Jangoforhire's Build and Pictures

[jangoforhire]

Here's some more shots of the headlight install.

I used philseys headlight instal thread to reference as I worked.

Here is the headlights next to each other, old and new:

Bumper off (finally):

Lights out:

Crammed the ballasts under my dual battery relays:

Headlights in!

Only problem is they are pretty out of alignment. Passenger side is too high, and drivers side is too low. Looks like I will be taking the bumper off again tomorrow. I taped out the spots where the OEM lights showed on the wall about 15 feet in front of my work space, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get them even. I unbolted them and re-bolted them but couldn't get them level. Anyone have any headlight leveling tricks?

low beam:

high beam:

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Just use the adjuster knobs. No need to take anything off!

 

[Snooperstyle]

How about some pics from further away?

 

[jangoforhire]

Just use the adjuster knobs. No need to take anything off!

The company that did the retrofit told me to be careful with the adjustment knobs and to not overcrank them, so I'm a little leery of turning them more than a full revolution or two. But I'll go work some more on them today.

How about some pics from further away?

I'll get those shots up for you tonight. I think I'm going to finally break out the DSLR (gasp).

 

[jangoforhire]

Got my headlights adjusted. It was as simple as cranking the adjustment knobs. Here are some alignment pictures.

Low beam:

High beam:

Cut-off on my driveway (low beam)

Cut-off on my driveway (high beam)

Final impression:
I like them a lot, they really change the look of the truck and make it appear much meaner and very unique. The frequency of light is a bit whiter and that helps me see a lot better. The cutoff is also very sharp and crisp. Comparing these to the factory headlights I would say that the light output (with JUST low beams on) is a little bit better than the factory low beams WITH fogs on.

Observation:
They aren't as bright as I was expecting, but I know why. I am not using the OEM high beam as this is painted and has an LED bulb just for show (which puts off NO useful light). The thing about the bi-xenon projectors is that when they are in high-beam mode, there is no extra light thrown downward for low beam. OEM high beams make EVERYTHING brighter (high and low), these are just literally high beams, and direct more light higher on top of the already present low beam. It's not like they are not bright enough though, still better than factory!



ALSO:
Actually took good pictures of my truck today, they will be here as soon as I upload them!

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Got my headlights adjusted. It was as simple as cranking the adjustment knobs. Here are some alignment pictures.

Low beam:

High beam:

Cut-off on my driveway (low beam)

Cut-off on my driveway (high beam)

Final impression:
I like them a lot, they really change the look of the truck and make it appear much meaner and very unique. The frequency of light is a bit whiter and that helps me see a lot better. The cutoff is also very sharp and crisp. Comparing these to the factory headlights I would say that the light output (with JUST low beams on) is a little bit better than the factory low beams WITH fogs on.

Observation:
They aren't as bright as I was expecting, but I know why. I am not using the OEM high beam as this is painted and has an LED bulb just for show (which puts off NO useful light). The thing about the bi-xenon projectors is that when they are in high-beam mode, there is no extra light thrown downward for low beam. OEM high beams make EVERYTHING brighter (high and low), these are just literally high beams, and direct more light higher on top of the already present low beam. It's not like they are not bright enough though, still better than factory!


Actually took good pictures of my truck today, they will be here as soon as I upload them!

Pretty much summed up why I wanted my factory hi-beams to still work!

 

[jangoforhire]

Pretty much summed up why I wanted my factory hi-beams to still work!

Indeed, I do love the look of the painted high beams, but they definitely do help with output leaving them working. I may add some more driving lights in behind the grill wired into my high beam at a later date. Right now its not enough of a problem for me to worry about it though.

 

[phillyd2]

I may add some more driving lights in behind the grill wired into my high beam at a later date.

< Gulp > MORE SWITCHES !!! :nerd: :hatsoff:

 

[jangoforhire]

< Gulp > MORE SWITCHES !!! :nerd: :hatsoff:

Haha hey I have 3 blanks up front now, i HAVE to fill them with something...

:thumb3:

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Nice job with the lights, looks pretty trick!!!

 

[jangoforhire]

Nice job with the lights, looks pretty trick!!!

