Over the last few years, Jason "J.J." Stewart of Cookeville, Tennessee, has owned several rides: a wild as hell 1995 Honda Accord (featured in ESM October-December 2003 issue), a tricked out 2001 Ford Focus hatch back, and now this 1997 GMC Sonoma. The reason J.J. decided to modify a mini-truck is pretty simple: "I like stepside trucks and always wanted to customize a mini-truck."

Before you can be a mini-trucker there is one very important ingredient though--you have to have a mini-truck! Being the "smooth operator" J.J. is, he was able to trade an old truck for a black semi-custom 1997 GMC Sonoma that was already bagged with billets. The paint was black with gold ghost flames and the interior sported a sea of tweed. This was all fine and dandy, but J.J. prefers a much cleaner look to his rides, so some serious changes were in store to make the truck unique enough to become active on the show circuit. In fact, from the beginning to the end, it would take J.J. 8-months to get the truck ready for its debut at Slammin' & Jammin' 2008.

Once the trade was complete and the customary hand shake given, J.J. showed the truck around in 2007 in its original form. Meanwhile, in his brain housing, J.J. was planning out his project, so he wouldn't make too many costly mistakes. The suspension was good-to-go from the onset consisting of Air Ride with a custom 4-link. The suspension was very worthy of its billet 18- and 20-inch Centerline Tomahawk wheel package. However the big task on J.J's creative mind was to tackle the interior and change up the exterior making it nearly void of any custom input from its former owner.

After a few thoughtful conversations with friends and his lovely wife, Gayle, a plan was put into action and J.J. decided to turn the tweeded-out cab into a poster child of fiberglass interiors. What happened next was nothing short of hours of precision design and fabrication that transformed J.J's interior into a smooth and clean looking pimp ride. The center console, door panels, and dash were all shaved and received plenty of fiberglass. The bucket seats were chopped down and covered in black vinyl and Ostrich skin. The headliner and door panels received black vinyl and the center console armrest received a little Ostrich skin, too. Finishing off the interior mods are billet window cranks, billet steering wheel, Pioneer in-dash double-din TV/DVD player, and a one-off custom gauge insert.

The exterior was also changed from a bad black sporting a set of ghost flames, to a smooth-as-glass silver monochromatic paint scheme. Enhancing the glass-like paintjob are various body modifications, performed by Down South Customs of Smithville, Tennessee, such as: grafted-in Caddy tails, FBI California molded-in tailgate/rollpan combo, 2002 Chevy Malibu rear door handles, GMC Envoy front bumper, billet grille insert, shaved rear bed steps, Street Scene sport mirrors, shaved third brake light, and a smooth tubbed-out bed.

Once all of the cosmetic changes, inside and out, were accomplished, it was time to give the truck a little power. The stock four-banger was swapped for a 2002 Chevy Blazer six-cylinder engine with a custom air intake. After a little paint and final detailing of the engine, even J.J. was amazed with the truck that sat in his garage.

With the help of his family, friends, and just the right amount of purchased labor from the right shops, J.J. managed to have his 1997 GMC Sonoma looking the part for show readiness. The extra effort paid off and J.J.'s truck saw a lot of attention during the 2008 show season. The only question left to answer now is, what will J.J. build next? We'll just have to wait and see what this "smooth operator" brings to the table.