For Sale Austin, TX: 1997 Lexus LX450 w/ blown engine (1 Viewer)

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Location
United States
No F/R lockers; silver; currently in Liberty Hill.

Truck is in average condition for having 230k miles. I purchased in the middle of last year. On the way from Dallas to Fort Worth after buying it, it overheated due to a radiator leak. Trailered it back to Austin and replaced just about the entire cooling system, including the radiator, radiator hoses, and water pump. I did not do the PHH because I only have so much patience, but there’s no indication of any current issues with it (and hey, you’re gonna pull at least the heads so perfect time to do it).

After Thanksgiving I was headed back to Austin from Fort Worth and the engine started to overheat again, vibrate, and lose power. Pulled off into a parking lot and let it cool down. Started it again and got tons of smoke out of the exhaust (light gray, so maybe a mix of coolant and oil). Trailered it back to Austin and the engine wouldn’t start, just made a loud clunking sound. At some later point it started up and ran enough to move it a few hundred feet. Initially hoped it was the head gasket but once we got it back to Austin started working off the assumption it’s probably a bottom end issue.

BUT THEN it started up and, after moving it around a few times, started running a lot better. Idle is really rough, but once the RPMs get over ~2k or so, the engine runs smoothly (...ignoring the large amounts of grey smoke it produces). So, we're back to thinking it's a top end issue (e.g., head and valve stem seals).


Prior to its near death, it was burning oil fairly rapidly.

Things that have been done since I got it: Replaced the shocks with KYB Gas-a-Just shocks and the steering dampener with the Old Man Emu dampener. Replaced front and rear door speakers. Replaced a bunch of other small stuff, including a new Optima yellow top battery. Sunroof leaked so I had standard maintenance done to it by Texas Auto Tops of Austin which solved the problem, which was caused by the drains being clogged. Had Land Cruiser Specialists do about $2500 worth of work, including: new axle seals, brake pads, repacked birfields, wheel bearings, hub seals, cleaned throttle body, replaced EGR vsv, and fixed some vacuum leaks.

I replaced the PS pump, still squealed, so I had Land Cruiser Specialists replace the new one. Still squeals. Replaced the tires with BFG AT T/A KO2 tires, which now only have 5-10k miles. Transmission is a little clunky shifting into drive sometimes but otherwise shifts well. A/C/heater works well.

Discovered the fuel tank has a leak on the top where the fuel filler connects. This has apparently become a common issue and necessitates a tank replacement unless you want to weld on a fuel tank (not viewed as a particularly good idea). Paint clear coat is spotty.

When we got it back to Austin after I first bought it, we discovered that the rear driver side quarter panel had been repainted and the color didn’t completely match (not particularly noticeable depending on the light). The fender flare paint on that quarter panel started coming off/bubbling soon thereafter.

I have a removable roof rack for it.

Other issues:

1. Pinstripes were kinda removed (probably so they didn’t have to replaced after the quarter panel repaid)
2. Minor oil leaks, including the distributor (not surprising on a truck of this age)
3. Lowest part of the side cladding on one side is missing (an inch or two tall piece that runs just below the doors)
4. At least two window seals need to be replaced (it’s safe to assume they’ll all need to be replaced). No issues in rain but result in a lot of wind noise and high pressure water (e.g., from a power washer) will get through.
5. Some of the door seals are starting to lose small chunks. Does not appear to have any impact on the actual seal.
6. Front bumper corner is not entirely flush with the truck (off about a half inch).
7. Rear bumper has a dent/missing paint (sharp linear indentation like you would get from a door edge)
8. Cruise control doesn’t engage; haven’t pulled the code.
9. Triangle trim pieces in the corner of the front doors broke while trying to replace the speakers and will need to be replaced.
10. Some of the dash lights probably need to be replaced.
11. Front driver’s seat is starting to wear and get stiff but doesn’t have any major cracks yet (maybe still savable with some proper conditioning).
12. Front seat won’t move forward or back.
13. Carpet stain in the second row next to the center console.
14. Rear speaker covers were broken before replacing the rear door speakers; probably some modification required to get them to fit over the new speakers even for non-broken ones.
16. Three of the locks don't work (motors, most likely; driver's front and both rear doors)
17. Front driver side window has a broken track
18. Probably some additional minor issues I’m not remembering.

All total I probably put $3500 - 4500 into it before the engine issues. With the exception of the engine and rear quarter panel, most of the stuff is fairly minor/easy to fix (and the quarter panel is purely cosmetic).

