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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Lateral-G.net


Is everyone familiar with Lateral-G? If not, I recommend you take a look at the site. Lateral-G.net is the internet’s foremost Pro-Touring forum, a place where like-minded restorers, hobbyists and car enthusiasts alike can all come together. Whether you view current projects, check out the latest cutting edge technology or chat with other car owners and/or builders, Lat-G is a mecca for guys like us!

Various forums offer a venue for discussion about performance, drivetrains, suspension, members’ rides, new products, jokes and even random off-topic banter. You will find the site to be amusing and informative, well structured, and constantly updated. Every month a new car is featured--like Mike Bassi’s “Sledgehammer” was showcased (built by us of course).

Check out the Official g-Machine action thread showing member's rides getting thrashed on the road course, auto-x, dragstrip, and open road. If you have pictures or videos of your g-Machine or someone else's, be sure to check out this thread and post them up! You can also click on tech installation articles and bounce around through various supporting vendors.

All told, Lateral-G is one of the coolest sites on the internet for car guys. Peruse the site to see some of the baddest projects around. Look for new ideas, learn about upcoming events, ask others for advice or even post pictures of your own build. See you in cyberspace!!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Kool April Nites--Show Follow Up







The show was a blast! All of our Gearhead cars made it from Sacramento to Redding and back without a hitch--all were driven, no trailer queens here!

This was really a great show--Well organized, a family friendly environment and great weather. If you have never made it up there--we recommend it!

1969 Pro Touring Camaro Build **UPDATE**



OK, so many new things to mention on the build of this ride--No expense is being spared and we are excited to see the car coming together. Last we checked in with you on this one was over a month ago and a lot has changed. Here is what is happening now-

1969 Pro Touring Camaro RS:




**LS7 Engine and wiring harness have been installed



**Vintage Air Conditioning system has been mocked up, wired and installed, under the dash



**Computer controller and fuse panel have been fabricated to fit under the dash behind the glove box



**All Detroit Speed and Engineering suspension has been installed



**14" Wilwood Brakes are now on, along with the 18" Fikse Racing Wheels



**Body is currently being fitted, post paint: doors are now on, front clip has been hung and RS front end is being assembled



**Tilt steering column custom linkage has been built to connect to the rack and pinion set up



**Marquez Designs billet trunk hinges and tail light assemblies have been fitted and installed



**Interior has been completely POR 15 coated and will soon be covered with FATMAT rattle trap sound insulation



For more pictures, click here!


There is also a thread on lateral-g.net about this car.

Stay tuned for more!

For those of you new to this car, here is the youTube video taken last month on it.


Painless: The Best Choice in a Wiring Harness





  • Painless Wiring Harnesses offer easy wiring for your GM muscle car.

    Painless Performance 1967-74 GM muscle car harnesses have a pre-wired factory style bulkhead connector that hooks up to the fuse block through the firewall in the stock location. Easy-to-install, factory original, quick connect terminals are included for the in-dash printed circuit board. Pre-terminated plugs for the ignition and turn signal switches are included.

    These modified 18-circuit kits include wiring for A/C, heat, brake lights, coil, horn, electric fan, emergency flashers, dash instruments, headlights, radio (constant and ignition hot), turn signals, wipers, dome light, tail lights, third brake light, charging and starting. Plus power door locks, power windows, accessory plug, electric fuel pump, backup lights/cruise control, electric choke, and power antenna.

    Gearhead is outfitting the following cars with Painless Wiring as we speak:

    69 Pro Touring Camaro Coupe
    69 Pro Touring Camaro Conv't
    69 Pro Touring Corvette
    68 Camaro Drag Car
    77 Chevy Blazer
    69 Camaro RS/SS Conv't

    And don't forget! We sell these parts and can get you the best deal--give us a call and we'll take great care of you!

