The Lowdown
Wheels/Tires: 18x7.5-inch chrome KMC Elf wheels with 215/35ZR18 Toyo Proxes T1-S radial tires.
Suspension/Chassis: Up front, the suspension has been detailed to death with plenty of Glasurit Silver and a custom-mixed Green. The front has been 'bagged using smaller Firestone airbags, running 1/2-inch lines to SMC valves. Additionally, the frontend was given an additional 2 inches of alignable drop using a pair of Belltech dropped spindles, and Doetsch Tech drop shocks. In the rear, things really get busy with the factory rearend a mere memory. In its place, an '86 Nissan 300ZX rearend makes everything fully independent, with larger Firestone airbags mounted above the upper control arms with flame-cut flame-shaped mounts built into the tubular rear subframe. Since the 300ZX lower control arms serve as the lower 'bag mounts, Josh gets a full foot of articulation in the rear when the rear shocks are removed.
Body Modifications: Shaved headlights, custom fenders and hood, all meant to further make the use of '97 Honda Accord headlights work in fit, form, and function. All sheetmetal was modified by Josh himself at Advanced Auto Refinishing in San Juan Capistrano. He built everything using steel that he tweaked to suit his needs. To say this truck came as a result of Josh's warped vision of the ultimate mini would be the truest representation of what Josh had intended all along. Of course, all of the handles and other factory annoyances were removed permanently.
Other protuberances such as the antenna, rock guards, factory third brake light mountain, bodylines, and taillights were removed. The new taillights in the Toyota can be seen through the tribal design on the tailgate that illuminates red when the brake is depressed. While a smooth roll pan and tailgate skin were grafted into the bed, an opening was opened in the roll pan area's center after Josh railed too hard one night tearing the center of the bed. Josh simply worked with what he had and modified the truck further. The truck is also body dropped a whopping 4-1/2 inches. Of course, Josh did that, too.
Paint: After getting all of his custom bodywork completed, Josh went even further by painting his own truck using Glasurit Silver, and laid out his own design for the truck using a custom mix of green paint for the truck's graphics.
Interior: Hand-fabricated steel dash and center console painted to match the exterior. Seats are out of a '96 Honda Prelude sans headrests with modified seat mounts and wrapped in black pleather. Additionally, the door panels are pleather-wrapped Masonite with inserts that make the door panels flow into the dash. See the killer steering wheel in the truck? You can't buy it. It was built from a barstool "borrowed" from Josh's parent's house. The center is a piece of plate steel. Once combined and made to fit a stock wheel, the wheel is held to the column via the factory hub nut. The rear frame clip is tied to the in-cab roll cage, a la race truck style, and painted to match the green tribal found all over the truck. The center console is also of Josh's own design, made to flow to the dash, as well as to house the truck's wiring and stereo components.
Engine: Other than plenty of detailing, the 22RE engine under the hood of Josh's Toyota is mostly stock. Besides a Toyota Racing Development cam, the engine remains in virtually factory condition. Better performance is gained from a custom-built exhaust utilizing a Magnaflow baffled exhaust tip that exits from the truck's bedside in yet another clean body modification. Drivelines Unlimited is credited with shortening Josh's factory driveshaft to keep it from being shoved into the truck's transmission when the truck is laid out.
Special Thanks: Jeff and Eric at Advanced Auto Refinishing in San Juan Capistrano. Without them, this truck would undoubtedly be highly modified and killer ride, but would have nowhere near the attention to detail that it possesses today.