Online Exclusive Feature ” Tito’s ” A Piece of History Restored

                Tito’s

As a member of of Negative Camber, John Yoakum had been away from trucks for a few years to spend time with family. John decided he wanted to have something at LST 2017 for NC’s 25th anniversary. After a few months searching, he came across Courtney Tito Halowell’s old s10. He knew this was the truck he wanted and agreed to buy. Pictures didn’t tell the whole true story. It needed more work to restore then John had originally thought.

To begin the build Courtney added Devious Customs A-arms and Airlift 2600 Dominator bags upfront and KP 6link out back with Airlift Dominator 2500 bags. John upgraded to Accuair mangement with stainless hardlines, a custom stainless air tank, and 2 Viair 444 compressors. The frame and suspension has been completely detailed and repainted. Add 22 x 9.5 Akuza Spur wheels with 255/30/22 to complete the frame and suspension upgrades. All work done by John and Darrell Ayers.

After the suspension upgrades were finished John decided to take the truck to Chico & The Men Kustoms in St. Louis Mo. Chico rework the body to smooth and repainted the truck tank green and cool vanilla. They manage to save the stripe in the middle with the flames from the original paint job by Eric Jackson of Helmet, CA.

Next order of business as to rework the interior. Originally done by Mike Sutton, Half of the interior needed replaced. Mike help with advise and John was able to match pieces. With the help of Jonathon Chasteen of Kustom Stitch, new insterts were intallled in the seats. Micheal Armstrong of Glass Works  made a fiberglass headliner. Chico painted the dash and other interior pieces. 

Brian Horton over at Star Mountain sound completely rewired the stereo. John had Brian add a JVC head unit with all new Rockford Fosgate amps, mids, highs, and subs. Sub inclosure is in the bed with a blow through into the cab.

John says he would like to thank “ I especially need to thank my wife Heather and son Josh for all the support while I was trying to get the truck done on the timeline. Darrell Ayers and Chico I couldn’t have done it without either of you. 

Adam Weinrich, Paul Rodgers, Chrissy Shaw, Joy & Edgar Housley, Jason Johnson, Kevin Riffey, Jeff Davy, Brian Brubaker, Mike Sutton, Eric Jackson, Jayson Pang, the whole NC crew, and anyone who ever worked or lended a hand on the truck.  Courtney Tito Halowell we miss you brother

Name:  John Yoakum

Year/Make/Model = 1997/Chevy/S10

Club = Negative Camber

Engine (include performed by) = 4.3/ with auto trans

Body Mods (include performed by) = shaved-door handles, 3^rd brake light, antenna, full skin in the rear. All original done by Devious Customs. The rear skin was replaced by Chico & The Men Kustoms due to damage.

Custom license plate box in the front of the bed that uses air cylinders. I had to completely rebuild it during the rebuild of the truck.

Bed liner is LineX and was done by Mike Sutton

Suspension (include performed by) =

Front – Devious Customs A-arms and Air Lift 2600 Dominators Bags

Back – KP 6 link with Air Lift 2500 Dominator Bags

Air Suspension – Accuair , Stainless Hardlines, custom Stainless air tank, 2 Viair 444 compressors 

Frame – Frame has been completely repainted black by myself

Misc: The frame and suspension had been painted and detailed 

Performed by: Darrell Ayers and myself rebuilt the front/rear suspension with new bags, added the Accuair, and stainless  hard lines

Paint (include performed by) = The Tank Green and Cool Vanilla was repainted by Chico & The Men Kustoms in St Louis, MO. 

The stripe in the middle with the flames is all that was left that could be saved from the original paint done by Eric Jackson in Helmet, CA

Stereo / Audio (include performed by)  = Brian Horton @Starr Mountain Sound completely rewired the stereo system.

 JVC head unit, all Rockford Fosgate Amps, mids/highs/and subs. I put all new speakers in it. Sub enclosure is in the bed and a blow through into the cab

Interior (include performed by) = Half of the interior had to be replaced. Mike Sutton originally did the interior in the truck, with his help and advise I was able to match pieces. Jonathon Chasteen redid new inserts on the seats. Chico painted the dash and other interior pieces. Mike Armstrong at GlassWorks did a nice job with the custom made fiberglass headliner

Tires / Wheels = 255/30/22 Nankang tires with 22×9.5 Akuza Spur wheels