Jordan Alatorre's Journey with ScrapeLux: 1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50

Follow Jordan Alatorre’s journey transforming his 1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50, ScrapeLux, into a high-performance drift truck through skill, dedication, and passion

r0cean11

0 176

1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50

Share this story on social using the buttons above the image.

Order Your Car Magazines From Our Amazon, or Etsy Store!

Looking For Digital Automotive Magazines? Look In Our Magazine Rack!

Jordan Alatorre AKA ScrapeLux

1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50

IG / TikTok / YouTube: @ScrapeLux

Photographer/Author

Donnie Rochin

IG - @r0cean11

FB - r0cean11 Photography

www.r0cean11.com

Listen to This 1987 Toyota Pickup Drift Truck – An Audiobook Journey

Getting Started: A Love for Cars from Day One

To start, I’m a 29-year-old from Long Beach, California. I’ve worked as a technician for Toyota, Nissan, and Tesla, and now I’m starting my dream job at Singer Vehicle Design. I’ll be working on a huge Porsche restoration project, and this is a major career milestone for me. Things are finally coming together.

Stance Auto 2025 Car Calendars Out Now Grab Yours Here Now

My love for cars started with my dad, uncle, cousin, and brother-in-law. When I was seven, I was riding in my dad’s truck when he floored it at the Long Beach ports. He pegged the speedometer, and I felt like we were flying. My uncle, a master technician for Honda, worked on cars every weekend, and I thought it was the coolest thing. I’d go with my dad to hang out, and my uncle started teaching me about cars.

In high school, my brother-in-law got me into the VW scene, and I learned about wire tucks, clean bays, engine swaps, and car shows. Then my cousin Wilhem, who was my idol back then, got me into three-piece wheels and drifting. He introduced me to authentic Japanese brands, and all of this inspired me to become a mechanic and eventually get into wiring. Because of all these people, I learned how to build a car from scratch and drive it like it’s meant to be driven.

1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50

The Truck: Turning a Family Vehicle into a Dream Build

I chose the 1987 Toyota Pickup RN50 because it was my first vehicle—originally a family truck. I saw people doing some really cool stuff with these trucks on Instagram, and since my first one was taken, I wanted to come back harder. I found another one, same generation but a single cab.

Before this, I’d only owned one other vehicle, which just had minor bolt-ons. But this project? This truck pushed me to go all out and brought out my true self. This build made me want to learn everything: wiring harnesses, oil, fuel, and coolant plumbing, fabrication—you name it. I had to push myself to learn every part of it.

Whether it’s parked, broken, or driving, I feel proud. Every time I drift it, take it on a touge run, or just park, people notice. The turbo spools or flutters, and that alone gets attention. The best feeling is seeing my wife, best friends, or parents give me that “I’m proud of you” look. Giving people a ride and getting thumbs up or hearing “Yo, that’s bad!” makes it all worth it. I didn’t build this truck to be the loudest or fastest, but to learn every inch of it and know it inside and out.

Already A Member? Click Here To Read Your Car Magazines FREE!!!

Advice to Fellow Builders: Don’t Be Afraid to Stand Out

Any advice I can give? Don’t be afraid to stand out. Don’t be scared to learn what you want to know—no one is born with knowledge. You have to learn through trial and error. Mistakes teach you how to do it better next time. Even when you succeed, keep pushing yourself to learn more because you’ll find ways to perfect it even further. Everyone has failures behind closed doors; what you see is only the success. Knowledge is power, and failure is the best teacher. Dreams only come true with action.

Also, I’m teaming up with some companies to turn my mods into bolt-on parts for trucks, so others can experience a bolt-on performance setup and go sideways too.

1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50 engine bay

Why My Drift Truck Build is Unique

What makes my truck unique? I built every part myself; I didn’t rely on a shop to make my vision a reality. It’s a Frankenstein drift truck with parts from different vehicles. I like making things fit my way—bolt-on isn’t really my style.

