iChambers 98 limited build

ichambers

ichambers

New member
Hello every one!<br><br>

This is the thread I will be using to follow the progress of my build.

I have some background in auto body repair and customization and I currently study product design and will graduate with my degree in about a years time. I love building things and designing. My design work tends to be more of furniture, camping gear, and home goods, but I love to dabble in aftermarket automotive design as well. I am starting this thread to post the progress of my build and maybe get some tips and possibly give some new ideas to the users of this forum! I strive to make most of my mods unique so I hope you all enjoy my thread. <br><br>Here I have my 4runner as it was when i bought it. As far as I can tell the only customization was the 2005+ tacoma wheels it has, and the audio system. Since purchasing, I have installed some HID lights.
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2632.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2632.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>
Today I removed the running boards and washed it!<br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=DSCN6448.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/DSCN6448.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>
This is a sketch I did today to give myself some direction on my build. Some of the first mods will be painting the trim with some Krylon bed liner spray type stuff. I want the flat black semi textured look. I might also hit the mirrors with it, but I'm still debating that. possibly building a storage box for the cargo area, and some minor interior lighting mods. <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=4runnerSketchcolor.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/4runnerSketchcolor.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>
More mods in the future will hopefully include building a custom roof rack with integrated light bar much like the one in the sketch, modding the front bumper a bit to add a winch and some more armor, some performance mods and little details all around.<br> <br>
I hope you guys will follow along with me on my journey to making one awesome 4runner!
 
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The pic of your runner looks like the love child of a 4Runner and an Xterra. Looks like you have a good starting point too. Good luck with it.
 
Bought the bed liner spray today to paint the trim on my 4runner, looking forward to getting it done this weekend!

<br><br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2663.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2663.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
That's an awesome pic. You've got some skills. I wish I could draw a pic of mine like that! Look forward to seeing it unfold as you have drawn.
 
Started painting my trim today! I only had time to do one side before i go to work so I will do the other side tomorrow. It is supposed to be like 90 degrees today and tomorrow so it should bake on the bed liner coating nicely. I took the masking approach, I have taken auto body repair classes and have a certification in paint prep and auto body work, but if you are good and take you time with the masking tape there is no real reason you need to take the trim off the car to paint it.<br>It is best to start by getting a perfectly masked line with just tape, this will make it easier to tape up the paper or plastic because you are taping to a thicker strip instead of fighting with the paper while trying to get the line right. I scuffed the whole surface with a scuffing pad so there was no more glossy spots, that is where paint would be most likely to peel. I then wiped it all down with a grease remover spray. The duplicolor bed liner spray have a pretty inconsistent spray and i had to fight with it a bit but the final result cam out pretty good
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2664.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2664.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> then i taped up paper and trash bags, just what i have around. the bed liner spray is not very misty like spray paint, its more spluttery so you don't have to worry as much about overspray dust.<br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2666.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2666.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> the can said to apply 3-4 light coats with 20 mins in-between coats, It was like 80 degrees while i was doing this so it was drying a little faster. <br><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2667.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2667.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br> I used a knife to cut into the bed liner perfectly along the tape edge so when taking off the tape there wouldn't be any pulling or chipping as the tape came off.<br><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2670-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2670-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2671-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2671-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Because it is so hot today, the bed liner will bake on to the surface nice and strong. I think it came out pretty slick, can't wait until tomorrow when I can do the other side.
 
I have the exact same '98 and was thinking of doing the same thing. Did you scuff the flares and door panels first or just wipe them down? I'm curious to hear how the paint holds up. Looks good.
 
Thanks guys I did actually scuff up all the trim with a scuffing pad I think I talked about that in the description of the steps I took. You have to scuff it up but only with like a scotch bright pad. Don't use sandpaper. The goal is just to make all tge clear coat look foggy so it has a surface that paint can grab onto. You don't need to primer evaluate tge scuffed clear is doing the same thing. You only need to primer over bare metal or bondo.
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My logo is actually what I use for most of my design work, I tool a long time developing it to hopefully communicate in the image what my style is all about.
 
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finished painting the driver's side trim today! It looks great, We will see how it holds up, Im going to drive from so cal to mammoth lakes and plan to do some light off roaring up there so we will see how the bed liner coating stands up in those conditions. I used a whole can on each side giving it about 5 coats per side.
 
Ahhhh I have many ideas... the problem is i have no money :(

I have a really cool mod idea that I haven't seen done before involving the mirrors but i would prefer to try it out on a set that I don't need on my car as my wife uses it as her daily driver.

If any one has an extra side mirror that would fit a 98 limited runner that they would not mind sacrificing please PM me ;):
 
Looks good, don't paint the mirrors flat black, the bottom of the line base models had black mirrors and door handles, it will make it look cheaper.
 
Welcome dude. The trim flares look good but I think gloss black would look even better with your paint. This may just be my personal preference but I SantaCruzRunner just painted his flares gloss black and I think it turned out really well.
 
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So yesterday I got a bolt on tow hitch, Got lucky and may parents actually bought it because they want us to use it to take their bikes when we go on vacation. Win Win situation there. I installed it yesterday which was not a super fun one man job, it wasn't hard slow going, and there was a super tricky mounting bolt directly over the exhaust pipe with very little maneuvering room. I also picked up some $12 universal mud flaps from pepboys. They just attach with screws to the fender flare. I guess we will see how they hold up. But I thought I better get some protection to help with those little rocks flying up and chipping my nice new trim paint. I was happy to see that the tow hitch I got actually sits fairly close to the bumper and doesn't hang super low. <br>

<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2748.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2748.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2739.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2739.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2745.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2745.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Finally got to take my runner out and do some light wheelin!!! I had a great time. We went on several trails near Mammoth, Ca, including Deadman Pass. Here are some pics from the trial. We took some video also but the internet up here is super slow so ill get them up when we get home from vacation. <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=DSC_0077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/DSC_0077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=DSC_0107.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/DSC_0107.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=IMG_2816.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/IMG_2816.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
hey guys, I want to do a custom grill on my runner but don't want to do a traditional satoshi mod. I have a concept for a custom grill mod that is inspired by a combination of the satoshi and the 2012 tacoma grill. Here is the concept sketch. what do you guys think???? <br>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/?action=view&current=grillmod.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/cobra86/grillmod.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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