California man says his custom Tesla is finally alive after 3D-scanning a Cybertruck hood onto a Model S Plaid

A California builder just proved a Model S Plaid can wear raw stainless steel as a custom Cybertruck inspired Tesla project finally screamed into life.

This vehicle uses the high performance drive units of the donor sedan to power a bespoke body that lacks doors or a traditional roof.

The team used 3D scanning to map the original chassis before fabricating a jagged silhouette that looks ready for a film set.

Getting this electric monster to actually move required a deep dive into the car’s digital brain that almost ended the build entirely.

Reviving the stalled Cybertruck project

The technical process of getting this Cybertruck project to start required several days of troubleshooting for the team at Cyber Hooligan.

Initial efforts were blocked by a dead auxiliary battery that prevented the team from opening the custom stainless steel hood.

Once they accessed the interior, the main computer systems in the Model S Plaid remained totally unresponsive.

The car remained in a state of electronic hibernation despite the team swapping in several different computers from their warehouse.

A breakthrough occurred when the builders identified a faulty body control module as the primary issue.

They sourced a 250 dollar replacement unit from Tesla to see if it would wake the Cybertruck systems.

The guys at Cyber Hooligan said: “This is exactly what can save your life if you’re going to rip off your screen while you’re driving.

“When a Tesla is moving, this is the main computer, so seeing it fail due to something like voltage instability or moisture is a massive roadblock.

“We had to replace the module to get the high-voltage battery to even talk to the rest of the car, but once that connection was back, the whole project finally felt alive.”

Factors like unstable voltage or moisture likely caused the original part to fail.

After the team installed the new module, the cooling pumps engaged and the Cybertruck project successfully moved under its own power.

Latest update on the Cybertruck project

The successful startup allows the builder to move into the final stages of the Model S Plaid fabrication.

Future plans include adding further stainless steel panels to the exterior and refining the air suspension for better stance.

This Cybertruck inspired build serves as a case study in using 3D scanning to adapt existing electric platforms into new body styles.

Other shops are beginning to apply this angular Cybertruck aesthetic to various vehicle frames and wheelbases.

Resolving the software issues on this machine proves that these complex electric systems can be managed with the right diagnostic approach.

The California Tesla project will now undergo road testing to check that the stainless steel body remains stable during high speed runs.

This project marks a significant step in the growing world of custom electric vehicle modification and shows how digital tools are changing the landscape of automotive design.

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