Mods & Builds
Modification guides, build inspiration, and our monthly featured build. Everything you need to make your kei vehicle yours.
Mod of the Month: The Overland Sambar That Lives Outside
April 2026 — A 1992 Subaru Sambar van transformed into a full overlanding rig in rural Oregon. Rooftop tent, solar, fridge, and 43,000 miles of dirt roads. Our first Mod of the Month.
By Suki Tanaka— Read the feature →
Editor's Picks
The mods Dave recommends to every new kei truck owner. Start here.
Suspension Lift Kit Installation Guide
Step-by-step guide to installing a suspension lift kit on your kei truck for improved ground clearance and off-road capability.
$300-600
LED Headlight Conversion
Upgrade your kei truck's dim factory halogen headlights to modern LED bulbs for dramatically better nighttime visibility.
$50-150
Performance Exhaust Upgrade
Replace your kei truck's restrictive factory exhaust with a performance system for better sound, modest power gains, and improved throttle response.
$200-400
Kei Truck Performance Builds: Speed Mods, Turbo Upgrades & Engine Swaps
How to make your kei truck faster — turbo kits, ECU tuning, intake and exhaust combos, and engine swaps. What works, what doesn't, and what breaks.
$500-5,000+
Spring Season
Post-winter projects — get your truck ready for the warm months. See the full spring maintenance checklist.
Air Filter & Intake Upgrade Guide
Replace your kei truck's restrictive factory air filter with a performance intake for better airflow and throttle response. Covers fitment, filter types, and cold air intake options.
$25-120
Kei Truck Brake Upgrade: Drums to Disc and Beyond
Your kei truck's stock drum brakes are adequate — barely. Here's how to upgrade to disc brakes, improve stopping power, and stop pretending that 'they're fine' when they're not.
$150–$400
Kei Truck Cooling System Upgrades: Keep Your 660cc From Cooking
A 660cc engine working hard in summer heat is a recipe for overheating. Here's how to upgrade your cooling system — radiator, fans, coolant, and the stuff nobody thinks about until it's too late.
$100–$350
Exterior Vinyl Wrap Guide
Complete guide to vinyl wrapping your kei truck for a fresh new look, paint protection, and easy reversibility.
$200-500
All Mods
13 mods
Custom Bed Rack / Utility Rack Build
Build a custom steel or aluminum bed rack for your kei truck to carry lumber, ladders, roof-top tents, or other oversized cargo.
Suspension Lift Kit Installation Guide
Step-by-step guide to installing a suspension lift kit on your kei truck for improved ground clearance and off-road capability.