OWNER: Monte Lopez RIDE: '89...
OWNER: Monte Lopez
RIDE: '89 Nissan Hardbody
HOMETOWN: Inglewood, CA
Some of us have been around and doing this minitruckin' thing for more than a decade and we love every second of it. Some of us are just getting started or have been tinkering for a few years. But not many of us can say that we have been into minitrucks for over twenty years! Monte Lopez is probably one of a handful of guys that has stuck with it through the decades. Monte bought this '89 Nissan Hardbody that you see here brand new from the dealership lot, and hasn't looked back since!
Monte Lopez hails from Inglewood, California where he's been fortunate enough to see all sorts of customs over the last 20 years, as the SoCal scene gave birth to much of the custom automotive industry. This fueled Monte's own fire and his dream to one day build a cover truck. Even though Monte has a family of his own to provide for, this only slowed the life long dream, but never halted it! So after a few years off, Monte hooked up with Jeff Davy, the owner of Devious Customs in Riverside, California. From there the ideas were shot back and forth to ultimately meet Monte's dream, and the Devious crew went to town. In most builds there's some hold ups, issues to overcome, different points of view between owner and builder, etc. However, all went relatively smooth with this Hardbody; almost like it was meant to be! With the Devious talent of a full fab shop combined with an onsite stereo builder and painter, Monte knew he made the right decision when he first laid eyes on his newly transformed Hardbody. He was literally floored!
Nothing can express the happiness of a truck owner like Monte, nothing except for the ear to ear smile! That's what we all do it for; from the owner, to the builder, to the magazine; that smile means the world to all of us! So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you Monte, and all truck owners and builders out there that share our love for this!
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels (Front/Rear): 18x7-inch Intro Mulholland 6
Backspace (Front/Rear): 5-1/2-inch
Tires (Front/Rear): 215/35ZR18 Nitto 555s
Chassis Modifications
Suspension type: Air
Airbag type: Firestone bags in front and Contitech in the rear
Control arms: Custom tubular upper and lower
Shocks: Bilstein
Valves: GC Extreme 1/2-inch
Compressor: Oasis XD 2000
Air line: 1/2-inch
Frame material: 2x3-inch box tubing
Gas tank: Devious Customs aluminum fuel cell
Detail work: Full frame and suspension powdercoated
Misc.: Custom frame firewall back
Performed by: Devious Customs
City/State: Riverside, CA
Body Modifications
Shaved: Door handles, squirters, wiper cowl
Frenched: License plate
Body-dropped: Stock floor
Front end: '92 chrome grille, corners, hood, one-piece bumper
Back end: Tailgate welded shut
Taillights: 46-inch LED
Exterior bolt-ons: Billet Specialties mirrors
Misc.: tubs all four corners, sheetmetal smooth bed floor
Performed by: Devious Customs
City/State: Riverside, CA
Paint
Brand and colors: HOK Tangelo pearl/Snow white pearl
Style: two-tone
Pinstriping: green
Performed by: Todd Faulkner at Devious Customs
City/State: Riverside, CA
Interior
Seats: Bench seat sans headrests
Material: Vinyl and suede
Dash: Suede
Door panels: Vinyl
Flooring: Brown carpet
Headliner: Brown vinyl
Misc.: Custom fiberglass armrests
Performed by: James/Devious Customs/LB Threadz
Stereo
Head unit: Alpine CMA 7820
Mids and highs: two pair
Subwoofers: Two 10-inch Fosgate Punch
Amplifier for subwoofers: Interfire
Custom fabrication: Fiberglass door speaker pods
Performed by: James at Devious Customs
City/state: Riverside, CA
Engine/Performance
Model/Year: Z 22 / stock
Driveshaft: powdercoated
Battery: Kinetik Audio
Inner fenders: Tubs
Detail work: painted two-tone
Performed by: Todd Faulkner at Devious Customs
City/state: Riverside, CA
Special Thanks By Owner:
Devious Customs, Jeff and entire crew, The Dog Pound, my wife Lorraine, my boys David and Alex, and Mini Truckin' magazine for making a dream come true.