Not glamorous...but paid for!

Brad B.- Glad the bushings are staying quiet!



I'd upgrade the wiring rather than the bulbs; direct current via a relay system will up the voltage to the lights and usually increases the brightness like you wouldn't believe.



I'm putting off doing the relay conversion onthe Tahoe until I find out why others have had unexpected issues with theirs, but the system in the Crown Vic gets all kinds of :eek: comments from people who are familiar with the (stock) headlights on those cars. It's not a big deal to do most of the time, all plug-&-play. I think a good source is called something like "SUV lights dot com" or somesuch. I've usually had mine fabbed up by guys who're better at electrical stuff than I am (I often want something a bit, uhm....different from the norm, like failsafe reduncancy) but the installation isn't any big deal and can even be a fun project if you like tinkering with this stuff the way I think you do.



As Shiny Lil Detlr noted, it seems like most of the "brighter than normal" bulbs come with BTDT stories of short lifespans and failures at inconvenient moments.



If you go with an HID system, you gotta find one that has the whole capsule/reflector thing figured out as putting HIDs bulbs in normal lights is a :nono: for various reasons. The best conversions use Xenon projectors custom-mounted where the original headlight bulb sockets were, but those can get pricey.



Your vehicle is popular enough that I bet there are lots of options when it comes to lighting.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
What year/body style is your Tahoe?
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It's registered as a 2000 but it's really a '99, a Z71 with the Old Body Style. I gather the issues people run into are related to the DRLs, which I'd like to lose anyhow, but I'm taking my time in the hope of doing it right the first time (that'd be different...this vehicle has been, uhm...challenging to sort out from the git-go).
 
Accumulator said:
It's registered as a 2000 but it's really a '99, a Z71 with the Old Body Style. I gather the issues people run into are related to the DRLs, which I'd like to lose anyhow, but I'm taking my time in the hope of doing it right the first time (that'd be different...this vehicle has been, uhm...challenging to sort out from the git-go).
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Ah, the good old GMT400 platform. Does yours have a DRL kill switch on the dash?



I have a neighbor who happens to have a '99 Tahoe with over 300K miles on it. His, too, has been a challenge that I've been involved in "sorting out" for some time now. In this case it's a "Z56" Tahoe, which is the 2WD Police package -- this truck was a retired county sheriff's unit, and was cannibalized after retirement by someone who had installed a large stereo system in it and subsequently hacked up the electrical system. We've been chasing gremlins since.



Anyway, the point of my mentioning this is that his truck has a "DRL Off" switch on the dash, which may or may not be a part of the police package; I'm not sure if that would do what you're looking for or not -- or at the very least I could try to find out what that switch is wired into since it would presumably represent the "safe" way to disable them permanently.
 
Well today I did some housekeeping on the 4Runner. The in-dash cubholder was broken so after securing some junkyard donor parts I disassembled the dash and fixed the cupholder. While I had the dash apart I cleaned everything I could reach and also ran windex-soaked rags through the entire A/C duct assembly. Clean dust free air now! It's smelling like a new truck. I also decided to add a new 12V accessory plug while I had the wiring exposed.



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Boring stuff, I know, but it keeps me in the garage...which keeps my wife happy. :tape:
 
Accumulator said:
As Shiny Lil Detlr noted, it seems like most of the "brighter than normal" bulbs come with BTDT stories of short lifespans and failures at inconvenient moments.



If you go with an HID system, you gotta find one that has the whole capsule/reflector thing figured out as putting HIDs bulbs in normal lights is a :nono: for various reasons. The best conversions use Xenon projectors custom-mounted where the original headlight bulb sockets were, but those can get pricey.
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Yes, I was afraid there would be a downside to what looked to be cheap and easy. I will look into it but it's unlikely the boss will approve a HID upgrade for my 'cheap-beater' truck. I feel lucky I convinced her I needed new shocks. :)
 
Brad B.- I bet it *is* smelling nice and clean now! Good job on that auxiliary 12v, that's a good spot for it.



Heh heh...roger that on the expense of doing HIDs properly. The relay harness is nice and cheap, and the household accounting dept. would appreciate the brighter lights if she's anything like mine ;)



Shiny Lil Detlr- No DRL-kill switch on mine. Yeah, that Police Package switch makes sense, part of the "dark car" thing that most copcars have...I never thought of it for the Tahoe, gotta look into that so "Gee, thanks!" for mentioning it.
 
Accumulator said:
....and the household accounting dept. would appreciate the brighter lights if she's anything like mine.
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Oh don't think I haven't used that excuse before! "We need this big brake kit for your safety, dear." "The extra horsepower is for your safety dear." "The adjustable sway bar and camber plates will keep you safe on the way to the mall dear."



But I can try again!!
 
Brad B. said:
Oh don't think I haven't used that excuse before!..
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See if it works as well for you as it does for me!



Accumulatorette sometimes really appreciates how the upgrades change things, and then she doesn't mind driving that (previously "no thank you!") vehicle any more. When I first got the Tahoe and Crown Vic she wouldn't have driven either of them on a bet :grinno: but now it's a different story.
 
Safety is always a good reason for a modification - even if you stretch the application of the word!! I am sure the wife will appreciate your looking after her well being.



Truck is looking strangely less like a "beater" every day, however. You are gonna have to go ride through some mud puddles if you are going to continue to use the term with your wife much longer! Great job on the transformation though - a few more hours into it and we'll have to put it up against the "old" truck detail of Kevin Brown"s that was recently posted.

Jeff
 
Black99miata said:
Truck is looking strangely less like a "beater" every day, however. You are gonna have to go ride through some mud puddles if you are going to continue to use the term with your wife much longer!
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LOL! Yea, curse of the detailer. Somehow I think the wife really knew what was going to happen. ;)
 
Well this past weekend I purchased 4 shocks/struts for the 4Runner. I was torn between Bilsteins, Ranchos and Monroe shocks. I went for the Monroe Sensatrac's primarily because of a 40% off coupon at Advance Auto. I cheaped out. I do have several great reviews from friends and Toyota forum members on the Monroes. Maybe not the performance of a Bilstein, but durable, smooth and comfortable. I think they will work for me and are certainly better than the original oem.



I did the rears today. The oem shocks were pretty much rusted in place and access to the top hardware was difficult. I inquired on the 4Runner forum for help and they suggested fine adjustment tools. Torches, sawzall, big hammer. It worked. Just cut the #@&% off!

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I love new stuff.

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Yea, finally on.

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Brad B.- I bet those'll be a change, and honestly...most people would probably prefer something a little softer than the Bilsteins so maybe your wife will appreciate your low-buck upgrade (bet they were quite affordable with that coupon).



Interesting how corrosion has taken its toll down there, huh? I don't think of that being an issue in your neck of the woods :think:
 
Rust is a big issue here. The Yota is amazingly rust free due to it's being garaged and pampered so I am lucky overall. The oem bolts and bushing washers, however, were in really bad shape. The design flaw is obvious--they sit at the bottom of a cupped plate with a teeny clogged drain hole at the bottom. I am sure the bolts were underwater a lot of time in rain and winter. Amazing what a little mapp gas heat and corrosion buster can accomplish! :)



I got the front struts on today. Dissasembly required compressing the spring and my cheapie Chinese spring compressor wasn't up to the job. I stopped just short of it surely exploding and shooting flak into a couple Porsches.

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I couldn't stand the thought of having a local shop switch the springs for a quoted $75-$100 so I went scrounging and used the Autozone Free Tool Loaner program. I got this kit which was a far better quality than mine. Pulled straighter and easier. Still a lot of work but I did it myself. Phew.

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My wife took my pic as I tested the shocks. Pretty smooth. ;)

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Brad B.- Please fix those red "x"es, you tease! ;)



Glad you got it sorted, and :bow for DIYing it instead of just throwing money at the job the way Yours Truly usually does :o
 
Brad B. said:
Hmmmm. I don't see any x's here.
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Ah, me either...*now* :think: Whatever it was, things are OK now.



Yikes, that was overtaxing the one compression setup :eek:



And heh heh heh on that 3rd pic :chuckle:
 
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