A Dream Built in the Garage

FOR John Byrne of Surprise, Arizona, building his 1988 Toyota pickup, now known as “F-Bomb,” was a throwback to the trucks he dreamed of as a kid in the late ’80s. What started as a simple idea turned into a show-ready masterpiece built out of a garage with the help of close friends. After two and a half years of hard work, this mini-truck is now a shining example of passion, precision, and the payoff of sticking to your vision.

John takes F-Bomb to shows like Forbidden Fantasy, Battle in Bama, and Severed in the Southwest, where it’s already turning heads.

The foundation of F-Bomb is all custom. The frame features tons of metalwork, including a custom transmission crossmember, battery boxes, and relocated gas tank mounts. The suspension is fully tricked out, sporting custom front bag mounts and a rear bag-on-bar triangulated 4-link setup. Slam Specialties SS6 and SS7 airbags paired with Ridetech Fox shocks up front and KYBs in the rear keep the stance dialed in. An AccuAir e-Level system ensures the perfect height with the push of a button. The wheels? Classic Billet Specialties BLVD 87s in a clean 20×8.5 fitment, wrapped in Neuton NT5000 245/30/20 rubber.

John and his crew didn’t hold back on the body either. Ryan Johnston, Ryan Barnes, and John tackled all the fabrication, shaving the gas filler, door handles, windshield squirters, and even the tailgate. The bed was raised, fitted with custom panels, and capped off with a one-off hatch. The truck was then sprayed in Toyota Super White by Kenny Leoni, with Starfire Orange accents painted on the frame and engine accessories by Rob Olin.

Under the hood sits a clean Toyota 22R, keeping things simple and reliable. The exhaust exits out the side, and Wilwood 11.56-inch drilled and slotted rotors on all corners handle braking.

Inside the cab are Toyota 4Runner seats that were reupholstered in mango-colored Morbern Allante by Dominic Dominguez, giving the interior  a fresh, clean vibe. A custom sub box with two JL10W3s and Rockford Fosgate amps delivers the thump, controlled by a Pioneer double-din head unit. The full interior build pulls everything together, making it just as impressive as the exterior.

John takes F-Bomb to shows like Forbidden Fantasy, Battle in Bama, and Severed in the Southwest, where it’s already turning heads. For John, this build is all about the satisfaction of creating something with his own hands. “It’s not what you can buy—it’s what you can build,” he says.