1968 GTO For Sale!


Clean 1968 GTO coupe. New paint, freshly rebuilt engine- very strong 455 runs smooth and reliably, Muncie 4-speed w/ new clutch, 10-bolt posi rearend. Power brakes work GREAT, power steering, bucket seats & console, new dual exhaust. MANY new parts. Car is solid....hate to sell, but wife won't allow me to purchase a motor home until I sell the Goat :(

For more pictures click here!

http://www.gearheadcars.com/

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Coys Wheels


Coys Wheels adorn many Gearhead builds. Among others, they are a popular choice for Pro Touring cars because of the classic 5 spoke style is offered in a variety of colors including chrome, polished, gun metal and flat black as well as sizes to create just the right look.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Custom LS & Fuel Injected Engine Conversions

Gearhead Garage is one of the foremost installers of LSx engines as well as fuel injection conversions in Northern, CA and quite likely in the nation. Here a few of our recent projects:

1968 Camaro RS/SS Pro Touring Convertible with LS2 with Magna Charger

1964 Impala SS Convertible with LS2


1972 Chevelle Coupe with LS2

1971 Chevelle Coupe with LS1 & 6 Speed T56

1969 Camaro RS/SS Pro Touring Coupe with LS7

1969 Camaro RS Z28 Replica Pro Touring Coupe with LS2 with MagnaCharger

1969 Camaro RS Pro Touring Convertible with LS2

1969 Corvette Convertible LS1

1968 Camaro Coupe with LS3

And here are a few of the fuel injected projects we've done and/or currently working on:

1968 383 Stroker with Holley Stealth Ram with ProCharger

1968 Camaro Couple with a 406ci and a Holley Stealth Ram with ProCharger

1969 Chevelle Coupe Edelbrock ProTuner with Custom Kit 700HP

LT1 TPI Engines going into 1975 K5 Blazer and 1970 Chevy SWB 4x4

Just another day at the office!

Officially **Bleeping** Nasty!!

Check out this YouTube on one of our Gearhead modified cars--

Some of the work we did on this one includes:

**Full Custom Black Leather Interior with Gray Suede Inserts
**Wilwood 16" Disc Brakes on all 4 Corners


Click here for link.

Friday, April 17, 2009

1968 Pro Touring Camaro Takes 1st Place!

Once again, our beautiful '68 RS/SS Pro Touring Camaro convertible Gearhead car took first place. This time it was at the local Lowe's classic car show held today in Citrus Heights (Sunrise & Greenback).

The thing that makes this show stopper unusual is that it is no trailer queen. This head turner gets driven to shows so we can enjoy all of its modern comforts, power and great gas mileage!!

Here is our YouTube video on this car...

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Marquez Design & Fabrication

Gearhead Garage is an authorized dealer for Marquez Design & Fabrication products. We offer their full line of billet tail lights for Camaros, Blazers, Mustangs and more. We also supply their popular billet side markers, billet emblems, billet trunk hinges, door strikers, hood adjusters and more.



Additional products now include custom interior kits: custom door panels, one piece headliners, custom dashes, package trays and trunk lid covers. Shawn Katt, Gearhead Garage's own veteran in-house upholsterer has wrapped many of these Marquez panels. We have helped with their SEMA display car, Orion, a 1969 ProTouring Camaro. Additionally, we wrapped the door panels used in the GoodGuys Giveaway 1970 Chevelle, to name a few.



Marquez products are cutting edge in style, and high quality in design. Their products offer a great way to create a modern interior feel in a classic car, as well as a much needed alternative to upgrade stock exterior trim, badging & lighting.

Ididit Steering Columns

Gearhead Garage also sells & installs IDIDIT steering columns for most any application.

Ididit steering columns are a great way to spruce up your interior while providing additional comfort and a better feel. Ididit tilt columns are adjustable to multiple positions at the flick of a lever, allowing for more leg room, easier entry and exit from the vehicle, and a more ergonomic driving posture--perfect for the Pro Touring devotees. Columns are available in polished aluminum, chrome or a natural bare paintable finish.


Ever think of getting rid of your column shift and converting to a floor shifter? Ididit columns are a simple, cost effective way to do away with antiquated, awkward column shift automatic levers and old school "3 on the tree" systems. Plus they come with all new wiring which greatly simplifies getting your turn signals, hazards and horn working correctly.


Add the convenience and reliability of a new column built specific for your vehicle. This steering column is not a universal column that requires modification of your original vehicle to install. Simply remove your old column, saving your original under dash mount as well as the original floor mount. Using one of our installation kits (see table below), install your new steering column in place of the old. Add an aftermarket wheel and the gripping surface of the new wheel will be in the same location as the original.