1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50 Build List

1987 Toyota Pickup RN50
230whp e85
3SGE Beams Blacktop
160 6 Speed Transmission
ClutchMasters 725 Twin Disk
Custom Driveshaft
S13 240sx Rear Subframe
Rear Cantilever Suspension
Front & Rear SAESPEED 7" Coilover
Upper SAESPEED Control Arm
1992 Toyota Pickup Lower Arm
Front 300zx Caliper
Front 94' Mazda MPV Rotor
Front 94' Toyota 4Runner 4x4 Brake Pads
Front 93' SW20 Toyota MR2 Brake Lines
Vision521 Wheels (Front: 15x10-25 / Rear: 15x10+25)
Front 20mm Spacer to clear calipers
Zestino 205/50R15 Tires
ChaseBays IS300 Brake Booster Delete
Modified GKTech Hydro
Under Hood Light
Bed Lights
Bed Cargo Lights as Underglow
Weld In Harness Bar
Homemade Ceiling Steering Wheel Holder
Homemade Door Panels
Aluminum Race Dash
Tucked Brake & Clutch Lines
Custom Body/Chassis Harness
6x7 DapperLighting Headlights
CrystalClear Bumper/Corner Lights
Homemade Tail Lights
Homemade Diffuser
2003 350z Side Splitters
1988 4Runner 4x4 Fenders
1988 4Runner Grill
1988 4Runner Valance
1988 4Runner 1 Piece Bumper
LemonHillAvenue Metal Flares
Shortened BellTech Drop Spindles
Modified Inner Tie Rod
StabFab Rack-N-Pinion Bracket
1976 Mustang ii Rack-N-Pinion
2012 Volvo S40 Electric Power Steering mounted in Bed
6an PTFE Power Steering Lines
Derale Power Steering Cooler w/ Fan mounted in bed
Yellow Optima Mounted In Bed
16.5 Gallon Fuel Cell mounted in bed
Hellcat 525lph E-85 Fuel Pump
8an PTFE Fuel Lines
6an PTFE Return
Rear Tube Chassis
1/0ga Battery Cables
Discontinued CHECKMATE Tonneau Cover
Custom Motor mounts
Custom Transmount
S13 R200 Diff
Nissan 350z Axles
S13 5 Lug Swap
ARP Wheel Studs
300zx Dual Caliper
NRG Seats
Shortened Corbeau Seat Mounts
RaceEquip Harness
Voswitch Switch Panel
Walbro Hellcat fuel pump
Turbosmart 45 Gen-V wastegate
Garrett GT3071R with Arashi GT3071R Internals
Performance Injection Injectors 1000cc
Eagle Forged Rods
Stock Piston
Toyota Piston Rings
Kelford Spring & Retainers
Weldspeed intake manifold
Custom Turbo Log Manifold
Hyperfuel pressure regulator
ARP head studs
Stock metal headgasket
ISR s13 240sx Intercooler
80mm AT Power Shaftless Throttle body
E85 / 91 octane
Factory oil cooler deleted
Mishimoto oil thermostat
External Derale Oil Cooler
2JZ Alternator 150a
MyWireShop Engine Harness
Link ECU G4X
Link MXS 1.2 Street Dash
3" Exhaust
Dual Inline Vibrant Mufflers
Custom Head Oil Drain & Turbo Oil Drain
Heater core inlet/outlet for Turbo Coolant Feed
Jet Black With Silver flake paint on the timing/rocker cover
20an ColorFitting Fittings for coolant hoses
SkarAudio 6x9 Speakers and 8" Subwoofer
Tuned By UnrivaledTuning

1987 Toyota Drift Pickup RN50

What’s Next for The Toyota Drift Pickup RN50?

Next on the list is a two-piece driveshaft to avoid critical speed issues, and I’m planning a wrap in November. I’ll also be adding a vintage air electric A/C and heater setup mounted in the bed. By December, I’m hoping to re-tune the truck to 12-14 psi and aiming for 380-450whp.

Joining the Community: Advice for Fellow Toyota Enthusiasts

The automotive scene has brought me a ton of positivity, new friends, and even some business opportunities. For Toyota owners or anyone interested in drifting and stance, I recommend joining Facebook groups like Toyota Minis and 3SGE Beams AE86. These groups are full of information about beams and Toyota mini trucks.

My dream car is a JZX100 Tourer V. I’m saving up for one now, but I’m aiming for the Tourer S since I plan to swap in a GTE motor myself. I want to do the work and avoid the $30k markup on a GTE. My goal is to have it within the next couple of years.