Sam's 150 V6

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Probably a bit anal of me but I decided I didn't like the look of the IPF mouse style switch for my driving lights so I grabbed a Toyota style switch from Derek at Sidewinder and fitted it in the blank switch position above the headlight adjustment dial.

Looks heaps better and a great mod for $20.

To get to the back of the blank switch panel, you'll need to remove the kick trim along the bottom of the drivers door, then the panel above the pedals, then the panel on the outside of the dash (up the top), then the lower outside kick panel and finally, the panel under the steering wheel that also houses the blank switch panel.



Blank switches just pop out from behind.



The new switch in place, looks factory!



I hooked up the dash illumination by tapping into the green wire in the headlight adjustment loom with a Scotch Lock.

Very happy with the result.

Cheers, Sam.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Very nice and looks factory. I did the same with a genuine Toyota fog light switch, it must have been gold plated...

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Nice one Sam. I need to get rid of my IPF switch also. I have a couple of switches I want to update, just need to find the right ones for the 120

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Craig Abr has the same factory looking switch for the 120, $20 cheap as.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[berniebgf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close berniebgf]

Hi HO4,

Did you have to shave off a bit of plastic around the Switch? When I did mine (from sidewinder) it was sticking, it was a fraction (not even a mm) to tight and was jamming when pressing the button in (it would not return). I let sidewinder know, maybe they fixed the issue with a revised switch.

Bernie.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Lookin' good Sam It's scary how easy it is to rip out them panels isn't it? Wonder how easy it would be to hot wire a prado.

Bernie, yes I had to shave a bit off the ABR switch for it to fit as well. No real dramas as you can't see where it was filed down as it was facing down. Anyway, I asked Derek this, as well as let him know the light and decal position should be switched to match the existing Prado switches (I actually mounted mine upside down so the lights would match up). He said it's because it's a universal switch and the Prado has smaller than usual blanks.

Cheers

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Hi HO4,

Did you have to shave off a bit of plastic around the Switch? When I did mine (from sidewinder) it was sticking, it was a fraction (not even a mm) to tight and was jamming when pressing the button in (it would not return). I let sidewinder know, maybe they fixed the issue with a revised switch.

Bernie.

Hi Bernie, no problems at all. Switch clicked straight in and button works perfectly. The symbol is also the right way around and matches the fog light symbol on the indicator/lights stalk perfectly. Maybe Derek has revised the switch? I know there is a specific 120 one and a different 150 one.

William, yes, very easy to get the panels out. When I first put it all back together, I'd forgotten to re-plug in the headlight adjustment loom. Once I knew how to remove the panels, I had them out again, headlight adjustment loom plugged in and then panels back in in about 5 minutes. They are fairly well put together though, with all clips being fairly solid. You'd have to be pretty heavy handed to break one.

Cheers, Sam.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Well, after some extra weight's been added since I had the original lift kit installed, it was time to upgrade the original springs to get a bit of height back. To keep everything matched, in went a full OME kit.

Given I don't carry a lot of weight in day to day driving, I opted for mediums (2889) in the back and kept the existing Firestone airbags which will assist when towing the loaded camper.





I have some other things planned for the front so the heavy duty (2885s) to suit the petrol V6 were the go.



She's now sitting nice and level again and I have the flexibility to add a winch down the track.



Cheers, Sam.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

To keep everything matched, in went a full OME kit.

Come on Sam - you expect us to believe that???

What do you take us for - a bunch of fools?

:-)

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Ok, so apart from wanting it all to match, given my place of employment, other factors/opportunities may have played a part I did need to change the front setup due to extra weight being added.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Please don't take offence, I'm just jealous!

Looks wicked. I'm still trying to find a way to get those rims!

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Haha, none taken .

Took me ages to find some wheels that fit and that I liked. Really happy with these.

Cheers, Sam.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Did the rims come with new nuts, or were you able to retain your original nuts?

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Did the rims come with new nuts, or were you able to retain your original nuts?

They came with new nuts so I was able to keep my originals which were sold with the wheels.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Latest mod... a bit of side protection.