Chompstick's FAP (Fire Agate Pearl) Build (1 Viewer)

[Chompsticks]

Picked up a 2017 GX460 a few months ago. Started going to town on it this month. Not an overlander, just like to explore trails and have fun.

Tires: 255/80/17 Falken Wildpeaks
Wheels: FJ cruiser 17x7.5 ET15 no spacers
Front Bumper: Victory 4x4 Strike Aluminum 70lb minus40 lbs of oem weight removed
Rear Bumper: Victory Strike 145lbs minus about 120lbs of oem weight removed (Tow hitch and Third row)
Suspension: Apache AX2 medium duty Dobinsons and Apache UCA
Lights: All dynamic diodes sport (Spot, Fog, Ditch and Reverse)
Auxbeam 6 gang switch
MTS and CC
Superwinch SX10SR
Ditch Light mount from Ronin
Skid Plates: BudBuilt
DR. KDSS: Front and rear clamps, BOTCK and KDSS harness with switch
Well Visors
Snowbound windshield washer relocation
DIY'd Stuff:
Third Row Delete with platform
Spare tire mount
Side Skirt trim
Snowbound washer reservoir



Will update post of steps, tips and tricks and other things.
Day I picked it up

Current Look

 

[McDuff123]

Lotta work in a short period of time!
Nice job…looks great!

 

[Chompsticks]

Lotta work in a short period of time!
Nice job…looks great!

Thank you! I wanted to get an alignment done once. So I hoarded all the parts until they all came in.

 

[Banandalorian]

That color is so good. Got any pictures of the Victory rear bumper? I'm to the point of looking at metal rears and am thinking either the Victory or Nguyenworks.

 

[Chompsticks]

Victory 4x4 Rear Strike bumper install notes:

Estimated weight without swing out is 145lbs and add 50lbs for the optional tire swingout carrier. You do remove the OEM trailer hitch, my guess is it weights about 60lbs which is a plus if you compare that to the Expedition-One Rear bumper that also keeps the OEM hitch. That estimated weight is 190lbs plus the OEM hitch. Granted the Victory tow hitch is not SAE certified or DOT/FMSCA regulated.

Install Notes/Ideas:
1. I had to drill out the alignment holes on the bumper to be able to mount it. I had no room to adjust it.
2. Bumper cuts were not right for me. especially for the rear portion. Give your self some extra length to cut later or add 1 inch trim strip to hide your cuts.
3. Utilize your plugs and harnesses from the reverse lights to connect to your new lights if you have a facelift GX. Also a good time to make a harness if you want to have a switch ran to turn on your reverse lights at any time. I have the Dynamic Diode Sport white reverse with red backlight. I have an auxbeam switch that can turn on either the reverse lights or the red backlight as a rear fog or extra parking light.
4. Def install your sensors and lights before hand. Use some soapy water to help get the parking sensors installed. (It was a PITA)
5. If you got corrosion underneath def PB blast all your bolts the day before. Also a good time to clean up an rust you might have underneath
5. Rustoluem textured black paint matches the powdercoat really well. I used it to touch up some scratches during delivery and install.
7. If you have the OEM tow hitch bracket/harness you’ll need the one from an OEM GX without a tow hitch. Otherwise you will need to make a bracket to mount your harness/plug. I was lucky enough to trade the harness and bracket after selling my hitch. The length of the non tow GX harness is shorter than the harness for the OEM Tow.
8. You will need to trim the oem plastic filler piece where the hatch strut is. The door will be hard to close if you do not.
9. You cannot fit a 33" tire underneath.
10. You can reuse your oem mudflaps, you will just need to drill some holes in the bumper. Def recommended otherwise dirt and mud will accumulate all over the light pods.

That color is so good. Got any pictures of the Victory rear bumper? I'm to the point of looking at metal rears and am thinking either the Victory or Nguyenworks.

Here are some pictures. Notes are in general for my install for others to see.

You can cut with the bumper on, just becareful in some areas with wiring behind it. ALternatively you can take it off and cut it off the car as well .

Running wires however you want

Trim this piece so the door will close properly

 

[r2m]

Wow! Didn't waste any time tearing into it!
Look'n good!!

