Boxed Ambition
Guest Writer: P.M. Chief DeMarks
Photos by: Chez Watts @itschezwatts
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Box owner: Dexter Yee
Box: 2005 Scion xB aka OliviaSlammBoxx Location: Ontario, Oregon Instagram: @Daxxis Facebook: Olivia Slamm Boxx Crew: @TeamChaser_Official |
Looking back at the recent history of modified vehicles in the car scene its quite easy to spot the difference between the trend setters and those who just want to make their rides look like them. So when you look at Dexter Yee's 2005 Scion xB the very first thing you notice is that Dexter only follows his own dreams.
When you think about custom builds in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is the first thing that comes to your mind. Not Dexter. He is originally from the small town of Ontario, Oregon and he admits that there was no huge boom in the car scene there. But he enjoyed riding around with his older brother and they would hit the main strip called 'the cruise,' just like in the movie "American Graffiti." But even 'the cruise' didn't fire up Dexter's inner passion about cars. That of course didn't happen until he turned 16 and his internal flame fired right up in the form of a new driver's license!!!
Getting his first car, a super stock 1988 Honda Civic, was a game changer for Dexter. Luckily, his brother had bought it the year before Dexter took it over. His brother had done some meaningful performance modifications to the car that their parents were definitely not aware of. They even decided to swap out the single cam engine and go with a B16a they sourced from a local importer in Portland. Of course, you know that enough is never enough, so ITR cams and a Garrett M24 Turbo also found their way under the hood. He also had friends at Horsepower Freaks who put it all together and properly tuned it. At only 16 years old, Dexter wound up with a 13 second daily driver that brought absolutely no joy to his parent's hearts.
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Prior to Dexter's current Scion xB, he also owned a Scion xB RS 2.0 that was actually stolen one night from the apartment complex where he lived. It was a disheartening experience because he was already heavily invested into the build. But as luck would have it, the RS xB was recovered and the thieves never touched the custom suspension. Unfortunately, the insurance company denied Dexter's request to buy his vehicle back. But on a positive note, when the insurance company cut him a check, they did allow him to recover his suspension parts. It was the single worst experience that Dexter had ever gone through. Armed with that insurance check he was on an instant quest to find another 5-speed xB. Fate plus desire will always equal opportunity and that's what happened when Dexter found exactly what he was looking for. Needless to say, he bought the 2005 xB 5-speed and within a week all of his suspension modifications were installed onto his new chassis.
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"Cutting into the body at a structural point was not a fun or easy task." |
Dexter soon found out that one of the most challenging modifications he attempted was notching the unibody in order to fit the side exhaust he wanted for the build. Trying to cut the body at a structural point was not easy and had to be perfectly done in order for it to work. The area itself had to be reinforced to fit and accommodate the pipes being mounted higher up to prevent them from dragging. This particular project was both time consuming and very labor intensive.
Since then, Dexter's xB has evolved through multiple phases and changing esthetics. If there has been a constant in this build that would have to be whatever Dexter really liked at the time and/or whatever he felt like trying. There was never a recurring theme or cast-in-stone guideline he had to follow. He used his xB as a learning laboratory, using deductive reasoning and just 'figuring out' how to make things work the way he saw them in his mind. Whether its replicating the type of builds he sees on JDM websites and magazines or trying something new on his own. Dexter's current influence is modeled after the Japanese Itasha style and the Thailand Flush Style.
Fully stripped interior
Flocked 01’ Toyota Corolla dashboard Custom 4-point show cage |
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As far as crews go, Dexter and his friends recently got together and formed their own club called "Team Chaser." They view themselves as a group of friends and misfits. They also feel that the name conveys the fact that they are underdogs in comparison to the higher end car clubs in the area. Dexter never has to look any further than his friends when he thinks about who encouraged his build and when he finds inspiration. They all like to bounce ideas off of each other and gage the process of their individual builds.
But if Dexter really had to name the one person who has had the greatest influence on his attitude toward his builds, he would definitely have to go with his grandma. Her mantra of "go with the flow" has embedded itself in his mind and he always heard her voice throughout his builds. If there was a problem he always worked around it. You have to make things work when they don't quite turn out the way you planned, even if you have to tear it down and rebuild it again!
But if Dexter really had to name the one person who has had the greatest influence on his attitude toward his builds, he would definitely have to go with his grandma. Her mantra of "go with the flow" has embedded itself in his mind and he always heard her voice throughout his builds. If there was a problem he always worked around it. You have to make things work when they don't quite turn out the way you planned, even if you have to tear it down and rebuild it again!
