Aeroneer1's Black 2001 Build Thread
- Thread starter aeroneer1
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BrianSD_42
New member
Your lights as a finished product (now that the rest of the pics are posted) look great!
Have you considered mounting the LED strip just below the headlight and wrapping it around towards the rear of the car?
It would be sitting or mounted (3M tape?) to where the bumper meets the painted piece just below the headlight and curve towards the back just below the corner light.
I think that would look good. Or do a grill mod and put the LED strip inside the grill mod. Perhaps have the TOYOTA logo in the middle but the LED strip (both) behind it so that the logo is lit up from behind.
I'm just shooting idea out here.
Have you considered mounting the LED strip just below the headlight and wrapping it around towards the rear of the car?
It would be sitting or mounted (3M tape?) to where the bumper meets the painted piece just below the headlight and curve towards the back just below the corner light.
I think that would look good. Or do a grill mod and put the LED strip inside the grill mod. Perhaps have the TOYOTA logo in the middle but the LED strip (both) behind it so that the logo is lit up from behind.
I'm just shooting idea out here.
aeroneer1
New member
The LED strips I have are not outdoor, at least they don't suggest it. I could probably easily make them weather proof. Also they are white, and I was thinking a thin coat of night shade may make them fit the black a little more. I actually have 18" ones I got for the headlight, and some 12" ones that I was going to cut down to size and put along the bottom of the corner light all the up to upper corner.
Satoshi is up next, and I may do some expiermenting with the strips, or yeah, maybe just put them in the painted piece below headlights. I also kind of like the idea of using them as footwell lighting, and actually use the switchback function so they go white when a door is open, and amber when all doors are shut.
Got another pic today in Garden of the Gods
And this happened!
aeroneer1
New member
Got a few shots of the halos on, I made them come on with parking lights, but made the corner lights come on with low beams. Then the halos turn off with high beams.
Also the hitch painted and new hardware put on it, installed flipped. It fits pretty snug, and the bottom of the bumper actually bent up the slightest bit, but not enough to warrant cutting anything out. I'm happy with the way it came out.
Also the hitch painted and new hardware put on it, installed flipped. It fits pretty snug, and the bottom of the bumper actually bent up the slightest bit, but not enough to warrant cutting anything out. I'm happy with the way it came out.
aeroneer1
New member
Satoshi work
Finally got around to doing my satoshi, but I still need to finish, maybe today.
I dremel'd the 96 grill, peeled the chrome off, sanded, primed, satin black, wet sand, satin black, 3 coats of clear.
I also decided to paint the rear wing deflector.
Cut the mesh down to closer, but I need to cut it to shape now and figure out how I want to install it.
I got an FJ cruiser emblem that is black/white. I'm not sure if i'm going to paint it yet or not, I kind of like the OEM look and finish.
Finally got around to doing my satoshi, but I still need to finish, maybe today.
I dremel'd the 96 grill, peeled the chrome off, sanded, primed, satin black, wet sand, satin black, 3 coats of clear.
I also decided to paint the rear wing deflector.
Cut the mesh down to closer, but I need to cut it to shape now and figure out how I want to install it.
I got an FJ cruiser emblem that is black/white. I'm not sure if i'm going to paint it yet or not, I kind of like the OEM look and finish.
aeroneer1
New member
How did you mount them though? I saw the method that BFAD used with those little office cord holders, but I'm not sure where to find those unless I order them.
So where did you mount the zip ties to, etc? Also I see some people put the mesh behind the little tabs for mounting, or in front of it. If possible, in front of them looks cleaner, but I’m not sure if it's hard to do.
Unner
New member
I used the method BFAD used and a little of my own method. For mine I drilled holes in the supports and ran zip ties through them and the upper edge of the mesh that isn't visible when the grille is mounted. I used a few of those cable tie mounts too in places where there was no support to drill through and mount to. I picked up the mounts at Lowe's. I did peal the cheap double sided tape off of them and put on some of the good 3M double sided automotive tape.
What tabs are you talking about? Those two or three tabs that stick out of the bottom part? If so I was able to trim my mesh to fit into those tabs(looks like you are using the same, SS Perforated from customcargrills.com) and kinda forced the mesh onto the tabs. It doesn't sound like it works very well or looks clean but it is completely un-noticeable from the outside and really helps to hold the mesh in.
