Derek G's 2007 Limited V8 build

Derek G

Derek G

New member
So after all of the help I've received on this forum, I've decided to document my own build in hopes of doing the same. I'm just getting started now and earlier than I had planned after an unfortunate (or fortunate) incident with an Elk just north of Durango CO. After having a few things done, I had what would have been a new bumper replaced with an ARB Bull Bar and have further extensive plans. My ARB Roof Rack arrives in the next week or two, I'll be sure to document the install and post it here. As always, questions and suggestions are welcome.

So Far:
ARB Bull Bar
PIAA 520 Ion Fog's
Cobra 75 WX ST

Still to come
OME suspension system
ARB roof rack
CBI rear bumper
275/65/18 tires (made more difficult with the 18" wheels)

Light and CB install coming next.
 

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First thing I did was install the new PIAA Lights. I'm used to having to make my own wiring harness so the PIAA kit was a nice change, although I thought the switch that came with it was pretty useless so I opted to replace it with a backlit rocker.

I also found a convenient place to locate the relay with a predrilled hole at the top of the driver fender next to the fuse block. This was the perfect place to put the relay with the pre-length wiring harness.

The CB was a little more difficult. In order to attach the antenna I had to detach the fender liner from the passenger front side of the bull bar and work my arm up there under the mount hole. IF YOU PLAN ON PUTTING AN ANTENNA ON YOUR BULL BAR DO IT BEFORE INSTALLING, at least the mount part. I ran the cable up along the fire wall and then came the most difficult part of the day and that was running the coaxial through the fire wall. I did this by cutting an "X" in the driver side grommet and then pushing a screw driver through with some tension. This showed me a straight line of where the cable would run and pushed out the other side of the grommet making a good guide for where to cut the "X" on the other side. (much like trying to push your finger through the outside of a deflated balloon). After that, a little cooking oil on the finger to lube up the grommet and the cable went straight through.

I placed the box for the CB behind the center console next to the gas pedal. The plastic pops right off and the box slips nicely in there. This also made for a very clean install for the mic plug which keeps it completely out of site when not in use. There is no way to drill here to ground the box, so I ran another ground wire from the box to the fire wall to ground the unit.

If you look very closely you can see the mic plug at the very bottom of the dash.

After installing the CB I took it to Bonnie and Clydes here in Dallas for a tune. Turns out the 3' firestik I bought was too short, they replaced it with a 4' K40 and I was tuned and on my way in about an hour.

As soon as my roof rack gets here, it will be installed.
 

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Any chance you can take some more pics of the ARB bumper? Ideally a photo from the driver seat looking out, I'd like to see what it would be like driving with this bumper.

Thanks!
 
HOJeepster said:
Any chance you can take some more pics of the ARB bumper? Ideally a photo from the driver seat looking out, I'd like to see what it would be like driving with this bumper.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Certainly. How tall are you so that I can get the most accurat perspective?
 
Sorry some of these pics turned out awkward in their orientation. I promise they were set correctly before uploading.
 
HOJeepster said:
Any chance you can take some more pics of the ARB bumper? Ideally a photo from the driver seat looking out, I'd like to see what it would be like driving with this bumper.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Certainly. How tall are you so that I can get the most accurat perspective?
 
HOJeepster said:
Any chance you can take some more pics of the ARB bumper? Ideally a photo from the driver seat looking out, I'd like to see what it would be like driving with this bumper.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

it looks bad ass. You can see the entire top bar across all three hoops.
 
Also, if yoh have some spare time, I'd love to see the exterior shoots at different angles of the ARB. Wheel well shots, front on shots, side shot.

I like the ARB, but am worried it may be a little too bulky and stick out too much, yet i dont want to wait 4 months for a schockworks.
 
HOJeepster said:
Also, if yoh have some spare time, I'd love to see the exterior shoots at different angles of the ARB. Wheel well shots, front on shots, side shot.

I like the ARB, but am worried it may be a little too bulky and stick out too much, yet i dont want to wait 4 months for a schockworks.
Click to expand...

I think ther ARB is a great bumper for a lot of reasons. It looks great and really makes the front end look beefy. Your 30'' Hanma will fit perfectly. You don't have to wait around for half a year for your bumper to show up. Also if you work on your own truck it's nice to have the bumper stick out. It's a great place to set your tools, beer, and misc nuts and bolts. Plus they aren't over priced.

I have a bunch of pictures of my ARB in here...
First 4Runner Build Thread/Intro SR5 4WD lots of pics!! - Page 8 - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
and also in here....
ARB Bull Bar - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
and also in here...
Hidden Falls Texas Wheelin' and Campin' Janurary 5-6 - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

Hope to help your decision. Anyway I'll give Derek his thread back. BTW looks like you have a great start to a fun build, I need to get a CB! Also what OME coils did you go with?
 
So the ARB roof rack came in today and I've got it installed. What would have taken 1.5 hrs took over 3 due to trial and error on a flaw I found in the mounting instructions. I'll post pics and details tomorrow.
 
I got the rack up, but it would have been a lot easier without certain aspects of the instructions. The ARB instructions specify using the factory rubber washers with the supplied ARB steel washers when mounting the rails to the holes where the factory roof rack was attached. The problem is that while using these washers you can not get the bolts to line up straight. I thought this might be part of the design and it would "straighten itself out" with some torque but no matter how hard I tried I could not get it to work. When I was able to get the bolts to actually thread the mounting rails ended up about 30 degrees off from level. What I ended up doing is skipping both washers, finding some smaller ones, and bolting it as so. Once I did that and had it torqued down the rails came out perfectly level........go figure. Don't forget the gasket maker. Already had a good rain and been through a car wash, no leaks yet (knock on wood).
I then installed a pair of Rigid Industries Dually Spots. The installation was so easy I won't even go into it so I'll get right to breaking it down.

Pro's:
Easy install
low draw (no need for relay)
Strong solid compact design
little or even no reflection off the hood.

Cons:
I was a little disappointed in the light output. My Hella's on my old Disco were much brighter. Maybe I need to put another pair up their to be fair, but I was expecting more light. I might combine them with the driving beam lights from rigid.

I promise I'll get better pics up soon. Heading to Colorado in a week so might do it then.
 

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Nathana92 said:
That's not too bad. I like the looks of the rack a lot on your truck. Your rig is coming together nicely man.
Click to expand...

Slowly but surely, although everything you see was done in the last month, wife wants me to slow down. Already looking for replacement lights for the Dually 2's I put on the roof rack. Just not enough punch.
 
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