Builds 2001 LX470 build LEGUSY

[Odyseuss]

I like those mount skids on the control arms. I had a friend make me something similar a few years back. Mine are not quite as nice as yours but they have held up well. It certainly is a good idea as those seem to take a bit of abuse.

Your link mount skids were the inspiration behind mine. When I saw how your link mounts looked before the plates were welded on I new that the factory mounts could take a beating but they could also get banged up a fair amount.(maybe that's why they don't look as nice, but if I remember correctly yours look damn nice.) After seeing links bent from consistent off road use, I thought I would be a bit proactive and upgrade before any damage was done. I figured that it was a good opportunity to do it while I was changing the links.

 

[Odyseuss]

Its about time that I update this thread. Ive made a few minor changes over the past weeks. For the most part, I have been driving it while I work on my Fj40 and a few other projects.


Rear drawer containers-

I have been looking to find a good way to organize the stuff in my Outback drawers. I decided that removable bins were a must in order to access the stuff in the back of the drawers, because the drawers do not slide open all of the way. I tried a few different bins until I found a great deal on these AKRO MILS bins that I have had my eye on. I have one spare container that I can easily swap out completely loaded.

They are a nice fit and they are easily dividable solid containers. They sell in a set of three where I found them so I have held off on buying lids or the specific dividers because I was not able to find them for the cost and quantity that I was looking for. I really don't feel like I need the lids yet and the dividers are easily made out of cardboard.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085U21L8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I got them situated and they fit very well with a couple other containers, I am often thinking of how to better organize and what more I might need. So far these have worked well.

 

[Odyseuss]

San Rafael Swell Trip and new shovel mount-

We went down to the swell, and I tried out a new mount for my shovel, along with a few other things.

I tried to keep the shovel low profile with the rest of my rack. I found a shovel with much less angle, and I was able to mount it to the bottom of the crossbars and still clear the roof. I used a couple quick fist mounts. It was very secure, easy to remove and is completely out of the way.

It was also nice to have warm meals on the go with the use of the Road Pro portable stove.


http://www.roadproonthego.com/produ...cs/12-volt-products/sp/12volt-portable-stove/

 

[Odyseuss]

-Bumper Builds

I am now working to build bumpers for the front and rear. I have a couple ideas in mind to help adapt some existing proven bumper platforms for this vehicle.

For the front bumper, I am working on restoring and modifying a used ARB Sahara bumper that was originally installed on a 98' LC. A few of the repairs and changes that I intend to make to this bumper should allow me to get most of the features that I want when this is all completed. I like the lighter weight of this bumper while still being somewhat stout. I like that it is secure enough for a winch yet still designed to absorb some energy in a collision. I am hoping to walk a fine line between these features and to keep it somewhat low profile, so no hoops.

Some of the changes include:

- Cut out any rusted portions and weld in new steel where necessary.

- Removal of the chrome bar and rubber pads, fill in any un necessary remaining mounting holes.

- Modify bracing to allow for a recessed mount for the winch solenoid, that will hopefully clear my LED light bar and still be accessible.

-Mounting to Install a 300w LED light bar.

-Mounting area for my antenna NMO mount.

- Mount for future hot water heater fittings.

- Install and reinforce holes for a Hi-Lift similar to those available on many other ARB bumper models.

- Mount using frame recovery brackets.

- Media blast and powder coat Crystal Gray

- Install a WARN VR10000S with 100' 3/8 Synthetic rope

Here is the bumper that I will be working with.

This photo show the worst of the rust.

 

[SmoothLC]

Where'd you pick it up @odtseuss? KSL.com or somewhere else?

 

[Odyseuss]

I removed it from a '98 LC that I put a Slee Blueberry on. I was pretty set on going with an ARB Sahara and now this will give me the opportunity to customize it a bit. This build will also show what it takes to swap one from an LC to an LX.

 

[LX5708]

Looking good!!!

 

[Odyseuss]

This bumper has some rust around the perimeter near the body and some rusted mounting parts for the lights. I am going to replace all of the light mounting hardware in addition to upgrading to the LED turn signals.

I removed the stock bumper and sprayed the front end down with a good degreaser to clean it all up. Then I mounted the winch mount plate.

