#Affordable Lowrider Wheels

[britishwheel]

The Best Lowrider Wheels for Your Custom Build

Give your custom build the perfect finishing touch with our selection of Lowrider Wheels. Crafted for both style and performance, these wheels are a must-have for any lowrider enthusiast. Our carefully curated collection ensures that you not only enhance the look of your ride but also experience optimal functionality on the road. 

Choose from a variety of designs to suit your taste and make a statement with your custom build. When it comes to reliability and authenticity, our Lowrider Wheels stand out from the rest. Elevate your ride with the best in the market. Upgrade to British Wire Wheel – the trusted name for quality and style in lowrider wheels.

[thefeedpost]

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Prototype First Drive

I was starting to get worried. No, it had nothing to do with the surprisingly difficult off-road trail our prototype 2020 Mercedes-Benz

GLE 450 was crawling over. We’ll get to that, but suffice to say, the GLE handled it fine. My concern was that I couldn’t find anything wrong with the GLE, even this camo’d-up development mule.

Times like these are when my journalism professors start haunting me. Am I not being critical enough? Not paying close enough attention? No car is perfect, and very few come close. Was this one of them, or was I missing something? I focus harder, looking, listening, and feeling for faults.

I come up empty-handed.

The new GLE-Class really is that good, even in prototype form.

It starts with an all-new platform called Mercedes High Architecture, or MHA, but not necessarily all-new ideas. Indeed, the big party trick was born out of the road-only S-Class. Mercedes is calling it E-Active Body Control, and it takes the S-Class technology a big step further. On the S, a forward-looking camera scans the roads for bumps, holes, wavy pavement, and more and adjusts the damping so that when the car arrives at the obstacle it can waft over the imperfection without disturbing the passengers. It does so using hydraulics to lift the wheels up to pop over a bump or push them down into a hole, then put them back where they belong as you come off the bump or out of the hole. In practice, it allows you to drive over a speed bump at 35 mph and barely notice it.

The new GLE advances this idea by replacing the S-Class’ central hydraulic system with individual, independent hydraulic systems at each wheel, allowing the computer to control each wheel separately from the other three and fine-tune the damping on a level even the mighty S can’t touch. Donut-shaped hydraulic accumulators fit around the dampers, and high-powered servos adjust the preload and rebound constantly to iron out the road. As an added bonus, the system is powerful enough that Mercedes engineers were able to get rid of the physical anti-roll bars and rely instead on the hydraulics.

Our well-appointed prototypes were fitted with both the fancy dampers and the optional air suspension (steel springs and fixed dampers are standard), which in most cases would’ve been handicapped by the also-fitted sport package with enormous 21-inch wheels staggered 275 and 315 front/rear in Pirelli P Zero SUV performance tires with skinny 45- and 40-section sidewalls. Instead, this big SUV rode like, well, an S-Class. Undulating pavement ceased to exist as the system kept the ride perfectly flat, while potholes and railroad tracks were reduced to small bumps, more noise than impact.

To truly appreciate how well it rode, though, I had to get out and ride in a current-generation GLE 43 AMG Coupe that was tailing us. Suddenly, the highways and byways around Birmingham, Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park felt coarse, wavy, and seemed to have much bigger expansion joints, potholes, and bumps. The GLE prototype had simply been erasing them all.

I mentioned that E-Active Body Control does away with physical anti-roll bars, and it’s more than a technical curiosity. Among other things, it allowed the GLE engineers to crib another high-end Benz trick: Curve Control. Originally designed for the SL-Class, Curve Control lifts the suspension on the side of the car opposite the direction of the curve it’s taking (you turn left, it raises the right side of the car). This helps reduce some of the lateral g force on the passengers as you corner. On the SL, the system felt very abrupt, like the sudden banking of a roller coaster. As you turned, there was a push from the side of the car and you were jacked up on an angle.

The GLE engineers have thoughtfully refined the system to the point where it’s effectively invisible in normal driving. There’s still a hint of that abruptness in its maximum setting (Lean Level 3) at low speeds, but now that you can adjust the amount of lean, you can dial it back to your liking. Or you can simply choose another driving mode like Comfort or Sport if you don’t care for it or don’t need it. In especially sharp corners or emergency maneuvers, the computer temporarily and automatically cancels Curve Control until things settle down.

Road scanning is only active in Comfort and Curve Control driving modes, but don’t think everything goes to pot if you select one of the sport or off-road modes. The computer simply relies on individual wheel sensors, yaw sensors, steering angle, throttle/brake position, and more to continuously vary the damping rate for the conditions.

