New guy needing some advice on a few mods

[jsha22lr]

I'm fairly new to the forum and to the 4Runner world, but before I got my truck and was apart of this forum I was looking at pictures of what some of you have done to your trucks to suit your taste and local. One of the things that I like is that some of you have HIDs headlights. One of my buddies has HIDs in his mustang, but he had to get a relay kit and a bunch of other wiring stuff to put his in. If I get HIDs, will I have to get a relay kit or any additional wiring kits? I've also seen a picture of a nice 4Runner with halo headlights as well. How does the halo headlights compare to HIDs in terms of installation, clarity, and how far you can actually see?

One other question that I had was about exhaust. I'm looking at getting some exhaust pretty soon, but I've got a few questions. Does have an exhaust really improve the MPG and the horsepower? Is it better to pay for a dual exhaust vs single?

Thank you for your patience and help. I'm trying to have the baddest 4Runner in my town, since most people here are all about "real trucks" and jeeps and nobody has a decked out 4Runner.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

I'm fairly new to the forum and to the 4Runner world, but before I got my truck and was apart of this forum I was looking at pictures of what some of you have done to your trucks to suit your taste and local. One of the things that I like is that some of you have HIDs headlights. One of my buddies has HIDs in his mustang, but he had to get a relay kit and a bunch of other wiring stuff to put his in. If I get HIDs, will I have to get a relay kit or any additional wiring kits? I've also seen a picture of a nice 4Runner with halo headlights as well. How does the halo headlights compare to HIDs in terms of installation, clarity, and how far you can actually see?

One other question that I had was about exhaust. I'm looking at getting some exhaust pretty soon, but I've got a few questions. Does have an exhaust really improve the MPG and the horsepower? Is it better to pay for a dual exhaust vs single?

Thank you for your patience and help. I'm trying to have the baddest 4Runner in my town, since most people here are all about "real trucks" and jeeps and nobody has a decked out 4Runner.

what year is your 4runner? there are lots of HID kits out there that are plug and play, but if you have an 03-05 i would seriously advise against HIDs as those years have reflector style headlights and those coupled with HIDs can virtually blind other drivers.

as for the exhaust, it doesn't really add horsepower, a catback system alone doesnt at least. it does flow better and sound better, especially the over axle section, and it can be a weight savings, but you won't notice a power difference. one thing i noticed with my catback exhaust was that the decreased back pressure made coasting a little better, maybe helping mpgs, but in reality your want to hear the exhaust will negate any mpg savings you might have gotten. true exhaust performance modifications would be things like headers and a performance y-pipe, which some members on here have.

 

[jsha22lr]

what year is your 4runner? there are lots of HID kits out there that are plug and play, but if you have an 03-05 i would seriously advise against HIDs as those years have reflector style headlights and those coupled with HIDs can virtually blind other drivers.

Mines a 04, didn't really know about the reflector style being an issue. Since I do have this style, what options do I have?

as for the exhaust, it doesn't really add horsepower, a catback system alone doesnt at least. it does flow better and sound better, especially the over axle section, and it can be a weight savings, but you won't notice a power difference. one thing i noticed with my catback exhaust was that the decreased back pressure made coasting a little better, maybe helping mpgs, but in reality your want to hear the exhaust will negate any mpg savings you might have gotten. true exhaust performance modifications would be things like headers and a performance y-pipe, which some members on here have.

Thanks. Will getting headers and the Y-pipe make it louder or deeper in tone?

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Mines a 04, didn't really know about the reflector style being an issue. Since I do have this style, what options do I have?




Thanks. Will getting headers and the Y-pipe make it louder or deeper in tone?

they certainly should, i know [MENTION=81436]trailrazer[/MENTION] and [MENTION=63211]emelianenkov[/MENTION] have aftermarket y-pipes. for the headlights you can do a projector retrofit, [MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION] and [MENTION=55855]zopperman[/MENTION] have great retrofits

 

[emelianenkov]

Y-pipe is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jsha22lr]

they certainly should, i know [MENTION=81436]trailrazer[/MENTION] and [MENTION=63211]emelianenkov[/MENTION] have aftermarket y-pipes. for the headlights you can do a projector retrofit, [MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION] and [MENTION=55855]zopperman[/MENTION] have great retrofits

Thanks, I'm going to look through their builds and see what they did. I'm going to a local shop to see what kind of options as far as exhaust goes for my budget.

 

[jsha22lr]

Y-pipe is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet, what exactly did you get from having yours installed? Deeper tone?

 

[emelianenkov]

I had it done yesterday and I have an exhaust leak somewhere so I can't comment fully, but I have long tube headers and the y-pipe

The long tube headers added a LOT of low end! I love them.

The y-pipe I can't really report on yet. Lemme get my exhaust fixed up and I'll get back to you.