If you don't currently have a column, Ididit offers a full array of columns, brackets & mounts that can be retrofitted into virtually any vehicle.


Visit our products page to see a complete line of performance parts we sell at competitive prices!

HydroBoost Braking System for GM "A" Body Vehicles

For those not familiar with how hydroboost systems work, here are some of the basics:

Most cars either run manual brakes or power brakes, with the latter usually being assisted by a vacuum operated brake booster that stores vacuum to help apply pressure to the master cylinder when the brake pedal is depressed. Many of us hot rodders have found that as we increase horsepower and run bigger camshafts, we tend to experience a stiffer brake pedal- and not in a good way. Large duration camshafts draw too little vacuum to keep an average power brake booster “charged” with air. As a result, the pedal gets stiffer and braking gets harder.

Hydroboost systems, commonly used in many diesel trucks, operate off of fluid dynamics instead of vacuum. These braking systems are run off of the power steering pump which gives them a much better ability to assist w/ braking at the master cylinder. One of the best advantages of such a system is that hydroboost units deliver 50% more braking pressure than normal brake systems, delivering roughly 1200 psi of pressure to the brakes as compared to a meager 800 psi generated by non hydraulic systems. This results in better braking, less pedal effort and a better “feel” at the brake pedal.

A recent article in Super Chevy Magazine showcased how well hydroboost systems work, in this instance providing the clamping pressure required to slow down a 1969 Chevy Nova just retrofitted with 4-wheel CPP disc brakes. Here’s a brief excerpt of their article:

“The big question was how well our Nova would stop with all these new parts. Our first test on the original wheels was 197 feet. Just by swapping on the new tires that number dropped to 188 feet, but the drums were toast after only one hard stop. With the new hydroboost-assisted brakes and Nitto tires, we managed a best stopping distance of 128 feet! That's an improvement of 60 feet. More importantly, we made 10 max-effort stops over the course of only 7 minutes and didn't experience any brake fade. In fact, the last stop was better than the first. The peak deceleration g-force was .73 g with the old parts, .89 g with the new tires, and a whiplash-inducing 1.12 g with the new brakes and tires. The Nova also lost its tendency to randomly pull to the right or left during braking. The hydroboost has a different feel compared to a traditional booster, but after a few stops we were confidently slinging the Nova to a halt.”.

HydroBoost by HydraTech offers their superior braking system for 1964 - 1972 GM "A" Body Vehicles. A very popular choice for GM classic car owners looking for a solid, reliable braking system similar to modern vehicles.









1964 - 1972 General Motors 'A' Body Hydraulic Brake Assist Unit - Model # 3014

o CNC Machined T6 billet aluminum direct fit firewall mounting plate design
o This model fits the later GM "short rod / shallow" master cylinder design
o All engines with PS pump on driver's side - compatible with rack and pinion conversions
o For use with disc/drum or disc/disc brakes (not for use with 4 wheel drum brakes)
o Features an adjustable brake pedal rod to allow for a range of brake pedal height adjustment
o Models with PS lineset include overlength hoses with re-usable / re-buildable hose ends
o 7 1/4 " installed length from firewall to MC mounting flange - no firewall modifications required
Many Gearhead Garage customers use these systems and we are happy to share our experience with you!

HydroBoost for 1967 - 1969 GM "F" Body Vehicles


Hydaboost by HydraTech Braking Systems for 1967 - 1969 GM "F" Body Vehicles

1967 - 1969 General Motors 'F' Body Hydraulic Brake Assist Unit - Model # 3021

NOTE: This model also fits the 1968-1974 GM 'X' Body Vehicles - Nova, Appollo, Ventura...

o CNC Machined T6 billet aluminum direct fit firewall mounting plate design
o This model fits the later GM "short rod / shallow" master cylinder design
o All engines with PS pump on driver's side - compatible with rack and pinion conversions
o For use with disc/drum or disc/disc brakes (not for use with 4 wheel drum brakes)
o Features an adjustable brake pedal rod to allow for a range of brake pedal height adjustment
o Models with PS lineset include overlength hoses with re-usable / re-buildable hose ends
o 7 1/4 " installed length from firewall to MC mounting flange - no firewall modifications required
These are very popular systems for Pro Touring builds because of the increase in braking response, reliability and safety.


Of course, we are an authorized vendor and expert installers of these systems.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Gearhead Garage is Keisler Tremec #1 Installer In USA!!


Yes, you read that correctly!! Gearhead Garage continues to be the top installer of these cutting edge 5 speed transmissions. We are 5 speed conversion experts and would be happy to talk with you about any project you're considering a Tremec for...

For those serious about performance and incredibly solid design, here is more on those transmissions and the company that makes them, Keisler Engineering:

1967-1969 Camaro/Firebird 5-Speed PerfectFit™ Kit-TKO-600(.64)

A truly complete conversion combining the Keisler PerfectFitTM transmission with all of the correct matched parts that have been carefully selected and tested by Keisler for guaranteed quality and performance.

Drivetrain component selection and installation instruction and support is critical to get the job done right. Rest assured, buying from Keisler - the leader in manual transmission systems - is the first step in the best driving improvement you will make to your Camaro or Firebird.

1. TRANSMISSION - NEW TREMEC TKO-600 (600 HP/600 FT-LB), customized by Keisler to perfectly fit your 1967 - 1969 Camaro or Firebird. A number of custom features are included (with no hidden charges) that you won't find anywhere else, including:

Shifter location custom designed for your 1967-1969 Camaro or Firebird.
NO CUTTING - unlike other transmission offerings on the market, Keisler's PerfectFitTM fits your car with no modifications whatsoever - PERIOD!
Custom short-throw internal shifter mechanism designed to provide better-than-stock shifting.
Muncie / Borg-Warner GM bolt pattern and input shaft configuration for direct bolt-in installation.
Gear Ratios: 2.87 1st, 1.89 2nd, 1.28 3rd, 1.00 4th, .64 5th; 2.56 reverse.
Low RPM Cruising - 36% drop in engine RPM in 5th gear (check out our Speed Analyzer).
Precision Assembled, TRIPLE Quality Checked - assembled at Keisler by our trained technicians; 100% inspected for function, leak and visual appearance (check us out).
Nation-Wide Parts & Service - Parts in-stock; service in-house.

2. CROSSMEMBER - Best on the market by providing maximum clearance for exhaust while offering an OE quality look; No-flex/No-problem rigid welded box construction design with integrated isolator perch and gusseted mounting flanges, gloss black epoxy powder paint; this is a far better product than the inexpensive bent tube type crossmembers seen elsewhere.

3. PILOT BEARING - Needle Roller Bearing for long life and high capacity.

4. ISOLATOR - Heavy-duty rubber isolator. Polyurethane upgrade available.

5. BACK-UP LIGHT WIRING HARNESS - Easy coupling to factory wiring.

6. NEUTRAL SAFETY START SWITCH - Can be wired into starter circuit if desired.

7. SPEEDOMETER CABLE & DRIVEN GEAR - Mechanical speedometer cable and correct driven gear PLUS integrated 2-wire electronic output included. Optional electronic wiring harness also available (for use with electronic speedometers or EFI).

8. DRIVESHAFT - Lightweight high strength steel, automatic welded and computer dynamic balanced with premium solid sealed U-joints, painted satin black, certified and serialized. Built in-house on Hines driveshaft manufacturing cell for the ultimate in quality and craftsmanship!

9. SLIP YOKE - Heavy duty Spicer slip yoke.

10. CONSOLE SHIFT PATTERN PLATE - OEM quality 5-speed shift pattern plate for 1968-1969 Camaro console. Brushed silvertone aluminum with raised lettering, just like the original plate.

11. INSTALLATION HARDWARE KIT - High strength Grade 5 and 8 fasteners, properly sorted, bagged and labeled for easy reference.

12. INSTALLATION MANUAL - Highly illustrated step-by-step instruction manual.

13. 6 MONTH WARRANTY - 2 years to activate (in case you are restoring a car)! Extended warranty available at extra cost. Best Customer Support in the Industry.

100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed.
The best Customer and Tech Support in the industry.
Lifetime Tech Support from our premier experienced staff.

Gearhead Garage is an authorized dealer and can get you the best deal on the parts. Call us for more information!

More Wilwood...

Speaking of Wilwood Brakes, here's a video shot by Steve Meade, one of our Gearhead customers, about the Wilwood brake conversion we performed on his Tahoe..

