Sp8Ball’s Mod Thread (Stealing Other Poster’s Ideas Since Mid-2010)
- Thread starter sp8ball
- Start date
sp8ball
New member
Update on things that are actually related to the modding of a Toyota 4Runner
The next two days should prove to be quite interesting.
The color-matched door handles should arrive today from toyotapartsales.com.
Antman and I have purchased the supplies to do the following electrical/lighting mods on Friday afternoon:
1) Switch to activate backup camera while not in "Reverse"
2) Footwell lighting for SR5s
3) Night-time accent lighting for front and rear footwells
4) Interior door handle LEDs for SR5s
5) Cupholder LEDs
Antman has already done these to his vehicle (except #3), so we'll just apply the lessons learned from those experiences, do the mods to mine, and it'll give me a chance to write it up for the forum to see.
We may also attempt to tackle another semi-perplexing issue: the ground-illuminating lights on the bottom of the driver and passenger side doors. Antman has an SR5 with the leather package, and he has these lights. I have the cloth interior, and I don't have them. So we're going to see if the wiring harness and other components still "dwell" inside the door of my truck, so I can install these lights after-the-fact.
Of course, we'll only have a few hours to do this stuff tomorrow (because my 7-year-old has baseball practice), so we'll be subject to time constraints.
The next two days should prove to be quite interesting.
The color-matched door handles should arrive today from toyotapartsales.com.
Antman and I have purchased the supplies to do the following electrical/lighting mods on Friday afternoon:
1) Switch to activate backup camera while not in "Reverse"
2) Footwell lighting for SR5s
3) Night-time accent lighting for front and rear footwells
4) Interior door handle LEDs for SR5s
5) Cupholder LEDs
Antman has already done these to his vehicle (except #3), so we'll just apply the lessons learned from those experiences, do the mods to mine, and it'll give me a chance to write it up for the forum to see.
We may also attempt to tackle another semi-perplexing issue: the ground-illuminating lights on the bottom of the driver and passenger side doors. Antman has an SR5 with the leather package, and he has these lights. I have the cloth interior, and I don't have them. So we're going to see if the wiring harness and other components still "dwell" inside the door of my truck, so I can install these lights after-the-fact.
Of course, we'll only have a few hours to do this stuff tomorrow (because my 7-year-old has baseball practice), so we'll be subject to time constraints.
Antman
Elite Member
Has to do with the " bad bad day" part. Dealing with springs is always
Dangerous- especially when compressing or decompressing them. Using a spring compressor isn't exactly "safe" either... take your pick.
sp8ball
New member
:thanks:
Remember kids - Safety First!
And, it's always cool when a guy with an avatar like mgrande's tells you that you are the one with balls. This from the guy trained to hunt Osama Bin Laden.
Let it be known, mgrande, that you and your fellow servicemen are the ones with the balls. I just messed around with my suspension one day!
mgrande
New member
What antman said, if things went wrong theres no telling where that thing would have shot. But you do have to be carful with spring compressors as well. Some are better than others.
Here's what it could have been like
YouTube - How NOT to do a Strut
mgrande
New member
Thanks :uzi:
greasypaperbag
New member
I live in the ole G.B. (Glen Burnie)...but I spend most of my time in Blacksburg, VA for my "job".
sp8ball
New member
You forgot "negotiating with the wife" in there somewhere, which adds to the degree of difficulty.
But to be honest, this forum provides a lot of guidance, advice, and camaraderie that really helps make these things a little easier. And all the great responses just inspire me to post more.
sp8ball
New member
No way! I grew up there (when I wasn't in South Korea or Japan), right off of Crain Highway. Graduated from Old Mill.
sp8ball
New member
No. No way. No how. That will get me killed.
I was shy about putting pictures of Antman's arms in my thread. You think I'm going to put HER on here?
"Honey, can I post your picture on the internet? Some guys on there want to know what you look like." :gun4:
The closest we'll come to that is the Thompson's ad on the first page, and that's a herrible (cross between horrible and terrible) cut-your-heads-and-torsos-out-and-glue-it-to-the-newspaper type thing.
Unless she (as she has threatened) gets her own account on here for the purposes of (a) monitoring what i say, (b) monitoring my mods, and (c) mocking me.
sp8ball
New member
Status Update: Color-Matching Door Handles
The Salsa Red Pearl door handles have arrived!
My wife tried to pull the "you didn't get a package" trick on me, but she failed...mostly because I've been stalking that package on FedEx.com since I got the email from toyotapartsales.com saying it had left Texas.