Thanks a lot! The look might not be for everyone, but I think it adds a little extra flair. Hoping my build gets up to your standards one day, I'm very jealous of your fabrication and design skill. Keep up the good work!

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Thanks a lot! The look might not be for everyone, but I think it adds a little extra flair. Hoping my build gets up to your standards one day, I'm very jealous of your fabrication and design skill. Keep up the good work!

Thanks man, your truck is coming along nicely!

I have a good appreciation for little custom, "unique" things that set your truck apart from the masses. Looks great!

 

[jangoforhire]

So I think this marks a milestone in my build, I actually broke out the nice camera (Nikon D60) and took a few shots today. Usually I just take all my pictures with my iPhone simply because it is so convenient to post them up quickly. But now that I have some substantial work done on the truck I figured it was time!

These are all taken in various places around my farm in Maryland. I have a few private trails here, nothing to long, but some nice woods trails that I like to drive every now and then.

**All the pictures are links to higher-res versions of the same shot, so if you like the picture click on it to see a better quality image**


<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/1.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/1.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/2.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/2.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/3.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/3.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/4.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/4.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/5.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/5.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/6.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/6.1.jpg" width="570" height="768" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/7.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/7.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/8.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/8.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/9.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/9.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/10.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/10.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/11.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/11.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>



<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/12.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/58059700/4Runner/Build/Photoshoots/1/12.1.jpg" width="1024" height="760" border="1" alt="Photoshoot 1" />
</a>

 

[ArcticEd]

Cut-off on my driveway (high beam)

Maybe a bit off topic, but that's a hell of a driveway! Looks like an entrance to a national park or something. :thumb3:

 

[Antman]

Wow!

Awesome pics!!

No way I will ever miss your truck if I see it around here. Wait till the Gobi gets here and the real light show starts...

 

[jangoforhire]

Cut-off on my driveway (high beam)

Maybe a bit off topic, but that's a hell of a driveway! Looks like an entrance to a national park or something. :thumb3:

Ha indeed, I'm fortunate enough to live on a farm that has been in my family for several years, the driveway is over two miles long and gets us back off the road pretty well. Love it!

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Dam dude, you guys need a roommate out there?!?!?! Looks like one helluva nice place to live!

 

[jangoforhire]

Wow!

Awesome pics!!

No way I will ever miss your truck if I see it around here. Wait till the Gobi gets here and the real light show starts...

Thanks Antman!
Still can't believe we haven't crossed paths, I see a lot of 5th gens but none with a Gobi yet!

I absolutely CANNOT wait for that rack to get here, my wiring is just about all done so it should be plug and play whenever that freakin rack shows up...

Dam dude, you guys need a roommate out there?!?!?! Looks like one helluva nice place to live!

Thanks! I'll keep you posted if we open up for more people haha, I'm sure we could work out a trade...a few months rent for 1 rear bumper...:hungry: haha

 

[jangoforhire]

Performance auto threw my pictures up on their facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.285894031461255.80155.239304096120249&type=1

I have already got a few messages asking about the lights so just to let everyone know a bit more:

They are completely custom with the following:

FX-R bi-xenon projectors
Custom Black and Pearl paint
Amber Removal
LED high-beam bulb
White CCFL Halo's around the projector.

They were done by Performance Auto Solutions in New York (formally black flames customs). I HIGHLY recommend them (And I'm not getting anything for saying that haha). In total, I sent well over 100 emails back and forth with the headlight crew over there to get these designed and built. Sometimes I would even send 15-20 per day. Each email was always replied to within the hour.

Prices were great, and the service was even better. They even sent me a spare wiring harness and CCFL power inverter just in case one goes up in the future.

Definitely check them out if you are looking to get a retrofit!

 

[jangoforhire]

Gobi Stealth gets here tomorrow! (I won't have it until next week though, I am currently gone on vacation)

Also I just ordered my Icon, extended travel remote resi front CO's :trophy:
Which means my suspension is ready to go!

........as soon as I decide on wheels and tires that is....:keyboard:


Also apparently you can't order the TE front and rear bumper online because they won't ship them, so I just have to stop by the dealer when I get home to order them and I will get the TE conversion underway. I will try to document as much as I can!