Click here for the video.

Another New Wilwood Product Release - Ford 9" Rear Combination Parking Brake!



WILWOOD DISC BRAKES introduces a new Combination Parking Brake (CPB) rear kit for the Ford 9” rear end with big bearing, new style flanges. Wilwood’s CPB is a hydro-mechanical caliper utilizing hydraulic pressure from the OE master cylinder for stopping power and a cable actuated internal mechanical locking mechanism for the parking brake function. Well suited for applications unable to use an internal shoe style of parking brake. The floating mount allows the caliper to remain in correct alignment over the disc and the radial mount brackets can be configured to mount the caliper at any height within the rotor diameter range or lateral position relative to the hat and rotor offset.


COMPATIBLE VEHICLES:Vehicles with 9” Ford Rear Ends
Product Features:
· Provides Parking Brake Function for Difficult Applications
· Single Piston Floating Design
· Radial Mounting Benefits
· High Temperature Seals
· Uses OE Master Cylinder
· Compatible with Rotor Diameter 11.00”by .810”
· Parking Brake Cable Readily Available
· Caliper will Accept OE Cable on Some Vehicles
· Reduces Unsprung Weight
· Perfect Compliment to High Tech Style
· Available Black, or Optional Colors by Special Order

Gearhead Garage offers a full line of Wilwood Products as well as complete product knowledge and competitive pricing. We are expert installers and specialize in disc brake conversions among many other services.


Call us for more information--we'd love to hear from you!

Wilwood New Product Release - D8-4 Caliper for Corvettes!!







WILWOOD DISC BRAKES Introduces New D8-4 Replacement Calipers for 1965-82 Corvette’s. Wilwood’s front and rear D8-4 calipers are a direct bolt-on replacement for OE calipers on 1965-82 Corvette’s. Forged billet aluminum bodies, stainless steel pistons and competition style high-temperature seals put an end to the rust, bore pitting and seal failures that plague the original caliper design. D8-4 calipers mount in the original location over stock rotors, use the same style OE D8 brake pads and OE master cylinder. Save weight and gain reliability with the D8-4.

COMPATIBLE VEHICLES:1965 - 1982 C2 & C3 Corvettes

Product Features:
· High-Performance OE Upgrade
· Front and Rear Application
· Direct Bolt-on OE Replacement
· Forged Billet Aluminum Body
· Stainless Steel Pistons
· High-Temperature Seals
· Quickly Installs Over Stock Rotors
· Uses OE D8 Brake Pads
· Uses OE Master Cylinder
· Reduces un sprung weight
· Offer significant gains in reliability
Gearhead Garage is an authorized dealer for Wilwood products and offers competitive pricing, expert installation and product knowledge. Give us a call for more information, we're happy to be a resource for you!














































Thursday, April 9, 2009

1966 El Camino Parts Car For Sale


Gearhead Garage is Parting Out Clean '66 El Camino.

Parts include: Excellent window trims & bed trim, driver fender, clean tail gate, solid doors, good quarter panels, rare Strato-Bench seat, rally wheels, dash, rear bumper and many other parts. Badly damaged in right front.

Watch out for that pole!!

More Pictures Here...

1964 Impala SS Convertible Resto-Mod


Gearhead Garage finishes another custom build--this time it's an incredible '64 Impala retrofitted with a multitude of modern amenities. A complete frame-off, rotisserie restoration built with the emphasis on performance, drivability and comfort...







Check out what we've done:

Personally delivered by Jason, the Impala has made its owner yet another happy Gearhead customer! Customer service lives on!!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Kool April Nites!!

It's that time of year! Kool April Nites is right around the corner April 15th-19th in Redding, CA. Gearhead Garage be there with some of our crew to ring in spring with the rest of the car crazy participants and attendees.

Wake up and smell the exhaust fumes! Hear the roar of the hot engines... Gawk at the custom paint.... taste the old-fashioned burgers at that 50's joint out on Highway 273..

"Great cars,great music,great food..tons of bobby sox and ponytails..bigger and better than ever. You'll find: * Miles of Classic Cars * Show and Shines * Trophies * Food * Music * Dances... and more fun than two people in a rumble seat at the drive-in. Don't just stand on the sidelines..

