Owner: Russell Jones
Ride: '87 Chevrolet S-10
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Club: Negative Camber
How many people can truly remember the moment they were bit by the minitruck bug? For some people, it might have been earlier in life than others. Maybe your brother had a minitruck or perhaps a neighbor was cruising with a Testarossa body kit on a Mazda. For some, it might have happened after years of building different types of cars. For Russell Jones, who had previously built an assortment of VWs, it was a sunny day in 1993. That is the day Russell and his buddies attended Stars and Cars, a show in Asheville, North Carolina.
"There, I saw a Blazer with a Testarossa body kit, a slammed S-10, and a D50 on hydros," Russell remembers.
This was a life-changing experience, and it would eventually lead him to this point today and his awesome '87 Chevy S-10.
Now, this wasn't as easy as just following the Yellow Brick Road. Russell would go through roughly thirty grand and three tries to build what you see before you today.
"My first attempt had blue, white, and kiwi graphics with Tri-fans and a snug top," Russell says. "The second attempt was an early version of what you see today, same green but with a four-cylinder."
Back in the day, Russell rolled with a club called Slammed Impressions, so maybe some of you guys might remember the old look of the truck. Russell soon realized that he wanted to build a killer show truck. He took the truck down to a shop where basically everything took a turn for the worse.
"It's the place and time we do not speak of," Russell warns. "Basically, I took the truck to a shop that got shut down by the IRS. I just barely got my truck out of the shop before it was locked down, so I really don't talk too much about it."
After that experience Russell went to another shop, and here they helped him build the last and final version of the truck.
Russell rolls with Negative Camber these days, and he's enjoying cruising the truck that almost wasn't his. His biggest inspirations come from being able to piss off people who think trucks shouldn't be cut, and from his club "because they're always building something badass."
His goal with the truck was to be in Mini Truckin', so now he's just going to enjoy the truck and show it as much as possible.
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels front/rear: Boss Motorsports 312
Backspace front/rear: +10 mm
Tires front/rear: 235/35ZR20 Nitto NT555
Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Front suspension: 2-inch drop spindles by Baer,2-inch bumpsteer tie-rod set by Baer, Air Ride air springs
Rear suspension: Road Grater three-link wishbone with C-notch
Airbag/cylinder type and size: Front - F6957; Rear - F910
Control arms: Air Ride tubular upper and lower
Spindles/springs: Baer Spindles, Air Ride double convoluted air springs
Shocks: Monroe
Valves: Big Red from Air Ride
Compressor(s): Two Viair 400s
Air line: 1/2-inch DOT air line
Air accessories: Air Ride's new Ride Pro-E with remote control and two 5-gallon tanks
Frame mods: Road Grater C-notch
Gas tank: RCI polished aluminum 10-gallon tank in the bed
Brakes: Baer brake systems
Detail work: Painted tanks, compressors, and most of the rear frame
Performed by: Brad Cate, Dee Kisner
City/State: Knoxville, Tennessee
Body Modifications
Shaved: Wiper cowl, tailgate, emblems, bumper, antenna, side trim
Frenched: License plate box
Front end: Phantom grille with stock chrome front bumper and clear turn signals
Back end: Sir Michaels roll pan, tailgate skin
Performed by: Mike Hensley, Southpaw Customs
City/State: Asheville, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee
Paint
Brand and colors: DuPont Greed Green
Style: Solid
Performed by: Southpaw Customs
City/State: Knoxville, Tennessee
Interior
Seats: '98 Ford Ranger XLT 60/40 bench seat
Material: Leather
Dash: Custom all-steel
Door panels: Painted to match, silver trim and leather armrests, billet cranks
Flooring: Leather
Headliner: Highliner Model H-246 with radio console, custom dome lights, 4-inch speaker recess
Gauges: Auto Meter oil, water, tach, speedo, volts, and fuel with carbon-fiber faces
Misc: 23-inch Lokar Nostalgia shifter; Lokar Oval billet aluminum pedals; Billet Specialties Psycho steering wheel; Flaming River 7-inch column, rearview mirror, and window cranks; Vintage Air system installed
Performed by: Southpaw Customs
City/State: Knoxville, Tennessee
Stereo
Head unit: JVC KD-G710
Mids & highs: Polk Audio; one set is DB5250 and two sets of DB400
Amplifier for mids & highs: Rockford Fosgate P4004
Subwoofers: Rockford Fosgate 8-inch P28S8
Amplifier for subwoofers: Rockford Fosgate P3002
Wiring/accessories: Rockford Fosgate fuse block and Stinger wires
Custom fabrication: fiberglass enclosure with Air Ride gauges
Misc: Q-forms
Performed by: Mike "Thump" Thurmer
City/State: Knoxville, Tennessee
Engine/Performance
Displacement: 383
Model/year: '05
# of cylinders: Eight
Head type: Brodix aluminum internals, Keith Black pistons, Comp Cam moly pushrods, stainless steel solid roller rocker arms
Ported/polished: Yes
Camshaft: Comp Cam hydraulic
Transmission: 700R4
Intake: Billet top with green high-performance air filter
Header/exhaust: Hedman headers, 3-inch exhaust tubing, X-pipe with Flowmaster 40-series Delta Flow
Ignition: Painless
Driveshaft: Custom-built
Rearend type: Ford 9-inch with a 350 gear, Strange S-series iron case, 31-spline Moser axles, Detroit Truetrac differential
Battery: ACDelco located in bed
Detail work: Smooth firewall, lots of chrome and billet
Misc.: Be Cool overflow and radiator, two high-torque fans, chrome 7-inch brake booster
Performed by: Jon Barrett, Southpaw Customs
City/State: Knoxville, Tennessee
Special Thanks (from owner)
I would like to say thank you to Southpaw Customs, Thump, Brandon, Donnie, Mike Hensley, Shane Gentry, Performance Products, Negative Camber, my family, Brad Cate, Dee Kisner, and last but not least, H.D. for understanding what this truck means to me. Without these people, my truck would just be a dream. Once again, thank you.