mbumpus11 New Build Thread - Need Input!!

[mbumpus11]

32" LED Light Bar in Grille + Custom Satoshi

This weekend I finally got around to installing my light bar in my grille.

I had a friend fab up a bracket a couple of weeks ago to my exact specifications that I needed to install it in my grille area.

A little bit of cutting was required on the air dams, but ultimately not much, just enough to squeeze my bar and bracket in.

Removed the front bumper piece, then held the light and bracket in place to see where I needed to cut the air dams. (sorry, don't have pictures of the air dam cutting)

Mounted the bracket by drilling pilot holes into the aluminum front bumper support, then drilled in self-tapping screws with rubber washers on the front, and gasket rubber on the back to prevent additional vibration.

After mounting, plugged up and tested.

Installed the switch in place of the dummy panel right behind the headlight stick on the steering wheel. Used an AOB switch you can see in the pictures. Cut just enough into the firewall rubber grommet to squeeze the wires through (supplied relay), and plugged it up.

Hadn't finished the lower grille yet, but you can tell that in the pictures attached. You also see that the feet of the light bar supports were pushing up on my bumper...

...con't below...

 

[mbumpus11]

Continued...

Satoshi Custom Lower Grille:

Took the lower grille insert out, and decided to cut it up.

Cut out the interior portions (where my hand is covering) to reuse the grille "frame."

Bought some plastic gutter guard from Lowes (Shop Amerimax Plastic Gutter Guard at Lowes.com) and it was 6" exactly...perfect width for the lower grille. You can see the comparison of the two materials side by side in my pictures.

Then I used a sautering iron to melt the plastics together on the inside of the frame to hide any imperfections. Worked like a charm (as you can see in my picture below).

I actually had to scoot the light bar supports back a little to get the pressure off of where the grille clips in, but once I did that it fit flawlessly.

You can see the finished product below. I'm very pleased and have already gotten compliments in parking lots.

Hope this helps!

 

[mbumpus11]

Updates

Installed hood light for engine bay: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/212720-under-hood-engine-light.html

Got rear windows tinted, finally. Put 20% on back half of vehicle. Already had 35% up front over factory solargreen.

 

[mbumpus11]

Mesh Match

Finally got around to matching the upper grille section with my lower grille section. I ended up redoing the lower one to let my light bar have the face in front of mesh to not be obstructed anymore.

A couple rough parts if you really inspect it, but that's because plastic welding is never the cleanest anyway. Looks pretty good from an overall objective viewpoint as it matches the hood scoop faux mesh as well.

 

[CRFofiddyF]

Great thread. Subd for future mods. Can u tell me which flush led lights you used for the cargo area?mind taking a pic to see how they look?
Thx

 

[mbumpus11]

Great thread. Subd for future mods. Can u tell me which flush led lights you used for the cargo area?mind taking a pic to see how they look?
Thx

Thanks! It's a slow, but practical build. Not trying to be up with the top rock crawlers, but I'm a country boy living in the big city and trying to blend in at least a little bit haha.

Link for my cargo lighting install is below, and has the info on the LEDs as well, just scroll down a little beyond the initial install pics.

Let me know if you have any questions, feel free to PM me!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/199203-cargo-led-lighting-actually-done-right.html

 

[NauticalBlueSR54X4]

Finally got around to matching the upper grille section with my lower grille section. I ended up redoing the lower one to let my light bar have the face in front of mesh to not be obstructed anymore.

A couple rough parts if you really inspect it, but that's because plastic welding is never the cleanest anyway. Looks pretty good from an overall objective viewpoint as it matches the hood scoop faux mesh as well.

Thanks Mbumpus for you blazing the trail with the 32" Lightbar install in the grille. I decided to take on this project myself and did not realize what I was getting myself into...lol those pieces on the sides of the aluminum bumper really do get in the way but I managed to make it all work! Let me know what you think bud. I think it really turned out to give it a clean look.

 

[mbumpus11]

Thanks Mbumpus for you blazing the trail with the 32" Lightbar install in the grille. I decided to take on this project myself and did not realize what I was getting myself into...lol those pieces on the sides of the aluminum bumper really do get in the way but I managed to make it all work! Let me know what you think bud. I think it really turned out to give it a clean look.

Man that looks great!

I think this location is the best and most discrete location, but still completely functional.

Glad to see someone else follow my lead! Hopefully more will follow OUR lead now!

 

[mbumpus11]

Ordered the RAV4 mirrors for the blind spot retrofit and they were a breeze to put on. Literally took about 10 minutes.

1. Angle both side mirrors all the way down and in
2. I took a flathead screwdriver and stuck it behind the top right of the mirror to get my fingers in a lightly work around to loosen the clips holding the mirror in
3. Pulled the mirror off the clips completely, then disconnected the heating element plug which is located on the top, inner corner of both mirrors.
4. Clipped the heating element plug back on and placed my whole hand flat on the mirror to apply light pressure until the first "click" was heard indicating the mirror was back in place.
5. Repeated on the other side
6. Cleaned fingerprints off the glass

Pics attached. Will add daylight pics tomorrow.

Edit ** - added daylight pic, but does anyone know how to get the pic to rotate?!

 

[mbumpus11]

Took off my roof rails to overnight them to [MENTION=145761]Manny228[/MENTION]...trading for '10-'13 trail black rails!

Really easy process.

Pop off the black caps at the 3" and 7" marks with a flathead screwdriver to reveal bolts underneath

Then unscrew those bolts with a metric socket number 12, and it all comes off nice and easy

Boxed up, ready to go!

And now I have a bald 4Runner while I wait...

 

[The Waco Kid]

Bald is beautiful!

 

[mbumpus11]

Got the '13 Trail rails in and put em on!

Make sure you have rubber washers if you do this switch. Otherwise your rails will be loose!

I got these from Lowe's and they worked perfectly:

Finished product (with my Thule crossbars on top)

 

[WI4Runnin]

Looks nice . I like the look of them.

 

[mbumpus11]

Due to the rain in Houston and the discussion on another thread about driving through water, I finally decided to install my ARB Rear Differential Breather last night.

First off, why does Toyota make you screw these together? I hadn't used them yet and had to use a screwdriver to loosen them. Good thing I wasn't on the side of the road...

Also, this was by far the best move I made the entire time. Kept my eyes clean and where I could see!

 

[mbumpus11]

Following [MENTION=120701]Cymon[/MENTION], I started with a dropped tire. That thing looks more like an anchor than anything.

Located the factory breather

 

[mbumpus11]

Started running the tubing from the engine bay

Through the wheel well

Down the frame rail

Up into the rear of the vehicle with the bend in the rail to get over/around the rear suspension

 

[mbumpus11]

Over the wheel well (tube did not stay in this exact spot)

And down to the axle

 

[mbumpus11]

I pulled the tube above the gas tank filler line and then gave it an extra loop around to account for flex/future lift/etc.

Then I cleaned around the valve because my truck has seen some things

Made sure the loop would allow me to insert the tube properly before changing the breather valve put with the ARB one

 

[mbumpus11]

Replaced the breather valve with ARB fitting, and stuck 'er in

Then I went back through and zip tied everything. I don't have pics of all this because I was ready to finish it, but I pulled the tube to the inside of the frame rail and zip tied it to some small tubing that is basically under the drivers seat (for a point of reference).

Finished routing the tube within the engine bay and decided on leaving a coil for future mods if necessary to flex/stretch.

Installed filter

DONE!

 

[The Waco Kid]

Just in time for all the flooding!