Register your vehicle and get the following Kool benefits....

* Eligibility for Show & Shine Awards and Prizes - take home that trophy!* Cruise permit - so you can show off your wheels on Northern California's Best Cruise; that traverses Hilltop Dr., Dana Drive,Churn Creek Road and Cypress Avenue. No, its not a parade its a genuine "Cruise", blocked off to local traffic.

*Show and Shine Passes - so you can check out the other entries and enjoy the food and entertainment.* Raffle City -- buy those tickets and win prizes donated by local merchants.* Concerts every night starting Thursday in the Big Tent and running through Saturday night. Enjoy that trip down memory lane with our 50's,60', and 70's music. It's guaranteed that you'll enjoy Kool April Nites!

REGISTER EARLY SO THAT YOU HAVE A SPOT TO ENJOY ALL THE FUN!!! Remember they won't accept any registrations once they've registered 2300 cars. Space is limited!

Kool April Nites is a non-profit organization that is staffed by over 500 volunteers and donates all its proceeds to local organizations dedicated to childrens education. Not associated with any other vehicle shows in Northern California. See you April 15-19, 2009 for the 20th anniversary show.

Hope to see you there!

Gearhead Garage Build Gallery

Check out some of our recent builds...We love these cars and hope you enjoy what you see!

We've got everything--Chevy, Mopar and Ford including: First Generation Camaros, Chevelles, Corvettes, Mustangs, Pontiac Firebirds, Gtos, Buick Skylarks, Cutlass', Novas, Impalas, Darts, Cudas, Chargers, Challengers and more!

For a full list of Gearhead Garage services click here.

Pro Touring Defined


There are an infinite number of ways to build a pro-touring car, and perhaps the single greatest thing about the pro-touring genre is the fact that the term is always open to interpretation. At Gearhead Garage, these builds are our specialty, here are a few classifications:


Pro-Touring: A classic muscle car with upgraded and updated suspension components, brake system, drive train and aesthetics, including many of the creature comforts of a new car. Built to function as well or better than some of today’s best performance cars, Pro-Touring cars are built to be driven. On the street, race track, drag strip, through cones at an auto-cross, no matter the setting, pro-touring cars are meant to be driven. [Generally speaking, late model cars are not considered pro-touring due to their factory designed suspension and brake packages.]


G-Machine: [Once considered to mean the same thing as pro-touring, the term has now evolved to mean a slightly less refined pro-touring car] A classic muscle car with upgraded and updated suspension, brakes, drive train and aesthetics, generally lacking some of the creature comforts one would find in a pro-touring car, such as cup-holders, leather seats, etc., otherwise identical to a pro-touring car.


Street Fighter: [The term is adapted from a European genre of stripped down street bikes to mean stripped down pro-touring cars.] A classic muscle car with heavily modified and upgraded suspension and brake system components, powerful yet functional drive train, and little to no creature comforts. Most Street Fighters lack A/C, big billet wheels, chromed-out engine bays and navigation systems, but sport forged wheels, a roll cage and fabricated parts. Anything not necessary to make the car accelerate, decelerate, or handle better is stripped from the vehicle. Street Fighters are Pro-Touring counter-culture at its best; drivability is sacrificed for performance and function. In the simplest of fashions, Street Fighters can be equated to street legal race cars.**


Click here to see some of Gearhead Garage's builds...

**Source: ProTouring.com, 2008

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Custom Car Audio


Gearhead Garage, Northern California's premier muscle car builder, also specializes in custom car audio systems. Located in Sacramento, CA we can provide full car stereo sales, support & installation. From stock OEM replacement units to custom SPL competition systems.

Gearhead Garage can accomodate your needs with exceptional skills, reputable service and consistent reliability.

Alarm systems, keyless remote entry systems, GPS Navigation units, XM radio, DVD players and GPS tracking systems and theft recovery programs can all be sold, serviced and installed at our convenient Sacramento valley location. We can also build custom speaker boxes & enclosures, install power window conversions, rewire and configure stock and high end stereo systems for classic cars, muscle cars, protouring cars & ALL makes & models. We also offer complete upholstery services to augment your custom installation experience.

Come visit us at Gearhead Garage 5780 Roseville Road, Sacramento, CA 95842 or visit us on the web at www.GearheadCars.com