deathrunner

Has anyone done away with the brittle siding in the back of the 4Runner?

I have been thinking of replacing it with Diamond plating. Has anyone done this? Post some pics if you have. I am curious as I feel this is the poorest part of 1st Gens.

89-4run

You mean the siding that goes over where the removable top bolts to the bed?

Ya, took mine off years ago... haven't looked back since.

seaflea

I've been thinking the same thing. I hav eonly seen where a guy used wood and covered it with carpet or something. It looked prety good but I have been thinking about diamond plating the entire area to include the tail gate.
Hopefuly some one will chime in with some good pics.

deathrunner

89 4-run what did you do?

89-4run

Assuming we are talking about the same thing, I did nothing! Doesn't bother me at all...

I might give TOR (member on the board) a call and buy some new ones - if they are still avail.

89-4run

Wait, are you talking about the full on siding, the siding that has the panels you can open??? I thought you were talking about the pieces that cover up where the topper screws onto the bed.

btw, i'm having a custom install done and all of the siding panels will be gone... wood instead covered in matching vynol (eh, brainfart on spelling).

deathrunner

Yeah, not the stuff that covers the top. I have mine in storage, doesn't seem worth the effort to put on.

I was talking about the siding with the doors.

Your idea sounds cool. Post pics when you're done.

I still want to make the diamond plating happen.

livelarg

Diamond plate would look cool. The only thing I don't like is the price. I got some of the cheaper diamond plate to do a dash in my old jeep. Just the one strip that was about 6" x 48" was $140. doing the back of my truck would be about $450 just for the diamond plate.
Mine is actually still in pretty good shape. no cracks or anything. I am mounting a sub into both sides btween the roll bar. When I do that, I was planning on redoing the sides.
Would like to see some people that have already done new sides.

89-4run

Live,
Thats a cool idea, so where would your rear speakers go? I have my 6x9's already between the roll bars. My sub is going on the right side where the compartment is. They are making a new enclosure out of fiberglass.

I pick up my ride today with the whole new setup. If I like it I will post pictures

dajabr

I considered this too, was looking for black diamond plate since I'm not a big fan of chrome/silver. Found a place that sells sheets and have a website client who could custom cut them for me. Was going to find some locking key to secure the contents since my locking glove box isn't that big in the first gens, but I ended up holding on the project because I'm checking on simply mounting some freebie canvas bags in the bed sides and leaving them open. This way can access everything and use the vertical space to organize and not just pile all the stuff up from the bottom. Already have the bags and need to figure out the best way to mount them. If it works well I'll do a write up at va4roc.com

PS, check out my speaker solution at va4roc.com too...

89-4run

daj,
I remember your post a long time ago showing your setup, I like it!!!

I too replaced my heater/ac sticker! Too funny, mine was too a point where you touch it it would crumble

livelarg

My rear 6x9's are in the pockets for the rear seats. that is a good place because they fit right in.
I also have infinity 6" components in my fron doors. I have a boazooka tube in my rear bed now while I am making the sub boxes for the back.
I am planning to put in 6" components where my 6x9's are when I remake the whole thing.
It doens't look beautiful now, but I will post pics when I'm done.

deathrunner

Update:

I think I am going to go with flat aluminum sheeting and just spary it black (And touch it up over time if it scratches.

I plan on Filing the sides with that expanding foam you can get at the hardware store. This will hopefully make the truck quieter inside, possibly stay a little warmer, but most of all so things in the cargo area don't slde all the way to the front when downhilling.

I plan on cutting out spots in the foam for the speakers as well as a hole to access the rear window brain.

I will probably have PVC tubing running the length of the passenger side to run wiring down once the foam is in.

I'll post pics when it is complete. SInce I am getting the rear suspension done soon, they will have to cut the fender wells, so I will do this once it returns.

DudeBud

i took mine out and left it out it was in bad shape so brittel touching it would make it crumble. i had my grandpa cut out some new ones that i was going to cover but never got aroung to it

pinnacle

Thats what I'm thinking of doing, Since its impossible to find used ones in decent shape.

Fahrenheit 451

Purely for the sake of complication, why not take the sheets to a metal working shop after they are cut to size and see how much they would charge to put in a few beads? It would strengthen the panels and you might not have to put up with the sound of them flexing in and out of shape during temperature changes (especially with aluminum).
Then, take the pieces to a shop that does Linex or Rhinolining and see what they would charge to shoot a quick coat on them while they are doing another vehicle. Perhaps since they would have no setup time or masking in the deal you could it done cheap and have a long lasting surface.
**EDIT** I forgot to add, why not go with the reflective, self adhesive sound deadening material instead of the spray foam as a backer? It would be quick, very clean, would reduce noise and heat and would be the sort of huge mess that expanding foam is certain to turn into. I don't remember the name of the stuff, but I bet a quick search would turn it up.

deathrunner

Cool ideas, but not sure they're all for me.

In regards to the Foam, the reason I am planning to do it is partially for the soudn deadening effect, but mainly to form a barrier so that items in the storage cubby don't slide to the inaccessable front compartment when I am doing steep down hill decents or quick desert sections (Had to deall with that problem multiple times)

Does aluminum make wierd sounds? even if it is secured down firmly?

Rhino lining sounds cool, but I'm not sure I want to go to the trouble. Good idea though. But if I change my mind and do it.....you get the props.

When you mean beads on the aluminum I assume you mean long structural beads on the side that is not visible? or do you mean diamond plating?

I was planning on using a fairly firm piece of aluminum so I don't plan on too much flexing. I will also be fastening it pretty frequently along it's perimeter so I think it should be fairly quiet and sturdy....at least more so than now. I will Definitely post pictures when I am done, Unfortunately there is about a summer's worth of work before I get to that stage.

My big decision now is how to deal with the compartment doors.

I think I want to hing rivet hinges between the doors and the siding. I want the doors to fall downwards rather than swing out.That way if the truck is full of junk I think I could squeeze my hand down in there pretty easily. I will probably put foam tape around the inner perimeter of the doors so that they don't slap and vibrate when moving. This tape of course would not be seen when the doors are close.

The thing I am not completely decided on now is how to latch the doors. Orignial thought was one lynch pin in the center of the doors edge, but now I think one at each corner would be sturdier. I'm not sure I can find shallow enough studs to work with pins in this situation. I'll have to hit the hardware store and check my options. If anyone has a good idea on how to latch these, I'm all ears.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

I won't be doing anything to mine until I trim the fenders out, then I'll put that sound deadening stuff that is peal and stick to the interior of the body panels and then use regular diamond plate for the interior panels for the complete interior. Then once they are cut right and fit properly, I'll get them all powder coated. I figure w/ everything it'll cost me maybe $300 for everything (I can get regular diamond plate cheap at work).

Here are some pics that somebody sent me a while back...don't remember who.

deathrunner

That's pretty similar to what I had in mind in the rear except one piece. I am also planning on the speakers mounting inside the walls, so no protrusions. And of course I will be maintaing some sort of rear access panels. Looks like a clean install.


So would that setup be noisy? I figure mine would be similar, but with twice as many attaching screws.

getitdone

Go with the diamond plate, it would look so much better. You could put some weather stripping at the bottom and be able to spray out the bed when needed. If you get some diamond plate at the junkyard/metal recycling place, then it will cost considerably less. Sure you may have to sand off some rust, but it will be worth it IMO.

I plan on plating the entire truck like the guy in the pics above. I want to make drawers in the rear from the tailgate to the seat and have locks on all of them. Also I'm going to paint it all black. Gotta have it black.

Don't settle, get the diamond plate.
It adds at least 10 manly points to the truck anyway!