ONWER: Chris Felty RIDE: '96...
ONWER: Chris Felty
RIDE: '96 Nissan
LOCATION: Webster, Florida
CLUB: Acrophobia
When Chris Felty decided to build his '96 Nissan Hardbody a few years ago, he must have really been into watching his patients work out their difficulties in their dreams. As a registered sleep specialist - or in technical terms, a polysomnographer - Chris reads the sleep patterns of people with sleep apnea. Somewhere in the middle of his observations, he must have found out what makes people remember and dream about things because he has since developed the recipe for what would become a ride that no one can forget. When Chris had all the angles of the plan for his truck mapped out, he began a buildup of the Nissan that would take two years and nearly $20,000 to complete.
Throughout the eight years that Chris has owned his Nissan (since the day it was new), he's always wanted to transform it into something that would not only turn heads, but make the visage of his truck stick in the memories of those who saw it. Although the building of such a truck took a little longer than Chris expected, we're sure the results are well worth the time spent in building the truck. The truck has changed its look several times, but Chris' devotion to completing his labors has never dwindled.
With the help of his family and friends, and just the right amount of purchased labor from the right shops, Chris managed to have his Hardbody looking the part for show readiness. Chris went to LA Kustoms for a fully shaved and smoothed look, and promptly had the truck completely sprayed with a healthy coat of primer in preparation for the final spray using DuPont Chroma System Green as a base. The front end was then taped off, and a set of tribal flames that fade from yellow to orange was added. Next, a clearcoat was laid down to protect the base, and the entire truck was color-sanded and buffed to make it shine.
The interior was given plenty of attention with fiberglass inserts on the doors and a boatload of stereo equipment loaded into the standard cab mini. Amongst all the sound gear installed in the truck sits a Pioneer head unit, Audiobahn amps, and Plant Audio speakers throughout. Added to that are DVD capabilities and a pair of flat-panel monitors that face out the rear window. The interior was wrapped in yellow vinyl and gray tweed, and all the loose ends were tied up, essentially completing the truck. Chris was then ready to hit shows around the East Coast to prove whether or not his labor had been worth the work. He soon found that his endeavors were well worth the time and money when he began pulling trophies at the shows he attended.
The Lowdown
Wheels/Tires 19x8-inch Boyd Coddington Spyder billet wheels with 215/35R19 low-profile tires all around
Suspension 'Bagged with Firestone airbags all the way around / Chassis Tech dropped spindles / FBI chrome four-link rear suspension / C-notched rear frame / dual VIAIR 450C compressors / front, back, and side-to-side movement ability
Body Modifications Phantom billet grille / recessed headlights 1-1/2 inches / 4x4 Nissan truck fenders / 4x4 bedsides / Altezza-style taillights / shaved cowl vents and wiper holes / shaved windshield squirters / shaved door handles / California Combo skinned tailgate and roll pan / welded shut tailgate area / chrome front bumper with billet inserts / billet side mirrors / gas filler relocated to bed interior / raised fuel tank 2 inches
Paint DuPont Chroma System Green base color / tribal flames fade from yellow to orange toward the rear / work performed by LA Kustoms in Bushnell, Florida, (352) 793-7780
Interior Colorado Customs billet steering wheel / tweed-upholstered dash / yellow-vinyl and gray-tweed upholstered seats / gray carpeting / tweed-wrapped headliner / smooth fiberglass door-panel flames / flamed billet rearview mirror / flamed billet inner door handles / billet window cranks / interior work by Xzibit Custom Upholstery in Tampa and the owner
Stereo Pioneer DEH-700 head unit / Audiobahn amplifiers / six Planet Audio subwoofers behind seats / separates installed in the doors / two 6.8-inch flatscreen monitors displayed through rear window / Pioneer DVD player / installed by owner
Engine/Performance K&N filter / 32 pieces of the engine and its components have been ceramic-coated / 10mm spark plug wires / chrome valve cover / 1-inch shortened driveshaft / dual Optima Red Top batteries / ceramic-coated Pacesetter header / Borla exhaust
Special Thanks Chris' wife Amanda for her help in building the truck / Auto Security Plus / The Wheel Stop / LA Kustoms / Xzibit Custom Upholstery / Thomas Matzke for bringing Chris into Acrophobia to begin with