Hellamatic - Build Thread

Hellamatic

Hellamatic

New member
Hello T4R nation! I've owned my 2012 Trail Edition for nearly two months now, and decided it is time to share a build thread. I'm building it with the mindset of being able to use it to get to the remote areas I travel to to pursue my photography hobby, and for some mild wheeling on the weekends.

Here's how my 'Runner looked the day I picked it up:

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/runnernew.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

I had the dealership install a 3" Revtec lift and 285/70/17 Duratracs.


And here it sits as of 5/3/15:
<a href="http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/IMG_3410_zps1aws27u6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/IMG_3410_zps1aws27u6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_3410_zps1aws27u6.jpg"/></a>

Mods thus far:

Airaid intake
Flowmaster exhaust
Baja rack
Painless Wiring auxiliary fuse panel
Rigid lighting/OTRATTW switches
Custom storage drawers
Duratracs, 285/70/17
Revtek lift
Cobra CB
BlackBox VHF
LED interior lighting
Dual battery - Optima yellowtop/IBS isolator
ARB front bumper
TJM Stealth 9k winch
Factor 55 prolink
Aeroforce Scangauge
CBI rear bumper
 
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Fast forward a couple weeks - here my machine sits with the newly installed Ultra "Gauntlet" rims. I have also added an Airaid intake and a Flowmaster cat-back exhaust

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/runneredited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
 
X2 on the Gauntlets. I may have to add those to my short list of wheels to consider. Is that a big scratch on your bumper cover already?
 
New grill - courtesy of Prestigious Grills

Latest upgrade: A buddy of mine makes custom grills and other custom auto accessories. We recently decided to use my 'Runner as the guinea pig for a custom 5th gen 4Runner grill. This is also his first prototype for a dual color/dual layer grill idea that he's been batting around in his head for a while. It took nearly 3 weeks between making patterns, test fitting, and drafting into a CAD/CAM program, but all in all I think it turned out pretty good. Now that he has the pattern programmed, he can build a custom 5th generation grill to your exact specs and with whatever design you can dream up - PM me if you're interested, and I'll put you in touch with him!

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/newgrill.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

Stay posted for my next update - my Baja Rack is scheduled to ship on November 21!
 
gadgetguy1288 said:
The truck looks awesome! Id be interested in getting a grill made, price dependent.
Click to expand...

Agreed..more details on the grille please? how does it replace the stock one? Any pics of the front/back pre-installation? This could be a very nice alternative for the Satoshi mod without having to use Grillecraft mesh.

A ballpark cost number would be nice too.

Looking good so far!

Okki
 
That grill is very nice! Any chane you could post a few more pics? Closer up. I am curious about the fit and how it is fastened in. Really like it man. Nice work!!
 
Thanks for all the support and likes guys! He typically builds grills for around $180-$200 each - the setup I have would likely be around double, since he essentially has to build two grills for each with the dual color setup. It is installed with some simple flat aluminum pieces that sandwich the stock grill surround between them and the new grill.

We had to bust out the sawzall and cut the entire stock mesh out, leaving just a small border around the outside for the new grill to lay on - the remnants of the stock grill are hidden by the beefy flange that we incorporated into the design. For the bumper insert, we just left the grill intact - it blends in good enough and doesn't look obvious. I'm probably going to go on a photoshoot tour this weekend, so I'll try and get some more detailed pics then with something better than an iPhone camera...

The nice part about this grill is that he can cut any pattern that you like into it - although I went with the dual-layer diamond pattern, he could also cut single layers in a classic billet grill style, diamonds, circles....heck, he could even build you a grill with the silhouette of a unicorn cut in if that's what you're into....

The next project he's going to do for me is a custom wind deflector to replace the stock one on my Baja Rack when it comes in - we're going to mimic the style of the grill to tie the whole look together, and incorporate a 40" Rigid light bar that we're going to french in.
 
Hellamatic said:
Thanks for all the support and likes guys! He typically builds grills for around $180-$200 each - the setup I have would likely be around double, since he essentially has to build two grills for each with the dual color setup. It is installed with some simple flat aluminum pieces that sandwich the stock grill surround between them and the new grill.

We had to bust out the sawzall and cut the entire stock mesh out, leaving just a small border around the outside for the new grill to lay on - the remnants of the stock grill are hidden by the beefy flange that we incorporated into the design. For the bumper insert, we just left the grill intact - it blends in good enough and doesn't look obvious. I'm probably going to go on a photoshoot tour this weekend, so I'll try and get some more detailed pics then with something better than an iPhone camera...

The nice part about this grill is that he can cut any pattern that you like into it - although I went with the dual-layer diamond pattern, he could also cut single layers in a classic billet grill style, diamonds, circles....heck, he could even build you a grill with the silhouette of a unicorn cut in if that's what you're into....

