Ok everyone im starting a build thread.

03 Montero ltd
current mileage: 156k
no mods...yet

The day after I brought it home




Mods to be done and things that need to be addressed

Vcg replace
bilstein hd shocks
flashing 4wd indicator lights
bedline skid plate and hitch
new tires
Swap all lights with leds
Cross bars
new stereo



RESERVED FOR MORE PICS

 

First mod:
I swapped out the old halogen headlights for 5000k cree led lights.


I didnt want the blue tint that you get with 6000k which is why I went with 5000k, they are the closest temp to white you can get, but you can totally tell a huge difference between the 4300k halogen fog lights.



I will do a write up on how to swap em out.

I also started swapping out other bulbs with leds. I will also do a write up on completely swapping out every light with leds.

 

Feel free to tell me I'm wrong, but I have never thought of changing headlight bulbs as a "build mod". That is just a maintenance and minor upgrade. Mods would be if you are switching headlights to another design, adding/replacing aftermarket bumper, suspension work, adding a turbo etc. I'm glad you are getting to work on your Montero. From outside it looks like its in good shape. from your other posts it sounds like it needs TLC. You'd certainly need to do a bunch of preventative maintenance on it to make sure it'll last you another 150k. Make sure to do a search for existing threads. Most of the issues you'd be facing have came up before. It would be best to bring back an old thread with questions, answers and discussions rather than starting a new one right away.

 

HunterD thanks for the advice. A build thread is made so you can show progression of work/maintenance/ upgrades/modifications to your ride. Your right that a headlight bulb is not considered a mod, these are high power cree leds with ballast that were retrofitted and aimed properly so yes this a headlight modification. Now the led swap of all the existing bulbs on the other hand is just a conversion. It definitely needs its share of tlc lol.

 

I am of the school that anything done to a vehicle that is not stock is a mod. Just my opinion though. Whether it's an appearance only thing or a mechanical thing, it's still modifying the vehicle from its original factory configuration.

 

I stand corrected. I misunderstood your post and thought that you changed bulbs to a higher output/higher temp.

 

Heres a few pics of my led interior lights and reverse lights. Its hard tell how bright they are in pictures but at night your neighbors from down the street are blinded lol. I still need to change out the lights on the step rails and fogs, i had to order some more 194 leds cause I ran out.

 

An update on my rig.
Got the oil changed in both my diffs and transfer case.
I found out my condenser fan is either seized or the relay is bad. I will probably start with the relay and go from there.

 

New led fog bulbs.
They were supposed to be 5000k but...they are more like 8000k




No fogs






With fogs...definitely around 8000k

 

can you post how you changed out the headlights for leds im very interisted on how you did that. i want to do an all led conversion too