 picture 1 |
We started with a bone stock 1988 Mazda X-tra Cab purchased in November '97 for just $700.00 (picture 1) with the sole purpose of making it the baddest single pump hopper around! |
| The first step in our hopper's construction is to remove the bed and strip the frame of all undercoating to prepare for its complete frame reinforcement. (picture 2) |  picture 2 |
 picture 3 |
The rear clip of the truck has been completely reinforced using 1/4" steel and a 6" channel was welded across the top of the frame over the axel for the cylinders to mount to. (picture 3) |
| Two holes are then cut into the top of the channel to accomodate the massive 18" cylinders. (picture 4) |  picture 4 |
 picture 5 |
We then started the fabrication of a custom battery rack that would hold the 10 batteries and 3 pumps we planned to use. (picture 5) We used a total of 23 feet of 2x2x1/4" box tubing and 14 feet of 2x2x1/4" angle in the construction of the hopper! |
| The batteries were then installed along with the pump that would be called upon to do the work of making this truck hop! (picture 6) |  picture 6 |
 picture 7 |
The rear pumps were then mounted on each side of the front pump. (picture 7) |
| The holes for the cylinders were cut out of the bed for the rear cylinders to be installed, (picture 8) and the hoses were run to the pumps. |  picture 8 |
 picture 9 |
To begin the front installation we had to completely cut out the old suspension (picture 9) before we could modify it to accomodate a full stack three and a half ton reds hopping coil! |
| The control arms of the mazda were extended 1" to allow for the clearance of the reds hopping coil. (picture 10) |  picture 10 |
 picture 11 |
Again we finished the installation by checking and double checking all of our work before installing the switches, solonoids and connecting the batteries. |
| We showed all of Miami the quality work we do at the January 18th Lowrider Caliente Tour Super Show by placing 1st in the single pump hop with a record breaking 40" hop!! (pictures 11&12) |  picture 12 |
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