Custom 1997 Nissan Hardbody - S-10 Killa

Keepin' It Tru

By Chad Lucas

Photography by Mike Alexander

Owner: Josh Poston Ride:...

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A Nissan Hardbody stock-floor body-dropped on 20s with power steering, cruise control, and A/C would have been a myth a couple years ago. You know the story: A buddy of a buddy of a buddy who isn't from around here and has like four of them sitting in his backyard that are all daily drivers . . . We have all heard tales of something to this extent from random people trying to swing their junk. When you actually happen to run into one that is legit, let alone finished and a show-stopper, you have to wonder how much thought and patience has gone into such a creation.

We can't tell you how ecstatic we were to see Josh Poston of Clarksville, Tennessee's '97 Nissan Hardbody killing it at Showfest this year. The perfection of the bright-blue House of Kolor paint stops you in your tracks. As you start to lurk toward the plowed Hardbody, you realize the thoroughness that has gone into every detail of Josh's S-10 Killa. Every nut and bolt on this truck has been cleaned, massaged, and given seaweed wraps. The detail is unquestionable, and it's clear that the entire Mini Truckin' staff would eat dinner off of Josh's engine.

Seeing Josh's truck now would make you shocked to learn the humble beginnings from which it came. Formerly a daily driver with cranked torsions, S-10 Killa was anything but. As a matter of fact, one day when the Hardbody was cruising the streets of Tennessee, a wrong turn was taken. The wrong alley on the wrong night and the Nissan ended up with a $5,700 hospital bill. Sometimes it's these little mishaps that spark the energy to make something great.

The Nissan was taken to the boys at Bullock's Body Werks in White House, Tennessee, and was blown. No simple 'bag job would do for Josh, as a custom frame from the firewall back out of 2x4-inch box tubing was crafted to sit Josh's Nissan's body flat on the pavement. Control arms were built to handle the extra lift to get a mini above 20s without compromising the straightness of the fenders. A custom-made reverse triangulated four-link was fitted onto the Nissan, and of course Firestone airbags were added on all four corners.

Josh being a painter by trade gives him the advantage of not being forever primer. Josh laid down House of Kolor's Tru Blue over a custom-mixed based at Paintrix, his place of employment. Seeing the truck in person makes you wonder if it is legal to put that much clear on a truck - at least, it's probably not in California.

The utter completeness of Josh's Hardbody continues to the interior. A custom-fiberglassed dash flows into a custom center console that houses all necessary switches for ride height adjustment. Unfortunately, there was not another ostrich saved in this article, as S-10 Killa's seats were covered in black ostrich and black suede. What has to be done has to be done, even if that means one or two less ostriches in this world.

Josh's two years were well spent and so was his money. The line of completely detailed minis is growing by the day and Josh can be glad to say that he was at the forefront. We hope Josh has many happy nights cleaning and slaving over his ride.

1997 Nissan Hardbody Rear Drivers Side View

The Lowdown

Rolling Attire
Wheels: 20x8-inch Mondera Blackhawk
Backspace: 45 mm
Tires: Nitto 225/35ZR20

Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Front suspension: 2,500-pound airbags
Rear suspension: Custom-built reverse triangulated four-link
Airbag/cylinder type and size: Firestone 2,500-pound airbags
Control arms: Handmade custom control arms for more lift
Shocks: DJM
Valves: 1/2-inch SMC
Compressors: Two 450 Viairs
Air line: 3/8-inch in rear and 1/2-inch in the front
Frame mods: C-notch, exhaust runs through the frame in two points
Frame material: Stock and 2x4-inch box tubing
Gas tank: 10-gallon sectioned stock gas tank
Detail work: Painted and chromed up the wazoo
Misc: The whole frame is custom-built from the firewall back out of 2x4-inch tubing, stock floor body drop
Performed by: Bullock's Body Werks in White House, Tennessee

Body Modifications
Shaved: Fenders, 2WD Toyota bumper, door handles, squirters, emblems, wiper cowl, third brake light
Body drop: Stock floor
Front end: 4x4 fender, 2WD Toyota bumper shaved and smoothed (bumper and valance molded together)
Back end: Tailgate skin combo
Taillights: Hitech 12.5-inch LEDs flush-mounted and cleared over
Suicide doors: Driver door
Exterior bolt-ons: Phantom billet grille, Cats HID headlights
Misc: Modified trailer fenders on all four corners, one-piece molded bed inside and out all radiused corners, sliding 35x35 ragtop
Performed by: Bullock's Body Werks

Paint
Brand and colors: House of Kolor custom-mixed base with House of Kolor Tru Blue sprayed over it
Style: Single color, smooth as glass
Performed by: Paintrix, by Josh himself

Interior
Seats: Stock sans headrest
Material: Black suede, black ostrich leather
Dash: Fiberglassed and painted
Door panels: Custom-fiberglassed armrest, covered in suede
Center console: Tubular center console with a floating ostrich armrest
Flooring: Black carpet, painted floor mats
Headliner: Black suede
Gauges: Dolphin gauges (quad set)
Misc: B.A.D. Rockstar billet steering wheel (chrome-plated), seatbelts dyed black, billet A/C vents
Performed by: Bullock's Body Werks

Stereo
Head unit: Panasonic CD
Mids and highs: Four 6-1/2-inch Memphis component sets
Amplifier for mids and highs: Memphis
Subwoofers: Four 10-inch Memphis
Amplifier for subwoofers: Memphis
Wiring/accessories: Memphis
Video: Two 8 1/2-inch Audiovox TVs, slimline PS2
Custom fabrication: Fiberglass subwoofer enclosures
Misc: Wireless air ride controls, starter, and power Windows
Performed by: Bullock's Body Werks, by Shannon "Big Mann" Taylor

Engine/Performance
Transmission: Detailed and painted
Rearend type: Stock rearend shortened 4 inches
Intake: Stock modified powdercoated intake
Header/exhaust: 3-inch Borla exhaust and powdercoated Pacesetter header
Battery: Optima relocated under the bed
Inner fenders: Modified trailer fenders
Detail work: More paint, more chrome
Misc: Custom motor mounts
Performed by: Fabrication by Bullock's Body Werks, detail work by Paintrix