Owner: Andy Day
Ride: 1988 Toyota Pickup
Hometown: Surprise, AZ
Club: Art Of Noize
The integration of Land Rover headlights and Range Rover tails gives Andy Day’s ’88 Toyota a definite edgy appeal, but it’s the quality of unseen execution that places it steps ahead of what’s typically considered finished. You see, this truck was built in the name of redemption since Andy had the exact same model 10 years ago but was forced to scrap it due to things getting thrashed beyond repair during the construction phase. He wasn’t about to make the same mistakes again.
"A lot of people told me this...
"A lot of people told me this truck would never be done, but anything is possible if you want it bad enough."
"I pretty much built the entire truck myself, so throughout the process, I moved around from job to job to learn all the skills I would need to pull off all the modifications I wanted to make," comments Andy on his second take. "I got a B.S. job at a body shop to learn how to properly tape and prep my truck for paint, which I did end up painting myself. I even worked at a stereo shop to learn how to fiberglass. I did this with everything." Within a period of three and a half years, Andy learned whatever he could and turned his new skills and knowledge into a physical manifestation. "A lot of people told me this truck would never be done, but anything is possible if you want it bad enough."
Andy purchased his new Toyota project relatively cheap, considering it was a haggard mess when he bought it, but for what the truck would soon evolve into, it was steal. A rear frame was built from scratch, and Andy even admits to designing the rear ’bag mounts while he was drinking one night. Remember kids, inspiration can flourish from the most unlikely of sources. Taking what he had learned from his string of recent gigs, Andy then bodydropped his pickup, and everything else became a blur from that point on. One-off control arms were fabricated, tons of sheetmetal work materialized, and an attempt to swap in ’05 Tacoma headlights was made but didn’t work due to their shape. A new bodyline was added to the front fenders and a hood scoop from a Subaru Forester was even thrown in for bonus style points. "I put a lot of thought into every little detail on this truck. It took me a long time but there was a lot of sitting back and just staring at the truck for ideas. I also took a couple breaks in between to regroup and clear my head to make sure I didn’t do anything I wouldn’t like later on."
From looking at the overall quality of the array of modifications, you’d swear the truck’s creator had every expensive tool and piece of machinery available at an arm’s reach but that just isn’t the truth. When true creativity and ingenuity kick in, even the most rudimentary of methods can achieve the desired results. Andy couldn’t help but agree. "We used a welding bottle to build the transmission tunnel and a light pole down the street to roll the driveshaft tunnel. We bent the floor supports using a steel pole that just happened to be outside the shop I worked at."
In what is his second stab at building a streamlined, sophisticated truck, Andy made every cut count and made up for the opportunity he let slip through his hands years ago. "The confirmation of my success was seeing my truck parked at the 2010 SEMA Show. This has been something I have been working for ever since I got into customizing."
The Lowdown
Rolling Attire
Wheels: 20x8 Millani Belair 5
Tires: 225/30/20 Continental ExtremeContact
Chassis Modifications
Suspension (front): Custom control arms, 2-inch drop spindles
Suspension (rear): Custom three-link, sleeve ’bags, limiting straps
Shocks: ProComp off-road shocks
Compressor(s): Two Air Zenith OB2
Air/hydro Accessories: Accuair E-Level
Frame Mods: Frame Z’d 1-inch with custom dual rails under the cab and custom back half
Brakes: Stock
Misc.: Powdercoated frame
Performed By: Owner
When true creativity and ingenuity...
When true creativity and ingenuity kick in, even the most rudimentary of methods can achieve the desired results.
Door handles, gas door, B-pillars, hood squirters, drip rails, bed seams, rock guards, mirrors, back cab wall, firewall, cowl, bumper markers
Bodydrop: 3-inch stock floor
Body Mods: Range Rover HSE taillights, Land Rover Discovery headlights, rebuilt bed corners, hood, and fenders to fit. Added body line to fenders, Subaru Forester hoodscoop, sheetmetal bedfloor with access panel, custom sheetmetal core support, ’97 Tacoma bumper shaved and notched for headlights, and suicide doors
Suicide Doors: AVS hinges
Bolt-ons: Line-X bedliner
Performed By: Owner
Paint
Brand & Colors: Matrix Nissan Black
Performed By: Owner, Pete Morrone, David Excarcega
Interior
Seats: Scion XB seats sectioned and wrapped in black vinyl, suede, and ostrich
Dash: Custom MDF and fiberglass wrapped in black vinyl
Gauges: Factory cluster moved to the center and hidden behind smoked acrylic
Misc.: Custom center console, custom door panels, custom fiberglass headliner
Performed By: Owner, Scotty Taylor, Country Auto Upholstery
Stereo
Head Unit: Panasonic double-DIN
Mids & Highs: Two pairs of Realm Audio 6-1/2s in the doors
Subwoofers: Two Realm Audio 10-inch
Amplifiers: Realm Audio 600.4 and 1100.1
Performed By: Owner
Engine/Performance
Engine: 22R
Intake: Canon
Header/exhaust: Custom
Detail Work: Shaved valve cover, custom filter assembly
Misc.: Custom aluminum radiator, electric fan, Weber 40mm sidedraft carbs
Performed By: Owner
Special Thanks From Owner
I want to thank my big brother Mike he has been there through the whole build and has put in as much work as I have. My wife Kari, my parents, all my friends and club members, and everyone who has helped with the build. I also want to thank Aaron Hunt and Eric Harbor for helping me get the truck to SEMA 2010. A big thanks goes out to all of my sponsors.