CNY Trailblazer

[madmanvillain]

Hey new to offroadtb and thought id actually register...
as of right now, the only mod ive done is fog lights on my bumper, and they are coming off
this is my plan for the year:
rebuild my grill so i dont have to remove the whole thing to change a bulb...
paint the grill black and inlay white mesh
fill holes in front bumper from lights
remove carpeting from interior and spray in bedliner inside
new exhaust
lift kit
new tires and either paint or get black steel rims
roof rack
new skidplate
new front bumper
dual batteries
lights


any recommendations are greatly appreciated, anything else you would recommend me do anything i should know to make my life easy...ill take any suggestions. i have the skills to do nearly anything and can usually find a place to do it so dont hesitate.

[Trail X]

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you! Time to get started!

Read around this site a good bit, and you'll get a good feel for what you have in store.

[madmanvillain]

thanks!
ive been poking around and found a lot of good ideas, im planning on building my skid plate like bartonmd or bobbyblaze but im going to try and make it extend all the way forward and cover my radiator too..not sure yet

now only because i have not gotten under my tb to look at this specifically...what all do i have to do to pull the front bumper?

[Trail X]

(Trying to recall, it's been a while since I had a stock bumper ) Remove the grille, then there are two (or three) screws on the top under the grille... there are 4 plastic push-pins under the nose... 2 plastic pins on the extreme left and right in front of the tires... then just pull!

[madmanvillain]

thanks mate

[HARDTRAILZ]

Welcome. Big plans for the truck. I like it.

Why rebuild the grill? I dont even remove mine to change bulbs?

[madmanvillain]

to get enough room behind the headlights to be able to get my gorilla hands in i guess...all im really doing is cutting the stupid chrome part

which btw...it is the one chrome part on the whole thing. it looks retarded. its getting painted.

[Trail X]

Those bulbs are a little tricky to get in there... can you actually reach the bulb through the radiator recess? I've always gone in from above... not touching the grille.

A little tip for the grille... I only snap the 4 across the top, and the two in the headlights. I leave the center and bottom ones unhooked with no problems.

[madmanvillain]

my plan is to just cut the grill where it meets the headlights. simple and dont have to fight with anything

[Philberto]

FWIW, I don't find it difficult at all to remove the grille to get to the headlights, though I might consider adding something to grab to make removal easier.

ETA: And by the way, welcome

[irishboy02]

Welcome

So whats your plans with this grill? Are you going to leave the section in the headlight still? If you keep the setion removed from the middle of the headlight, any water crossings you do will be instant hydro-lock. Water will flow straight through the headlight and into your intake so becareful.

Looking forward to progress on your build.

[madmanvillain]

ya im leaving all of the grill on it im just cutting the sides off so they are separate from the grill.

my tb needs to be higher now!!!!! im bottoming out backing into my parking spot.........theres an issue there haha

question:
i have either not found it or there really isnt an issue with it but, has anyone had any camber issues when they do the lift? i dont know ifs very well and dont know how to correct it if its there

[Trail X]

Your camber will change if you lift it, but it's adjustable by the lower control arm (LCA). The LCA attaches to an adjustable part that allows adjustment of the LCA's position relative to the UCA (upper control arm). This easily adjusts camber. Caster can also be adjusted using this method. Toe needs to be checked too, which is adjusted by the tie rods.

This is all part of a front end alignment, which should be done shortly after a lift.

[madmanvillain]

thanks man

[janesy86]

Welcome brotha, Can't wait to see your build...

[madmanvillain]

haha me neither it wont be till summer...i have to do all the work outside and its a bit nippy out

[madmanvillain]

does anyone know about any trails near me to play with? im near binghamtom/ithaca ny right now

scratch that....

where do i find these places myself?

[Trail X]

We list these two places on the non-forum-side of ORTB:

http://www.4x4trails.net/
http://www.dirtopia.com/

[madmanvillain]

your the man

[madmanvillain]

put a new muffler in today...went cheap for now and just put a thrush glasspack in place of the stock 30"er...left the resonator for now...

further down the line ill end up going in and building a whole new exhaust from the cat back but for now ill just take a few ponies with the straight through muffler