Blue Ribbon 4x4 Build Thread

That is one sick lookin truck. U runnin any exhaust?

 

Thanks man! I’m just running the TRD Pro exhaust, dumped after the axle.

 

Trimmed and redrilled the brackets that mount up the high lift jack. Now it sits higher on the driver side above the swing case, and I can install the second swing case that’s been sitting in my shop. I do need to move the locking mechanism up, hopefully I can get that done tomorrow.
Being a carpenter, plywood is the only thing I need to haul once in a while that takes the width of the bed. Luckily the swing cases pop right off when needed.

 

Second swing case installed.
I’ve been having a lot of rattling from all the stuff in the bed. I’m missing bumpstops from the swing cases, something that’s easy to miss if you don’t know they’re supposed to be there. I got them used.
I found this little red piece online that is used to eliminate the rattles from the ligh lift. I made one out of a little chunk of wood and some rubber door insulation. I’m sure I can find something that will work for the swing cases, but the rattle from the lift is pretty much gone altogether.

 

Color match of swing cases begins! Scuffed with red sanding pads and then Bulldog adhesive promoter.

 

Moving along. Decided to do the under seat storage as well. When my katzkins got installed, they scratched it moving the back seat in and out.

 

When @BlueRibbon4x4 gets something for his truck that isn’t blue yet, but then the rattle can gets posted…

 

Done! Locks will get installed back in tomorrow. Gonna wait a few days to put the storage back in the truck. I’ll redo the black in a few days, they’re just a little used.

 

Looks great, man! Nice work as always.

 

Thanks Jake!

 

One more thing today. Grabbed a reel off Amazon for the pressure washer. Mounted a piece of plywood to the bars and the reel tomthe plywood. Now I don’t have to untangle all those damn loops from the old setup. Anything to make washing the beast an easier task.

 

I have to ask.. why the black cut out design?

 

They’re the manufacturer lines, so I used them. I thought just a full spray would just look monotonous, which sometimes makes things look cheap. Once thw black gets refreshed, they should pop nicely.

 

I figured it was something to that effect.

looks good as always.

 

Thanks!

 

Working on the grille light. It comes on and turns off with the puddle lights. It has a few settings, to alternate all the rgb colors, or a Knight Rider style that swings back and forth. They’re designed for the outside of headlights, so I’m installing them parallel behind the grille, so the color programs work in unison.
I siliconed around the driver, since I think that’s what shorted the last one out. Tomorrow I’ll yank the grille and wire them up.

 

Grille light moving along. Pulled the adhesive from them and flipped them over exposing the leds. This way they’re brighter since they’re not diffused. The grille is backlit so it won’t matter. I used Gorilla tape, I’ve used this stuff before and it works awesome.

 

Zach keeping me company.

 

When lights do the knight rider back and forth, is it a single color or all?

 

Single color. But there are other animations with multiple colors that can alternate. It’s very inexpensive, so it’s not programmable or anything.

 

Honestly, was not expecting that answer. After I posted that I started thinking, "surely it couldn't be just a single color right? For safety and legal reasons?" Like you though, I would tap into footwell so it only does it when unlocked.

 

I know it’s crazy. On the sales pictures, they have all of these cars’ headlights lit up with blue and green and multiple color parking lights.

 

All connected. The grille comes on with the footwell light, so it’s off while driving. I always got compliments on it, and it always makes me smile when I’m unlocking my truck at night.

 

Been a while. Gave her a little wax job.

 

Well, got some funky noises coming from the front end. Verdict: UCAs leaking, wheel bearings are good, cv axles are good, 1 u-joint possibly shot. I get to go shopping. Kinda bittersweet.

 

UCA's leaking??? Like a bad ball joint boot?

 

Exactly

 

Not sure of your needs, but I have a set of oem like new in my garage. PM if you would like to make an offer.