  The sport modes are where E-Active Body Control’s virtual anti-roll bars really shine. Keeping any vehicle’s body flat in a corner is a task, and it only gets harder as the vehicle gets taller and heavier and the center of gravity rises. Make no mistake, the new GLE is a big SUV, but it corners flatter than your average sporty sedan. When a typical vehicle goes around a corner quickly, there’s both a lateral and vertical component to the body roll. Depending on which side of the car you’re on, you move slightly up or down as the vehicle leans in addition to feeling pulled to the side. The GLE eliminates that vertical motion, so all you feel is the sideways pull. At most, there’s a slight dip at the corner with the most weight on it, the outside front then rear as you enter and exit a curve.

With that kind of body control and an impressive level of grip afforded by the steamroller-spec Pirellis, our GLE prototypes handled shockingly well considering both their size and mass and the fact they weren’t AMG products but simple GLE 450s with a sport package. In most corners, it’s just grip and go. You can’t really attack sharp corners without getting a moderate understeer, but that’s to be expected. What’s unexpected is the amount of rotation the stability control allows in Sport+ mode when you power out of the corners. It’s like the GLE engineers knew there was nothing they could do about the front end but wanted to make up for it by loosening the reins on the rear end just a little. It does all this by stiffening the virtual rear anti-roll bar during sporty driving, though it will go back to stiffening the virtual front bar when speeds get high to promote stability.

Helping achieve all this is Mercedes’ new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with assistance from an electric motor between it and the transmission. In addition to the natural smoothness of an I-6, this engine boasts seamless torque thanks to the electric assist and a unique and pleasing growl that’s throatier than your typical I-6. It’s matched to a nine-speed automatic and a standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive system that utilizes a new electronically controlled wet-clutch center differential that can send 100 percent of power to the rear and up to 65 percent of power to the front on pavement. Left-to-right torque distribution is handled by the brakes as both differentials are open.

Off-road, though, is where the real surprises show up. Here, the Benz engineers pull out the entire bag of tricks. On the dirt, the air suspension can raise to the highest of its six settings, 3.1 inches higher than normal ride height (it can also drop 1.6 inches below normal for easy entry and exit), the center differential can fully lock and send 100 percent of the power to the front axle if it needs to, and the optional two-speed transfer case can be dropped into its crawl ratio.

Don’t think the system gets dumb, though. Every sensor but the road-scanning camera is still active, and the damping is being adjusted constantly to deal with the terrain. To keep you out of trouble, low range and maximum ride height are a package deal and come with an electronic speed limiter of just 12 mph. The center diff, meanwhile, is constantly varying the front-rear torque split and fully unlocks when you’ve got the steering wheel turned to the stops to improve the turning radius.

With a set of optional Pirelli Scorpion ATR A/T M+S in a square 275/50R20 fitted on all corners and steel plates fitted under the engine and transmission/transfer case, the big GLE becomes a rounder, plusher G-Wagen off-road. On a moderately difficult trail, the GLE crawled over decent-sized rocks, forded deep water, dropped into crevasses, and climbed up and down very steep hills without missing a beat or dragging a bumper. I saw an indicated 45 degrees of downward pitch and 28 degrees of roll on various obstacles. We even backed up that 45-degree slope, just for fun.

You might think those open differentials would be a deal-breaker off-road, but like many modern SUVs, the GLE gets away with using the brakes as a limited-slip differential. Unlike many others I’ve tested, though, the GLE’s computer clamped down on a tractionless wheel in less than half a rotation and sent power to the other side, where others would’ve let the wheel spin a bit before realizing it had no grip.

  What’s really remarkable about the GLE’s off-road performance isn’t the kind of situations it can get itself into and out of; it’s how easy it feels from inside. Coincidentally, I’d pre-run a Jeep trail the previous weekend in our long-term F-150 Lariat FX4 and the difference in passenger comfort was shocking. In the pickup, I was constantly being thrown violently from side to side in the front passenger seat as we traversed rocks, roots, bumps, and holes. In the GLE, in the same seat on a more difficult trail, I spent the entire ride taking notes on my phone and never once reached for a grab handle. The level of body control on the Benz is that good.

