Owner: Randall David Ruth
Ride: 1993 Nissan Hardbody
Hometown: Van Buren, AR
Club: Freaks Of Nature
Many people would walk away from a build that was creeping on the 10-year point. More than likely they would call it quits and their project would never see the light of day. Luckily, this is not the case for Randall Ruth of Van Buren, Arkansas, as he stuck with his plan to build a sick Nissan Hardbody.
Randall got caught up in this lifestyle he has grown to love since '89 when his uncle, Curt Clayton, came rolling up to his house in a minitruck. Eleven years later, Randall bought his Nissan, and as soon as he got his hands on it, he couldn't leave it alone. He started with a big static drop and rolled the Hardbody for as long as he could stand it. He then 'bagged it, slapped on a set of 17s, and even used ball valves to get him by on the budget he was on just like we all did in our younger days. He did some bodywork to rid the truck of all the necessary things that always get in the way such as door handles and windshield wipers.
Randall had a blast in his truck for a few years, going to shows, hanging out with friends, and railing his truck any chance he got. Sparks were raining all over the state of Arkansas. One day, he decided he was going to bodydrop his truck but never having taken on such an extensive job before, he had a few moments of hesitation. It took some time, but his truck was finally dragging rocker instead of frame.
Randall got married, settled down, and stepped out of the scene for a little bit, but every once in a while he would make an appearance at a show or a local hang-out spot. Everyone would always ask him about his ride, and he would say he still had it but that's as much information he would let leak out. Little did they know the truck was torn down to nothing, and the frame and bodydrop were being refreshed due to the aforementioned dragging sessions. Along with cutting into the rockers, Randall and Keith Chandler finished up the bodywork so the truck could be passed to Mike Howerton's hands to get sprayed the Jazz Blue that is currently coating the Hardbody's surface.
When people were walking around the 2010 Slamily Reunion show, no one could believe that they were looking at the same truck from years ago. Not only did Randall end up with the truck that he has always wanted, but it could not have happened to a more deserving guy. Randall is a true minitrucker-he lives the life, helps out anyone he can, and is a great person to have in the scene to guide the younger minitruckers in the right direction.
For more information on Randall's homebuilt Hardbody, check out the Lowdown.
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels: 20x7 1/2 Devino Dashers
Tires: 215/30ZR20 Toyo Proxes
Chassis Modifications
Suspension (front): 2x2 and 2x3 Z'd
Suspension (rear): Custom back-half using 2x2 and 2x3 square tubing
Control Arms: 3-inch lower control arms
Shocks: Monroe
Air/hydro Accessories: AirLift 200-psi gauge
Frame Mods: Z'd in the front and custom back half
Brakes: Stock
Misc.: Suicidedoors universal triangulated four-link and drilled lugs to five-lug
Performed By: Owner
Body Modifications
Shaved: Corner marker lights, hood squirters, antenna, cowl, wipers, mirrors, door handles, roof line, behind the cab and bed, gas lid, bedfloor, and taillights
Bodydrop: 3-inch bodydrop past the pinch, 1 inch into the rockers with new rockers
Body Mods: '93 Cadillac taillights, raised bedfloor, 4x4 fenders molded in the bedsides, full skin combo
Suicide Doors: Passenger-side door
Bolt-ons: 4x4 fenders, chrome bumper with billet inserts, and chrome grille with billet inserts
Misc.: Retractable license plate using a Toyota window motor
Performed By: Owner and Keith Chandler
Paint
Brand & Colors: Sherwin Williams 4th Dimension Jazz Blue metallic with pink pearl
Misc.: Spray-on bedliner using Jazz Blue metallic paint
Performed By: Mike Howerton
Interior
Seats: Toyota Corolla buckets
Gauges: Stock
Misc.: One-off billet brass knuckle rearview mirror, one-off billet brass knuckle shifter, and billet window cranks
Performed By: Owner
Stereo
Head Unit: JVC
Mids & Highs: 6.5-inch Pioneer
Subwoofers: Kicker 8-inch L5
Amplifiers: Memphis
Performed By: Owner
Engine/Performance
Engine: 2.4L
Intake: Edelbrock
Header/exhaust: 2 1/2-inch custom exhaust bent to tuck under the frame
Transmission: Five-speed
Rearend Type: Stock
Detail Work: Shaved firewall and billet overflow tank
Performed By: Owner
Special Thanks From Owner
"First of all, the wife and kids! Mike Howerton, Keith Chandler, Buddy and Curt Clayton, Chuck Tamblyn, Gary and Dora Brown, and Doc's Detail."