Danny Macias’ ’97 Chevy Tahoe

TIME SEEMS TO SPEED ALONG, UNTIL ONE DAY YOU WAKE UP, TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND WONDER HOW YOU GOT WHERE YOU ARE. That realization can be scary, but it can also be exhilarating. Danny Macias welcomes the new experiences that life presents as it speeds along.

Danny, a lifelong custom truck enthusiast, has built a ’95 GMC with a body drop, but as his life transformed and his family grew, his priorities shifted. His passion for trucks became a family affair, and to suit the needs of his entire family, he traded his beloved GMC for a ’97 Chevy Tahoe. Despite the immaculate quality it now boasts, the Tahoe was far from a finished project when Danny first got it, but he’s never regretted his decision. The completed Tahoe is a ’bagged and bodied masterpiece that uses a classic platform to make a bold statement, and it seats the whole family.

A custom chassis and suspension underneath the clean blue body panels forms the underpinnings of this beast. The previous owner had already completed the suspension, but Danny’s creative choices made for a full suspension refresh. From the firewall back, the Tahoe sports a custom frame fabricated from 2×3 tubing. Mounted to the frame is a custom 4-link using a combination of airbags and Gabriel shocks, suspending the factory rearend that has been narrowed 6.5 inches. The front section was narrowed 1.5 inches using Choppin’ Block controls arms. With the additional room created, Danny’s Chevy now houses a gorgeous set of Racine Burst 5 wheels for a jaw-dropping stance. The fully polished rollers measure 22 inches all around, with a width of 8.5 inches in the front and 10 inches in the back. Tucked deep underneath the body, the aluminum and rubber combination makes for a menacing appearance.

The OEM Chevy small-block provides the classic American power underneath the Tahoe’s hood. Its deep, natural rumble is enhanced using a custom intake manifold and air cleaner, as well as a true dual exhaust assisted by two turbo mufflers. A Powermaster alternator keeps the updated wiring and sound system healthy in addition to the motor.

Once the frame, suspension, wheels and powertrain were sorted, Danny moved on to the custom bodywork. His Tahoe features a full 5-inch body- drop, with heavily customized elements to create a unique final product that remains clean and classy. The fenders have been modified for the addition of the massive wheels and low stance. The front bumper has been tucked 1.5 inches closer to the sleek body, while the rear deploys a Cali Combo roll pan and molded Cadillac tails. To complete the ultra- smooth exterior, he shaved and smoothed the wiper cowl, roof rack, gas filler and door handles. After fine-tuning all of the body components, Danny finished off his top-notch work with several coats of Daytona Metallic Blue. Danny’s business, Dogg House Kustoms, completed all of the custom bodywork.

Having stripped down the interior, he sent his truck to Daniel Arevalo for custom upholstery. The front buckets and rear bench were wrapped in graphite gray vinyl and suede. The interior door panels and dash were both smoothed and painted to match the exterior. Finally, the carpet was color matched. The dash features a 14-inch billet steering wheel, custom-mounted AccuAir controller and EQ slots for the stereo. The center console, which Danny also built, makes use of billet cup holders.

The final piece of the interior is an extensive sound system built by Mark Felix. The system is mastered by a Pioneer DEG 7600 head unit. Stinger Audio wiring links to a Phoenix Gold 400 four-channel and 1,100-watt mono-block amp, using an Audio Control EQS cross-over processor. The sound is delivered through Rockford Fosgate mids and Stephen’s Audios drivers. Finally, three 12-inch JL Audio W3s bring muscle to the system. The interior features Dynamat sound deadening for a refined audio experience that’s family friendly when it needs to be.

Danny’s Tahoe is not only a world-class custom and representative of the clean Street Trucks’ style, but it’s also evidence of the custom truck enthusiast lifer sharing his passion with his entire family. It demonstrates how enthusiasts evolve and adapt all while maintaining their passion. ST

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Danny Macias
1997 Chevy Tahoe
Exeter, CA
Forbidden Fantasy

ENGINE

• Chevy small-block V-8
• Custom intake/air cleaner
• Dual exhaust
• Turbo mufflers
• Powermaster alternator
• Aluminum fuel cell

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

• Custom chassis from firewall back, 2×3 tubing
• Choppin’ Block control arms
• Belltech spindles
• Custom 4-link rear suspension
• Gabriel shocks
• Slam Specialties ’bags

WHEELS & TIRES

• 22×8.5 and 22×10 Raceline Burst 5 billet wheels
• 256/35R22 Continental tires

BODY & PAINT

• Body dropped 5 inches to the doors
• Shaved door handles, wiper cowl, roof rack and gas filler
• Modified fenders
• Front bumper tucked 1.5 inches
• Cali combo rear roll pan
• Cadillac taillights
• Clear headlights
• Axalta Daytona Blue Metallic paint

INTERIOR & STEREO

• Custom center console with billet cup holders
• Graphite gray vinyl and suede upholstery
• Custom gray carpet
• Suede headliner with embossed flames
• Smoothed and painted door panels and dash
• 14-inch billet steering wheel
• Custom mounted AccuAir controller and EQ controls
• Pioneer DEH 7600 head unit
• Stinger Audio wiring
• Rockford Fosgate mids
• Stephen’s Audios horn drivers
• Three 12-inch JL Audio W3 subs
• Phoenix Gold 400 four-channel and 1,100- watt mono-block
• Audio Control 3.1 EQ and EQS cross-over processor
• Dynamat sound deadener

SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE OWNER: “My wife, Patty Macias; Jelly Bean Perez; Lalanne’s Paint & Glass; Mark’s Audio; Brett Grant at Kuts R Us; everyone that helped on the original build and my rebuild and my club Forbidden Fantasy.”

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