We are red with envy over Dale Kwas of Forbidden Fantasy Canada and his 1986 Mazda b2200. Originally purchased in 2005 as a daily driver, Dale quickly changed his mind and started building the mini-truck. Kwas’ mini-truck fever started very young and in high school he static dropped a 1990 Isuzu pickup, but this one was going to be different. Within the first week of owning it, he slammed it, bought Pathfinder wheels for it, spray bombed it flat black, and installed a full custom audio system in it. In 2007 he unfortunately scrubbed a pole at a gas station, and the frustration drove him to park it, blow it apart and start to bag it. Then the “while it’s apart” started, and down to the frame it went for a full custom build including a body drop.
Over the next several years Dale picked away at it, collected parts and knowledge and finally in 2013 he drove it for the first time again. “The first time I drove the truck bagged, it was a hell of an experience driving something you built from the ground up. I still stand by the quote ‘built not bought’.” Says Dale.
As it sits today, the list of modifications is long and impressive. The frame is C-notched with a air ride tech 4 link, fox shocks, Toyota Pickup rear end and front spindles to convert to 5 lug hubs, 2500 bags out front and 2600 out back, with an Accuair manifold and controller. He bought a bodied cab when he started the build but it has since been re-done with bigger wheel tubs and even pushed the firewall back 2” with a new trans tunnel for the motor swap. Shaved door handles, tailgate, custom sheet metal in the box, shaved B pillars, and he rebuilt rockers and roll pan all the way around with 3/16” and 1/4” steel so they don’t get destroyed when driving low. A pine wood bed floor, a full chrome grille and bumper, and then the whole truck is coated in Viper red paint. For a finishing touch the back window is glued in with no rubber moulding for a more modern look.
It has been 5.3L LS swapped with hand built headers, engine, and transmission mounts for the 4L60E; full dual 2-1/2” exhaust, impala SS radiator with electric fans, polished valve covers and its re-wired with a Chevy harness that has been cut and trimmed to run the truck front to back.
The interior has a paint matched dash and aluminum 2” bead rolled door panels but done in a matte finish. It has an Alpine/Kicker audio system and topped off with a bunch of hand made polished billet aluminum bits and pieces to match the OG B.A.D steering wheel and polished column cover. Finally, it’s sitting on 18” Foose Lusso wheels....
To see the rest of the article order your issue of Cruise Culture Magazine or read for free at https://www.magcloud.com/webviewer/2324588?__r=4399219&s=w
