Blue Ribbon 4x4 Build Thread

Well I decided to go back to the horizontal stripes for the turn signals. In person the vertical ones make the headlights look kinda cheap. So we’re ready to seal everything up. Had a test last night and everything works, just got one shot of the demon eyes on. The plethora or harnesses, and the headlamp graveyard.

 

Well, this is what happens when I overthink. Once the headlight bezels got installed in the lenses (the bezels go in the lens and the lens onto the housing), you can’t actually see the blank open area of the striped diffuser. So they got swapped out again, back to the vertical stripes, as I ultimately want these to look much different than I had before. Everything needs to dry again, so they’ll get sealed up tomorrow.

 

Here they are. Vertical stripes, final decision!!

 

Finished!!! The demon eyes got wired to the rock lights, and the shroud LEDs are disabled when the headlight comes on.

 

Sweet!!!

 

Thanks!!! And thank you for talking me into keeping the vertical turn signals! I totally dig them.

 

One last thing. Color matched eyebrows. The old lenses has some brown forming on the tops, so they got sanded to 800 grit, applied blue then 2K clear.

 

A picture showing the color matching eyebrow, the headlight output at 100 ft, and just one more of the DRLs. I’m just super happy with how they turned out.

 

your final product is magnificent! They look amazing in the daylight but the night picture is even better. Amazing creativity!

 

Thanks man! I appreciate the compliment.

 

Dude. That's so epic. I really liked the previous horizontal lines on the turn signal, before you redid the lights this go around, but the verticals are super sharp. I can't say I like one more than the other. Both are so good, but not just the design choice, your paint skills are slick. They eyebrow is a nice touch that I've seen stick on cheap crap try to imitate, but this just looks custom and classy. You and @ElNopal need to get together and host a clinic on color matching.

 

Thanks so much for the compliments, Adam!!

 

Figured I would share a little tool corner for what I use for wiring and such. I have a Weller soldering iron I got at Home Depot, it’s been awesome. I keep it around the 4-5 setting for heat. I grabbed a set of tips off Amazon for super cheap and the threads fit nicely. The wire holders come in handy, and the game changer was the cordless soldering iron I recently got in order to swap a few connectors in the truck. The solder I have is a 60/40 5lb spool I got about 20 years ago from a wire warehouse I used to work in.
Weller 40W Digital Soldering Station -WLC100 Black https://a.co/d/fsFXV1x
Soldering Iron Tips 12 pcs 900M...

$10 Soldering Iron Tips 12 pcs 900M Replacement Solder Tips Kit (B, I, K, D, C) with Cleaning Sponge, Cloth, Sandpaper (Fine, Medium, Rough) for Soldering Iron Station from Plusivo

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086H1Y7WT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
NEIKO 01902 Adjustable Helping...

$9 NEIKO 01902 Adjustable Helping Hand with Magnifying Glass, Third Hand Solder Aid, Soldering Wire Station Stand with Dual Alligator Clips and a Heavy Base, Beading & Jewelry Making Tools, Solder Holder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P42O3C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
FrogBro 11W 2500mAh Cordless...

$30 FrogBro Upgrade 11W 2500mAh Cordless Soldering Iron Kit, Max 968℉ Fast Heating Portable, USB Rechargeable High Capacity with Touch Sensor & LED Spotlight

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR6G8Q1C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Heat shrink tubing is crazy cheap on Amazon, but I’ve gotten crappy ones that seemed too thin. I’ve been buying these and they’re great, with 3x shrinkage. The cheaper stuff usually is 2x shrinkage.
Waterproof Heat Shrink Tubing Kit...

$15 Waterproof Heat Shrink Tubing Kit 365 pcs, ELECFUN 3:1 Dual Wall Tube - Adhesive Lined - Marine and Industrial Heat-shrink Tubing Black/Red, 7 Sizes

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SQHH9NS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The two and three lead waterproof connectors I usually get are these ones, requiring a solder joint. I also have a set that you can build, which are nice because you can build them in a tight space in the truck, or just depin the connection and make a bigger one if needed. I have seen other types similar to the ones Diode Dynamics uses up for sale now. If you’re familiar with them, they’re a super solid connection. The tiny connectors are great for the tiny wire connections, like single LEDs.
NAOEVO 3 Pin Connector...

$15 NAOEVO 3 Pin Connector Waterproof, 16 AWG 3 Wire Connectors, Automotive Electrical Connectors Male and Female Way With Heat Shrink Tubing for Car Truck Boat Wire Connection, 6 Kits

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092ZCM9VK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
LanHong 2 Pin Way Car Waterproof...

$14 12 kit 2 Pin Connector Waterproof Connector 16 AWG Male and Female Way Connector 2 Wire Quick Disconnect Connector for Car Truck Motorcycle Boat

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F54PFLE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
BTF-LIGHTING 20 Pairs 2pin SM JST...