As for a build thread.... I haven't touched mine in a year or so... Any questions, you can ask me!

 

[jsha22lr]

The long tube headers added a LOT of low end! I love them.

The y-pipe I can't really report on yet. Lemme get my exhaust fixed up and I'll get back to you.

As for a build thread.... I haven't touched mine in a year or so... Any questions, you can ask me!

Sweet, I'd like to hear what you think about them. They don't interfere with the spare tire do they?

 

[emelianenkov]

There's nothing changed past the transmission really.

Startup and idle with JBA long tube headers, Doug Thorley FJ y-pipe modified to fit my truck, magnaflow 5x8x24, and the resonator removed.
http://youtu.be/SsnMQvMrbVs

 

[jsha22lr]

There's nothing changed past the transmission really.

Startup and idle with JBA long tube headers, Doug Thorley FJ y-pipe modified to fit my truck, magnaflow 5x8x24, and the resonator removed.

Thanks, that was one thing I was wondering about. Your truck sounds great. What's kinda modifications did it take to fit the FJ y-pipe to the 4Runner?

 

[swapmeet]

x2 on not adding HID's with your reflector style headlights. You can swap headlights and the lower filler panel if you want OEM projectors (07 and up I think)

This is why you don't want to put HID's in your truck.

It looks like crap, and you'll be blinding oncoming traffic.

 

[AKmoney]

Another vote here on not putting HIDs in '03-'05 reflector housings. I tried it with mine and there's no way you can adjust them to *not* blind oncoming drivers. Since I already spent the money I wound up installing the HIDs in the fog lights.

I wound up going the cheap route and used the slightly brighter 9012 style halogen bulbs to replace the stock 9006 units. Not worth the trouble for me to do a whole projector retrofit. In some ways the light from halogens is better than HID anyway. You tend to get better CRI (color rendering index).

 

[jsha22lr]

x2 on not adding HID's with your reflector style headlights. You can swap headlights and the lower filler panel if you want OEM projectors (07 and up I think)

This is why you don't want to put HID's in your truck.

It looks like crap, and you'll be blinding oncoming traffic.

That does look like crap. From what I've been reading I would need a 07 and up headlight unit and the filler panel correct? Will I run into any fitting issue if I try to use them? I've found a black aftermarket headlight unit, but I'm wondering if I can fit HIDs into them or not. They also have a replacement halo headlight unit that is not very expensive.

Spyder® HD-JH-T4R03-AM-BK - Toyota 4Runner 2004 Black Euro Headlights
http://www.carid.com/2004-toyota-4r...d-halo-led-projector-headlights-26138009.html
From what you guys know now, what would you do if you were in my position?

 

[emelianenkov]

Thanks, that was one thing I was wondering about. Your truck sounds great. What's kinda modifications did it take to fit the FJ y-pipe to the 4Runner?

Basically chopping both ends and adding all the bent shiny pipe you see in the photo to clear the t-case and fuel tank

The original FJ pipe had a 90 bend from the drivers side that went basically across where our transfer case is, and joined the passenger side with another 90 bend

 

[jsha22lr]

Another vote here on not putting HIDs in '03-'05 reflector housings. I tried it with mine and there's no way you can adjust them to *not* blind oncoming drivers. Since I already spent the money I wound up installing the HIDs in the fog lights.

I wound up going the cheap route and used the slightly brighter 9012 style halogen bulbs to replace the stock 9006 units. Not worth the trouble for me to do a whole projector retrofit. In some ways the light from halogens is better than HID anyway. You tend to get better CRI (color rendering index).

That is one option I am considering. My plan was to have HIDs installed in the fog lights and the headlights.

 

[emelianenkov]

TRS morimoto mini H1 retrofit kit for the win!

 

[jsha22lr]

Haven't considered the retrofit kit. You had to disassemble the headlight assembly right?

 

[emelianenkov]

Haven't considered the retrofit kit. You had to disassemble the headlight assembly right?

Yeeeep

 

[earthrealm]

That does look like crap. From what I've been reading I would need a 07 and up headlight unit and the filler panel correct? Will I run into any fitting issue if I try to use them? I've found a black aftermarket headlight unit, but I'm wondering if I can fit HIDs into them or not. They also have a replacement halo headlight unit that is not very expensive.

Spyder® HD-JH-T4R03-AM-BK - Toyota 4Runner 2004 Black Euro Headlights
Spec-D® 2LHP-4RUN03JM-TM - Toyota 4Runner 2004-2005 Black Halo Projector Headlights with LEDs
From what you guys know now, what would you do if you were in my position?

am running the drop in blacked out headlight asssy and installed hids in them..for a lil below $200, its not a bad buy.........you could use them a while till u hv the $$$$ for a full retrofit, which is really nice..

lots of folks here still have the driop in hl assy