system
was reconnected
prior to the rotor and caliper being installed.
45. The brake
40. A bit of muscle and a box wrench was
used to crank the lock nut in place.
line bracket
was secured to
the spindle to
keep the line
securely and
safely mounted.
S T R E E T T R U C K S M AG. C O M
53. Once the new rolling stock from
49. Marcel installed the rotor back onto the
hub and hung the caliper in position, securing it with the factory hardware and an
impact.
S T R E E T T R U C K S M AG. C O M
American Racing and Yokohama Tire was
mounted and balanced, Marcel hoisted them
in position in the Tahoe’s ‘wells and proceeded to seat them in place with fresh lugs
and the impact gun.
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54. The
61. The
decorative
American
Racing
center
caps finished the
wheel off
in style.
Yokohama
Parada Spec
X tires have
a clean and
simple tread
design and
provide the
maximum in
asphalt gripping characteristics.
55. After finishing up the
drop kit,
wheels and
tires, billet
grille, and
intake installation, we paid
a visit to the folks at JBA Performance
Exhaust in San Diego, California, and proceeded to enhance the Tahoe’s vocal qualities with a custom stainless cat-back
exhaust system. Our installer began by getting the factory exhaust out of the way and
then bolted up the JBA intermediate pipe.
58. After tightening all of the clamps, the
connections are buzzed with the welder to
ensure a solid connection.
59. A chromeplated stainless tip
lends a nice finishing touch to the
exhaust system.
62. This segment of “Extreme Takeover”
60. Shining brightly out in the sun is our
’07 Tahoe’s front end, complete with
Precision Grilles EZ solid inserts.
56. The JBA stainless free-flow muffler is
hoisted in position. This muffler features a
fully welded case and produces a mellow yet
pleasing exhaust note.
57. The stainless tailpipe section and
chromed stainless tip are slid in place to cap
off the system in style.
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was concluded with a mid-morning photo
session where we captured the results of our
efforts. Black faced American Racing Cartel
22s, Yokohama skins and Precision billet
inserts make a visual statement, while cruising music is produced by an Airaid intake
and JBA exhaust system. Stay tuned for next
month’s “Extreme Takeover” where we outdo
ourselves once again.
SOURCE BOX:
AMERICAN RACING WHEELS
Dept. STTR
19200 S. Reyes Ave.
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221
800.959.1969
www.americanracing.com
PRECISION GRILLES
Dept. STTR
10841 Laurel Ave.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
562.946.1907
www.precisiongrilles.com
JBA PERFORMANCE EXHAUST
Dept. STTR
7149 Mission Gorge Rd.
San Diego, CA 92120
800.830.3377
www.jbaheaders.com
IMZZ INDUSTRIES
Dept. STTR
1721 E. Lambert Rd, Unit D.
La Habra, CA 90631
562.905.0072
www.imzzindustries.com
AIRAID FILTER COMPANY
Dept. STTR
2688 E. Rose Garden Ln.
Phoenix, AZ 85050
800.498.6951
www.airaid.com
JBA PERFORMANCE CENTER
Dept. STTR
5155 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 9211
858.495.3395, 888.JBA.5570
www.jbaracing.com
YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION
Dept. STTR
601 S. Acacia Ave
Fullerton, CA 92831
800.423.4544
www.yokohamatire.com
MCGAUGHY’S SUSPENSION
PARTS
Dept. STTR
5680 W. Barstow
Fresno, CA 93722
559.226.8196
www.mcgaughys.com
VENABLE KONCEPTS
Dept. STTR
7312 Murdy Circle
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714.843.9009
www.venablekoncepts.com
S T R E E T T R U C K S M AG. C O M