Then there’s the fun stuff. Dig deep enough into the off-road menus, and you’ll find a screen that allows you to control the height of each wheel independently with sliders. Ever watched a video of lowriders dancing on their hydraulics? It’s basically like that, if a bit less dramatic. Then there’s Free Driving Mode. It’s meant to keep you from getting stuck in deep sand, and it does that by making the car hop straight up and down surprisingly hard. The idea is to unload the tires slightly and let the sand get under them rather than pile up in front and cause you to dig a hole. I guarantee both of these features will be used to show off on pavement at some point.

I’d like to tell you even more about the new GLE if you’re still reading, but the terms of my access to these prototypes forbid it. What I can tell you about is what you can see if you look closely enough at the photos. Right away you’ll see the new car adopts Mercedes’ twin-eyebrow LED daytime running lights. Look closer and you can see that beneath the camo the dramatically sloping C-pillar—a calling card going back to the first ML-Class from which the GLE-Class came—is still there. Cast your eye down to the wheel arches, especially at the rear, and you’ll see the GLE has very wide hips to accommodate its massive tires. In all, it looks like a tall, beefcake E-Class wagon with a shorter rear overhang. Step back and you appreciate how well Mercedes’ designers and engineers have nailed the proportions.

Given its performance on-road and off, it should be easy to see why I was second-guessing myself. You just don’t expect this breadth of capability from a luxury SUV, or even a mainstream one. Few modern SUVs do this much, period, and fewer do it this well. I’m sure it’s got faults somewhere, and I’m looking forward to trying to find them when production models hit the road in the first half of next year as 2020 models.

  The post 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Prototype First Drive appeared first on Motor Trend.

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[bikejungle-blog]

Bike Jungle

School Bus Safety Tips For Drivers and Their Children

Every time you're purchasing a baby, whether it's a boy's, woman's or basically a child's bike, you wish to just be sure you are getting their opinion on the bike. Especially if it is their first bike, for you want to guarantee that you're getting them one thing that is going to suit into their model. There are tons of various bikes out there, all the pieces from beginner bikes to cruiser, BMX and filth bikes they usually all have totally different costs and would make nice birthday or Christmas presents. Under we are going to speak about choosing the right children's bicycles that have the appropriate prices on them.

There are lots of completely different options for you to choose from whenever you are getting a motorcycle, for instance, the colour is very important. You wish to make it possible for the bike is personalised, especially if it is a current or a present for a child, you need a shade that they will like and likewise think about what the bike has on it, for instance, the handle grips and if it has a basket on the front of it.

You additionally wish to consider the dimensions of the bike, for you need to just be sure you are getting a bike that is going to be a perfect measurement for the kid that you are getting it for. What this means is that you'll have to speak to among the retailers on the outlets you're going to, that way yow will discover the appropriate dimension. Chances are you'll even need to consider coaching wheels on a bike for those who youngster is small.

Now that you have thought in regards to the coloration and the size, the following factor that you're going to want to take into account is your kid's wants. Are you looking for a motorbike that's constructed for the trip of a lifetime or a motorbike that is going to be for driving around in a town? It issues where the bike goes to be ridden, in order that method you will get a motorcycle that's going to last a very long time.

The brand can be crucial and the place you purchase the bike. Online is definitely an incredible possibility for somebody who's looking to get a motorbike for affordable, for you may go proper on eBay and be able to discover a bicycle for quite a lot lower than within the shops.

Nevertheless, if you're looking to try the bike out before you buy, Target, Sears and Sports activities Authority are all improbable shops to not solely purchase your kid's bike but also in order that you will be able to check the bike out earlier than you buy. This is a great option for someone that has a kid that it a bit of choosy in exactly what kind of bike that they're searching for.

As you can see, there are numerous different guidelines that you should be following every time you're looking for kids's bicycles. Simply keep these in mind and you should have no issues in any respect discovering an important bike!

Purchasing for youngsters bicycles might be loads of enjoyable if you know what you're on the lookout for and know where to look. In case you are on a decent price range, then used is all the time a good way to go. Actually, you'll find just about anything you're searching for from used bicycle retailers. They'll have ones which might be antique along with something that will have just come out just a few months in the past. This leaves a wide range of options. All the pieces from folding tandem bikes to a mountain bike might be found at a used bike shop. When you find yourself in the market for a bicycle and do not have lots to spend, think about checking a used bike store.

Usually, for a kid's bike, you will want to hunt for a 12 inch, 14 inch, 16 inch, 18 inch or 20 inch rim. These bikes are designed to fit kids. Nevertheless, even if a bicycle has a sure tire dimension, do not simply assume it will be the correct size for your youngster. Each bike is totally different, so always have your child check it out. A motorcycle that is too small will not last them long. On the same word, if it is too large, your youngster will possible fall and be injured

There are bicycles with training wheels and those with out. Some of them have pegs on the entrance or back of the wheels to do methods with.

