cdrewferd's build thread

As I mentioned before, I've been working with [MENTION=55891]Bandit Runner[/MENTION] to design a front bumper. I gave him my thoughts, and this is what he gave me.









It's going to be a while before I'm able to build. Had some house projects come up that are taking all the funds. Now that I have the plans it should be pretty quick once I get the metal. I'm stoked and can't wait to build it. I'm shooting to get skids built around the same time so I can take some harder lines on Chinamans and Blanca.
 
Ok guys, I have a bit of a delima. I really want a sub for a little bass. I already have the sub and an amp, so that's not an issue. My delima is the enclosure. Do you guys think I should build the enclosure into the storage system I'm building, like above, or should I just get a cheap 10" enclosure and set it on top of the drawers?
 
It would make the storage more of a pain to build it in, but I think that is better than leaving the box out in the rear of the vehicle. That being said, do you use the cargo area a bunch for gear/dog/whatever? If you don't usually have stuff back there, maybe a box on top of your storage system is fine.

Have you looked into powered subwoofers? I know you already have a sub/amp. But you could get a little 8" powered sub that fits under the driver seat and then not worry about cargo area at all. Maybe you want more bass than that?

I'd say build it into the storage or powered sub under the driver seat.
 
FR4R said:
It would make the storage more of a pain to build it in, but I think that is better than leaving the box out in the rear of the vehicle. That being said, do you use the cargo area a bunch for gear/dog/whatever? If you don't usually have stuff back there, maybe a box on top of your storage system is fine.

Have you looked into powered subwoofers? I know you already have a sub/amp. But you could get a little 8" powered sub that fits under the driver seat and then not worry about cargo area at all. Maybe you want more bass than that?

I'd say build it into the storage or powered sub under the driver seat.
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Back is going to be for my spare for now, plus tools and stuff. When I get my tire carrier built it'll just be used for tools and camping gear. If I don't put a sub there, I think it would be a great place to store spare CVs.

How much room in under the seat? I was going to put my amp there anyway. All the small powered subs I'm seeing are at least 3" tall.
 
SR5Runner97 said:
Also I want pics of the wheels mounted!
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I'm working on it. The paint still dents with my fingernail. It's been almost 2 weeks so I'm not sure why they are drying. They've been in my finished basement the whole time. I might have 1 mounted this weekend to see how the paint holds up.
 
cdrewferd said:
Back is going to be for my spare for now, plus tools and stuff. When I get my tire carrier built it'll just be used for tools and camping gear. If I don't put a sub there, I think it would be a great place to store spare CVs.

How much room in under the seat? I was going to put my amp there anyway. All the small powered subs I'm seeing are at least 3" tall.
Click to expand...

I know [MENTION=75483]Millerad1651[/MENTION] has a sub under his driver seat. I looked through his build and the sub he has under there is 3 1/4" tall and the bottom of the seat just barely scrapes the grill that protects the sub (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113006-millerads-build-thread-gigi.html#post1039753 - shows his sub). So maybe a 3" would get by without scraping.

Another option is to get someone like Car Toys to build you a sub enclosure for a shallow mount sub in the rear storage area since you will have storage elsewhere, or build one yourself if you have the woodworking ability (I don't so Car Toys built mine). But that will get expensive in a hurry so it might not be an option.

As far as fitting spare CVs in with the storage and sub, are you building drawers, or something like the boxes over the wheel wells? [MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] has his sub built into one of his storage boxes over the wheel wells, but the box with the sub doesn't store anything, all the gear is in the other side (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/116431-tcmachs-build-thread-9.html#post1274197 - link to his sub box). If you are building drawers, you could build the sub into a box back against the seats with a grill so it faces upwards (or maybe even down firing to protect it?) and then have a short drawer on the sub side and long drawer (which could hold CVs on the other side) and put the amp under the driver seat like you planned. Just throwing ideas around.
 
FR4R said:
I know [MENTION=75483]Millerad1651[/MENTION] has a sub under his driver seat. I looked through his build and the sub he has under there is 3 1/4" tall and the bottom of the seat just barely scrapes the grill that protects the sub (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113006-millerads-build-thread-gigi.html#post1039753 - shows his sub). So maybe a 3" would get by without scraping.

Another option is to get someone like Car Toys to build you a sub enclosure for a shallow mount sub in the rear storage area since you will have storage elsewhere, or build one yourself if you have the woodworking ability (I don't so Car Toys built mine). But that will get expensive in a hurry so it might not be an option.

