Is mini-truckin back?

[BRealistic]

I just happened to look at a car when I was just out (Saturday morning, 8:30 am).. and there were several mini-trucks (some did not show up in picture- they were in back of car wash).




Is mini-truckin back now?
That's kind of weird since we don't really have any mini-truck left (brand new).

[FYouCO]

I don't know about all of that. In my neck of the woods it's been about the monster Bro-Dozers. Even those are falling away. I guess the people who want to get muddy just save themselves the time, money, and GAS and just buy a 4-Wheeler.

[mikegilbert]

I'd love to see it make a resurgence

While not proper mini-truck styke, I'd rock the **** out of this one

[yem_icculus]

There's a crew that rides around my neighborhood (northern Philly suburbs) with body slammed trucks and big ol' "Yuuuup!" stickers in the rear window. I don't get it, but they look kind of cool, I guess.

[BRealistic]

I'd love to see it make a resurgence

While not proper mini-truck styke, I'd rock the **** out of this one

No headlights?

[GTXBOY]

There is a big show in Morristown this weekend. LOATP is what its called. I am not a minitrucker but a co-worker is and I it's a big it deal for them.

[BRealistic]

There is a big show in Morristown this weekend. LOATP is what its called. I am not a minitrucker but a co-worker is and I it's a big it deal for them.

what?

googles..

http://www.laydoutatthepark.net/


****....

I did not know about this and I live here (been working too hard.. that's my excuse).

That is embarrassing.

And that also explains why the SONIC was full of classics this morning. which also had me

[zaYG]

A few minitruckers in my town/area.

Isn't coming back, most of the kids are still stuck in trends that were out before half of them were born, but yeah, it still exists.

[MidnightSpecial]

I'd love to see it make a resurgence

While not proper mini-truck styke, I'd rock the **** out of this one

More details/build thread?

[Roboturner913]

Mine:



When I first got it I was thinking no mods but now I've got the bug. Probably won't go too far though, lower it 4 inches all the way around and and put on a set of these:



Maybe shave the back bumper and tailgate, color match the grill and front bumper and the black trim above the doors. And swap the gray interior out for tan, if I can find all the pieces.

Eventually I'll have to do something about the motor. I'd love to do something crazy like a 3.7 Atlas swap but that may be cost-prohibitive. So I'll probably just rebuild the 4-banger.

[The Holy Molar]

Same truck ass above?
http://speedhunters.com/archive/2011...lux-build.aspx

[BRealistic]

Eventually I'll have to do something about the motor. I'd love to do something crazy like a 3.7 Atlas swap but that may be cost-prohibitive. So I'll probably just rebuild the 4-banger.

I wonder how difficult a Mazda g6 swap would be since they sold the Mazda g6 in the 89?-92 B2600i.
It feels quite a bit more powerful than the 2.2 (I had a reg cab 2wd 5 speed 1990 b2600i) and still gets reasonable fuel economy (20s).
It was also used in the RWD/4x4 Mazda MPV.

Googles...

Ok, the 2.2 had 85 hp and 117 ft-lbs, while the 2.6 had 121 hp and 150 ft-lbs.
Tho the timing chain job on the g6 is a REAL PAIN.

And.. the 2.2 is the Mazda F engine, and the 2.2 turbo is the Mazda FET engine.. same family
Swap potential? The FET definitely has some balls (torx).

[The Holy Molar]

Do they still make mini trucks? Do Rangers count? What was the last true mini truck made?

[Biff Beltsander]

Do they still make mini trucks? Do Rangers count? What was the last true mini truck made?

Not really, the most compact trucks available now are closer in size to the full size trucks available when the mini truck craze was full force in the 80's.
Ranger's are no longer in production.

[Roboturner913]

Thought about a 2.6 swap and looked around but the best price I could find for a crate engine was around $2700. But I figure I can rebuild the 2.2 for around $500 with a little help from my neighbor. If I end up doing a swap it will have to be a major increase in power to justify the extra cost.

[bubbagti]

Did "Mini-truckin" ever leave? I still see a lot of s10's, hardbody, and even new colorado's.
There is still a relatively big following in the central valley of CA

[WhitePoloCT]

Same truck ass above?
http://speedhunters.com/archive/2011...lux-build.aspx

Nope, That drift Hilux started out as just a cabin... full space frame construction, and it's not done yet:
http://engineeredtoslide.com/category/ets-drift-ute/

[Roboturner913]

The Colorado is definitely not a mini truck. For that matter, the last-gen S-10 was considerably bigger than any of the early 90's mini trucks (when I bought my S-10 in 99 I put it next to my B2200 and the size difference was super obvious).

I don't get the whole mid-size truck thing with the Dakota, Colorado, etc. I used to have a Colorado and it was a nice truck but the fuel mileage is not much better than a full-size and they're not much cheaper than a full-size either. It would be nice if somebody would get back to basics and build a true mini-truck because there has to be a huge potential market for it.

[Air-over-water]

Did "Mini-truckin" ever leave? I still see a lot of s10's, hardbody, and even new colorado's.

Same here, maybe it was/is more of a south thing?
Along the Gulf coast there were a good bit of them everywhere it seemed.
Even out here in central-ish Texas I see them most days.

[oldskoolracer]

I dont think mini trucks ever died out, even here in redneck-ville with potholes the size of craters we have quite a few people rolling slammed, chopped, shaved, bagged minis. My brother in law has a bagged full-size, a bagged chamelion yota, a bagged mazda b2000 with a small block chevy, his buddy has two bagged yotas, and a few more rollin around town here. Not to mention the crap load at the truck shows here around the lake

[impact]

what?

googles..

http://www.laydoutatthepark.net/


****....

I did not know about this and I live here (been working too hard.. that's my excuse).

That is embarrassing.

And that also explains why the SONIC was full of classics this morning. which also had me

Grab your camera and go there!

[BRealistic]

Thought about a 2.6 swap and looked around but the best price I could find for a crate engine was around $2700. But I figure I can rebuild the 2.2 for around $500 with a little help from my neighbor. If I end up doing a swap it will have to be a major increase in power to justify the extra cost.

I was thinking more along the lines of buying a wrecked or rusted out B2600i for the swap for MUCH less than $2700. That way you get all the accessories, mounts, etc, and can use the ECU.

And what about a wrecked B3000 (or 3.0 Ranger)? The 3.0 vulcan is a very compact durable engine, and later models had over 150 hp and 180 ft-lbs. It's a very under-appreciated engine, and are dirt cheap used.
I got about the same fuel economy with my 01 B3000 as I did my 90 B2600i.

[Aw614]

There was a minitruck meet locally last week, missed it, but I haven't heard about it too much in a while. It was quite popular in high school, there were like 6 Chevy S10/Izuzu Hombre/GMC Sonoma that were on air back around the 2002-2004 years.

[Biff Beltsander]

When I think mini-trucks I always think of how much I'd like the obligatory canvas slider sunroof (if it's still got a roof at all).

Mini Truckin Magazine, one of which I accidentally bought when buying a motor trend in a hurry in the 90's.


Or, JJ Fad's Supersonic with the smokin hot girls with the high pitched off key voices.

[Roboturner913]

I was thinking more along the lines of buying a wrecked or rusted out B2600i for the swap for MUCH less than $2700. That way you get all the accessories, mounts, etc, and can use the ECU.

I suppose that's possible but it's likely I'd have to rebuild the 2.6 anyway. I'm not opposed to that but in that scenario I'd probably be better off going with a small V6. I had not considered the 3.0, that might be a damn fine idea.

I knew a guy years ago who had a B-series with a Buick 3.8L. Thing was faaaaaaast.

[GTIYR87]

This would be my choice

[BRealistic]

I knew a guy years ago who had a B-series with a Buick 3.8L. Thing was faaaaaaast.

Was it a tight fit? The Buick 3.8 is a 90 degree V, while the Vulcan is a 60 degree V.

[Iroczgirl]

I never knew they went away?

You see them all over the place.

[71DubBugBug]

Nope, That drift Hilux started out as just a cabin... full space frame construction, and it's not done yet:
http://engineeredtoslide.com/category/ets-drift-ute/

both those links, absolutely stunning

i like how they have a "frame jig", that they bolt the body and engine the way they want, and then build the frame around that.

[Roboturner913]

Was it a tight fit? The Buick 3.8 is a 90 degree V, while the Vulcan is a 60 degree V.

It wasn't tight after he cut out the wheel wells. You can cram a small-block Chevy into those things with a reciprocating saw and a little dedication.

[oldskoolracer]

It wasn't tight after he cut out the wheel wells. You can cram a small-block Chevy into those things with a reciprocating saw and a little dedication.

Like this? This is my brother b2000 I spoke of earlier, chevy 350 baby!

[oldskoolracer]

Just to continue the mini truck theme, same person owns this one as well

[BRealistic]

Is it legal to cover the headlights like that?

[oldskoolracer]

Is it legal to cover the headlights like that?

Technically, probably not legal, but all the cops around here know and respect him alot so he never gets hassled, you can see the lights through the grill still, and they light up bright as day during the night.

[Mr Miyagi]

Yesterday I saw two minitrucks I had never seen before around town. I think they might just be coming out for summer. Not necessarily "coming back" because I don't think they ever went away.