Rescued an LX450

[7schulz]

So I sold Jurassic Park https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/581368-introduction-jurassic-park.html and was supposed to get and LX470 with 77k on it from a buddy that worked at a dealer, what he didn't know was that they had already taken a deposit on it. So it is Friday night and I've already mailed out the title to JP. Now I don't have a car to drive even though one is in my garage. So I was searching and luckily it was a nice day Saturday so I rode my motorcycle around all day looking for a new car. Nothing. Previously in the week I had emailed a lady about an LX450 on C-list. Luckily again she emailed me back Saturday night and I swooped in and saved this gem.

LX450 CHAMPAGNE PEARL - The Rescue
172K Miles
She has a few issues, Over all very clean very little rust
Check engine light (Probably O2 sensors), Air bag light is on.
One hole in the drives seat in the usual wear area, the rest looks real good.
Wobbly mirror, cruise control stalk is broken. Steering wheel is pretty worn out.
Head light out. Lower tailgate handle is broken.
3 of 4 good tires, one needs to be replaced before winter.
Looks to have been in a slight front and rear collision and has been repaired. Clean title but the evidence is there. Drag link needs to be adjusted the steering wheel is cocked at at 45 deg angle when driving straight but she tracks straight as an arrow at all speeds.
Rear main leak

Since purchase on Sunday
Good news is I looked up the VIN on Lexus.com and there are pretty thorough records from Tom Wood Lexus from new until 152K miles and 8/2009 10 pages worth

So far I have given her a good detail, seats, dash, vacuum, soaped the mats, replaced the head light and fixed the mirror.

I will be driving her everyday and baselining fluids in the next week or so and fixing any of the bugs/ mechanical issues I can.
she will probably be for sale in a couple months when hopfully I can finally get into a 100 series.

Car Fax came back clean and looks to be a two owner 1996 and second in 1998.

I guess she is less of a rescue then I thought.

 

[7schulz]

Taking her in Tuesday to get the drag link adjusted so the steering wheel is straight, hopefully that fixes it.

 

[Vasir]

Nice find! Can't wait to see the build. Keeping my eyes peeled for the right LX/80 in the future myself.

 

[92LXAZ]

Agreed nice find. Mine took me over two months to find the right one and a few hour trip to Cali. Cool you were able to get one local in a pinch and in the time frame you needed even if not exactly what you wanted.

 

[BlackLS1]

yea great find! does it have the lockers?

 

[Vasir]

yea great find! does it have the lockers?

the million dollar question

 

[7schulz]

yea great find! does it have the lockers?

This is my 4th 80 series, if it had lockers, I would have listed that, that is really the only question

It is one of those things that just worked out. In my mind I recued this one, it was definitly heading in the wrong diretion and I did my job and saved another cruiser.

 

[7schulz]

Drag link adjusted and fresh oil change, changing the trans oil this weekend.

 

[7schulz]

Pretty darn clean

 

[nmesce]

wow you really cleaned her up real nice!

 

[7schulz]

Trans oil changed, she is running smooth now. I just need a few odds and ends from Cdan and she will be right as rain.
Oh and no "build" in the plans I'm enjoying the stock ride with this one. I was able to use the shear brute strength of this torquie engine and pull an few bushes out of the ground for a friend.

 

[94SRUNNER]

Looks good! Nice to see another one saved!

 

[7schulz]

So far I've see 15.5-17 mpg on this rig, best one of the 4 so far and it seems quicker and smoother than the rest too.

 

[fjrohrs]

That's a good looking rig. Did you take it somewhere to have the tranny done or was that a garage project? I'm going to do mine this week and wanted to do it at home if possible.

 

[7schulz]

No I did it, just warm her up and remove the drain plug from the tranny pan.

 

[fjrohrs]

No I did it, just warm her up and remove the drain plug from the tranny pan.

Sweet! Now to find the time!

 

[7schulz]

Had a little tire mishap last week, I did one of my regular oil changes and when I was finished I decided to air up the tires. If you look in the first post I said one of the 4 tires the tread was low, and when I got around to that one it aired up fine but when I took off the air hose the metal part of the valve stem decided to come out with it. So, not really a terrible problem, its cold out but I'm in the garage so all should be well. That was until I tried to take the Lexus locking lug off and I almost split it in half. Now I have a truck with a tire that will hold 0 air and a broken lug Now I have an emergency.

Now I'm in Oh s*** mode, so what I did was disassemble a snow shovel with a hollow metal reinforced handle to use as a very long breaker bar and was able to slowly get the lug free. Needless to say the spare was pretty well flat too and the valve stem cover wouldn't budge and I was afraid I was going to have more issue. So one new Michelin LTX and a used one for a new spare I'm right as rain. They wouldn't touch either of the two bad tires because they were both 2001 or order tires.

 

[inkpot]

Were you using an impact when the locking lug nut failed? I've heard of that happening before. John

 

[7schulz]

No just the tools( lug nut wrench) in the Lexus tool bag...

 

[7schulz]

Well the Rescue has been passed on to a buddy for his wife at a smokin deal.
Because I picked up this gem.
2002 LX470 104K