There are some basic modifications that almost every show truck and even a few daily drivers possess. Shaving the gas door and tailgate handle and removing the body trim are perfect examples of body mods that are first on the "I want" list, but sometimes last on the "I can afford" list, especially when it comes time to shell out the cash for someone else to do it. That's where we come in.
Hopefully, you recall the Nissan Titan project that we've been building within the pages of Sport Truck over the last few months. We've been able to add a CST lift with some goodies and a Stull billet grille to the front of the truck, but now it's time to smooth out the sides of the Titan and get it ready for some custom paint. Things such as door moldings and gas doors have a way of breaking up the body lines of a truck, plus it makes them look ... what's that word? Oh yeah, stock. And everyone knows that stock sucks.
We hooked up with Musso Motorsports in Las Vegas, which is known throughout the West Coast for pumping out some of the sickest rides. After chatting up Joe and Adam for a bit, they agreed to show us the ropes on how to delete these components from your truck. It's not incredibly hard, however there are a few specialty tools and some patience that are required.
The game plan is pretty simple. We have plastic molding on the front door. There's one on the back door, too, but it doesn't have any holes that penetrate through the door. The front door, unfortunately, has more holes than a wedge of Swiss cheese, thanks to the factory. In any case, they need to go. Next on the list is the gas door, which we'll shave, as well as relocate the filler neck so we can still put gas in the truck. Apparently, that gas stuff is important. The last order of business is the tow compartment, which is a unique feature to the Nissan truck. As much as we like the idea of having some place to put a hitch, straps, or anything else needed for towing, we don't like the way the utility door breaks up that bedside.
So follow along as Musso Motorsports demonstrates the proper way to get rid of those unsightly blemishes and takes us through the wonderful wide world of bodywork. Remember, though, with a little practice, you may be able to pull this off on your truck. Otherwise, save up your pocket change in the 5-gallon Sparkletts bottle sitting in the corner and call up the guys at Musso Motorsports - they love getting dirty.
1.Adam starts out by pulling...
1.Adam starts out by pulling off the molding on the doors. The rear moldings were just held on with double-sided tape. However, these front ones line up via holes in the door.
2.As you can see, we have...
2.As you can see, we have quite a few holes to contend with behind the molding.
3.The gas door also has to...
3.The gas door also has to go. Adam disassembles the hinges and filler neck, but makes sure that he sets the door aside. This will become our filler piece when we weld it shut a little later.
4.A little bracket is made...
4.A little bracket is made that will relocate the filler neck and tuck it away into the wheelwell. It's not as noticeable and still convenient when it comes time to fill up at the pump.
5.Although the utility box...
5.Although the utility box on the Titan is a good idea, it creates some unwanted lines in the rear bedside, so it's disassembled and the door is set aside as well for a filler piece.
6.Using an air grinder, Adam...
6.Using an air grinder, Adam goes to work cleaning up a small work area around each of the holes.