The choices are actually limitless for teenagers bikes lately. On the lookout for a lowrider bike? Well, it is out there and can typically be found used or at the least at a reduction somewhere. You could find plain bicycles with only a stable paint job if your youngster is not into flashy issues. Nevertheless, most kids's bikes are geared towards characters, reveals or motion pictures. Spider-Man, the Hulk, Batman and Diego all reign supreme for boy's bikes. Lady's bikes can be present in all the things from Barbie to Cinderella.

A bicycle makes an exquisite Christmas or birthday present. Many individuals will just buy their little one a brand new bike because they have outgrown their previous one. When in search of kids's bicycles, there isn't any need to find the costliest bike on the market. What you actually need to concentrate on is the appropriate size, a shade or theme they are going to like and good sturdy coaching wheels, if vital.

For those who love biking however enjoy going to locations with new scenery, environments, and terrains with the kids, then it is advisable to contemplate a special type of bike. While many alternative brands and fashions of motorbike trailers are currently bought, the Schwinn Trailblazer Bicycle Trailer (SC770) is price critical consideration. This model is made for ease of use, convenience, and full security for you but additionally your youngsters.

One of many advantages of buying a Schwinn product is that you know the bicycle trailer can be made with the perfect supplies and workmanship in keeping with this company's identify and reputation. For that reason, barncyklar many individuals purchasing for bicycle trailers will head directly to Schwinn with out wanting anyplace else. Also referred to as a child bike trailer, such a experience is unique and extremely useful.

Moreover, the Schwinn Trailblazer Bicycle Coach (SC770) boasts bold styling that you would love. Apparently, while this bike trailer is a whole system, when compared to different bicycle trailers, it's really very light-weight. Because of this, taking it to a favorite location or even shifting it to storage would be a breeze. In terms of kids's bike trailers, you can not go improper with the Schwinn Trailblazer Trailer (SC770).

As you sit on the bike and pedal, your children get pleasure from sitting inside an enclosed capsule. Nevertheless, with the design of this bike trailer, the youngsters would have a clear view of the outside and good ventilation but with out being uncovered to dust, debris, and bugs. In reality, youngster bike trailers such as this are nice for taking a journey when temperatures are cooler as a result of the youngsters would have the chance to bundle up whereas being contained in the screened cover that includes a zippered climate protect.

Other benefits of the Schwinn Trailblazer Bike Trailer (SC770) embody the 20-inch alloy wheels, the rust-free rims, rear storage area, and fast launch wheels. For children's bicycle trailers, the Schwinn Trailblazer mannequin is designed to carry two youngsters 12 months and older and with a a hundred-pound capacity. Additionally, two options of the bicycle trailer that makes it so distinctive are that it converts right into a stroller and when time to store, it folds flat.

When shopping for a Schwinn Trailblazer Bicycle Trailer (SC770), you do not want any instruments in any way to finish meeting and once together, you and your children can spend time outside enjoying contemporary air and creating new adventures. While this child bicycle trailer appears nice, is straightforward to assemble, and supplies protection for the child, as a guardian, you'll respect the fact that additionally it is safe. With the robust and durable design, you never have to fret about something going flawed allowing you to concentrate on the day stuffed with fun.

As a result of the Schwinn Trailblazer Bike Trailer is so affordable, if you have more than two children shopping for an extra bicycle trailer or extra would fit into the finances. That approach, the whole household may dedicate time outdoor, creating a tight, household bond while doing one thing exciting and wholesome that everybody loves.

Bicycle Security is a major challenge today. Youngsters are driving "two-wheelers" at youthful and younger ages. But at 3, 4, or 5 years previous, most mother and father wouldn't enable their little one to cross a busy road alone, but they are permitting those same kids to experience bicycles on the street, usually earlier than the youngsters have the attention span crucial to know and observe safety rules.

In days passed by, children under age 6 rode tricycles and stayed primarily of their driveway or on a sidewalk. Right this moment, they're riding bicycles in the street without proper supervision and little understanding of vital safety precautions.

You, too, could have seen young kids using bicycles in the midst of the road with no regard for vehicles in any way. Generally, these youngsters are usually not even sporting helmets.

