Ok, so inspired by all of the builds here I figured I would share my own. I will update with pics later when I decide to get off the couch.

2007 White SR5 V6 4wd.

I drive ALOT for work (@60,000 in the last 24 months) so I have so be conscious of mileage, maintaining somewhat of a professional look, etc... so whatever I do, it has to be super clean.

Yesterday I ordered the following:

Moog FJ cruiser 4x4 springs from Moog-Suspension-Parts.com - A Dealer of the Federal Mogul Brand of Suspension Parts $138 shipped

Firestone airbags from Leaf Springs, Helper Springs and Suspension Parts | SD Truck Springs $80

Bilstein 5100's from www.downsouthmotorssports.com $309 shipped.

86 FJ Cruiser emblem for satoshi grill website forgotten $40 shipped

black diamond 48 x 18 grill material amazon $45 shipped

265/70/17 Goodyear silent armours local just tires $875ish

So the goal is simple. I have 114000 miles on my ride and its time for new tires and shocks. So I might as well beef it up a little. The primary inspiration to this build is gaterose' ride. If I could clone it I would, but he BFG I am afraid wouldn't be as quiet as the silent armours. I mean they have silent in the name right?

So in summary FJ springs (new) with .85 up front (gaterose lift) and satoshi grill with the 86 emblem but I am going to attempt my4toy's satoshi install. Also I bought the same material but its painted black and its 18 x 48 which is big enough to do the botton valance as well.

Lastly, I also will be doing some sanding and painting. As you will see when I put pics in I hit a bollard and messed up the paint on my bumper. So this thread will hopefully describe a successful refinish job.

Before Profile

[IMG]~original[/IMG]

Bumper Damage

[IMG]~original[/IMG]

Also, this build will happen over thanksgiving weekend. I have sat and sun to do the suspension and tires. Sunday night I will start the repainting of the bumper and cutting for the satoshi mod. Mon and tues to finish satoshi mod and extra stuff if there is time.

Extra include:

Plasti-dip wheels gunmetal grey. If I like it I will have them power coated.
ANTMAN compressor ripoff mod.
Headlight blackout mod.

Future mod:
Weathertech mats (grey or black, haven't decided)
Clazzio seat covers
Hidden dual USB plug (might get squeezed in on T-day weekend)
Fixed holster in armrest (might get squeezed in on T-day weekend)

I love the look of Satoshi grilles. Can't wait to see yours complete!

Came home to this today.
[IMG]~original[/IMG]

But something doesn't look right. I thought the bag was supposed to fill the spring?

Maybe it's supposed to expand and fill the spring? I can't believe that I cant find any info on this issue. Am I that dense?

Ok, so as stated in my other thread, the dealer that sold me the air bags said they would expand to fill the springs.

In other news, it has begun. I was messing around in the driveway and start taking bolts off and then this happened.







I used a brand new drywall saw from Lowes. Sharp as the devil. took me about 20 minutes to do.

look forward to seeing your suspension put in!

Ok first mods done. I set the satoshi aside and am driving around without a grill.

First three mods were:

Center console holster mod;
Dual USB charger in the center console; and
Built in ground loop isolator.

Now for some pics:

Placement of noise isolator. I picked this up on amazone for $16-$17. I had an engine whine in my radio using my cell phone which is mounted like a gps at my left A pillar. I used the knockout for the 115v plug for easy access. No need to drill it out.

[IMG]~original[/IMG]

I was originally going to use the 115v outlet knockout for the dual usb charger but thought I might regret that down the road so I moved it up. You will find a very convenient hole in the plastic framing where this USB charger should go. 1 1/4" spade bit is what you need to mount this properly.

Except when I went to instal I saw that my electrical connections would not clear.



So I bent them. Which weakened them. But black electrical tape, judiciously applied firmed them back up.



So, my holster mod was necessary because I always travel armed and I was tired of having my XD just flopping around.

This is a disassembled Blackhawk CQC holser (in gunmetal grey. On sale on amazon for $24)



And here is the finished product.


Today I think I am going to take a shot at painting my grill surround body color. While that is drying I will be bending metal. Hope this works.

Looks good, which XD is that? I have 4" .45 myself, but don't keep it in the 4R because I feel like it's too big to hide well and I had a Walther P22 stolen out of the console a couple years ago.

4" .45 XD Compact

Man I need some clazzios. Those seats are narley.

where and how did you attache the holster? Just screw right into the side of the console? I like that mod!

Blackhawk serpas are screwed into their paddle. I figured this out when I took it apart. The post that accept the screws are 7/32" and so I just drilled 7/32" holes into the side of the inner liner of the center console. The length of the posts were perfect for the thickness of the plastic. The center console had to be completely removed and completely disassembled to get to. I can post more pics when I get home.

Ok, so part of this build is to do what I can to fix a mistake. Namely when I hit a bollard parking the 4R. So we took off the bumper.



EDIT! I just realized while posting this pic that I am missing part of my actual bumper! See the little ear off of the bumper on the right side? No ear on the left. Just ran out to the driveway to confirm. When I hit the bollard I hit it square on the post of the bumper, which is why the damage was so limited. So I don't think I hit hard enough to knock the welds loose. Although, I bought this used, so its hard to say. I swear this bumper has been repainted before.



And found part of the damage



And subsequently repaired said damage using super glue and deck screws. Quality!



With bumper off it was time to prep for paint. My son Zach removing all the clips. Bumper removal and prep was his job. I told him a while ago that in 6 years this thing is all his so he needs to start working on it now.



I ordered a 18" x 48" screen so that I would have enough left over to do the valance.



I used panhead screws to attach the screen. not an easy job. helps to have a super short screwdriver.



Primed and ready for paint.


Lastly additional picks of mounting my holster. (not much. but its something.)

I had to take the entire console out and disassemble to get the inner liner out.



And then I just lined it up and driller three 7/32" holes and screwed it in.

I wanted to make few comments on the screen that I bought which is a bigger blacker version of what Terri bought.

Amazon.com: Universal Aluminum Diamond Mesh Grille Insert 48" x 18" BLACK: Automotive

1. This stuff can only be bent once. bend I more than that and it will break. If I ever redo this (trail damage for example) I will seek out steel mesh instead.

2. 18" x 48" is enough to do both the grill and the valance. 12" for the grill and 6" for the valance. worked out perfectly.

3. I bought black because I thought I could just drop it in. But, when bending it you will damage the paint so I just decided to paint it.

4. The method of using the zip ties is pretty easy except for making the bends. I ended up just scoring the black paint with a flathead screwdriver.

This one of my favorite mods!

I also travel with either my SA 1911 (.45) or my Kimber 1911 (.45), and this will fit my needs quite nicely!

Thanks for sharing!!

If you think about it, a blackhawk is the only type of holster an offroader should consider. If you go ass over teakettle somewhere, at least you won't lose your piece.

Anyway, I spent the last 24 hours working on the bumper this is where we stand.





Needs to sit until monday and ths get a wet sand with some 1200 grit and a good polish andthen it can go back on. Right now I would say she is a 5 footer and not likely to improve on that because I didn't sand agressively enough on the gravel chips. But what's the point? Its not a showrrom piece and with any luck it'll get ripped off by a rock or a stump or something soon enough.