1997 LX450 LS - number 2! (1 Viewer)

[MarkN]

Time for a new build.. Another 1997 LX450, almost Identical to my present one. Building this one for my wife. To be honest I have two project vehicles. A LS powered 1994 FJZ80 that I bought from Brentok

and this 1997 LX450 with a blown motor that I got from 85badger. I am going to pull the drivetrain from the 94 and put it in the 97 LX450. The LX450 has fewer miles and is in better shape. After this project I will start a new one, which is mounting a FJ62 body on the 94 frame -LS powered and locked.


Back the LX450… I purchased in May of last year but have been too busy on a project at work to start on it. 1997 LX450 – 224000 miles. Texas Truck, No rust, good shape, blown engine.


The day I took it home

Pulled the engine, transmission and Transfer Case last august over a weekend

It’s out… lots of weight swinging

Looks a lot like the last one…

Hello damage…

Back in the yard

 

[MarkN]

Transmission for sale… I will post in the classified

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[MarkN]

Decided to try something new for the engine mounts. On both my 88 Fj62 and my current 97 Lx450, I used universal motor mounts. They work well, be are really stiff, so you get some vibrations at idle with the AC on. Brentok used f-body LS1 motor mounts on custom pedestals. Seem to not have the vibration problems as idle. I decided to try something similar.. I built mounts to set on the existing LX450 motor mounts pedsstals that utilized the F-Body LS1 motor mounts.

New style vs 1st prototype

This will be a slow build.. I will start on the wiring this weekend

 

[MarkN]

Been 7 weeks since I had an update. Got the LX450 going. My wife sold her 2014 FJ Cruiser and started driving this. She loves it.. Everything has worked out fine. I will be converting it from DRC to DBW for several reasons. Cruise Control being the biggest, but the ability to tweak the throttle to foot pedal mapping is another. Below are some pictures..

Home built Electric Fan Relay Harness and mount.

I built a mount for the Dakota Digital Tach and Speed convertors.

LX450

 

[daytonadogie]

Subscribed! Always enjoy your builds. What is the motor and tranny out of?

 

[Filter]

Thanks for your build logs, awesome reading! Was looking for pics of your exhaust system.

Cant you make the Toyota cruiser controller work with Drive By Cable?

 

[LINUS]

Thanks for the pics of the work - I may at some point do a LS powered 80 (was really tempted by a black ‘97 CE w/ blown motor/HG recently, but timing was off - boat was my bigger priority).

I’m LS3’ed in my boat & really come to love it over the steel block & heads & weight/HP ratio of the old Vortec 350 it replaced.

But the 5.3 seems more practical for longterm on esp the FR 8” 3rd IMO - I don’t want to go full Dana axles just because of a deal on a used LS3.

 

[Gmtech1978]

Sent you a pm. Thanks in advance.