David DeKorver likes to customize anything that moves. So when he bought his '89 Nissan Hardbody in the fall of '95, he knew that he wouldn't give up until he had created a masterpiece. The fact that he built most of it himself, at his own shop, Dub D Kustoms, makes him a happy camper to see his work come to life.
Being a bodyman by trade definitely has helped his cause. But, no matter how much experience he has under his belt, he still had some mishaps during the build. "While I was welding the extra cab windows up, I managed to catch the interior on fire," says David. But that's not all; it seems David's string of bad luck would continue through his seven-year build, mainly the events that always took place at a very popular show named, Slamfest. "It started five years ago, when I decided to drag my truck at Slamfest. I was promptly pulled over and taken to jail." Wow, not even a citation, straight to jail! That's crazy, but it didn't stop there. David explained, "Two years ago, I was trailering the truck back from the show, when suddenly, I spun out on the highway." This time, the damage included ruined rims, a screwed-up paint job, and a heart stuck in his throat. Because of that situation, is the reason why he completely redid the truck to what it looks like today. You would think that after all of that, it might stop. Well, guess what? It didn't! This year at Slamfest, somebody backed into it and dented his roll pan.
David, being the trooper he is, hasn't let the nonsense stop him and is promising to return to Slamfest. Over the winter, he plans on redoing some parts of the truck to come out stronger than ever. So keep an eye out for the Soul Keeper at a show near you.
Owner: David and Kim DeKorver
Ride: '89 Nissan Hardbody
Location: Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Club: Negative Camber
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels (Front/Rear): 18x7 Intro Twisted Vistas
Tires (Front/Rear): 215/35R18 Kumho
Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Front suspension: Reversed strut rods
Rear suspension: Triangulated four-link
Airbag type and size:
Front: 2500 Firestone
Rear: 2600 Firestone
Spindles/springs: 2-inch drop spindles by Chassis Tech
Shocks: Gabriel
Valves: 1/2-inch SMC valves
Compressors: Firestone
Air line: 1/2-inch
Gas tank: 30-gallon fuel cell in back of frame.
Performed by: Dub D Kustoms
City/state: Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Body Modifications
Shaved: Door handles, cowl, hood squirters, emblems, front bumper, lower valance, extra cab windows, cab seams, fuel door, taillights, tailgate handle and the antenna
Frenched: License-plate box
Body-dropped: 3 inches
Front end: 4x4 fenders, '92 hood, '97 bumper, '94 Pathfinder grille
Back end: Full sheetmetal bed, tailgate skin, and roll pan
Taillights: '02 Impala third brake light modified
Exterior bolt-ons: Drag Specialties mirrors, 40x4 ragtop, custom grille inserts
Performed by: Dub D Kustoms
City/state: Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Paint
Brand and colors: House of Kolor (HOK)Candy-Apple Red and Orion Silver
Style: Two-tone, separated by tribal flames
Pinstriping: Freehand black pinstripes on the flames
Airbrushing: Skulls and reaper, beveled edge on flames
Performed by: Kustom Auto Graphix
City/state: Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Interior
Seats: '02 Xterra bucket seats
Material: Black leather, ash ostrich
Dash: Glassed and painted with a molded skull
Door panels: Glassed and painted with ostrich top pads
Center console: Custom-made, smoothed and painted
Flooring: Gray carpet
Headliner: Black leather and ostrich
Gauges: Digital air gauges
Misc.: Custom-made window trim with skull molded on
Performed by: Sonny's Upholstery and David DeKorver
City/state: Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Stereo
Head unit: Sony CDX-ca700X
Mids and highs: Sony Xplod 270 watts
Subwoofers: Sony Xplod 12-inch subs, 900 watts
Amplifier for subwoofers: Rockford Fosgate Punch 360
Wiring/accessories: Stinger wires
Custom fabrication: Custom sub box
Performed by: Dub D Kustoms
City/state: Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
Special Thanks (by owner):
To my wife Kim, for all of her help and support, Josh, Neil, and my sons "the clean team."