In our hobby, there are quite a few trucks that reach a certain point in their lives where they just seem to lose the interest of their owners. Whether it's time or money, the day comes where the decision is made to simply start a new project. So, what happens to the former project or projects? Most of the time, they are sold off to be finished by someone else. A smaller percentage of trucks that are finished very rarely become reincarnated, and why not? After all, the truck is most likely already shaved, 'bagged, and painted. So, why go through all of the added expense and trouble to build an entirely new truck when what you have is already a fabulous beginning? Those are the thoughts that were running threw Kyle Chandanais, better known as "Gooch", from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee when he began the build of this Frontier.
A quick recap of what it took to make this Frontier literally rest on the pavement takes us to former owner Kevin Delaney. He took the truck over to Wicked Kustoms where Josh Long and an impressionable 16-year-old, Kyle Chandanais, went to work on the truck. The crew used mandrel bent 2x3-inch boxed steel and tubular stock for the transmission mounts to bring the rockers close to the ground. Helping the truck get even lower, Air Lift `bags were bolted to each corner along with the front clip from a Toyota and rearend from a 300Z. An Air Lift engine driven compressor and SMC valves ensure all their hard work stays going up and down. That's where the old story ends. The new chapter of this Frontier begins here and things get very interesting.
For almost three years, this truck sat on a trailer after it was shot for Mini Truckin' back when it was green. Kyle found out the fate of the very first mini he worked on and offered to take it off Kevin's hands. Once Kyle got the truck home he got down to business. He tore down the entire truck to get ready for a complete color change. He, sprayed the PPG Copperhead Orange paint onto every panel. Once the paint was dry, he had Cam lay down some pinstriping on the hood and tailgate. The inside of the Quad Cab was totally reworked to Gooch's liking. The front bucket seats have been recovered in dark gray leather while the headliner received a few yards of black suede. The doors, dash, handmade center console, and sub enclosure were painted to match the frame and add plenty of color contrast to the massive expanse. Making the driving expirence better for both driver and passenger alike, a little music pipes in from the flip-face Kenwood headunit. Component speakers fire off a barrage of sound waves from their custom-made door panels, while a single 12-inch subwoofer bangs out bass notes from its home in the one-off enclosure where the rear seats used to reside.
If you have ever questioned what a good `bag job can do, then this truck is your testament. Since originally getting air suspension back in `03, Gooch has racked up more than 10,000 miles on the customized system. With the help of his friends, Gooch has revamped this truck giving it a new lease of life in the show scene.
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels: 20x8.5 KMC Novas
Backspace: +38mm
Tires (Front): 255/35ZR20 (Rear):255/30ZR20
Chassis Modifications
Suspension (Front): '86 toyota front clip, torsion bar bag setup (Rear): '84 300Z independent rear suspension, control arm 'bag setup
Airbag: (Front): Air Lift Dominators 2500(Rear): Air Lift Dominators 2600
Control arms: custom-made lowers
Spindles/springs: Belltech 2-inch drop
Shocks: Bilstein
Valves: SMC four 1/2-inch and four 3/8-inch
Compressor: Air Lift engine driven
Air accessories: 8-gallon air tank, brass fittings, custom made 7-switch box
Frame mods: Full Frame using 2x3x.250 box tubing
Gas tank: Custom-made 14-gallon stainless steel
Detail work: Smoothed and painted SEM Hot Rod Black
Performed by: Josh at Wicked Customs and Owner
Body Modifications
Shaved: gas door, fender flares, shaved handles, third brake light, and taillights
Body-dropped: Stock-floor
Sectioned: firewall
Front end: Modified bumper
Back end: Grant Kustoms skin combo
Taillights: Two 8-inch LEDs
Misc.: raised bed floor, gas door relocated inside bed, hood clearanced for supercharger
Performed by: Wicked Kustoms
Paint
Brand and colors: PPG Copperhead Orange
Pinstriping: Hood and tailgate by Cam
Performed by: Kyle's Custom Paint and Autobody
Interior
Seats: Stock
Material: Katzkin dark gray leather covers
Dash: Smoothed and painted Sem Hot Rod Black
Door panels: Custom built, painted Sem Hot Rod Black and PPG Copperhead Orange
Center console: Custom made and flows into the sub enclosure
Headliner: Black suede
Misc.: Switches mounted into the center console
Performed by: Mike Smiley and Billy Fegan at 615 Motor Trendz
Stereo
Head unit: Kenwood 25th anniversary 7-inch flip-out
Mids and highs: Memphis Audio M class M-Sync 6.5-inch and 5.25-inch components
Amplifier for mids and highs: Precision Power DCX 300.4
Subwoofers: One JL 12W7
Amplifier for subwoofers: Precision Power DCX 1500.1
Wiring/accessories: Tsunami
Custom fabrication: Sub enclosure
Misc.: Kinetik 600 Power Cell used for the audio
Performed by: Mike Smiley at 615 Motor Trendz
Special Thanks By Owner
My parents, Kevin Delaney, 615 Motor Trendz, Mike Smiley, Billy Fegan, Air Lift Company, KMC Wheels, Severed Ties, Big Body, Keith Steen, Jimbo, Shannon at Wheel Pros, Carlton Hunter, and Auto Body Color and Supply.