One of the first rules of bicycle safety is to wear a helmet. Helmets help prevent head injuries, which can result in mind injury and even dying. It is rather easy for a small child to make an error in judgment when there is an approaching car, dog, or one other child, and fall off their bike. Even if they get skinned knees or elbows, the helmet will maintain them from something much worse.

While a helmet is not a substitute for following the principles and laws of bicycle security, it's definitely an important device in stopping severe injury.

Different bicycle security guidelines that ought to be paid attention to are:

1. Just one youngster on a bicycle.

2. Each palms on the handle bars.

3. Ride in the bike lanes. (Babies should hold to the sidewalks.)

4. Walk your bike across the street.

5. No earphones while driving a bicycle.

6. Nothing hanging in close to the spokes of the wheels.

7. Don't experience near pedestrians.

Dad and mom who're going to permit their very young youngsters to trip a "two-wheeler," even when it has training wheels, must be sure that they teach them the rules of bicycle safety and demand on them wearing a helmet.

A beautifully illustrated new ebook on bicycle security for kids is now obtainable referred to as "Bicycles Have Emotions Too" by Barbara E. Scherz and William C. Smith. It is the story of 8-year-previous Billy, told from the angle of his nervous bicycle. Each page talks about a completely different bicycle safety rule. It's a good solution to educate a baby these all important guidelines in a approach that they may understand.

As modern expertise is becoming more and more fashionable with children, kids bicycles virtually appear to have been forgotten. This is likely one of the main causes for obesity. Kids are merely spending too much time indoors and not enough time outdoors. The next time your youngsters start nagging you for a game console, remind them why youngsters bicycles are so much better.

Train: You could clarify to your kids from a younger age that exercise is important. They need to understand that they have to work on their health and on their body. One of the primary causes that so many children are over weight these days is just because they've stopped going exterior to play. Once your little one perceive the vital of train, they may be extra willing to take part in it.

Journey: You sometimes must pretty up an idea to youngsters. Using adventure is considered one of them. Tell your child that with youngsters bicycles you can have marvelous adventures. Make the concept of going outside with the youngsters bicycles as appealing as potential.

Friends: Plenty of youngsters are spending time in front of their computers and sport consoles taking part in games by themselves. Explain to your kids that through the use of youngsters bicycles they may have the ability to have loads of mates to play with. Children like to get together on their bicycles and explore the neighbourhood. In a while when your youngster begins biking, you possibly can organize cycle teams with mother and father and children. This is a implausible technique to get youngsters to work together in a wholesome, lively atmosphere.

Confidence: It is critical to elucidate to their child how much confidence they are going to get from cycling on youngsters bicycles. As soon as they learn to experience and enjoy themselves on a youngsters bike, they'll just like the idea a lot more. Some kids do not want to journey bikes as a result of they think they will fall or damage themselves.

It is vital as parents that we attempt to instill the absolute best habits in our kids. You are able to do this in a enjoyable, encouraging method by mentioning all the positives of exercise and biking. Once your little one sees your enthusiasm for a specific subject, they can even need to get fascinated.

Use these 4 reasons to assist your little one make the appropriate alternative and choose children bicycles over a gaming console. Adventure, pals, confidence and train are fantastic causes for cycling.

Melanie Thomas (CEO Melrose Children Ltd) is a mom of two boys and lives in London, England. Melrose Kids Ltd is the official distributor of Strider Sports activities merchandise together with the Strider PreBike in the UK and Ireland.

[itsworn]

Behind the Build: Pat Ganahl’s Cross-Country Cruiser Heads Home

Well, as far as South City Rod & Custom is concerned, the Ganahl Model 40 sedan, which Pat has christened “Roadie” (despite the DMV’s backup name, “Roadee”), is now back in Glendale awaiting its finishing touches. As it left his son Bill Ganahl’s shop, all the big had been completed—the metalwork (firewall, floors, and tunnel), complete chassis (from ’rails to brakes and steering), drivetrain (350/700-R4/9-inch), exhaust, and fitting/gapping the sheetmetal. Bill also mounted an underdash Vintage Air unit—minus the electrical and refrigerant—and though he was asked not to for reasons associated with paint prep and application, installed all the glass (Pat’s picky, but it is much easier to paint with the glass out, regardless how the sedan looks rolling down the 101 on the back of a trailer, Bill …).

Now that Pat has the more-door keeping his Deuce roadster and the Iacono inline Jimmy-powered dragster company, the deadline to get Roadie, well, on the roadie, is entirely in his hands. So, not that he doesn’t have his hands full as it is, I’m going to turn the keyboard over to Pat and let him bring this trilogy to an end in appropriate fashion.

“This was Anna’s idea, actually. She wants to go to the Austin Roundup, partly because we love the music, food, and ambiance of that city, and partly because Bill and Sabina are planning to cruise there in the lavender pearl Riviera I just finished painting for them. The problem was that I didn’t have a hot rod that was built to drive to Texas. I never have.

“You see, to me a hot rod is a coupe or roadster, or maybe even an early two-door sedan, stripped down to bare essentials, with a mean stance and sound and at least enough horsepower to back it up. Such cars aren’t built to be comfortable, and they certainly aren’t made to drive across country. Downtown to the malt shop and back is more like it. Or maybe a day-trip up the mountains or out in the country with your best friend to get your hair blown. My hot rods are built for short hops.

“I can’t say I’ve built a lot of such rods, but they’ve all had three pedals and a single fan belt. Parts came from the junkyard, fellow rodders, or parts cars. They didn’t have power anything, and no heater (this is SoCal), let alone A/C. My current Deuce roadster doesn’t even have a radio or windshield wiper, or provision for a top. There are no parts on it newer than 1952. It’s good—fun—for daytrips as far as L.A. to San Francisco (400 miles), but that’s about it.

“I’m proud that it’s traditionally true and accurate. But not only does that mean it’s not practical for road trips, today that also means finding these traditional parts takes scrounging (often on the infernal Internet), and paying big prices and/or rebuilding costs once you find them.”

Fordor Fate

“Anna’s favorite hot rod is a 1934 three-window coupe. She knows hot rods and she’s got taste. Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of money. Plus I fit better in a sedan, where I can push the seat back and maintain headroom. I love full-fendered Tudor Deuces and Model 40s, especially on a good rake. But they’re nearly as pricey as coupes these days.

“Don’t get ahead of me here. I know I’ll never live down the stigma of a certain fat Chevy with too many doors and not enough cylinders. I did the best I could with that car, but it was never a hot rod. I’m glad to say it’s now a fully lifted lowrider—and not mine—which it should have been from day one. But the fact remains that four-door sedans are the least desirable, and therefore most affordable, of all vintage cars. The good news is that the 1933-1934 Ford Fordors, with their four suicide doors and leaned-back front edge, are the best-looking of all, especially when they sit on a nasty rake, with big ’n’ little tires, and a wicked black paintjob. So that was the plan for our ‘road rod.’

“Not only would we get a roof over our head, a good ride, roll-up (tinted) windows, but even a good stereo and—lordy!—air conditioning. Plus I wanted to find a pair of contoured, adjustable front bucket seats like the ones in Anna’s well-used Camry or Accord wagon, which we have driven across the country many times and know to be comfortable (for both of us). The ones I found at Pick-A-Part were in a clean Subaru Outback and cost $40 each.

“Finding a clean 1933-1934 Fordor wasn’t as easy. Browsing sources like Goodguys Gazette, Hotrod Hotline, and Jalopy Journal, I quickly found some candidates in the $12,000 range. I even sent Bill with a trailer to Sacramento to potentially buy one whose owner swore it was an all-original car ‘with just a little rust in the bottom of the doors.’ What Bill found was a mish-mash of cast-off parts recently bolted on a rusted-out frame. The owner actually told him, ‘Guess I’ll have to find a less-knowledgeable buyer.’

“Having looked at a few more with missing parts or rust issues, I soon learned a lesson: pay for pristine. It’s cheaper—and easier—in the long run. And I knew where to find it. Bill McGrath’s Early Ford Store in San Dimas, California, always has a few good ‘finds’ lined up out back. I had seen two nice Fordors there awhile back. But when I got there those were replaced by an amazingly complete, straight, totally rust-free 1933 that had just come out of some long-term indoor storage. I’m talking worn but original seats, mohair, gauges, garnish moldings, glass—even the roll-down shade over the back window. Then to make it more saleable Bill pulled parts off his shelves: new dropped axle, headlights, cowllights, bumpers, taillights, running boards, not to mention a good-running 59A engine with a new carb, headers, Smittys, radiator, gas tank, plus a 1939 trans and fresh 1940 juice brakes. With steel wheels with caps ’n’ rings, quickie lowering, and faded red-oxide primer it looked damn good—and was.

“So I paid a little more than double what the rust buckets were asking, for a complete, driving, no-rust Fordor (a similar coupe would have been twice, if not three times more). Better yet, when it got to Bill’s South City shop, he rolled the complete flathead chassis out from under it and found a buyer to recoup $6,500 of the cost.”

