Bandit Runner's Build Thread
- Thread starter Bandit Runner
- Start date
If your car spends a lot of time in the elements, I recommend Finish Kare Hi Temp wax. I think it's a marine wax, so it's meant to withstand some abuse. I've tried a bunch of the high end synthetic waxes, natural waxes, everything, and nothing lasts longer than this stuff. As far as I can tell, the finish is glassy and smooth - I'm sure the concours guys use other, better stuff, but at 20 bucks for a can, I put this on all my cars.
I can usually put on a coat one week, another a few weeks later, and I won't have to rewax for months. My car sits in the Florida sun all day.
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
This double projector project is ridiculous....
But I expect no less from you
Oh, and I love how you just threw the supercharger in the middle of everything, all nonchalantly. Jerk lol
haha Love this. Hilarious.
It may seem that I just come up with this stuff at the last minute, but I literally plan these mods years in advance.
You should see what I have planned for 5 years from now!
fourfive
Senior Member
I knew someone would ask that. I've been keeping a running list and sadly its quite expensive. I have almost $1600 in them so far, and I still need to have more parts 3D printed. It will easily be over 2 grand when all is said and done.
Probably the most expensive retrofit in history.
but the end product is gonna look pretty f**k'n cool. You're creativity never fails to amaze me. If only the wheels in my brain turned like yours.
4x4runner01
New member
Love it!
JWaldz
Moderator
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
Thank man! Looking forward to working with you on the bumper designs.
owyheerat
New member
[MENTION=55891]Bandit Runner[/MENTION], Sorry to 'muddy' your build thread.
[MENTION=158006]izzyidk[/MENTION] I have a suggestion. I built a Bandit Runner rear bumper 1 1/2 years ago (and love it, here is a link http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/204519-big-shout-out-bandit-runner-bumper-design.html), and I found a local steel yard with a plasma table. I sent them the Autocad files (included in Bandit Runner plans), and 2 days later I went and picked up all (56 pieces...I think) the 3/16" plate steel. All were cut perfectly, and they only charged me $175(ish, see post # 26) for the metal and the cut charge. Just a thought.
I can highly recommend Bandit Runner. His plans and instructions are the best.
Good luck
Durwin
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
I tested out the projector demon eyes today. I can change the color of them, but here is what they look like in red.
They look a little strange because the shrouds were 3D printed in a semi-transparent material. So the light is glowing through the shrouds. It will look cleaner after I paint the shrouds, and the light can't pass through them.
I also tried out the halos. Again, a strange looking glow due to the shrouds.
Its a little difficult to see in the picture, but the green color of the larger halo on the left does not match the color of the smaller halo on the right. The large one has more of a yellow tint to it. This was not acceptable, so I talked to SuperBrightLED's and they are sending me a new set of the larger halos. I hope the color will match this time.
They look a little strange because the shrouds were 3D printed in a semi-transparent material. So the light is glowing through the shrouds. It will look cleaner after I paint the shrouds, and the light can't pass through them.
I also tried out the halos. Again, a strange looking glow due to the shrouds.
Its a little difficult to see in the picture, but the green color of the larger halo on the left does not match the color of the smaller halo on the right. The large one has more of a yellow tint to it. This was not acceptable, so I talked to SuperBrightLED's and they are sending me a new set of the larger halos. I hope the color will match this time.
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SRQ-Runner
New member
Have you looked at getting the new color change halos from Morimoto and TRS with the bluetooth remote? I haven't noticed any difference in their colors due to halo ring size.
I hope SuperBrightLED gets everything fixed for you.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
New OEM lower ball joints and bolts getting installed this weekend. 140K miles on the originals, so I figure its time to replace them. Better safe than sorry, right?
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Bandit Runner
Senior Member
So quite a while ago, I posted that I wanted to make new badges for my 4Runner since it was getting supercharged. Here was the pic I posted of my design:
Well I’ve been slowly working on them, and of course taking pictures as I went. First I ordered some decals for the badges from [MENTION=134298]robby655[/MENTION]. They turned out great:
Here is where I was laying out the shapes on a .1” thick sheet of aluminum:
Hacked out the rough shapes with an angle grinder:
Thought I had a pic of the aluminum pieces all smoothed out with edges beveled, but I guess not. So here is the next pic of them painted green:
Then I added the decals:
And after a few coats of clear coat they are done:
I decided not to install them yet until after our camping trip next week. No point in getting them all muddy right away.
