Michael's Build Thread

[michaelreed]

On the lot:

Current:

Tires! Finally!

Suspension
OME 3" lift

Tires/Wheels
17" sr5 wheels
Goodyear Duratrac LT285/70/17
All pro 1.5" spacers

Offroad
Shrockworks front bumper (coming in a month or two if I don't buy any toys between now and then...)

Outfitting/Electronics
Cobra 75 wx st
Diamond k400 antenna mount
Firestik 4' antenna
Additional 12v outlet added to dash
Pioneer avic f90bt
Axe and Shovel mounted on rear hatch
Blacked out emblems and grille

Well it's nothing fancy yet.. Should look pretty mean after I get my tires and bumper though!

Edit: tires are on! Spacers tomorrow.

 

[Runner27]

I like your blackout grille and emblem.

I'm planning on painting the tailgate garnish next weekend. Going to remove it from the car, sand, prime, enamel black paint, and enamel clear coat.

Is it easy to remove the tailgate panel and the garnish?

 

[michaelreed]

Fairly easy. Remove both access panels. Unscrew tailgate lanyard. Carefully pry the pins out all the way around. Slide the trim forward off the window. Start to pull the yellow water barrier and then cut through the rtv with a razor blade (you can reuse it, it will heal itself back together. Remove 4 nuts on the panel and 2 for the lock. Unplug the only wiring harness. After that it should just pop off.

 

[Runner27]

thanks for the info. you were still able to close the tailgate while the piece was removed right?

 

[superman3043]

thanks for the info. you were still able to close the tailgate while the piece was removed right?

DO NOT close the tailgate while your harness is unplugged....
Trust me

 

[michaelreed]

What he said ^^ I just put a towel between the lock to make it look like it was closed while the plasti dip dried.

 

[rsingh]

Looks like you have the stock tires on with the lift. Do you think it the tires look too small or does it like fine? I just got a 3/2 lift but I won't be able to afford tires for a long time. Just wondering should I even bother putting the lift on with stock 265/65/17 tires on my rig or does it look weird?

 

[Red]

Just wondering why you bothered to remove the pieces that you plasti-dip'd? The whole reason people use plasti-dip is it requires very little prep work, all you had to do was mask off a rectangle around the parts you wanted black and just layer on the plasti-dip then peel off what you didnt want to be black.

if you were painting it then I'd understand going through all that extra work.

 

[michaelreed]

Looks like you have the stock tires on with the lift. Do you think it the tires look too small or does it like fine? I just got a 3/2 lift but I won't be able to afford tires for a long time. Just wondering should I even bother putting the lift on with stock 265/65/17 tires on my rig or does it look weird?

I'll be getting 33s in a month or so, but no I don't think it looks weird. Still looks better than stock imo.

 

[michaelreed]

Just wondering why you bothered to remove the pieces that you plasti-dip'd? The whole reason people use plasti-dip is it requires very little prep work, all you had to do was mask off a rectangle around the parts you wanted black and just layer on the plasti-dip then peel off what you didnt want to be black.

if you were painting it then I'd understand going through all that extra work.

Because that panel is easy to get off, and I didn't want to get plasti dip in the lock mechanism. Didn't really feel like dealing with overspray either. If I was doing the emblems or something where its hard to take of and put back on, then yeah I would just mask and peel.

 

[gaterose]

The new tires look great!

 

[michaelreed]

The new tires look great!

Thanks man! I think it's filled out so much better.

 

[darkie3495]

Here are a few pics from our latest outing.

Photo courtesy of Tony LT1:

Photo courtesy of Tony LT1:

 

[Casper421]

Looks like a good time!

Gotta ask, what's with the new blue color for the 4runners? Painters tape?

 

[gaterose]

I was just wondering the same thing

Nice pictures though, looks fun!

 

[BigPig]

Looks like a good time!

Gotta ask, what's with the new blue color for the 4runners? Painters tape?

Paint protection while on the trail?

 

[darkie3495]

Looks like a good time!

Gotta ask, what's with the new blue color for the 4runners? Painters tape?

I was just wondering the same thing

Nice pictures though, looks fun!

Paint protection while on the trail?

BigPig is right. It's an inexpensive paint protection mod. The trails we were running are tight in some spots with branches as thick as your wrist sticking out into the trails. Ask Mike about the battle scar he got on his door after the first section..hahaha.

 

[gaterose]

Oh ok, I've heard of that before it was just hard to tell from the pic if that's what it was..

At first I thought that was a ZJ

Edit- also just saw the banner submission on 120,.. You WA guys love your duratracs huh?

 

[darkie3495]

Yeah, the tape definitely added a smurf feel to the 4Runner.

Team Duratrac!! it was a funny coincidence that we all are running 33" duratracs which works for the few that aren't running full sized spares. With the type of conditions we have up here (rain, snow/ice, rain, mud, rain) they are a good all-around choice for daily drivers.

There was a banner submission? hmm, didn't see that.

 

[michaelreed]

Yep painters tape. To keep from getting scratches/ pin striping. It seems to actually work, as goofy as it looks.