Clean title. I have ~200 detailed pictures for potential buyers.

$5000 very negotiable

(super excited to see how many people still talk s*** about the price)

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I have bought quite a few 80 series with either blown motor or trans. Highest I have paid to date is $1,200.00. They are not Unicorns. The roller is worth $1,000.00. Axles can be had for $400 and up.

Fact is the truck is a crap shoot at best. As either a donor or swap candidate is where your buyer will come from.

I base these numbers on hard experience. I have 3 80 rollers sitting in front of my shop now and another in the shop under a 60 body.

See I have another angle. A year or so ago I didn't know much about 80 series, I just knew I wanted one, I routinely see them for 5-8k and locked I see them bring crazy money. That's it. I found a 92 that was rough as a night in jail with all kinds of issues for $1000. That sounded like a hell of a deal. I bought it without really checking it out too much because hey, for that money how could I go wrong.

Knowing what I know now theres not even a slight chance in hell I'd do that again. I feel like theres a lot of people in that same exact situation though. People who just want an 80 and thats really all they know. I bet someone would give him 3-3500 for it, just not on this forum.

I'll add another level to this: A LOT of people are trying to buy stuff under 2500 that they can do some work to and either flip or feel like they got a deal. That changes reeeeaaaallllll quick around $3500, and is virtually non existent at $5k
 
But you posted this on a forum filled with experts. Filled with people who know exactly what your truck is worth in reality. And then you decided to get rude with everyone who started pointing things out.

Filled with experts? You mean all the ones that refuse to actually give examples of actual vehicles on the market that support their asserted valuations, even after I offered plenty of examples challenging them? Certainly you're not referring to the one who thinks that I should take into account his moron friend that spent $3k replacing his head gasket because he had no ****ing clue what he was doing...

And I got rude with them? If they wanted to have "pointed things out" that they disagreed with, the nice thing to do would have been to message me privately, not purposefully try to sink any potential sale. I merely got rude after they started s***ting all over my thoroughly researched and justified price based on nothing but "I think it's worth this."
 
I have bought quite a few 80 series with either blown motor or trans. Highest I have paid to date is $1,200.00. They are not Unicorns. The roller is worth $1,000.00. Axles can be had for $400 and up.

Fact is the truck is a crap shoot at best. As either a donor or swap candidate is where your buyer will come from.

I base these numbers on hard experience. I have 3 80 rollers sitting in front of my shop now and another in the shop under a 60 body.
This information is worthless without actually knowing the overall condition of the trucks you purchased. Which you conveniently won't actually have and so we'll just have to trust your word for it. Like. Every. Single. Other. Poster.
 
Sometimes it is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool
Than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.....


GLWS
"I don't actually have a valid response so I'm just going to insult you and go away."

Fantastic.
 
As a first time buyer a year ago that paid way too much for my rig, not much to add. If someone wants it and makes an offer the seller feels is valid, great. If everyone thinks its over priced, skip the add.
 
Ok here's a data point:

Bought my 94' in 2015 for $5,200, it had 270k miles at that time, now 316k. Not perfect but it had all maintenance records for the last 20 years and I bought it from the second owner who had it since 1996 @ roughly 70k miles. Garage kept, no rust, interior is not 100% perfect but is still better than most.

If I were to sell it now I'd ask about $5-6k and expect it would be sold within a week or two.

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Might be interested (not at the posted price, obviously). Do you have a link to the pictures? Specifically undercarriage, or any areas that need bodywork (rust, damage, etc)
 
Ha ha! Good read!
There is alot of truth in these pages.

Op good luck with the sale.
I'm going to up my asking price by 3k..
Maybe then I'll have more interest.😉





:flipoff2:
 
I sold my last 80, a 1996 for $2700 and it was complete and ran, wasn't in the greatest condition but in light of that I see offers at $1800 being entirely reasonable. If it was local and in the condition described I might be willing to pay that too, more than that though very unlikely.
 

Looks like the same exact rig with a little more mileage (I would think a 230k rig would need the same kind of love as a 300k rig), he grabbed it for $1500. Just a data point.
 
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here’s on that runs for $4800
(just another data point)
 
this is still going on?? LOL
 
Can’t wait to see what happens to this rare gem. If only I didn’t just buy a running 95 with $2200 bumper on it for about half of that asking price.
 

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