The next project he's going to do for me is a custom wind deflector to replace the stock one on my Baja Rack when it comes in - we're going to mimic the style of the grill to tie the whole look together, and incorporate a 40" Rigid light bar that we're going to french in.
Click to expand...

Really like the grille but I'm just looking into getting an all black grille to replace the stock one.

And nice looking 4Runner as well.

You should have your friend make a few grilles and take a couple pics to post up. Show everyone how the different styles would look.
 
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Hellamatic said:
The nice part about this grill is that he can cut any pattern that you like into it - although I went with the dual-layer diamond pattern, he could also cut single layers in a classic billet grill style, diamonds, circles....heck, he could even build you a grill with the silhouette of a unicorn cut in if that's what you're into....
Click to expand...

:biggrin2::lol:
 
Here are a couple more pics of the grill - it looks a little ragged in the close up because we still hadn't deburred it at that point, but you can see the brackets he used to fasten the grill:
<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/image.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

And here's one more angle:

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/image-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

He installs a self-adhesive rubber weatherstripping material around the perimeter of the grill to allow for a nice and clean finished look. All fasteners are 6061 aluminum.
 
New fuse panel/aux switches

Added a new fuse sub panel and some auxiliary switches yesterday in anticipation of my Baja Rack arriving in the next week or two. We're well into an Albertan winter up here with temperatures hovering around -20C, and the truck isn't going to fit into the garage once I have the rack installed, so I'm trying to pre-wire as much as I can for the lights I'll be mounting on it.

I went with the Painless Performance "CirKit Boss" 7-circuit auxiliary box, PN#70107 It's a very nice little kit and includes everything needed for the install, including a selection of terminals and fuse taps. It has 4 switched "ign-on" ccts and 3 constant power ccts.

Although Antman's Patent Pending cutting board mount was tempting, I decided to screw the panel to the inside of the fender near the stock panel.

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/IMG_4316.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/IMG_4316.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

I ran the wires through the factory wiring harness boot in the firewall, and used split loom to keep everything tidy. The loop of red wire is for my fog lights I will be installing in the future - taking the time to pull the wire now will make for a quick install as soon as I order the lights.

I decided to mount 3 of the switches in the centre console, blatantly copying Jangoforhire's idea.

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/IMG_4319.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/IMG_4319.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

Cutting out the slot for the panel was a pain, but it ended up turning out pretty good. I ran into the same snag that Jangoforhire ran into after popping the panel back on; the little flap that rides along with the shifter was getting snagged on the back of the switches and not allowing me to move the shifter. I just chopped the flap off even with the front of the shifter bracket - the flap still does everything it's supposed to and doesn't interfere anymore.

Now, anyone who wires vehicles on any sort of a regular basis will tell you that the most effective way to run multiple wires is to build a harness. You simply bundle together however many wires you need, clamp one end in a vise, the other end in your drill chuck, and twist them up. I also like to tape the entire length of the harness as well in order to eliminate any snag points for when you're pulling the wires in. Here's a blurry pic:

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/IMG_4314.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/IMG_4314.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

Finally, I installed the switch for the side roof lights. I decided the cleanest looking way to install this was to move the factory dash light dimmer to a different slot. I'm not in love with the "Nav Lights" nomenclature, so I'm going to be ordering in a couple of switches and splitting the circuits so I can turn on the left and right sides independently - this was another reason for moving the dimmer....it makes more sense to have the side light switches mounted next to each other.

<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/IMG_4320.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/IMG_4320.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

All told I spent about 4 hours on this project, but it's going to save me time and hassle when I'm trying to install my Baja Rack in sub-zero temperatures. I still have to run wires the length of the truck and up to the roof, but that's for another day.

Next up: my CB arrived in the mail last week - I'm just waiting for my Firestik to arrive from another eBay vendor, then I'll be wiring everything else up.
 
jangoforhire said:
The three switches in the center console look awesome, They fit in perfectly! Nice work.
Click to expand...

Thanks dude! I knew that's where I'd eventually put my switches as soon as I bought the truck, but you can take credit for giving me the inspiration on how to execute it, haha. Too bad the OTRATTW panel wasn't just a tad wider so the little half-circle molded piece could be cut right off.
 
Teaser.....

A taste of what's to come.....it looks like Maya approves!
<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/image-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/image-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
 
Hellamatic said:
A taste of what's to come.....it looks like Maya approves!
<a href="http://s1262.beta.photobucket.com/user/kelseyreder/media/image-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/kelseyreder/image-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
Click to expand...

Nice!! and what kind of dog is Maya?
 
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