Builds 1997 LX450 Ute

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My OME mediums showed up on the porch for the rear, so I slapped them on yesterday morning.

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I had a few hours to kill before we were leaving for the weekend, so I took a trip up north to scout a few campsites.

I'm very happy with how the truck sits, and satisfied with how it rides. Once I stop being lazy and replace the shocks, I have a feeling it will be way better.


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I forgot to mention (for posterity) that the Ute and my credit card number went to Vanderverts here in Spokane... a few days later and she's got a new rear main, new transmission and oil pan seals, new radiator, front crank case seals, coolant flush, yadda yadda yadda... all OEM.

She's ready to be driven, worry free:

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Of course, I still need to make a decision regarding the spare (ie, to start cutting until it fits underneath), mount up a Puma compressor, look at underbed storage, figure out a rack and sides, finish the dual battery set up, replace the PS mirror and window, and do new window runs all around. All in good fun.
 
Put my Fox 2.0's on. Much better... it lifted each corner about an inch or so.

The OME shocks were toast. I swear one of them apologized once I laid it down next to my new 2.0:

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Parked at school... fits right in.

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So to confim, the lighter ride meant medium springs out back? You found it too light I guess. Any idea on what your box weighs?
 
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Were the original pre chop rear springs heavies? Or maybe your old springs were tired?
 
Original springs were old Slee 6" from a full kit, though I believe they were fairly worn as the rig didn't sit too awfully high as a wagon compared to one on fresh OME 2.5" springs.

Shocks were not matched as far as I can tell... I don't think these are even L's.

With the rear chopped and bed on the 6" springs were too high. I don't know how much this bed weighs, but it's pretty beefy. I threw OME mediums on the rear to level it out, though it still sits with a slight rake forward. I plan on loading up the bed in the next few weeks to see how she sits with a camping load and going from there.

The idea of air bags for more consistency with different loads has always been in the back of my mind, but we'll see.
 
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Thanks for that. I have mediums going into my chop and will be interested to see how yours work for you.

Appreciate the insight.

I've contemplated air bags too for my regular non chopped 80 - especially for towing. I have a m101 and its not that big of a trailer but with the RTT on it and all my gear, I notice some slight porpoising at higher speeds on the highway.
 
Awesome build. I want to learn to fab, and I find this so inspiring! Subbed!
 
Baller dude. Mine is so close. After more than a year it should be. Yours looks great. I'm jealous of how easy it is to adjust height with the rear coils! I've got to address it with leaves.

Keep the pictures coming.
 
@yohavos Very impressed with your progress, just read through all 18 pages... Looks like you live near Flying Goat if so I used to be with in a few blocks of you, cant believe I never saw this. Would love to stop by and check it out in person sometime and lend a hand if you ever need it.
 
Baller dude. Mine is so close. After more than a year it should be. Yours looks great. I'm jealous of how easy it is to adjust height with the rear coils! I've got to address it with leaves.

Keep the pictures coming.

Yeah man!! I can't believe I bought Betty a year ago! Time has flown, and you started yours before I did.

I'm digging the body work you did, the extra windows are a nice touch. It took me a minute to get used to the FJC like blind spots I've got going on in the cab.

I don't envy you on the leaves part, though you will have more control over the bed empty vs. loaded... I'm either stink bug empty and level loaded or level empty and dragging loaded. Air bags aren't as sexy as overload springs.

I dig the ute so much I haven't been driving my DD lately. In fact, I'm waiting for Best Buy to open right now so I can grab a head unit and better speakers. This tin can needs an upgrade.


@yohavos Very impressed with your progress, just read through all 18 pages... Looks like you live near Flying Goat if so I used to be with in a few blocks of you, cant believe I never saw this. Would love to stop by and check it out in person sometime and lend a hand if you ever need it.

Yessir, about two blocks from Audobon park. I'm always up to talk cruisers or turn a wrench and the beer fridge is always full. It would be great to get a Spokane group together for a wrench/BS session.
 
Yessir, about two blocks from Audobon park. I'm always up to talk cruisers or turn a wrench and the beer fridge is always full. It would be great to get a Spokane group together for a wrench/BS session.

Cruiser BS, wrench, and beer... three of my favorite things.
I would love it if we could get a Spokane group going. Even if we just put together a small group.
Let me know when you are around and I will stop by and introduce myself.
Ryan
509-822-0164
 
Did some more scouting for campsites, and took in some fall colors (as close as we get in the PNW)
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Yours is one of my fav's for a straight 4 window cab - great work using the hatch & giving it a real finished appearance. Good rig, well executed.

In a few thousand miles can you hit me with a overview of your Fox 2.0's?

Really want to get something to help restore some onroad plush & let the axles really move offroad.
 
Yours is one of my fav's for a straight 4 window cab - great work using the hatch & giving it a real finished appearance. Good rig, well executed.

In a few thousand miles can you hit me with a overview of your Fox 2.0's?

Really want to get something to help restore some onroad plush & let the axles really move offroad.

Thank you! I promise you it's not that pretty up close :)

I'm chasing a vibration right now (it goes away with taller springs on the rear and gets worse the shorter I go) that I'm guessing has something to do with needing to adjust some rear control arms or something that effect. I can tell you the shocks were immediately noticeable when driving around town.

I'll do a review after a few months of driving.
 
Here's one for the experts... should the bottom wraps on these coils be touching? Is there any chance these would lead to a somewhat harsher ride than expected?

These are my fronts, if that helps with anything. I was told these are Slee 6" coils, probably pretty old.

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Bump for the question in my last post... any issues with the bottom two wraps on my front coils sitting on each other?

And... an update:

I started to re-work the stake sides. I was going to leave these alone and do something different, but I didn't want to have a random set of gigantic stake sides to store that I would realistically never use. They're neat, but I don't need em.

The goal was always to have short aides on the ute. Someday they may be shorter and hinged, but I already had these so they'll do for now.

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I'm thinking about capping the tops of them (once I cut the stakes, of course) with some flat stock for a more finished look.
 

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