Build thread: Trikz

[Trikz]

Hi everyone. After lurking around the forum for about nine months and posting a few times around the forum, I decided to make myself a little build thread to show-off my 4Runner and keep track of some of the maintenance work. Most importantly, show a few of my mods and ask questions if they ever arise. I'll admit that my T4R might not appeal to everyone, reason for which suggestions are always welcome. Sorry for the long post (got motivated with the new year!).

As of 7/14/2015:

So here's my story.

My mom and dad got this 2000 4Runner SR5 2WD brand new in January of 2000. Proud to say it was one of, if not, the first 2000 4Runner here in my home town. I'm from Puerto Rico by the way.

Here are a few pics of my 4Runner when it was handed to me in 2007. It was stock but fairly well maintained.

I don't have too many pics of the previous mods so I'll add pics as I find them.

Let the fun begin!!!

One of the first thing I did was add some cheap off road lights from Pep Boys. Modding on a budget so bear with me. Also got some nice shackles from a local industrial hardware store. I believe they are 3/4".

After, I decided to color match the skid plate.

Next step, paint the wheels black. The stock finish of the wheels was corroded and looked faded. This along with the painted caliper and drums, it's probably my most mayor mod to this point. Glad I got to do this by myself in a weekend and for $45, couldn't be happier.

(You can also see my home made fairing and ghetto-rigged roof rack. I plan on bolting it in the stock location till I find an original rack).

Got them dirty the next day!

You can also see where I'm going with the theme with my new TRD decal.

Next, ISR mod.

Love the sound and I did notice a bit of an increase in the low end torque (not a drastic increase, but noticeable).

Later on, I added a yellow film to the fog lights (stock and aftermarket).

Also did an LED interior swap. Might do the dash lights soon.

After a while, I was introduced to one of the most versatile and simplest modding products ever... Plastidip!!!

Dipped my fog light shrouds and grill.

Rear license plate bezel and emblems.

Also dipped the lower window trim. You can also see the carbon fiber vinyl I put between the front and rear windows.

Next came some new El Dorado Sport Tour tires.

Nearing the end of my current mod list, I got a CB antenna mount (thank you t4r4life) to which I want to install a CB style FM antenna since at the moment, I don't have a CB radio nor do I need one (wish I had four wheel drive and people to wheel with).

Plastidipped fender flares...

About a month ago, I completed my favorite mod of all: Retrofit!!!!

Went through two different looks, the last being the current (thanks to blcktpgsr for the inspiration)

Tinted corners and turn signals.

I later redid my corner lights to imitate the JDM style corners to complete the look.

Here's a list of my current setup on the entire rig.

-Custom seat covers
-Infinity component speakers (6.5" front, 5.25" rear)
-Double din Clarion head unit
-El Dorado Sport Tour tires (265/75-16)
-Monroe shocks front and rear with stock springs (might try and get a set of 99 talls)
-HID off road lights
-PnP Morimoto H1 projectors
-Turn signal mod
-LED interior lights
-LED windshield washer nozzles
-ISR mod

Maintenance to be done (just to remind myself ):

-Timing belt/water pump change
-Upper and lower ball joints
-Front sway bar bushings

Again, sorry for the long post. Hope you like my 4Runner.

 

[quicksilvr]

Nice! I didn't like the fog lights at first, but you have them setup now looks pretty good on your truck. Great work on the projectors. I want some. Bad.

 

[Trikz]

Thanks. By far my favorite mod. Love the output. Best part of all, no more problems with cops

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Clean truck man. Looks great.

 

[Trikz]

Thanks man. Wish I could build as many T4Rs as you! I have my hands tied with another build though. 1973 Mustang Mach 1. Well see how that goes.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

nice job on the retrofit. Blacking it out like that really makes me want to start my next one!

 

[Trikz]

Thank you. I painted the housings with Plastidip for a semi-permanent job. If I want to change the look, I just peel the coating and have my stock housings back.

 

[Trikz]

Hey guys.

Here are a few pics of my interior.

Custom seat covers.

My head unit

Random shot before I got new tires and shocks.

Oh and a small detail I forgot to mention. Plastidipped hood scoop.

 

[Cuco]

Hi, Trikz! your truck looks great and the projectors project also looks awesome. I would like to do it to my 4runner, could you please let me know how much did you spend on the project?

 

[Trikz]

Cuco, long time no see. The total for project cost me around $120. I managed to piece together the parts from Ebay. I can send you a list if you need one.

 

[Cuco]

Cuco, long time no see. The total for project cost me around $120. I managed to piece together the parts from Ebay. I can send you a list if you need one.

Trikz, happy new year! Please send me the list, I will appreciate your help. Thanks

 

[BFEATHER2008]

Trikz if you don't mind could you send me the list for the projectors also. Thanks in advance.

