Article and Photos by Bryan Fross

   Not everybody starts a custom vehicle from stock. When you buy a project from someone else, there are many things that need to be accomplished to make it to your personal liking. Byron Castellanos bought this 1992 Toyota Pick-Up from his cousin after it had gone through a few major changes that ultimately ended up just being the start to a clean and well-rounded Mini-truck.

   One of the 2 major items that were completed during his cousin’s ownership of the vehicle was a Master Image Customs airbag setup. MIC installed a step notch in the rear, air bags at all 4 corners. One light duty compressor was originally installed and one 5 gallon air tank. They used ¼ -inch lines and a 4 gauge manual panel and switch setup. Byron later took it back to MIC and it was stepped up with a ViAir 450 compressor to allow for quicker refill of the tank. The truck sits low on 17-inch Oasis SUV Wheels with 205/40/17 BF Goodrich Tires.

   With relatively nothing done to the outside of the vehicle when it was taken over, Byron started acquiring parts and changing the truck to his taste. Starting with major changes, the two-wheel drive fenders were scrapped for a pair of the wider four-wheel drive versions. A chrome bumper and valance were fitted with billet inserts by JBM in Orange, California. The grille was also switched out for a Toyota 4 Runner chrome grille with billet inserts. To go along with the upgrade to the grille, the door handles were ditched for the 4 Runner units to eliminate the keyholes. Another modification that was done before it was handed over was the walk-through cut out by MIC. After the rear wall was gone a Leer shell was used to keep everything covered. The truck made a trip over to Advance Specialties to install a big sky electric ragtop on the shell and a electric moon roof on the cab. The stock lights were replaced with TYC products including Halogen headlights, euro style taillights, clear bumper lights and clear corner markers. Chrome side mirrors, windshield wipers, 12-inch Shorty Antenna were also added. House of Tints added custom tribal graphics in vinyl on the body and custom skull & bone graphics on the windows.

   Interior upgrades from stock make this truck much more livable by way of adding material, sounds, and video into the mix. Advance Specialties started with new carpet for the cab & bed, then added a custom rear seat wrapped in gray & charcoal tweed. Seats belts were bolted in the bed to make the rear seat useable and two Honda Prelude bucket seats were re-wrapped in matching two-tone tweed. Byron came across a dash and set of door panels from another truck owner that needed his stock parts for that project. Those pieces were already wrapped in gray tweed with custom graphics laid under the material. The rest of the panels and headliner were also wrapped in gray tweed. A Toxic Steering wheel By Billet Accessories Direct and APC glow pedals were bolted in. The audio system was a big change for this little truck. AS Kustoms re-located the head unit to the lower dash on a custom mount to allow a 7.5-inch monitor to be custom mounted in its place. To go with the monitor, an Audiobahn DVD player was mounted behind the passenger seat to make sitting in the truck a little more entertaining. Four 12-inch Audiobahn AW06Q subwoofers powered by an AudioBahn A1300HCQ Amplifier and an AudioBahn A4075HCQ Amplifier powers all the mid-range & high-range speakers. All are installed in a custom enclosure with a viewable amplifier rack behind the rear seat. A set of 6 ½-inch and 5 ¼-inch MB Quart components on each door were installed. A set of 5 ¼-inch components behind the rear seat to the sides of the amp rack finish off the cab.

    After the rest was upgraded, his attention was turned to the engine compartment. Several parts from LC Engineering were installed including a chrome valve cover, plug wire loom, 8.5 mm performance wires, distributor cap, rotor and a billet oil cap. A Full Throttle intake and R-active enclosed cone were adding for improved air delivery. More items like the manifold cover, bracket for the radiator overflow container, vacuum tank bracket, battery hold down, hood prop, were sent out for chroming. APC Yellow Vacuum Lines, Yellow Top Optima battery, APC billet radiator cap, and yellow vinyl flames were added to finish the engine bay.

   Byron has made many changes since the purchase of his truck and he has the trophies to prove it. Taking 1st place in his class at almost every show he attends. He would like to give special thanks to his cousin for needing to get rid of the truck and Amber Masse for posing with it for our feature.
Model: Amber Masse

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