You can't get that weak crap past me, sweetheart!!:trophy:
Anyway, to make sure that I do not leave anyone with a "This Thread Is Worthless Without Pics" moment, I would like to present (to the Americans on this board - since Canadians already have them)...Salsa Red Pearl door handles.
(cue dramatic music)
:violin:
Exciting, right?
Now, I have to be honest about something. I'm a TAD bit underwhelmed, and I'll tell you why.
#1, they feel a little plasticky and light in my hand, where as the OEM ones, while chrome, feel weighty and metallic.
#2, they are one piece, and plastic.
I was hoping it was in two pieces, as the OEM chrome ones appear to be. I was toying with the idea of mixing and matching the pieces, in an effort to make a color scheme like this:
But oh well. I'll go forward and see what I get...
No guarantees that Antman and I will get to this tomorrow, as it looks to be time consuming, and we have several lighting mods planned that I think you guys might really like. They're going to be wicked awesome.
The Salsa Red Pearl door handles have arrived!
My wife tried to pull the "you didn't get a package" trick on me, but she failed...mostly because I've been stalking that package on FedEx.com since I got the email from toyotapartsales.com saying it had left Texas.
You can't get that weak crap past me, sweetheart!!:trophy:
Anyway, to make sure that I do not leave anyone with a "This Thread Is Worthless Without Pics" moment, I would like to present (to the Americans on this board - since Canadians already have them)...Salsa Red Pearl door handles.
(cue dramatic music)
:violin:
Exciting, right?
Now, I have to be honest about something. I'm a TAD bit underwhelmed, and I'll tell you why.
#1, they feel a little plasticky and light in my hand, where as the OEM ones, while chrome, feel weighty and metallic.
#2, they are one piece, and plastic.
I was hoping it was in two pieces, as the OEM chrome ones appear to be. I was toying with the idea of mixing and matching the pieces, in an effort to make a color scheme like this:
But oh well. I'll go forward and see what I get...
No guarantees that Antman and I will get to this tomorrow, as it looks to be time consuming, and we have several lighting mods planned that I think you guys might really like. They're going to be wicked awesome.
Attachments
deekoi
New member
Johnny Utah
New member
SevenMaryThree
New member
philsey
New member
I wuz wondering when that request was going to happen...
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After seeing your pics on how you installed the bug shield/deflector (clips only), how it goes/folds all the way down and inside the hood, and the link to the product. I am convinced I'll buy that exact one.
One of my friends bought one for Tacoma with just seeing little reviews / pics. It really looked bad coz it used some sort of 'stands' so the deflector is raised up on the hood. It looked ugly. He removed it immediately.
Thank you sp8ball for all the detailed pics and posts!
Btw, is there a post on changing tail/turn lights to LED and if it made 4runner show warning for burned bulb or did the turn signal flash rate changed?
One of my friends bought one for Tacoma with just seeing little reviews / pics. It really looked bad coz it used some sort of 'stands' so the deflector is raised up on the hood. It looked ugly. He removed it immediately.
Thank you sp8ball for all the detailed pics and posts!
Btw, is there a post on changing tail/turn lights to LED and if it made 4runner show warning for burned bulb or did the turn signal flash rate changed?
sp8ball
New member
My pleasure!
sp8ball
New member
Status Update - Friday, April 15th
OK -
Antman and I got a late start today (my fault, I was babysitting the 6-week old while the wife ran an errand), and then I had to run to my son's baseball practice. (he was awesome, if you were wondering)
I had hoped to do a couple of lighting mods and maybe get the backup camera mod done.
We got ONE lighting mod done. But it is "muy awesome".:reddance:
Pics/writeup to follow, depending on cooperation received from baby.
And we anticipate that the backup camera switch won't take that much time, based on the "lessons learned" by Antman when he did his.
And I paid my taxes today. Fun. I'm sure it was handled in such a delicate manner that it will go a long way towards lowering the national debt.
OK -
Antman and I got a late start today (my fault, I was babysitting the 6-week old while the wife ran an errand), and then I had to run to my son's baseball practice. (he was awesome, if you were wondering)
I had hoped to do a couple of lighting mods and maybe get the backup camera mod done.
We got ONE lighting mod done. But it is "muy awesome".:reddance:
Pics/writeup to follow, depending on cooperation received from baby.
And we anticipate that the backup camera switch won't take that much time, based on the "lessons learned" by Antman when he did his.
And I paid my taxes today. Fun. I'm sure it was handled in such a delicate manner that it will go a long way towards lowering the national debt.
