gaterose build thread

[gaterose]

Funny...Took this back in Feb of 2012, Southbound 459 mile marker 6 towards Bessemer.

Hah! Yep that was me! My girlfriend is from Hoover and her family is still there so I'm on that road a lot...

Waitaminute that ride is a 2wd? Wow. Big props to you dude.

Thanks a lot man! I wish it was a 4wd but I also know that it would likely be broken if it was... Some day I'll convert or upgrade to a 4wd but for now the 2WD gets me where I need to go and keeps me from going places I don't need to go.

 

[HiVel-JR]

I was searching through your build thread and realized I had taken that picture driving down the road a few years ago and then realized it was your 4Runner...and had to share it with you!

ROLL TIDE my friend!!!

 

[gaterose]

i was searching through your build thread and realized i had taken that picture driving down the road a few years ago and then realized it was your 4runner...and had to share it with you!

Roll tide my friend!!!

roll tide!

 

[Dwill817]

Are you still in Tuscaloosa? Or do you happen to go to school at JSU? There is a 4runner that looks identical to yours that is always parked on campus.

 

[gaterose]

Are you still in Tuscaloosa? Or do you happen to go to school at JSU? There is a 4runner that looks identical to yours that is always parked on campus.

No way man, identical? Pics or it didn't happen.

I'm still in t-town. I assume JSU is jacksonville state? Don't think I've ever been on that campus.

 

[beeftube]

Isn't Jacksonville State near Anniston? I'm out of Atlanta, I end up in Birmingham from time-to-time and I seem to recall JSU being somewhere around Oxford/Anniston.

Nice 4runner, I've always thought it was a good combination of form vs. function. It's one of my trucksperations with my own 4runner. I really don't want to do a "big" build because 1) I don't offroad a ton, but do on occasion and 2) I still have to fit into things like parking decks.

Right now I've just basically done FJ+5100s (set the same as yours) and 265/65/18s on stock limited wheels. Unsure if I'm planning on using spacer or not -- did you ever go the spidertraxx route? I presume your current wheels are spaced out more than stock?

Also, where'd you run in all the wiring for the lights on your rack?

 

[gaterose]

Unsure if I'm planning on using spacer or not -- did you ever go the spidertraxx route? I presume your current wheels are spaced out more than stock?

Also, where'd you run in all the wiring for the lights on your rack?

Yep I did have spidertraxx for a while until I picked up wheels that were spaced further out.

For the roof wiring I just went into the cabin and drilled a hole in the roof. In retrospect there are other ways that wouldn't require drilling, but I had 4 HIDs installed up there and needed 4x 14 ga. wires so I drilled instead of running 100' of wire.

 

[Dwill817]

You both are correct. JSU=Jacksonville State University and its in Jacksonville which is Anniston's neighbor. It may not be identical but it's dang close. I haven't lurked this forum in awhile and I was like that has to be gaterose. I have class at 10 this morning so I'll snap a picture!

 

[gaterose]

Took a trip to Asheville, NC last weekend for a wedding. Thought I'd share a few pics, we only had one day to explore so we took advantage of it

Soco Falls, Cherokee, NC

Mingus Mill

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Brown baggin' it

Jessie took a couple shots of me making use of the Gobi ladder

Ran into [MENTION=92189]DaPersianRug[/MENTION] at Newfound Gap

Observation deck at Clingman's Dome (2nd highest peak east of the Mississippi)

Not much of a view since we were up in the clouds...

(the other direction is basically just a picture of fog)

A little lower down the mountain

More pictures here

Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park

Newfound Gap

Clingman's Dome

 

[momo.75]

As usual those are some fantastic pics. I can only imagine those mountains when the leaves are changing. My favorite time of the year.

 

[zopperman]

im so jealous of the places you go....

 

[Mikep.]

Awesome pics. Absolutely love your rig. Planing a camping trip out there In October. Second time this year, hope to be moving out there in the next year or so.

 

[dgwood12]

All this was done while wait on Bondo, then paint, to dry on this (for another member)

Sorry for quoting an old post. I was scouring your awesome thread and came across this. I am working on my satoshi mod and have been wondering if I could use self etching primer on the whole grill (plastic parts) and all. I am assuming that is what you have done here by the color of the primer. Any issues with the self etching on plastic? Also, do you do color match or mail those off to the members primed and ready to paint? Thanks man. Love your rig!

 

[gaterose]

Sorry for quoting an old post. I was scouring your awesome thread and came across this. I am working on my satoshi mod and have been wondering if I could use self etching primer on the whole grill (plastic parts) and all. I am assuming that is what you have done here by the color of the primer. Any issues with the self etching on plastic? Also, do you do color match or mail those off to the members primed and ready to paint? Thanks man. Love your rig!

