2009 Magnetic Grey Prerunner Build

Updated 7-18-2013
Brand new in 09

I bought the truck new in 2009. I can't say I have a complaint about it yet. Now that the warranty is up I am going to start my heavy modding. I have my little cheap bull bar on there now. I can not quite bring myself to hack apart the stock bumper for a plate or round bar bumper. Maybe one day I will get the nerve to do it. I also put on a MBRP catback exhaust with dual exits. There is a K&N filter so I can clean it from all the desert dust we get.
I did just get some new shoes for it. 265/75/16 BFG A/T. I got about 300 street miles, if that, on them. They are excellent so far. The road noise is minimal. In fact, I can't tell a difference between them and the stock Rugged Trails. Off road, well my dirt road, the traction is substantially greater.

As for some cosmetic work, I have my engine, radiator, fuse box, and relay box covers done in a black and silver carbon fiber. This was a water transfer process.


My ex-buddy Mark, who owns All Terrain Fabrication, is going to build a custom front end for me. He has built many one off trucks and trophy trucks. Also, he worked for a company that built buggy's. He is Joshua Tree, Ca. Any of his work is top notch. Mark is an excellent person to deal with also. As for the front end, it is going to be a 6" King shock that he is making a mount for out of the stock location. The upper control arms are going to be on heim joints. The lowers are going to be mounted by the stock cam bolts with a 1in uniball to connect the spindle. Both control arms will be about 1in wider. This will give a total of 2in of extra width for the front end. The spindle is going to be completely reinforced from all angles. The sway bar is more than likely going to be gone. I will have to get a lot of pictures while he is doing this. This thing should be pretty much bullet proof. I can't imagine that I will break anything.
I will concentrate on the front end and go from there. Stay tuned for modding. Oh. I did slap some little lights in the "unusable" bed pockets.

 

The truck went to Mark's shop to get the front end done. We changed some stuff around. It looks like it's going to be 1.5" over, solid uppers, 1.25" uniballs, and OE Kings. He is also making the rock sliders as well.
I have his truck in my place doing some paint work and water transfer on the dash and some ext pieces. I will get some pictures up later on.

 

Looks like a really nice start! How do you like the MBRP?

 

The exhaust is great. I"m sure the dual exits will have to go once I get the rear of the truck set up. It was a very easy install. Reasonable price as well. Next time pictures are up there will be sliders, bed mount bars, and a front light bar. I couldn't bring myself to give it the naked look of a prerunner bumper. These trucks are to new to molest like that. Once the front coilovers are finally done being built I can mount up the 1.5" over kit that Mark is building this week.

Quick shot of the sliders: Painted duplicolor graphite



There is a slight kick out to them. I didn't want a big one because they would have to lay down like a step. I kept them up tighter unlike an All-Pro for instance. I still need to gusset them on the frame before They attempt to get beat.

 

Got some more pictures today quick in the parking lot of the fab shop. Mark finished up the light bar and the sliders are fully welded on now. There are no light tabs on the bar yet, waiting to see what lights I get.

 

Got my arms done a few days ago. I am just waiting for KING to build my shocks that I ordered up today at the swap meet at Morongo. This thing should be put together by next week.

 

Well after a tussle with the fab shop and an agreement was reached I have the rest of my front end. The only catch is that I am going to finish weld and assemble it all. King's should be at my house today. I took some quick pictures of the new bed side decals and ski racks. This was all after a nice bath and wax.

 

I went out today to shoot a couple of 9mm shotshells to check to spread of them. I use em for shooting snakes in the yard. I decided I was going to check out some trails I had not been on in a while since I crashed my Banshee. Here are a couple quick pictures and a very short video of a wash run that ends pretty quick.

Almost made it up with the locker but stuff got to loose. If I wanted to gas it some more I might have made it. I was out by myself and I don't like to thrash it to bad since I drive it everyday.




These are some bad phone camera shots of a little stock rear flexing.





I never did post any pictures of the front end somewhat done. I'm not to happy with how it all came out. I need to change some things myself and just make it right. For now this is what is going to be ran.




This is a bad video. The mount was in the way that I didn't see at first. Don't mind the queer comment at the end when I stop.

 

After my first trial run with the front end setup that ATF built, don't use them in Yucca Valley, I noticed that the idiot used the misalignment spacers to stop the down travel instead of the straps that are on it. The uniball cups should have been layed more flat on both the uppers and lowers. I still have about 1 1/4" of shock left when the spacers slam the side of the cups. There is even limit straps on there but the spacers hit just about the same time. The straps are useless and the pass side lower strap mount rubs the inside of the tire. Oh and where he said to weld on the shock mounts on the lower they now hit at the top mount where the fitting for the resi hose is. This happens because he didn't make the upper control arms with enough caster or camber built into them and the lower cams are maxed out. That was his second time making a set of upper for my truck too. The first time was way off. If you want a bumper made, sure go ahead with this shop, but if you need anything that will need to be precise f-ing pass the shop by then.

 

Looks nice! What lights are you thinking of getting?

 

I got some from KMD Garage. There is a 20" spot LED bar and two 4" floods on the front. I bought a 9" spot thinking I could fit it in there too and use that as an amber bar. Nothing is wired in yet. I'm still waiting for Blue Sea fuse block and all the extra electrical parts.

 

I finally got my lights wired in. I have been itching to get these hooked up for almost two months now. The extra has just not been there between work and getting the house ready to sell. Here is the light output I got from Quantum LED's (KMD Garage) I need to get pictures of the install tomorrow or the next couple of days.

I will say that the pictures do not do the lights justice. There is a lot of light off to the sides and further up and out than the camera captures.

No lights:


4" Floods:


20" Spot:


HID Headlights:


Everything on: