Out back, custom ingredients include shaved taillights, a shaved and smoothed tailgate, a
At the tail end, an Ektensive Metalworks step notch, Panhard bar, and custom two-link setup update the rear suspension to accept the adjustability of the Firestone air bellows. Plumbing the system are Ektensive 1/2-inch valves, a 3/8-inch air line, and one Nitrogen tank for quick air on demand. Where you find the switches to air up this masterpiece is a mystery; they are hidden on the driver-side door panel, disguised as window switches.
The entire rear floor section was cut out and raised to allow 'Mad-illac to lay frame and still accept the factory rear lower interior plastics. Raising the floor also allowed the factory gas tank to be raised so it would be concealed behind the custom roll pan. After 'Mad-illac was on the ground and sporting a ton of frame and suspension fabrication work, it was time to choose the perfect billet wheels to cap off the radical suspension slam.
The Sweep billet wheel from Bonspeed was fitted under the Tahoe in 20x8-inch sizing up fro
Kevin knew - considering how radical 'Mad-illac was going to be once completed - he was going to have to toss on something unique and eye-catching. He got just that with bonspeed's Sweep billet wheel featuring a unique twisting pattern in the grooved billet spokes. Not one to follow the bigger-is-better trend, and wanting to make 'Mad-illac capture more of a street rod appearance, Kevin went with 20x8-inch bonspeed Sweeps up front and 20x10-inch bonspeed Sweeps in the rear. To cushion the fragile billets from unsightly bends and dings, a set of Michelin Pilot tires measuring P255/35ZR20 up front and P275/35ZR20 at the rear were shoehorned around the mirror image rollers and stuffed under the fenderwells.
Under the hood lies a polished ATI Pro Charger Supercharger running eight pounds of boost.
Packing the engine compartment with some additional ponies was just as important to Kevin as capturing the ideal exterior looks, so before the body went under the knife and paint was sprayed, a few bolt-on performance enhancements were included in the 'Mad-illac equation. Under the hood of 'Mad-illac, the keen eye will not only notice a multitude of color-matched bits and pieces, but the polished ATI Pro Charger Supercharger running 8 pounds of boost. Complementing the ATI Procharger unit is a Hypertech Power Programmer for supercharged motors. Exhaust chores are handled by 3-inch piping leading to a three-chamber Flowmaster muffler installed by HP Racing in Oklahoma City.
An Empire Motor Sports billet engine bay dress-up kit brings a little extra shine to the doghouse to go with all the glistening painted components. For cranking power, Kevin relies on none other than an Optima battery topped by a Tsunami battery buddy junction box to aid in powering the massive stereo system.
After the Tahoe's frame was planted firmly on the Oklahoma City pavement and the factory 350ci powerplant was aided with a bit more throttle-stomping performance, it was time to dive head first into the bodywork to create the classic Chevy Nomad look Kevin was striving for. After enlisting the help of fellow Custom Concepts body sculptors Shane Hill and Chris Brankel, his father Randy Cox, and his friend Brad Houk, the Tahoe was stripped and prepared for a serious metal makeover.
From the rear, you just can't help but drool while gazing at the sliced-down roofline, Nom
First on the list was to lower the factory roofline down a few notches. For this task, Kevin relied on Brad Houk to chop the Tahoe's metal hat 3-1/2 inches and make the A- and B-pillars fit like factory. Brad did a beautiful job; he reworked the door frames and added sheetmetal to the roof at the rear window to make the rooflines all flow together. Shane, Chris, and Randy got busy on the other metal modifications that were on the long list by firing up their welders, putting on their welding helmets, and working around the clock.