Custom 1992 Mitsubishi Mighty Max

Third Time’s the Charm

The old saying, “Third time’s the charm,” has been around forever it seems. Sometimes it hints toward it taking three times of trying to complete a task, or it could mean that the third time you do something, you get it right. For Justin Wyatt from Blountville, Tennessee, both of those reasons make sense. Justin bought the 1992 Mitsubishi Mighty Max you see here back in 1998 when he was 16 years old to tinker on with his friends and make it cooler than the stock version. Little did he know that 25 years later, he would still have the truck, and it would look nothing like it did on Day One. 

BREAKING IT DOWN

So, about those 25 years of ownership, let’s break it down since there is a ton of backstory to this truck. After seeing his first modified mini-truck at a show in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Justin knew he had to have a cool mini-truck that could hold its own with those with dump beds or hot tubs in the bed. He “wanted something everyone looked at when I went out,” he says, and knew, with this Mitsubishi, he had the chance to make that happen.

Within two short years of owning the truck, he decided to bag it, so he took it to Josh Long at Wicked Kustoms in Lavergne, Tennessee. The bag job uses 2,500-pound front bags with 2-inch drop spindles and 2,600-pound rear bags. In the rear, the frame got a 6-inch V-notched 4-link and the most recognizable part of the frame, Mitsubishi diamond star bag mounts.

About a year after being bagged, Justin decided it was time to do a 5-lug conversion with the help of his dad to get more wheel fitment choices. Up front, the hubs and rotors were swapped to a ’93 Toyota pickup frontend to convert it to a 5-lug, and a ’93 Toyota rearend was put in place of the factory axle to allow the 5-lug conversion in the rear. After quickly realizing he still wanted more, the frame was pulled out and the truck was given a 2.5-inch body drop by Bill Ward and Rich Hopkins. Once Justin had the suspension dialed in, he had the truck painted Porsche blue and immediately made a name for himself in the show scene.

BOOMERANG ‘BISHI

After a few years of showing the truck extensively and enjoying it, Justin decided it was time to let it go to someone new and sold it the end of 2008. He thought he would find another project, looking for the next new thing, but Justin decided that the best choice was to buy the truck back. He struck up a deal in early 2011 and brought it back home.

Having a completely different looking truck but still enjoying the sentimental aspect of it made Justin happy.

Knowing he couldn’t leave it as it had been for too many years, it was soon time for a refresh. In 2013 he had it painted black with a red stripe and had David Corn upgrade the interior to all red. The one constant was the rear bag mount Mitsubishi stars; that’s the proof it was the same truck.

Having a completely different looking truck but still enjoying the sentimental aspect of it made Justin happy. This allowed him to run the show circuit for several years, but once again, in 2021, Justin grew tired of the look again. Instead of selling it, however, he decided it was time for round three with the looks and tore it back apart one more time.

ROUND THREE

Justin wanted to change up the look some, this time to keep current with the latest trends. The shaved tailgate and taillights from the previous builds had to go, so a whole new bed was purchased, and the custom Jamey Tiffany tailgate was added. Inside the bed, the truck was treated to some wheeltubs and bead rolling by Justin, Bobby Wilson, and Jeremy Dickerson before the color-matched bedliner was sprayed. While a full roll pan was welded on, the bed seams were shaved.

On the cab, the hood squirters, emblem, antenna, third brake light, door handles, and key locks were all shaved to clean up the lines a bit, and a Mitsubishi Eclipse hood bubble was grafted in. The black paint was sanded down and replaced with Audi Brilliant Red by Travis Goss, Mike Goss, and Adam Quinssenbury from Whitewood, Virginia, to give it a whole new look. Clear front corner markers and FBI full phantom billet grille was added as well. For rollers, this time around Justin went with a set of 18-inch Bonspeed Sweep wheels wrapped in 215/35-18 Lionhart tires.

Supposedly this is the last rendition of his truck, but with this being the third time, do you honestly think this is the last time?

Getting the engine bay dialed in, a set of wheel tubs were added and plenty of detail work was done to make this section of the truck just as clean as the exterior. The factory 4-cylinder was cleaned up, powdercoated, and painted to make it look brand new again, while a custom intake with Mitsubishi Eclipse adapter and aluminum radiator was added.

On the interior, since it was already all red from the previous version, Justin decided to change it up a bit as well so it wouldn’t be all red on red. He had Jason McCracken add some VW plaid from a VW Golf to break up the all red vinyl and suede in the seats, doors, floor mats, and visors, giving some contrast in the sea of red. Billet air vents, window cracks, and door handles brought in a splash of brightwork to really make it classy.

Now that Justin has his truck exactly where he wants it—well, for now anyway—you can see it all over the southeast show scene racking up awards. Supposedly this is the last rendition of his truck, but with this being the third time, do you honestly think this is the last time?

 TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

• Justin Wyatt
• Blountville, TN
• Year/Make/Model: 1992 Mitsubishi Mighty Max
• Club Affiliation: Negative Camber

CHASSIS

• Toyota 5-lug front hubs and 2-inch drop spindles
• Firestone 2,500-pound front bags
• Toyota rearend to convert to 5-lug
• Mitsubishi star rear bag mounts
• 6-inch V-notch
• Firestone 2,600-pound rear bags
• 2.5-inch body drop
• Air Lift 3P air management
• Two Viair 380c compressors
• Two 2.5-gallon air tanks

DRIVETRAIN

• Factory 4-cylinder
• Custom intake
• Polished radiator
• Painted engine block
• Powdercoated valve cover

BODY/PAINT

• Shaved hood squirters, emblem, antenna, third brake light, door handles, key holes, bed seams
• Mitsubishi Eclipse hood bubble
• Smooth roll pan
• Custom tailgate by Jamey Tiffany
• Bead-rolled inner bed with tubs
• Color-matched bed liner
• FBI full billet phantom grille
• Clear front corner markers
• Audi Brilliant Red paint by Travis Goss, Mike Goss, and Adam Quissenbury

INTERIOR

• Red vinyl with VW Plaid
• Install by David Corn and Jason McCracken
• Billet vents, door handles, and window cranks
• Colorado Customs steering wheel

WHEELS/TIRES

• 18-inch Bonspeed Sweeps
• 215/35-18 Lionhart Tires

SPECIAL THANKS

My father, the one person who added so much detail into this truck, and my mom for supporting me. My wife Kari for never telling me, ‘No,’ only, ‘We will figure it out.’ Every single person who has ever laid a hand on the truck. Travis, and Mike Goss for finishing the bed for me and getting it painted. Bobby Wilson for helping me build the bed. Jeremy Dickerson for keeping me focused on the finish line and never letting me give up and push it in the corner. Jason McCracken for the awesome interior treatment. Every single person who told me they liked it, that’s better than any trophy. All my Negative Camber brothers and sisters for the inspiration. And my kids for always loving the truck, even though dad might be crazy.