 

[Chompsticks]

Front Bumper Victory Strike bumper install notes:

1. Some of the same notes and tips as the rear install, make your harness to install your lights and parking sensors first.
2. Trimming was easier, the corners of the bumper cut jsut below the bolt hole so you can still secure your bumper. I believe that will work. If not you can always trim away more if you were generous with your initial cuts. Honestly there will be manufacture difference in every GX and/or Victory bumper.
3. Leave the bumper cover off for the rest of the install. This will give you access to connect harnesses secure wiring or any other work you need to do.
4. The winch can be installed after the metal bumper is installed (at least my superwinch sx10sr fit). You will need to remove the metal bracket that holds the grill in place. With that removed you should be able to slide the winch down into place. Drill some holes or mounts in the metal grill bracket to mount your winch control box and then reinstall the metal grill suport bracket. You can try and remove the crossbar as well if that will help you get the winch in.
5. Added a rubber bushing and hose clamp around the powersteering line to bring it slighty above the winch.
6. Add trim if you desire. I wanted to match the rear.
7. I bought some ABS plastic sheet off amazon to recreate a fender liner to keep mud out of the front bumper as well. Secured it by making holes in the exisiting liner and bolting them together and drilling a small hole in the steel bumper as well to give in a more secure mount. Total optional for you you. A heat gun would be helpful in this case. Amazon ABS 1/16" plastic
8. You will need to buy a hyperflash resistor so that your turn signals work correctly.

Bumper mounted with cover off and center bar off. Lots of work space in and around the Victory bumper

Sliding the winch down and around the center support bracket and using a hose clamp to raise the power steering line

Installing the cover can be done anytime. Good time to black out the grill

DIY fender liner

Final result

 

[WVU fan]

ABS plastic sheet off amazon to recreate a fender liner

Genius! I have been so bugged by the openness under my Victory front strike fender wells. Thought about approaching a body shop or even a hot rod shop to get ideas and along comes @Chompsticks with the solution. Could I get some more pics and did you go with 12x24 sheets?

 

[4nscdoc]

Great idea on the fender liner.

 

[Chompsticks]

Genius! I have been so bugged by the openness under my Victory front strike fender wells. Thought about approaching a body shop or even a hot rod shop to get ideas and along comes @Chompsticks with the solution. Could I get some more pics and did you go with 12x24 sheets?

Here are some pictures hard to see. I gave it some length to tuck behind the oem fender and tuck over the metal bumper too. The driver side I made a flap to cover the body mount.

I ordered 24x48 will give you enough material for both sides

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CFYNLL6Z?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[Chompsticks]

For those interested in a third row delete. Here is how I did mine. Just grabbed some wood and carpet from home depot. I am a huge fan of everthing being secured in the cargo area and each d-ring has at least 1 bolt that is using the existing third row seat boltdowns. The front d-rings have about a 4"-6" long flat metal stock that we bent at about 120 degrees. One end is bolted down to the existing seat bolt and the other I had a shop weld a nut so that it secures the platform and d-ring. There some extra pieces of wood underneath for support and I also cut out some wings that are wedged into the side panels.

The spare is held in with a bulldog y-strap. it is hooked to 2 d-rings and the seat belt. I had to cut a hole in the cover and used a random spare seatbelt ring I had to hook it into the top seatbelt bolt.

Cargo basket is from my previous Bronco. Just used some random flat stock I had to mount it to the oh s*** handles.

Just ideas for others.

Also maiden voyage!

 

[offroad47]

Did you use a heat gun to get the, to fold in the correct way?

 

[Chompsticks]

Did you use a heat gun to get the, to fold in the correct way?

Yes I did, also drilled a hole in the bumper and put a bolt and nut through it just in case it would flop

 

[Chompsticks]

Recently added the Snowbound washer reservoir with headlamp washers. Quality looks top notch.

needed it to clean up the looks of the metal bumper.

Tips and tricks to install it.
1. Disconnect the pump and level harness bundle them together and reroute them up between the cross rail and headlight or radiator. Unbundle the wire loom down below to give a little more length and play.
2. They say to splice one of the pumps to make it longer. It might be easier to splice the turn signal harness wire instead. Or fog. I’m unsure which one, but you’ll find out when you try to reroute the washer wiring loom.

 

[r2m]

Recently added the Snowbound washer reservoir with headlamp washers. Quality looks top notch.

needed it to clean up the looks of the metal bumper.

Tips and tricks to install it.
1. Disconnect the pump and level harness bundle them together and reroute them up between the cross rail and headlight or radiator. Unbundle the wire loom down below to give a little more length and play.
2. They say to splice one of the pumps to make it longer. It might be easier to splice the turn signal harness wire instead. Or fog. I’m unsure which one, but you’ll find out when you try to reroute the washer wiring loom.

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Wow! That washer unit is stellar! If one didn't know what they were looking at under the hood, they'd think it was a intercooler or something.

 

[offroad47]

I wonder if anyone has put one of these in the 10-13 chassis yet?
Awesome looking product! Great install!

 

[Chompsticks]

I wonder if anyone has put one of these in the 10-13 chassis yet?
Awesome looking product! Great install!

Yea I’m not sure. They must know it might not fit since they list it for 14 and up only

 

[r2m]

I wonder if anyone has put one of these in the 10-13 chassis yet?
Awesome looking product! Great install!

Hey! Haven't seen you in a while on here!
Nice to see you back on.