Actually now that I thought about it I realized you mean the clip tab things that you have to pop out to take the grille out. I don't think there is a way to mount the mesh infront of them because you have to be able to get to them to take the grille on and off. You're talking about the little squares that are left on the bottom corners of the grille right?
What tabs are you talking about? Those two or three tabs that stick out of the bottom part? If so I was able to trim my mesh to fit into those tabs(looks like you are using the same, SS Perforated from customcargrills.com) and kinda forced the mesh onto the tabs. It doesn't sound like it works very well or looks clean but it is completely un-noticeable from the outside and really helps to hold the mesh in.
Actually now that I thought about it I realized you mean the clip tab things that you have to pop out to take the grille out. I don't think there is a way to mount the mesh infront of them because you have to be able to get to them to take the grille on and off. You're talking about the little squares that are left on the bottom corners of the grille right?
aeroneer1
New member
Yes the tabs on the bottom on left and right. I don't think you have to have those exposed to take the grill on and off? I usually just stick a long flat head from the top and get it out that way.
I suppose it's tough to visualize unless I could see what you guys did. I think I'll just cut it to the size of the hole, then set in there, and think about where I can drill the holes and use zip ties. I think I will try to go in front of the tabs first.
aeroneer1
New member
Got the satoshi done. So I decided to go with the "in front of tabs" method. The downside to this method is you almost have to use some door molding to keep from the mesh scratching the plastic, unless you install it and paint it all together. The upside is you cover up the tabs.
So I went with the way Craig did it, except that I squished the zip ties into the door molding so you can't see any zip ties. There is a little bulge there those are, but not that noticeable. The seems in the molding sort of irk me too, but whatever.
This is what it looks like when they are all pushed in, and the holes drilled from the back side.
This the front view where the zip is, you can see it's hidden.
Close up of back side.
Here it on the truck before emblem.
Here it is with the emblem installed
Decided to leave the emblem white for now. I just used some epoxy to put it on. I may paint it later. But I'm slowly adding back some contrast from the all blacked out look.
So I went with the way Craig did it, except that I squished the zip ties into the door molding so you can't see any zip ties. There is a little bulge there those are, but not that noticeable. The seems in the molding sort of irk me too, but whatever.
This is what it looks like when they are all pushed in, and the holes drilled from the back side.
This the front view where the zip is, you can see it's hidden.
Close up of back side.
Here it on the truck before emblem.
Here it is with the emblem installed
Decided to leave the emblem white for now. I just used some epoxy to put it on. I may paint it later. But I'm slowly adding back some contrast from the all blacked out look.
derpiful
New member
That is looking AWESOME! Like Unner said, they two look great together. I'm a big fan of projectors alone, but combine it with that grill, and I'm in love. Nice work!!
aeroneer1
New member
Lived here for nearly 5 years and moving out in a couple weeks! Good ol' north boulder.
Thanks. Ya I definitely liked your raptor look, but didn't want to wait for the lead time on the big letters. I do like the FJ60/FJ Cruiser emblem though. You should definitely do a projector retrofit, transforms the whole look of the truck, and visibility at night is awesome.
Thanks! I like the way it sits for now, but I hope to get a front bumper in the not-to-distant future to complete the front! Scoop hood would also be great, but not too worried about that right now.
aeroneer1
New member
So moving up to Oregon for a couple months, and decided to get some less agreessive, lower load range tires. I decided to sell the 285/75/16 Duratracs and get the 295/75/16 Nitto Terra Grapplers in D-load range.
They are noticeabley less harsh over bumps, but don't look as meaty. Hopefully get some MTs after we get a second vehicle.
Then I replaced all the door speakers with Rockford Fosgate co-axials. I picked up 4 rolls of HVAC sticky insulation and put a whole roll in each door. The music sounds better, and road noise is considerably reduced. At some point I'd like to do the floor boards and the headliner.
They are noticeabley less harsh over bumps, but don't look as meaty. Hopefully get some MTs after we get a second vehicle.
Then I replaced all the door speakers with Rockford Fosgate co-axials. I picked up 4 rolls of HVAC sticky insulation and put a whole roll in each door. The music sounds better, and road noise is considerably reduced. At some point I'd like to do the floor boards and the headliner.