$8 BTF-LIGHTING 20 Pairs 2pin SM JST 15cm Cable Female/Male connectors for Monochrome LED Strip Single Color Bulb 5050 3528 5630 FCOB 3014 COB LED Strip LED Bulb etc

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DC0KHM0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

My hands-down favorite tool are these Klein flush cutters. Trimming wire, cutting zip ties flush, trimming plastic when needed, they’re just super sharp and cheap enough to replace when needed.
Klein Tools D275-5 Pliers, Diagonal Cutting Pliers with Precision Flush Cutter is Light and Ultra-Slim for Work in Confined Areas, 5-Inch

$13 Klein Tools D275-5 Pliers, Diagonal Cutting Pliers with Precision Flush Cutter is Light and Ultra-Slim for Work in Confined Areas, 5"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GTMZHG

These self adjusting strippers are awesome, but recommended for larger wire. The smaller wire has thinner stranding, and these will take a few with it.
Klein Tools 11061 Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper / Cutter, Heavy Duty, for 10-20 AWG Solid, 12-22 AWG Stranded, and Romex Wire 12/2 and 14/2

$22 Klein Tools 11061 Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper / Cutter, Heavy Duty, for 10-20 AWG Solid, 12-22 AWG Stranded, and Romex Wire 12/2 and 14/2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CXKOEQ6

I have these for stripping small wires and various crimping, but I do need a better set for crimping while building harnesses.
Klein Tools 1010 Multi Tool Long Nose Wire Cutter, Wire Crimper, Stripper and Bolt Cutter Multi-Purpose Electrician Tool, 8-Inch Long

$25 Klein Tools 1010 Multi Tool Long Nose Wire Cutter, Made in USA, Wire Crimper, Stripper and Bolt Cutter Multi-Purpose Electrician Tool, 8" Long

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000302WX

I have this tiny butane torch, not the larger one. But it works great for heating shrink tube in the truck without heating anything else up nearby. It came with solder tips, but I wasn’t happy using it for that purpose as the heat was inconsistent.
Bernzomatic Creator Torch Kit - Maker Precision Torch and Maker Detail Torch Bundle Completed with 3 Butane 5.6 Ounce Refill Cylinder https://a.co/d/0yoLifR

Of course, everyone needs a 12v tester. I had a crazy old one for so many years. This LED one lights up bright and gives the voltage as well. But I’m always weary of voltage/heat/power ratings from a product like this. I’m not 100% sure that I like the clip yet on this yet, I may replace it with a different one.
AWBLIN Automotive Test Light...

$22 AWBLIN Automotive Test Light 3-60V DC Digital Light Tester with Voltmeter, Heavy Duty Auto Circuit Tester with LCD Backlight Display and LED Indication, Electric Test Pen with Illumination

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BFN8GT9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

You got mad skills ! Looks bad A$$

 

Yo, thanks Rafael!

 

I’ve been a quiet admirer for some time now…love all your retrofit lights.


I have been going through the last few pages closely and I can’t seem to figure out my answer.
How are those thin red DRL’s lit? Is it a LED tube light? Or is it just a couple LED’s projected into it?

 

Thanks so much! There are two LEDs lighting each bar. One on each end, the LED lights ip the end of the clear bar, and the bar carries the light. That’s why they don’t light up uniformly.

 

Interesting…wouldn’t have guessed that…but it does make sense.

That’s super helpful. Thank you…!

 

No problem!

 

I’ve just recently heard that the PCV valve needs replacing every 30,000 miles (the numbers are all over). But a faulty one can create pressure in areas of the engine where there shouldn’t be, creating small leaks. The most popular one being a rear main seal leak. People have reported their main seal leak went away after replacing it. I have a small rear main seal leak. Not enough to drip but just a seepage. So I just bought one, (Toyota, $12). After a super quick YouTube video, the job took 10 minutes. Needed a 22mm deep socket, but I used an 7/8” 02 sensor socket because it’s all I had and it fit. We’ll see about the seal leak, but I actually think the old one was functional, as I could hear the piston moving in it still.

 

Air upgrades! Moving up to 3/8” line to the new schrader valves at each wheel well. At the moment I have just one quick connect at the rear bumper on 1/4” line. The goal is to get air to each tire and have just four short fill lines to carry. The larger line and splitters will hopefully put less stress on the compressor, which has overheated while trying to fill a second set of tires. This happened twice while it was over 100° outside, but I’m sure the snall line didn’t help.

 

Between your build and @reywcms "flying truck" build, I can't keep up lol.

 

this is on my short list. are you putting a receiver tank in there anywhere?

 

lol I feel like the UPS guy and I have been fighting he hasn’t been around as often lol.

 

Oh, I don’t think there’s matching @reywcms. Just following his build is like having another build.

 

I’ve thought of this, but I really wonder how big of a tank I would need to be beneficial for 4 tires. I assume it’s just a basic volume equation that I’m too lazy to figure out. But I also figure that I do have a line running to the rear and I’m keeping the bumper quick connect. So a quick add-on tank wouldn’t be too difficult. Where were you thinking of putting one?

 

We’ve got a big tank in the old man’s rig and I can confirm not really beneficial. Spend more time waiting to fill the tank rather than the tires. I run my ARB and fill all four no issues and it doesn’t take long at all.

 

Sweet, thanks for the input! I have a Smittybilt under the hood I’ve been using and it’s great.

 

Good to know