Mike Rusnak is an import convert from Lancaster, South Carolina. After years of admiring all of his friends' cool custom minis, Mike decided to enter into the mini-truckin' arena. Mike searched high and low and eventually ran across a stock 1994 Isuzu Pup. Once he coughed up the dough, he immediately began his mini with every intention of putting together a clean, street-driven ride that would pull double duty as a show truck on the weekends and a dependable daily driver during the work week.

Mike couldn't even consider setting up his ride to be a weekend warrior show truck without first conditioning it for the daily drive to and from work. When he purchased the truck, the engine was knockin' like a bunch of trick-or-treaters on Halloween, so Mike's first step was to take care of the power plant. Once the engine was repaired, Mike decided that it was time for some true mini-trucker modifications. This is when Mike dropped a little coin into the suspension works. The Isuzu's rear frame section received a monster C-notch and a triangulated four-link. Under the nose, the stock spindles were replaced with a set of DJM 2-inch dropped spindles. The air suspension consists of Firestone 2500lb bags at each corner, a York engine-driven air compressor, a 12-gallon air tank, and ½-inch air lines. The suspension dynamics are controlled by a switch box in the cab.

Body modifications consist of shaved door handles, corner marker lights, hood squirts, gas door, and antenna. The doors open suicide style and the stock side mirrors were replaced with a set of billet iron cross mirrors. The headlights were recessed to make room for a phantom billet grille and Isuzu Amigo fenders were used to beef up the front end. The stock bumper was ditched for a molded-in roll pan and the tailgate was smoothed. Inside the bed are two painted-to-match tanks; the first tank, nearest the cab, is a 12-gallon air tank that keeps plenty of air on tap for the 2500lb air bags, and the second tank, located in the rear of the bed, is an 11-gallon fuel tank.

With a little help from his friends, Jamie Faires and Rob Rogers, Mike's truck got the full two-tone hot rod treatment. Above the beltline consists of House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl. Below the beltline, the truck received a healthy coat of Sikkens Black paint, and both colors are split by a silver stripe.

The interior of the cab also received its share of modifications. The dash and doors were smoothed and painted-to-match the exterior, orange on black. The stock bench seat was stripped of its former self and covered in an orange and black vinyl that was found in a boat shop that just happened to match the exterior perfectly. Various billet components are seen here and there in the cab which includes a cool billet steering wheel. However, the most interesting interior modification is a suicide shifter with brass knuckles on the end.

In the audio department, an Aiwa CD radio spins tunes to a pair of 10-inch JL Audio subs in a custom box behind the bench seat and Directed Audio mids and highs are hidden from view, under the dash. The audio system is powered by an Extreme 450 watt amp.

Finishing off the build, Mike went for a cool set of 20-inch Centerline billets wrapped in low-pro rubber.

Mike drives his mini to and from work during the week and then he cleans it up for shows on the weekend. There aren't too many trucks that look like Mike's and pull the sometimes hazardous "double duty" of show and go, so for that we must applaud him (whistle... clap-clap-clap).

Shout Out: "Thanks to my wife Crystal, my son Alex, my parents, Greg Williams, Jaime Faires, Tommy Griggs, Jason Perdue, Drew Young, Blake Older, Rob Rogers, Burns Chevrolet, and So-Low Car Club." -Mike Rusnak