Yep, that is self etching primer. I always use it because of the chrome, it was recommended to me for painting on chrome several years ago by a paint shop owner. I used it 10 or so years ago on a chrome tool box for my other truck and that's still holding up well so I figure it should work fine on other chrome surfaces as well. So far I haven't heard of any issues, it seems to me that it holds to the chrome plastic better than it does to the steel grille mesh.

I purchase my paint from automotive-touchup.com and so far I've only had one complaint about it not matching and there's a chance it's because I didn't coat enough. Although another member purchased that grille from the original buyer and claims that it matches his excellently. The original buyer said it had a slight green tint and I'd guess that was from the green etching primer, I use grey etching primer now. Usually one can will work, but with titanium metallic I'd recommend picking up two. It doesn't coat very effectively; it's basically glitter in an aerosol can (thus the problem above with the green tint).

Thanks for the compliment!

 

[dgwood12]

Yep, that is self etching primer. I always use it because of the chrome, it was recommended to me for painting on chrome several years ago by a paint shop owner. I used it 10 or so years ago on a chrome tool box for my other truck and that's still holding up well so I figure it should work fine on other chrome surfaces as well. So far I haven't heard of any issues, it seems to me that it holds to the chrome plastic better than it does to the steel grille mesh.

I purchase my paint from automotive-touchup.com and so far I've only had one complaint about it not matching and there's a chance it's because I didn't coat enough. Although another member purchased that grille from the original buyer and claims that it matches his excellently. The original buyer said it had a slight green tint and I'd guess that was from the green etching primer, I use grey etching primer now. Usually one can will work, but with titanium metallic I'd recommend picking up two. It doesn't coat very effectively; it's basically glitter in an aerosol can (thus the problem above with the green tint).

Thanks for the compliment!

I've purchased touch up from that site for my 02 runner before I sold it. Was a great match. A 12oz can should be enough to paint the grill with a few coats, right? What kind of clear coat do you use? Does it come out as glossy as the rest of your body? Have you tried the stuff with the hardener in the bottom of the can that you have to activate? Sorry for all the questions, your grill just looks amazing and I would like the same outcome for mine

 

[gaterose]

I've purchased touch up from that site for my 02 runner before I sold it. Was a great match. A 12oz can should be enough to paint the grill with a few coats, right? What kind of clear coat do you use? Does it come out as glossy as the rest of your body? Have you tried the stuff with the hardener in the bottom of the can that you have to activate? Sorry for all the questions, your grill just looks amazing and I would like the same outcome for mine

Depending on what color you're doing, yeah 12oz should be enough to do several coats and have a little leftover in most cases. I also use the ATU clear coat and adhesion promoter sometimes, it's only $8/can so that's not too bad for automotive quality clear since I'm already paying shipping on the color.

The OEM white actually doesn't have a clear coat so I can't say that it comes out the same. I did use clear coat on mine since I wasn't sure if the ATU stuff could be used the same way as Toyota uses the Natural White and it matches very well, but a difference may be noticed by someone with keener eyes than myself. I think it looks good... what do you think [MENTION=165]momo.75[/MENTION], you've got a better eye for that kinda thing than me.

The two other colors I've done, titanium metallic and shadow mice, are used with clear and I'd have to say they're probably as glossy as OEM. I can't say for certain though since I didn't have one of those color vehicles to compare too.

I do have to say though I was amazed how well those two colors come out after clear and everything, the little sparkles and the sheen were unbelievable.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

The two other colors I've done, titanium metallic and shadow mice

Is that like gray with mouse decals?

 

[dgwood12]

My runner is Galactic Gray Mica so I will probably need to clear coat. I've been looking at those 2k clears though because supposedly it provides a more professional grade clear in a can.

 

[gaterose]

Is that like gray with mouse decals?

hahahahaha clever! I can't believe they integrated autocorrect into the new Mavericks OS for Mac! It hates my slang! And also words like mica apparently.

My runner is Galactic Gray Mica so I will probably need to clear coat. I've been looking at those 2k clears though because supposedly it provides a more professional grade clear in a can.

Cool, I don't know a lot about the clear to be honest. Like I said, I was pretty impressed with the ATU stuff, but I don't think I have as good of an eye for that type of thing as some others might. Hope the 2k works well for you!

 

[oljedi11950]

Very nice shots Matt ! Been meaning to ask how the gobi ladder holding up , no rattles or noise ? Have to tighten it up at all ?