Letters To The Editor - Paper Cuts - October 2004

  |   letters To The Editor October 2004 baby A Family Affair
Dear Mini Truckin',
Your magazine kicks ass! Not only do I love it, but my wife and my 2-year-old daughter are hooked as well. My daughter can flip through the pages and tell me what kind of truck each one is when I point to them. Her favorite mini-truck is an Isuzu because that's what her daddy drives. I've been a long-time fan for more than a decade, and I still love it. My daughter will take my place and drag my Isuzu as soon as she is old enough to drive. Our family is as dedicated as they come. Thanks again.
Chris M.
Ohio Hey Chris,
Your daughter is definitely in good hands. You've started her learning experience off on the right foot with some excellent reading material that we're sure will keep her interested and teach her some valuable lessons. We are proud to have such an impact on a wonderful family such as yours. We do our best to make sure that each and every word, picture, and combination of the two are the very best representation of this custom-truck lifestyle. You keep on reading, and we'll definitely keep on writing. Water Colors
Dear MT,
I have an '86 Mazda B2200 that I plan to 'bag and drag. I've had all kinds of crazy paint schemes running through my head, but I'm still not sure what kind of paints to use for custom graphics. I've been contemplating using water-borne paints because they sound fairly easy to use, but I've only heard this from the companies that manufacture them. Do you know if they work as well as their creators claim? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Jess H.
Columbia, Missouri   |   letters To The Editor October 2004 custom Toyota Tacoma Hey Jess,
If you're interested in doing your own graphics, then water-based paints are definitely something you should consider. They're user-friendly and ready to go right out of the bottle. Since you'll most likely be working out of your garage, it would be best to use a non-toxic environmentally safe paint system, which is only available in water-based paints. Check out page 40 of our Jan. '04 issue; you'll find a complete in-depth article covering some basic steps, tips, and frequently asked questions for water-based automotive paints. Hill's Hot Rods in Lubbock, Texas, has painted its Best of Show vehicles with water-based paints, along with this Tacoma you see here. Jason can give you some pointers, so contact him [(806) 866-0586, www.hillshotrods.com]. For more information, contact: Auto Air Colors, Dept. MT, 14 Airport Park Rd., East Granby, CT 06026, (800) 509-6563, www.autoaircolors.com. Cylinders or 'Bags?
Dear Mini Truckin',
I need some advice about my '93 S-10. My truck is about to go under the knife, and I can't make up my mind about the suspension. I'm not sure whether to use airbags or air cylinders. Most people I've talked to say that I can't get as low with the cylinders as I can with 'bags. Is this true? I plan on body-dropping my truck, but is it even possible with cylinders? All my friends have 'bagged trucks, but they can't hop. I want to use air cylinders so I can hop all over them. Thanks for your advice.
Chad M.
Fontana, California Hey Chad,
Let's start off by addressing the hopping issue first. You said you plan on body-dropping your truck, which is awesome, but you might want to consider the damage that hopping can do to a body-dropped ride. If hopping is your only goal, then a body drop might not be the best way to go. However, if low and clean is your goal, we say, Don't hop it, body-drop it. Either way, your best chance is to use airbags. They'll last a lot longer, are maintenance-free, and you'll have way more mounting options to get the super-low you're after. Mac's Springs now makes a four-ply 'bag that's tested at 300-plus psi. Combine those with GC Extreme high-pressure valves, and we're sure you'll be going up and down as fast as you need without having to worry about blowing 'bags. Call Mac's at (800) 585-5117, and the company should be able to get you on your way to schoolin' your boys in no time. Good luck.