Owner: Jeff Lewis
Ride: '93 Isuzu
Hometown: Sevierville, TN
Club: Relaxed Atmosphere
Dreams are the one universal thing that we can all relate to. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream for equality, Tom Cruise has dreams of an alien spacecraft, lead by an intergalactic ruler named Xenu; but Jeff Lewis, well, he had a dream of a body-dropped Isuzu. The dream came just after he had acquired the truck. As he laid down that night, his mind started to wander into a deep sleep, where Jeff found himself sitting on the tailgate of a truck, swinging his feet back and forth, and talking about a project with a familiar face-Bob Grant. As they sat there, pitching ideas off of each other and looking at the truck, both of them kept referring to the single cab Isuzu as "Isabella." When Jeff woke up and cleared the sleep from his eyes, he had a name for his truck, as well as a few new ideas.
The Isuzu was taken to Twist of Cain where Jeff, Ed, and a close group of friends created a full frame that cradles the 327-cid small-block, the cantilever rear suspension, as well as the two Kinetik batteries. Grant Kustoms provided a one-off front bumper, rear combo skin, and a new rear cab wall that allows the body line to flow all the way around the cab. Inside the cab, the stock dash was ditched and a '59 Impala dash was sectioned to fit.
When it came to finish the work and paint it, Jeff only trusted one shop: Keef's Rod and Customs in Sallis, Mississippi. John and the crew worked diligently to prep the truck, ensuring that every panel and line on the Isuzu was straight. Once it was prepped, it was sprayed with Matrix Rootbeer Candy base, as well as Matrix Tarnished Silver inside the bed and cab. A simulated stainless trim was laid down with engine turned silver leaf.
The interior work was completed by David Corn at Pro Stitch. He used a combination of dark brown ostrich, suede, and tan leather over the bench seat, headliner, and the floor to create a hot-rod flow inside.
Jeff's dream couldn't have been completed without the help of many friends, sponsors, and positive feedback from the minitruckin' community. His truck should serve as a constant reminder that dreams don't have to be as serious as equality, or as stupid as Tom Cruise; sometimes they can just be about a super-clean minitruck.
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels (Front/Rear): 20 Rozzi Peel
Tires (Front/Rear): 225/35-20 Nankang
Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Suspension (Front): Speedway Motor upper and lower control arms (Rear): Suicide Doors Super Pivot
Airbag/cylinder type and size: (Front/Rear): 2,500-pounds Air Lift Dominators
Control arms: Speedway Motor Circle Track arms
Valves: SMC
Compressors: Two Air-Zeniths
Air line: 1/2-inch
Frame mods: Full frame
Frame material: 2x3-inch steel
Gas tank: Fuel cell
Brakes: Disc conversion by John Yokam