Religious Conversion

“The best part of this whole project, for both Anna and I, is having our son build it in his shop. This is a big first for me, because I am strictly a DIY guy. And traditional. But this car isn’t. I knew what I wanted—basically a Pete & Jakes chassis, as designed by Jim Jacobs for his own 1934 coupe 40-plus years ago, and thoroughly road-tested by him and countless others since. This is essentially the same chassis Roy Brizio puts under the majority of the totally roadworthy early Ford rods he builds, which is of course where Bill cut his teeth learning this business. So Bill knew exactly what I meant when I told him ‘Basically build a P&J chassis for it, just like the ones at Brizio’s.’ And he agreed. And you’ve seen what he’s done in the first two segments of this series. I’m obviously a very happy customer.

“But what really surprises me is how much I have truly enjoyed building what I formerly derided as a 1-800-street-rod. As Rob pointed out in the first story, it’s like a religious conversion. I like it. It’s fun. I don’t have to hunt high and low for period-perfect or numbers-correct vintage parts, and then pay dearly when (and if) I find them. I can choose any components I want and, especially today, be pretty sure that they’re going to work properly and fit with each other, without having to cut, grind, and hand-fit or rework every part. Actually, after telling Bill what I wanted, I let him do the specific ordering because he knows from much experience what fits and what works.

“Of course that still requires plenty of custom hand fitting, cutting, forming, and welding—especially since this is a Fordor sedan—as you have also seen in prior installments. Just one example is the steering. Plenty to choose from. But I’ve known Steve Dennish for years, I like his LimeWorks products, and he had a wheel that resembled the early Vette type I love. So I said, ‘I’ll take that wheel, with that horn button, and that column, with that shaft … send them to Bill.’ Meanwhile Bill had to figure out how and where exactly to mount the front seats I brought him. Then I had to sit in the seat so we could determine the most comfortable location for the wheel and column. And then Bill had to fabricate a custom column drop and floor mount to attach it. That’s 1-800 hot rodding at its best: part bought, part built, and all works perfectly. You can see many more examples on the car.

“What you see here is far from finished, however. I really like the way it looks, just as it sits. I’m particularly happy with the wheel and tire combination and exactly how they sit in the fenders. I told Bill I didn’t want the glass in until I painted the body, but he was adamant to get it installed with the proper channels and massaged regulators to work properly. It does and looks good. So I was seriously considering getting the car running and driving it for a while in its as-found primer, like this. It would be cool.

“But it would require installing and removing a whole lot of stuff (wiring, fuel lines, brake lines, glass, dash/gauges, and so on). So now that it’s finally home, I get to start taking it all back apart and painting it from the frame up. After a little block sanding the outside will be old-school black lacquer (PPG still makes it), with a white top insert to match the wheels. The frame and floorboards will be black, but most of the chassis components will be spray-can hammertone silver or dark gray. I’m thinking a medium gold for the engine with some early script valve covers and maybe a little Vette air cleaner. The interior will be black with white tuck ’n’ roll inserts in the seats and door panels. Chrome will be limited to the grille, windshield frame, and inside garnish moldings.

“Then it’s hitting the highway. Austin, no problem. But we won’t stop there. Anna and I have driven this country’s turnpikes and two-lanes every summer since we’ve known each other. Some retirees say a motorhome is the way to go. Thank you, but we’d prefer motels and a 1933 Ford hot rod.”

We left you hanging last month after Bill had finished hanging—and fitting/gapping—the sheetmetal on Pat’s Fordor, which he’s aptly named “Roadie” (don’t let the plates fool ya). Before the elder Ganahl took re-possession of the sedan, however, there were still a few things left to do before the car left South City Rod & Custom.

One of Pat’s nonconformist (read: not hot rod applicable) options he’s conformed to is having the comfort of interior climate control, which in this case is a Vintage Air Gen II Compac unit. Bill was tasked with not only installing, but doing so without using up a ton of real estate.

In order to situate the plumbing running vertically down the inner firewall, Bill fashioned up a horizontal bulkhead box off the lower edge of his recess.

A vise-mounted Hydra-Kool manual crimper from Mastercool was used to build the A/C lines to the exact desired length …

… and the plumbing routing ensued, with each and every line tucked tight and kept as out-of-sight as possible, when possible. (If you’re wondering why that was such a concern with everything located on the passenger side—Pat won’t be spending every mile traveled behind the wheel; when Anna’s in the driver seat, he preferred having ample room for his longer-than-most legs to stretch!)