As far as fitting spare CVs in with the storage and sub, are you building drawers, or something like the boxes over the wheel wells? [MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] has his sub built into one of his storage boxes over the wheel wells, but the box with the sub doesn't store anything, all the gear is in the other side (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/116431-tcmachs-build-thread-9.html#post1274197 - link to his sub box). If you are building drawers, you could build the sub into a box back against the seats with a grill so it faces upwards (or maybe even down firing to protect it?) and then have a short drawer on the sub side and long drawer (which could hold CVs on the other side) and put the amp under the driver seat like you planned. Just throwing ideas around.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links. I knew I had seen a few guys with them, but couldn't remember who. I could build my own box to go where the stock storage is, but I want to use that as a quick access for some recovery gear or tools so I don't always have to open the back to open the drawers.

As far as 1 deep drawer, that would have worked if I didn't already order 2 sets of 22" slides. I also wouldn't want the CVs to take up room in the drawers, since they'll hopefully be rarely used. Having them right behind the seats would put them out of the way of more used stuff. It would also put their weight right over the axle, and not to one side or the other.

What I may do is finish my drawers, but on one side build it up to hold the sub, then the other side build it the same, but add more storage. I was thinking of doing the storage on each side anyway, but having the sub take up 1 of those sides might be a really good option.

Oh, and your thoughts on the downfiring are exactly what I was thinking. guess we should wheel together since it seems we think the same way, LOL.
 
boxes are real simple to make. Even with the kinks to building my sub box it only took me a couple days. The other thing building side boxes gets you is an easy place to hardmount a compressor. Since my sub box covers the side cargo cubby I plan to cram as big of a compressor as I can back there some day.

I look forward to seeing how yours turn out with the combo drawer/box setup
 
Here's the pics of how the sub will lay out on the side box.



It's going to be recessed into the side, so the storage area will be flush.

Teaser

 
If you're still thinking about the sub under the seat, I set mine 180* from the pics and it now fits without touching the bottom of the seat. I so like the idea do setting it in the box...just make sure everything is fixed extremely tight or you'll get some rattle and it'll drive you nuts!
 
Didn't seem to get much done today, but spent most of the day working.

Getting all the tools set out



Got the basics done



Decided I should run the speaker wire for the sub before I got to far. Might as well run everything for the amp too.



Then spent a ton of time trying to get everything cut for the sub box. This part kicked my butt.




Hope I can finish this up soon. Then going to do some bed liner on the whole outside of it.
 
Wow, it's been a while since I updated this. Not much has been going on till this weekend. Since the 4Runner is now my wheeling and camping rig things can take longer to happen. It's really nice to have another DD.

Yesterday was pretty productive. Here's a list of things I got done.

Swaped dash lights to red LEDs
Replaced the shifter bushings
Finished my amp install
Painted new license plate surround with Rustoleum Hammered Black
Replaced license plate surround with one from [MENTION=44220]BigFishAllDay[/MENTION]. It's off his 97
Painted spoiler and mounting brackets with the same Hammered Black

I'm still trying to do the front bumper and skid plates this summer. Not sure now though. Got things to fix on the house that are taking priority. I'm also hoping to finish the rear storage drawers in a couple weeks.
 
Well it's been a while but I have some pics and updates. Here's a few pics of the new license plate surround and painted spoiler.





Got the amp fully installed.




Changed dash lights to red LEDs.





This is with the LEDs as far dimmed as they go before turning off.



I haven't done anything on my storage drawers as I just haven't had time. I did pick up these sweet metal drawers today though.



I paid a whole $15 for the 3 drawers. It's going to change a few things in the back, but I think they'll work awesome. They are only 25" long so I'll still have room between them and the back seat to do either some CV storage or something else.

It's going to be a while before I can really do much work though. Between work, school full time online, family and house remodel projects I don't have any time for the 4Runner. Hopefully this busyness won't last too much longer as my list of things to do is just getting longer.
 
So I like the drawers that I picked up, but I have a little problem. They span from wheel well to wheel well and don't leave any room for the initial setup I have posted above. Anybody have any ideas how I can incorporate a sub into this setup? Don't really want to do the under seat sub as then I would have to buy one and I'm saving my mod money for a welder so I can get going on my bumpers and skid plates.
 
cdrewferd said:
So I like the drawers that I picked up, but I have a little problem. They span from wheel well to wheel well and don't leave any room for the initial setup I have posted above. Anybody have any ideas how I can incorporate a sub into this setup? Don't really want to do the under seat sub as then I would have to buy one and I'm saving my mod money for a welder so I can get going on my bumpers and skid plates.
Click to expand...

Did you see where i put my sub for my storage box by chance?
 
Nice build.
I'm guessing since you bridged the amp that it will be pushing some power.
I recommend checking how much it's heating up. Not much air circulation under a seat.
 
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