That 'go with the flow' style is why Dexter has always enjoyed sampling different car cultures with strong deference to Japan. He loves how they push the envelope when it comes to creativity and style. He also follows the Thai car scene and would love to have the opportunity to go to Thailand and witness a Flush Style car show or Meet.
In his daily endeavors, Dexter works as parts advisor for a local Infinity dealership. And when he's not working on his ride, he enjoys a simplistic lifestyle of spending time with his friends and family. They just like to hang out and do wild things like playing board games. That's why even after all this time Dexter still has no set plans or urgency in reference to his build. He just plays it by ear and takes it a day at a time!
Dexter wanted to give a "shout-out" to his friends for always being supportive. He also wanted to express a special thanks to his girlfriend Alisha for putting up with all the all the late nights he was out there working on his car! In addition, a "HUGE SHOUT-OUT" goes out to the entire "Team Chaser" crew because he really could not have done this without them! And last but not least, all of his friends back home, even though they witnessed his struggles, they NEVER stopped loving his work!
Dexter wanted to give a "shout-out" to his friends for always being supportive. He also wanted to express a special thanks to his girlfriend Alisha for putting up with all the all the late nights he was out there working on his car! In addition, a "HUGE SHOUT-OUT" goes out to the entire "Team Chaser" crew because he really could not have done this without them! And last but not least, all of his friends back home, even though they witnessed his struggles, they NEVER stopped loving his work!
EXTERIOR MODS:
Modified bBist fender flares ~ M3 style mirrors w/ rain visors ~ ducktailRACING track spoiler ~ carbon fiber hatch (paint matched) ~ quick release carbon fiber hood with riveted Chevy bug guard/FFF ~ quick release license plate side skirts w/abs side winglets ~ rear diffuser ~ x3 grille ~ Sonar LED tails w/ OEM lens cover ~ Sonar front headlights w/ halos & DRL ~ crystal side markers ~ half cut fenders w/spacers ~ Yakima roof rack ~ Plexiglass rear window/quarter/back door glass ~ smoked window visors ~ spa blue paint w/ cherry blossom graphics on side and manga graphic on hatch ~ ducktailRACING track lip ~ LED DRL smoked fog lights ~ front canards ~ quick release front bumper ~ relocated front license plate ~ LED underglow ~ and F1 style rear fog light.
INTERIOR MODS:
Fully stripped interior ~ flocked 01’ Toyota Corolla dashboard ~ Marshall Comp II gauges ~ aluminum door panels wrapped in fabric ~ wink mirror ~ custom 4-point show cage ~ RX-7 rear strut brace w/ welded brackets ~ Taylor battery box (relocated) ~ NRG short hub w/ quick release ~ Grip Royal steering wheel ~ Perrin Racing short shifter ~ Pokeball shift knob ~ rainbow fabric wrapped A-pillar trim ~ full LED interior dome lighting ~ Bride LOMAX driver seat w/ OMP bracket ~ Sparco passenger seat w/ OMP bracket ~ C-pillar bar ~ ivory white interior w/ metallic film floor.
ENGINE BAY MODS:
Complete wire and brake line tuck ~ semi shaved engine bay ~ short ram intake w/ Spectre cone filter and water shield ~ OBX lightweight crank pulley ~ Competition stage 2 clutch ~ Fidanza lightweight flywheel ~ MK3 Supra aluminum tri-core radiator w/ custom mounts ~ D2 external radiator overflow tank ~ Energy Suspension full polyurethane motor mounts ~ 4-1 exhaust manifold heat wrapped ~ custom straight pipe exhaust from catback to side exit ~ full LED lighting ~ D1 Spec oil catch can ~ deleted A/C~ power steering ~ and HVAC system.
SUSPENSION MODS:
Ksport Pro coilovers front w/12kg springs ~ Megan Acura RSX rear coilovers mated to OEM mount w/ quad 14.2kg springs ~ Hotchkis Competition front and rear sway bars ~ Energy Suspension polyurethane front sway bar end links and bushings ~ -3° rear camber plates ~ 25mm rear hub spacers ~ 18mm front wheel spacers ~ Ichiba 55mm extended lug studs ~ EBC slotted front brake rotors.
WHEELS:
MST 15x9 +0 ET w/ black face and polished lips ~ reflective wrapped outer barrels ~ Nexen 5000 tires 195/45r15 ~ neo chrome extended lug nuts w/ matching spikes.
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~ Boxed Lifestyle is honored to have Phillip Morning Bear DeMarks our guest writer work on this feature. Chief DeMarks is a very well respected friend, writer and Honda Element owner. He runs the Elemental Motorsports page on Instagram and "Relaunch the Element" on Facebook. Much respect.
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