And while we’re on the topic of legroom, that too had to be taken into consideration when Bill was setting up the steering. Matter of fact, Pat traveled up to the Bay Area to personally deliver his adjustable bucket seats of choice, to which his son tailor-fit along with the steering while he was there. The wheel and bare column are from Flaming River.

Lastly, although Pat had requested he not do so, Bill convinced his dad that installing the glass and all the related components (new regulators, channels, and so on) be done while he still had the sedan. (Pat initially wanted to forgo the glass install since he’ll be painting the Fordor himself, and wanted to save that till afterward.)

The post Behind the Build: Pat Ganahl’s Cross-Country Cruiser Heads Home appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/behind-build-pat-ganahls-cross-country-cruiser-heads-home/ via IFTTT

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Top 8 key lowrider moments in pop films and TV

According to the director of the Netflix documentary 'LA Originals,' Estevan Oriol, the '1964 Impala car has been taken for depicting the lowrider archetype. The same car can be seen on various pop culture events of a lowrider. Even outside this culture, the '1964 Impala' is one of the most widely familiar lowrider cars. Estevan Oriol has played a vital role in lowrider mainstreaming working from the back end. Let's now learn about the key lowrider moments in the below section. 

Top 8 key lowrider moments in pop films and TV

Here is the list of the Top 8 key lowrider moments in pop films and TV -

1.According to the source, 'Tubi, ' - Benjamin Bratt played a San Francisco lowrider that was quoted as Che Rivera in 'La Mission,' a 2009 film. 

2.As seen in the BET+, 'Set It Off,' a female heist classic of 1996 used a large number of Lowriders. Oriol responded that risking a car for bullet damage is the dumbest act when Cleo and Queen Latifah were inside the Impala & under the custody of police withdrawing guns during the shoot. 

3.Available only on DVDs, in the cult Chola coming-of-age drama 'My Vida Loca,' Echo Park, 1993 various dropped vehicles were featured with the presence of mini trucks. Oriol noted the mural piece during the beginning scene & the dropped green truck having hydraulics that soon turned out to be the plot device. 

4.According to Oriol, the 'Lowriders,' film of 2017 was a beautiful moment for a mass media subculture. The movie is directed by Ricardo de Montreuil with the main character played by Demián Bichir & Gabriel Chavarria. Oriol was the main executive producer as well as the consultant behind the execution of this film. He revealed that he successfully find various things that he desired to have from the cars, locations, etc. It is available on Amazon Prime as well as the YouTube. 

5.Cheech Marin's classic 'Up in Smoke,' was added to the 1975 hit 'Low Rider,' song by War, in 1978. The song acquired the number 1 position on the Billboard R&B charts. Oriol finds it hilarious to finalize the primer look & not wait for the final touch to it. It can be seen in the Amazon Prime series. 

6.Available in Amazon Prime, Oriol said that the classic barrio drama named 'the Boulevard Nights,' 1979 was majorly emphasized on the lowriders. In Eastern Los Angeles, 1970 it also portrays the cruising on Whittier Boulevard. 

7.As seen in Direct TV & Amazon Prime, Oriol noticed that in the 'Friday' film, 1995, Big Worm (Faizon Love) character drove the convertible Impala, 1961 of orange color. The original car is named Fresh Squeezed & he added that he shot in Japan as well as here. 

8.Available on the DVDs only, The 'Chico and the Man' TV series, 1974-1978 starring Freddie Prinze showcase the footage of a Gypsy Rose, a well-known world-famous low rider with the 1964 Impala. He said that the series had the best B-roll footage of the 70's L.A. & East L.A. lowriding. 

Lowrider cars are not only popular among car enthusiasts but have also been featured in various magazines, news platforms, pop films & tv. Such key lowrider moments have been very mesmerizing & worth watching. If you also wish to connect to a prominent company dealing with wire wheel tools, then look no other than a British wire wheel firm. British wheel is a trustworthy supplier of wire wheel accessories for lowrider hydraulics & car addicts. They provide spinner caps, wire wheel adapters, and wire wheel installation tools at affordable pricing. Reach out to them to purchase the quality-assured tool for cars! 

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When it comes to quality and style, check out British Wire Wheel. They've got a solid range of Lowrider Rims, Spinner caps, Wire rims, Knock of rims and more. We offer the wire wheel for sale at affordable rates. British Wire Wheels has been a trusted supplier for classical car enthusiasts and lowrider hydraulics for over 3 decades. 

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