Sp8Ball’s Mod Thread (Stealing Other Poster’s Ideas Since Mid-2010)

[sp8ball]

Dang! Antman's garage is to die for! The finished floor, the TILE ON THE WALL fer gosh sakes, the tool chests ....... d r o o l i n g.

Did y'all notice what time this morning the posts started?

He has to be at work early. But he gets off at 2pm. Which means I've been sneaking out of work (at 2pm) to go do mods.

 

[sp8ball]

Very nice mod, in the matter of fact one of the few mods I really wanted to do. With this manual I might be able to do it one day when if I ever get enough courage to open up panels and cut in in the wires. You guys are awesome!

Thanks! And that was kind of the point...to post simple-to-do mods to lower the intimidation factor associated with modding a brand new truck.

If you track the history of the build thread, it started out as simple mods that even an idiot like me could do (replace light bulbs, install floor liners, paying someone else to tint your windows). I was intimidated by the Harper/bflan/jesse "re-builds" while still admiring and/or drooling over them. I wanted to mod my truck, but was content in the fact that I didn't have the skills to do what they did.

So I started writing about easy-to-do mods that can make a 4Runner unique and cool (in my opinion, at least), and at the same time be something you can take pride in doing.

So I started typing and getting wordy and trying to be funny.:infidel:

Then Antman PM'ed me, we met a few days later (by chance), and ended up discussing more "advanced" mods (well, advanced to me) that he had done to his truck. I then saw an opportunity to do some cool things to my truck, but to also document them in a way that made it less intimidating and easier for others (who might have the same fears and trepidation that I do/did) to follow-along and do themselves.

I tried to take pictures, show steps, and write the posts from the perspective of someone that knows NOTHING about doing this crap. (which is easy, because I know nothing about this crap) That way, everyone's "mod IQ" goes up a bit, as well as their confidence in tackling their projects.

Believe me - I'm a "car idiot", and i've done all this stuff in my signature!

:nerdWell, Antman did some of it while I took pictures, but those pictures should help anyone else do them!):nerd:

A brief paragraph that will be slightly ...fftopic:
I also tried to capture one other issue that many of us have when it comes to mods: the wife. Granted, some of you have a wife/gf who doesn't care what you do to your truck or how much it costs, and they trust you with a wrench in your hand. I envy you. But then there are those of us who have to "negotiate" with the loved one in our lives to get these things going. Sure, this is a forum of testosterone and manliness (mostly guys and stuff, with apologies to IamSam, Awynt, and the other women of the forum - I haven't forgotten about you ladies!), and it's hard to say, "my wife won't let me do that to my truck" or "my wife thinks I'm an idiot for posting every little detail about my truck on a forum for perfect strangers to read, and then forgetting to share recent baby pictures with our friends and co-workers we've known for 10 years". But hey, that interaction and reaction is what happens sometimes, and it's part of the whole experience! If we put it out there in the open, we learn that our wives aren't the only ones looking at us with raised eyebrows and skepticism, thinking their husband is weird and has a "problem". At least we're not looking at porn or anything, right?

Right?

Guys?

:girl:

Back to the point of this thread...

To anyone attempting to do these mods: Go for it! It's really hard to permanently damage something on these trucks (except the spacer install...be carefull with that one), and this forum is a fantastic resource. Come on the board and ask the questions that you need to ask to feel comfortable tackling these things. The collective institutional knowledge on this board is outstanding, and always willing to help someone out. Hell, you might even find someone local to you who loves doing this stuff and is willing to (a) help you out, and (b) make a new friend!

 

[Antman]

Dang! Antman's garage is to die for! The finished floor, the TILE ON THE WALL fer gosh sakes, the tool chests ....... d r o o l i n g.

Did y'all notice what time this morning the posts started?

Ha! Thanks for noticing- one day maybe I'll post up before & after garage photos... Its not too big , but cozy.

 

[1engineer]

Thanks! And that was kind of the point...to post simple-to-do mods to lower the intimidation factor associated with modding a brand new truck.

If you track the history of the build thread, it started out as simple mods that even an idiot like me could do (replace light bulbs, install floor liners, paying someone else to tint your windows). I was intimidated by the Harper/bflan/jesse "re-builds" while still admiring and/or drooling over them. I wanted to mod my truck, but was content in the fact that I didn't have the skills to do what they did.

So I started writing about easy-to-do mods that can make a 4Runner unique and cool (in my opinion, at least), and at the same time be something you can take pride in doing.

So I started typing and getting wordy and trying to be funny.:infidel:

Then Antman PM'ed me, we met a few days later (by chance), and ended up discussing more "advanced" mods (well, advanced to me) that he had done to his truck. I then saw an opportunity to do some cool things to my truck, but to also document them in a way that made it less intimidating and easier for others (who might have the same fears and trepidation that I do/did) to follow-along and do themselves.

I tried to take pictures, show steps, and write the posts from the perspective of someone that knows NOTHING about doing this crap. (which is easy, because I know nothing about this crap) That way, everyone's "mod IQ" goes up a bit, as well as their confidence in tackling their projects.

Believe me - I'm a "car idiot", and i've done all this stuff in my signature!

:nerdWell, Antman did some of it while I took pictures, but those pictures should help anyone else do them!):nerd:

To anyone attempting to do these mods: Go for it! It's really hard to permanently damage something on these trucks (except the spacer install...be carefull with that one), and this forum is a fantastic resource. Come on the board and ask the questions that you need to ask to feel comfortable tackling these things. The collective institutional knowledge on this board is outstanding, and always willing to help someone out. Hell, you might even find someone local to you who loves doing this stuff and is willing to (a) help you out, and (b) make a new friend!

This is a very good post. It goes deeper than the truck and many can learn from it. Good job and enjoy the mods and the new friends!

 

[sp8ball]

Oh ya and your nails are B E A UTIFUL...

Look what you guys started!:flipoff:

The guy with TWO posts is even commenting about the quality of nail care management.

I got a complex because of your posts, so I went back and counted the number of times Antman's or my hands appeared in the "accent lighting" or "backup camera switch" posts.

Antman: 32 times (because he's doing all the work)
sp8ball: 6 times (usually to hold something to document it photographically)

Antman's hands: looks like he works for a living, and then comes home and uses tools all day
sp8ball's hands: looks like he sits in an office and works at a computer all day, then mods his truck by having other people do all the work

 

[Mudcat]

Awesome thread, as others have stated. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I laughed out loud when I read your raiders of the lost ark theme post.

Thanks to your post, I'll be tackling the rearview camera mod this weekend. I'm blessed with a wife who loves the mods I've been doing to my rig, so when I mentioned the camera mod, the first thing she asked was when I was going to do it to my truck.

If you keep up the mods we'll need to publish your work as a manual for us weekend modders.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Antman]

Wait till you guys see the LED's I have behind the door handles, in the console cupholders/storage area, and the storage cubbyhole under the HVAC controls. By far my favorite mods. Very subtle and cool. I found LED'S that match the dash lighting perfectly. And- I also buried one in the OH console that lights up the sunroof switches (that ones a PITA) I think these are next?.....

 

[philsey]

..... At least we're not looking at porn or anything, right?

Right?

Guys?

Funny! I have two forums I frequent; this, and a boating forum. My wife calls them "car porn" and "boat porn".

 

[sp8ball]

Wait till you guys see the LED's I have behind the door handles, in the console cupholders/storage area, and the storage cubbyhole under the HVAC controls. By far my favorite mods. Very subtle and cool. I found LED'S that match the dash lighting perfectly. And- I also buried one in the OH console that lights up the sunroof switches (that ones a PITA) I think these are next?.....

This is, indeed, "next".

(good teaser, Antman!)

And when we have the door panels off for the "LEDs lighting up the interior door handles", we will attempt to figure out how to replace the OEM chrome door handles with the color-matched door handles at that time!

Why? Because this will give us a long string of INTERIOR mods (also need to do a gear shift & 4WD knob switch-out), which only a select few will ever see. It's time to start back on the EXTERIOR, so people - the general public - can SEE them and admire their awesomeness!

- Color-matched door handles (CHECK! Purchased and waiting for install)
- Painting the front chrome wings to be Salsa Red Pearl (approved by wife...just waiting on donation of extra front piece), or maybe...
- Satoshi Grille Mod (Will require spousal approval) with "TOYOTA" logo and "TRD" badge (like bflan, because it adds 12 hp)
- Magnaflow Muffler (Shot down by spouse, but i'm working on it)
- Thule Crossbars and MOAB Rack ("Liked" by wife, but I think she wants me to wait to get it for Christmas or something)
- Changing out the chrome roof rack end caps with black ones (have a "deal" already lined up with a forum user, who already painted them black - just waiting for the wife to soften her opinion on the price!)
- Yellow 3k Fog Lights
- Exhaust Tip

And, of course...black-ish wheels and aggressive A/T tires. My own personal quest - against all odds (spouse hating them).

 

[Awynt]

I heart black wheels. But, I'm also a freak of nature type of wife who "allows" her husband to tinker to his little heart's desire because it means more Tim the Toolman Power for me.

 

[sp8ball]

I heart black wheels. But, I'm also a freak of nature type of wife who "allows" her husband to tinker to his little heart's desire because it means more Tim the Toolman Power for me.

I meant to include you in the list of women on the forum who shouldn't be offended by my "masculine terms" in my recent, long-winded post.

I'm going to edit it and add you, simply because you are awesome.

 

[sp8ball]

I heart black wheels. But, I'm also a freak of nature type of wife who "allows" her husband to tinker to his little heart's desire because it means more Tim the Toolman Power for me.

One other thing about this...

She keeps saying black wheels will make this thing look trashy and ghetto. I know why...and it's because she thinks it will look like this:



In reality, I've personally gone away from wanting an all black wheel, like the UltraWheel Gauntlet. They're nice, but not for the look I'm going for.

I'm thinking a gloss black, with some hints of chrome (i.e. machined surfaces) to alleviate her fears a bit. Something like one of these:











Suggestions welcome!

.:boink:

 

[1engineer]

With the Red, I would pick one with a silver lip completely around the rim. Transition from red to silver to black to centercap.

 

[Awynt]

I can understand where she's coming from and why she gets the impression it will look like you're riding on 4 spare tires (I don't agree, but I get it).

What have been your tactics so far in regards to talking to her about them? Has she seen photos of other 4Runners with the black wheels or has it been a solid brick wall of "NO" so far?

 

[sp8ball]

Has she seen photos of other 4Runners with the black wheels or has it been a solid brick wall of "NO" so far?

Ummm...both. I've even been pointing them out on the road.

"NOT like that 1984 Dodge Caravan with the missing hubcap over there..."

"NOT like that 1999 Plymouth Renault."

"Right there! Like on that Jeep!"

 

[Ryan_S]

"NOT like that 1999 Plymouth Renault."

I'm sure you mean the Plymouth Reliant (Plymouth Reliant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Not the French car Renault (Renault - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) which my parents had when I was a kid BTW.

Neither of which was made in 1999


:cheers:

FWIW I somehow convinced my wife that black steelies look better than FJ wheels, for the trailer.

 

[sp8ball]

I'm sure you mean the Plymouth Reliant (Plymouth Reliant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Not the French car Renault (Renault - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) which my parents had when I was a kid BTW.

Neither of which was made in 1999


:cheers:

FWIW I somehow convinced my wife that black steelies look better than FJ wheels, for the trailer.

I said "Renault"! Too much Top Gear!

And I just picked 1999 because it sounded funny.

Wait...did you just Google/Wikipedia that for the purpose of discrediting my thread? Because I'm pretty sure I discredited it myself weeks ago.

 

[Awynt]

Ummm...both. I've even been pointing them out on the road.

"NOT like that 1984 Dodge Caravan with the missing hubcap over there..."

"NOT like that 1999 Plymouth Renault."

"Right there! Like on that Jeep!"

Hm. This is quite the conundrum. You could always go with the method of hanging a diamond necklace from one of the tires when you take her out to show her the new wheels?

 

[3x4runnerOwner]

When I was buying my TE, I sent my girlfriend at the time a picture of it while I was at the dealership...the first thing she said was "You need to get some black wheels on it!"...in hindsight, I might have let a keeper slip away.

 

[B'klyn_Mike]

One other thing about this...

She keeps saying black wheels will make this thing look trashy and ghetto. I know why....

Suggestions welcome!

.:boink:

Can you say PHOTOCHOP? With you knowing your way around the keyboard (manicured nails? ) I'm surprised you haven't thought of this yourself! Give it a try, it's easy! :thumb3:


Mike :artist2: