Listen Up folks.
I don’t care what you drive. I don’t care how you drive it. But if you’re not smirking when you drive it, giddy behind the wheel, solo on a back road… if you don’t look back after you park it… you’re doing it all wrong man. It’s that simple.
If you’re building for likes and followers, it’s not even yours anymore. You’re making your happiness & satisfaction dependent on others. Others who could honestly care less about you and the hundreds of other cars they’ll double-tap on today.
Why surrender that? Why let go of your control? Why should anyone else have a say in what’s going to inevitably piss you off one day… and give you goosebumps the next? After all, you’re the only one slapping the gears on a parkway bank. You’re the only one chucking wrenches trying to figure out wtf is keeping it from starting up.
This Guy likes to Party
Well Toolin’s got this figured out. When I first saw John Toolin’s rat Nissan Hardbody, I thought, “Ok this guy likes to party.” And I was damn right. Almost every mod, replacement part, ding, polish, sticker, and license plate on this brown baller was put on by John or his homie Kevin. It serves as a reflection of his attitude and personality. And it comes together so naturally. The humble nature of someone who just wants to enjoy the build as it unfolds.
In its early years, this original LHD Nissan Hardbody was slinging parts for Harry at Firestone. Once it reached its angsty teen years, the pickup left the shop, and was nearly junked thrice by previous owners… including John’s brother. But John saw the heap as an opportunity to go nuts for donuts.
Finding replacement steering parts added up quick, but Toolin came across the opportunity to get a half-cut RHD Silvia.
“Why the f**k not.”
The D21 became one pain in the ass after the other, but Toolin made sure each fix became an upgrade in some way… with in-house fabrication, and/or by any means necessary. With a glass half full mentality – Toolin turned headaches into fun garage time with homies. I think that’s the key element that gives anything it’s rat style.
To me, the rat style build has always been about working with what you’ve got… to build what you want. This Hardbody is no exception. S13 SR20DET, 180SX front subframe, S14 Silvia rear subframe, Mustang Cobra rear rotors, S50 Skyline mirrors, Jack Daniels coolant reservoir… the vicious list goes on. And while on paper, it seems like a Frankenstein machine (pronounced fronkensteen), the custom tubed front and back brings everything together so fluidly.
I hope this kind of mindset carries on throughout our scene. That “I’m gonna build for me and not for likes” attitude. And I hope it stays authentic. Fuel your creativity, by not limiting yourself to what you see. And push beyond your own creativity, if by nothing else, just out of morbid curiosity & pure determination. After all, that’s the mindset that built this community from Day 1… and it’s what will keep it alive long after any of us. In the words of Sir Toolin himself, “It’s dope, does burnouts, and shoots flames. The End.”
ENGINE
Nissan SR20DET
ARP head studs
APEXi .8mm headgasket
GSC S1 cams
SP 3-row intercooler
Custom stainless intercooler piping
Dual NGR Type S blow off valves
AEM FPR
Turbosmart manual boost controller
ISR radiator, fans, shroud, and hoses
CD009 transmission
Autotech motoring adapter plate
Competition Clutch stage-4 clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel
CBF top mount Tremec with reverse lockout
Nismo shift knob with extension
Carbon 1-piece drive shaft
10-gallon fuel cell, foam, and extended neck
Quantum 380lph pump and filter
Five-0 1000cc injectors
Circuit Sport fuel rail
8an braided feed and return fuel line
Twisted Motion iron man exhaust manifold
Twisted Motion GT2871/t3 hybrid turbo
Precision 46mm wastegate on 24psi
Freddy intake manifold
Custom low mount power steering bracket
Custom fender exit exhaust
Jack Daniels coolant reservoir
Circuit sports oil pan
New OEM harness
New rear main seal
New timing chain tensioner
New gaskets throughout
Lightweight alternator, power steering, and water pump pulleys
Nismotronics ECU
GM map sensor
GM idle-air-temp sensor
Tuned for e85
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES
Custom frame front and rear
180SX front subframe
BC extreme drop coilovers 16k/14k
Strut tower tow hook
S14 Silvia rear subframe
S14 Silvia vlsd
Megan tension rods
Gktech bump steer tie rod ends
Gktech S14 inner tie rods
Kazama rear upper control arms
Kazama toe arms
Nismo rear sway bar
Solid subframe bushings
New OEM front/rear 5-lug hubs
Remanufactured Z32 brakes
Maverick Motor Sports dual caliper bracket
Mustang Cobra rear rotors
Wilwood 3/4” hydro e-brake
OBP floor mount pedal box
Wilwood brake bias adjustment knob
Tilton clutch reservoir
All new 3/16” brake lines to ISR braided lines
ChaseBays power steering kit
17×9 +20 BBS RS wheels
RHD conversion with 180SX column and re-sealed rack
180SX key
Boss hub and Sparco spline quick release
Nardi wheel
Custom aluminum dash
New black front end and S10 lip
S50 skyline mirrors
Custom hood struts
Aerocatch hood pins
Rust painted with vinyl door lettering
Tubed front and back
License plate tailgate duck bill
Custom aluminum door cards
Subway ring door handles
4×4 “widebody”
ELECTRONICS
DEFI advance zd with working speedo & odometer
VDO fuel level gauge
Prosport fuel pressure gauge
AEM x wideband
Switch panel for lights, turn signals, wipers, etc
Text by Jesse Rivera Photos by GP Media