 

[Trikz]

Sure. As soon as I get home, I'll PM you too.

 

[BFEATHER2008]

Thanks a lot Trikz really appreciate it.

 

[Trikz]

Glad to help

 

[Trikz]

Hey guys.

So today I decided to extend my rear differential breather. Took longer than expected due to some improvising I had to do. Overall, I think it turned out great. Just need to go test it.

First I took off the spare wheel.

Here's some of the things I got. Please ignore the washer fluid line, it didn't work.

Here's the Spectre filter I got for $10 at Advanced Auto Parts.

At the bottom left you'll see the breather valve. Mine looked like it worked, although I did this mod as preventative maintenance since I've had to cross flooded streets a couple of times at my university town. Last time I helped a friend, I had to cross though a foot and a half of water. The engine's belts were screaming due to them slipping on the pulleys.

The one quarter to one eight of an inch adapter at the first pic didn't have the correct thread so I improvised with the existing valve. I simply removed the cap.

Afterwards, I routed a piece of gas line (similar to what you'd see connected to a propane cylinder at a BBQ) over the chassis and towards the rear of the gas cap.

Here's an alternate use I found for the quarter inch union fitting.

This is the filter mounted behind the gas cap. I simply removed two pins that hold the shroud that covers the filler neck and used a zip tie to hold it in place.

Here's the line connected to the improvised union fitting. My plan is to order the correct vacuum fitting from Toyota and replace this setup just to be safe.

Overall, it took about an hour and a half. Better to measure twice and cut once and not mess up anything. We'll see how it holds. I left a little more than a foot of slack in the new breather line to compensate for suspension travel. Next up early next month: diff fluid change. Any suggestions are welcome

Also did a little before-college maintenance on my 4Runner.

First off: custom TRD wheel stickers to lower my rolling resistance

Next: took a bit of green vinyl and covered the rear of the grill emblem. Maybe a bit ricer for a 4Runner, but I like it.

And lastly: I have a side project which unfortunately I might have to let go: 1973 Mach 1. It had an Optima Red Top battery which though it has some age, it works perfectly. Decided to swap batteries with the 4Runner since the Mach 1 is parked most of the time due to pending maintenance. Also, I decided to go with some gold plated terminals. Easy five minute swap. Very happy with the results.

P. S. Sorry for the iPhone pics :sorry:

 

[Trikz]

Hey everyone.

Sorry to bump my thread with this fourth straight post. Just though I'd post a quick mod I did which took only 5 minutes. A while ago I bought a custom t4r4life antenna mount. I saw this idea done with different materials (credits to whoever did it, I really don't remember where I first saw it). Basically, I made a colored back plate to show through the T4R logo on the mount.

These are the materials I used. I cut up a broken CD with scissors. I used the square piece closest to the middle of the CD.

Decided to Plastidip the piece of CD so it isn't visible on the back side.

For color, I had a lot of leftover vinyl from my emblem mod.

I also used a bit of double sided tape to hold the piece in place on the back side of the mount.

Here's the result

I think this mod would be useful for detailing small lettering and it's a great way to recycle old plastic materials. For larger lettering, a larger piece of plastic could be obtained by cutting up an old coolant or milk jug. Hope you guys like it. Comments are always welcome.

 

[Trikz]

So here's a little bump.

I haven't done much other than a new rack and pinion after the old one decided to blow a leak (pics soon).

I recently experimented with Plastidip Smoke. It added a nice smoke effect to my tail lights. I like it.

Here's a pic of my 4Runner hauling foam for the solar car team.

4' x 8' x 6" blocks of polystyrene.

 

[Trikz]

Hey guys!

So two days ago I received a nice $45 gift card from Pep Boys. For years, I've always wanted a nice new exhaust, especially since noticing my old muffler had seen better days. It was all rusted out and had a couple of holes on the bottom. So I got myself a nice 40 series muffler for $30 at Pep Boys after the gift card discount!

Nope, you're not seeing double

Took it to a local shop which did a very nice job on all the piping.

Here are a couple of pics of the whole process.

Stock setup.

Out with the old...

...in with the new

Final setup.

I decided to get a can of 500F engine paint and paint the new brackets and pipes as a rust preventative.

Overall, I will admit it turned out quite louder than I was expecting. It has a really nice rumble on idle and roars at higher rpm. I'm still getting used to the new sound but I'm liking it. I might get a resonator like a Cherry Bomb or something similar and maybe tone the volume down a bit. But I'll drive it like this till summer (got to save some $$$). Luckily, the spare fits!!! It does touch on one side so I might just replace the 13 year old tire with a smaller used tire so it has even more clearance (maybe a 245/50-16 or a 245/70-16, suggestions are welcome). Any feedback is always welcome. Might post a video later on.

 

[Cuco]

Hi, Trikz!

Nice mode. I like it, looks good. . How much do you paid including the work?