No Front Plastic/Valence...What Ya Think?

[PatchTrash]

First off sorry there are not anymore pictures. For some reason I end up getting stupid dirty and dont want to break stride when I start on a project. My 4runner has the CS 144 install, and that as well I didnt even take pictures. On the install I recently got all new belts so I had plenty of room for adjustment on the stock belt and did not need to use the 2" shorter one I bought.... I want to build a prerunner bumper and keep the look of my 4runner looking nice so I am thinking of welding a prerunner and skid bumper like baja style from the frame horns, wrapping around the existing upper chrome part of bumper and no hoop. I have access to a fab shop and a really good friend who went to fab school so he is going to guide me and give me a hand. Today I ripped off the bottom valence and moved my tinted turn signals behind my grill...turned out to look really good IMO. Let me know what you guys think about it! I also have a 1" BL so I installed a 4Crawler/RB bumper gap eliminator....Tomorrw ripping off the sr5 black stripe trim down the side. As well as installing the stock OEM look tail light LEDs. Tomorrow I will snap some shots and add them once I finish...here she blows:



Also I might add here is the wiring diagram that I used for my pigtail for the cs144...I had to dig around on forums for a bit to find it for some reason thought it would be easier to look up. My pigtail 3 wire was all black wires and were lettered by each wire. Pretty simple..

 

[Jungoes]

not bad, but I'd be a bit nervous driving around with out any protection to the condenser and radiator, post up some shots when you get the rest installed, good job on that Alternator

 

[PatchTrash]

yeah I still am a little sketched about it...but that front piece that went across the frame horns under the plastic was not much protection anyways...it wont be like this for long just wanted to get some ideas

 

[t4r4life]

dont be scared i wheel mine like this

 

[ryhi]

I am planning on doing the same thing with my front end but I will be using the 96-98 bumper since it doesn't stick out like the 99+.

Here is my inspiration:

 

[Jc12]

I am planning on doing the same thing with my front end but I will be using the 96-98 bumper since it doesn't stick out like the 99+.

Here is my inspiration:

wow that is absolutely dirty, and the same colour scheme as mine, i think i will hijack your inspiration.

 

[Jc12]

ooh forgot to ask.. what flares does he have?? those looks wider than limited

 

[ryhi]

ooh forgot to ask.. what flares does he have?? those looks wider than limited

there's a handful of japanese companies that make the extra wide over fenders. check out zeal, shuei, and elford just to name a few. they're all pretty pricey and all the ones i have seen are made specifically for the limiteds with the door cladding.

 

[jirehn]

Thanks for taking time to post this photos,You give me an idea on what I'm working right now.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

On the street it looks a little ghetto without something below the bumper and I like the tube bumper idea to replace the plastic valence but off road it's no big deal.

 

[jonwilly2]

I have been thinking about doing some plastic surgery (pun not intended) on the lower valence. I wanted to trim the ends so they go up more at a angle to where the sides are about 2 inches at the ends.

 

[PatchTrash]

Haha...Yeah did some more work today...The CS144 install went great and easy and im super happy about it and without the valence I could see straight through to the lower bolts made it super easier dropped right in...another trick was to reach through the side around your upper left side of the UCA to get at the one positive bat bolt on the back bc things get tight with those swaps and I didnt think to do it before hand.

And for the tube bumper I am thinking to keep it off the front of the valence a good couple inches to get a better skid plate angle and protect the valence too then notch it out somewhere in the middle to run two horizontal brace bars and a solid horizontal bend top bar to the corners...like I said no hoop on top...flat bar...got the alternator and big 3 upgrade done...need to release all that energy with some lights...I will put up the big 3 pics tomorrow if you wanna check it out...

 

[PatchTrash]

any suggestion on lights btw? I dont want **** ones...I want SCORE 1000 turn the night to day with 6 across the front ones.... :wow: :bigok:

 

[Duhockey]

yeah I still am a little sketched about it...but that front piece that went across the frame horns under the plastic was not much protection anyways...it wont be like this for long just wanted to get some ideas

Dont sweat it, I ran like that for 6 mo to a year in Colorado here wheeling it all the time.

you will be just fine.

 

[Duhockey]

I am planning on doing the same thing with my front end but I will be using the 96-98 bumper since it doesn't stick out like the 99+.

Here is my inspiration:

that looks really good, but the entrance angle looks really low for wheeling. I have an addicted bumper (see my build thread) which looks very similar that you could mount some lights too.

 

[PatchTrash]

Yeah and that isnt really what I had in mind either...I like it dont get my wrong up I am saying the main bar would be higher up in front of the chrome part and it would also come off the front of it at least 6 -8 inches to have room for lights and create the better approach angle. Then lights on top of the bar would basically cover my whole front grill where the headlights are around...A big concern like i mentioned is the approach angle...I am thinking a skid front the top bar to the frame horns then bent at another angle a skid from the fram horns down to the cross member where your LCAs are attached. :boink: