Twenty-five years is a long commitment to give to any sort of hobby or lifestyle, and in that time there are bound to be short-lived trends and fads that come and go. Keith Thompson has been around custom trucks for just that long, and he has seen wild splash paintjobs and the insurgence of big wheel-and-tire combos, but when it came to building his '86 Nissan 720, cleanliness was objective number one.
Keith needed to put a truck together to promote his shop and represent the quality of craftsmanship that is offered. But keeping the shop doors open and tending to family business is already a full-time-and-a-half job, so the help of friends was desperately needed in order to get the project finished in a timely manner. When Keith got his hands on the Nissan, it had already been ’bagged and bodydropped, so all that was left to do was pretty much everything else necessary to create a feature truck. The engine was yanked and overhauled, the firewall was painted, and the bodywork and exterior paint were also taken care of.
After a 45-day build period, Keith and company turned the Nissan into a clean-cut shop representative built for everyday driveability and show worthiness. That time was definitely no stroll in the park though from what Keith tells us: "Everything that could go wrong, did. This truck fought us from day one."
The 720 must not have put up too much of a struggle for the guys since it was beat into submission and molded to what it looks like in only a month and a half—just in time to go be displayed at Showfest '11.
Owner: Keith Thompson
Ride: 1986 Nissan 720 King Cab
Hometown: Florence, MS
Affiliation: Acrophobia
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels: 18x7 Limited alloys
Tires: 215/25/18 Toyo
Chassis Modifications
Suspension (front): ContiTech ’bags, Belltech spindles, torsion bar bag brackets
Suspension (rear): ContiTech ’bags, triangulated four-link, ’bags on bars
Control Arms: Modified stock uppers
Shocks: Nitro shocks front and rear
Compressor(s): Two Viair 480s
Air/hydro Accessories: 1/2-inch GC Valves, 3/8-inch air line, Viair gauges mounted in instrument cluster
Frame Mods: 8-inch C-notch, gas tank mounted in rear of frame
Misc.: Five-lug hub swap in front, Toyota rearend
Performed By: McClary’s Metalworks
Body Modifications
Shaved: Holes and bumper bolts, antenna, gas door
Bodydrop: 2-3/4-inch traditional
Body Mods: Front fenderwells molded under hood
Bolt-ons: Chrome front valence, chrome 4WD grille
Misc.: Grant Kustoms roll pan
Performed By: Bodydrop by McClary’s Metalworks, bodywork by Sick Designs
Paint
Brand & Colors: Sikkens Autowave waterborne paint and clear, Dodge Rugged Brown and Jeep Bronze Star from Automotive Color
Misc.: Two-tone pinstripe
Performed By: Sick Designs
Interior
Seats: Cream tweed with brown suede inserts
Dash: Dyed Dodge Rugged Brown
Misc.: Billet Specialties window cranks, shifter knob, and pedals
Performed By: Sick Designs and Juan’s Upholstery
Stereo
Head Unit: Kenwood
Mids & Highs: Memphis Audio 6-1/2 and 4-inch
Performed By: Decibel Audio
Engine/Performance
Engine: Stock 2.4L
Header/exhaust: Pacesetter header with import-style muffler
Transmission: Stock five-speed with short shifter
Rearend Type: Toyota five-lug
Detail Work: Everything smoothed, painted, or powdercoated
Misc.: Motor lowered, modified oil pan, Weber carb
Performed By: Sick Designs and Combs Custom Coating
Special Thanks From Owner
"I would like to thank my family—Jackie, Allie, Mallory, Tyler, my brother Jeff, and my grandparents for the support. Thanks to Steve Hodges, Casey Shows, Dallas Yates, and all others I may have forgotten. Thank you to Automotive Color and to my son Tyler for making sure the truck was clean for the shoot."