Well I’ve been slowly working on them, and of course taking pictures as I went. First I ordered some decals for the badges from [MENTION=134298]robby655[/MENTION]. They turned out great:
Here is where I was laying out the shapes on a .1” thick sheet of aluminum:
Hacked out the rough shapes with an angle grinder:
Thought I had a pic of the aluminum pieces all smoothed out with edges beveled, but I guess not. So here is the next pic of them painted green:
Then I added the decals:
And after a few coats of clear coat they are done:
I decided not to install them yet until after our camping trip next week. No point in getting them all muddy right away.
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theesotericone
New member
It's the little things that make rigs stand out from the crowd and add character. Yours has a ton of character. Those badges turned out great. Such a simple idea but not something I ever would have come up with. Nice work as always.
nchacon1984
New member
You are a man of many talents. Those look great.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
So I’ve been working on another little project now and again as time permits. The reasoning for this mod:
A few years ago, I had to transport several boxes of items for my work in the back of my truck. The boxes were a little over a foot wide each, and I would have been able to fit 4 of them side-by-side in the cargo area. Except the cargo cover brackets stuck out too far from the side panels. Thereby only letting me fit 3 boxes in there and wasting a lot of space. I’m talking about these things:
These brackets stick out a good inch. I don’t use my cargo cover and sold it long ago, so I decided to make something that would be more flush mounted. I also decided to use them as cargo tie-down points, just to make them more useful. Here is the rectangular hole I had to work within:
If I was going to use it as a cargo tie-down point, it had to be strong. So I decided to make it out of steel. I couldn’t find any rectangular tubing that fit in the openings. So I started by bending a .10” thick strip of steel into a rectangle.
Welded them into a box shape with a cap on one end. Used the two existing mounting holes to get things started.
Early test fit. Not too shabby:
As the box was mounted in the hole, I traced around the perimeter so I could cut it flush. This was not a flat plane to cut. There is a lot of contour to the side panels in this area, but the angle grinder took care of it. After the flush cut:
Then I added flanges to the perimeters of the boxes to cover the edges of the openings. I had to bend these by hand to match the contour of the side panels.
Trimmed the flanges nice and neat, and rounded the edges to make it look nice.
Another test fit. Looking good! A little difficult to see, but I added another mounting screw hole also. I added a well nut to the sheet metal inside the opening to thread the new screw into.
Finally got them painted (gray to match my cargo box):
Another pic with all the hardware, and the small D-rings I picked up from the hardware store.
And installed:
Nice and flush. Sticks out less than 1/8”
OEM cargo brackets are for sale. If anyone is interested, let me know.
A few years ago, I had to transport several boxes of items for my work in the back of my truck. The boxes were a little over a foot wide each, and I would have been able to fit 4 of them side-by-side in the cargo area. Except the cargo cover brackets stuck out too far from the side panels. Thereby only letting me fit 3 boxes in there and wasting a lot of space. I’m talking about these things:
These brackets stick out a good inch. I don’t use my cargo cover and sold it long ago, so I decided to make something that would be more flush mounted. I also decided to use them as cargo tie-down points, just to make them more useful. Here is the rectangular hole I had to work within:
If I was going to use it as a cargo tie-down point, it had to be strong. So I decided to make it out of steel. I couldn’t find any rectangular tubing that fit in the openings. So I started by bending a .10” thick strip of steel into a rectangle.
Welded them into a box shape with a cap on one end. Used the two existing mounting holes to get things started.
Early test fit. Not too shabby:
As the box was mounted in the hole, I traced around the perimeter so I could cut it flush. This was not a flat plane to cut. There is a lot of contour to the side panels in this area, but the angle grinder took care of it. After the flush cut:
Then I added flanges to the perimeters of the boxes to cover the edges of the openings. I had to bend these by hand to match the contour of the side panels.
Trimmed the flanges nice and neat, and rounded the edges to make it look nice.
Another test fit. Looking good! A little difficult to see, but I added another mounting screw hole also. I added a well nut to the sheet metal inside the opening to thread the new screw into.
Finally got them painted (gray to match my cargo box):
Another pic with all the hardware, and the small D-rings I picked up from the hardware store.
And installed:
Nice and flush. Sticks out less than 1/8”
OEM cargo brackets are for sale. If anyone is interested, let me know.
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Black798
New member
Nice and flush. Sticks out less than 1/8”
I'm going to have to steal this idea here soon since I just got rid of my cargo cover. Looks great!
spoonsports86
New member
those tie downs came out nice good replacement for the cargo cover
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
Warning: Non 4Runner related post!
So I just had to post a few pics of the newest member of our herd. He's a miniature dachshund, about 16 weeks old. My wife named him Prince.
Playing with one of the cats:
He's a bundle of energy, and a lot of fun!
So I just had to post a few pics of the newest member of our herd. He's a miniature dachshund, about 16 weeks old. My wife named him Prince.
Playing with one of the cats:
He's a bundle of energy, and a lot of fun!
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