After test fitting the bumper on the LX I can see how the trim below the front fenders and the grill support is a continuous piece that will interfere with the profile of the bumper. (This is a main difference between the LC and the LX. The LC just has a small tab on each side below the headlights which can be easily removed or in most cases left alone.) The solution seems easy enough, as the bumper already has some rust along that edge, and the metal on the truck is in great condition, I decided to trim the bumper.

A plasma cutter makes short work of this and I was easily able to cut off a piece of the bumper that caused interference. This bumper originally had a rubber weather strip between the bumper and the sheet metal of the fenders. That weatherstrip caused a bit of the paint to rub off of the fenders on the original vehicle so I do not intend to use a weather strip on this and there will be a small but noticeable gap between the bumper and the sheet metal to provide adequate clearance. It gets much better that is shown in the pictures that I have.

Here is a mock up of it with the light bar. I ordered the light bar cause I wanted to get the mounting done before the powder coating so that I don't have to drill holes after the fact. The spec sheet showed a rear mounting option that isn't available on this model. so a 50" light bar is going to have a 52" mounting surface. as you can see, it barely does not fit. I wish it was a couple inches shorter, but the curved bars seem to have the same width and I think that I am going to stick with this one and see if I can make it work nice. by the time I get the lower light housings in, I think they will stick out about the same distance.

 

[mpho]

Looks like a sweet ride and a nice build! Good for you!

 

[LX5708]

Can I see a picture looking down at the light bar? Maybe someone will have a solution you can't see.

 

[benc]

You could shorten the light bar pretty easily. The end cap should come off and inside are several different circuit boards linked together. A little cutting and soldering you could make it the size you need.

 

[LX5708]

You could shorten the light bar pretty easily. The end cap should come off and inside are several different circuit boards linked together. A little cutting and soldering you could make it the size you need.

I was thinking that too... Man I hate to solder... I got like 5 big ol thumbs for hands. Lol

 

[Odyseuss]

I will look into that and get back with more pictures. Thanks for the input.

 

[Odyseuss]

There was another bit of cutting that I needed to do on each side to allow this bumper to clear the sheet metal trim. I just needed to cut an existing notch a bit deeper.

I also cut out another piece to help make room for my winch solenoids. I looked very closely at the solenoid assembly to winch clearance and there is plenty of room, but I will probably trim the rear mounting stud a bit just to make sure. This allows me to recess the solenoid box so that it fits flush with the top of the bumper. It will now clear a light bar and allow access to the controller connector.

 

[Odyseuss]

I looked at the light bar a bit more and even made up a couple mounting brackets real quick to see how it could sit. I am still thinking that it is a bit long and I will probably look into cutting it down. Here are a couple pictures.

For now, I'm going to put this part of the project on the back burner cause I want to take the time to make it look right as opposed to forced and at this point I have more pressing matters with this project. I'll get back to the light.

 

[Odyseuss]

It has taken me a bit of time to get back with more pictures. I have been busy working on the rear bumper at the same time. So, here is a quick picture of it.

There is more to come about the rear bumper later, but I want to do a complete write up on it separate from the front bumper project in case it is helpful to anyone else building one and might keep this thread a bit more organized.

 

[yotasavg]

Great idea with the bike rack. I like that a lot!

 

[Odyseuss]

Thanks,

I don't see myself hauling more than 1 bike very often with this vehicle, but I am considering a bolt on attachment for the rare occasions that I do. however, I have hitch racks and other vehicles that work well for multiple bikes. I don't want to put bikes on my roof rack, so I figured that this could be a good alternative.

I am also considering a bolt on attachment that would allow me to carry 1 bike with the tire installed. Something similar to the North Shore Racks setup that holds the bike by the fork near the steer tube.

http://www.northshoreracks.com/photo 2bike11.htm

 

[yotasavg]

Haven't seen that northshore rack, I like the way that works too and you could keep both wheels on. Nice setup indeed.

 

[Odyseuss]

-More front bumper progress.

I cut out the steel in the spots where it was rusted, and welded in some clean steel to fill the spaces. I also welded steel slugs of 1/2 x 1/4 flat bar to fill any unwanted holes left behind from the removal of the rubber bumpers.

I looked at several photos of ARB bumpers with the holes for use with a Hi-lift, and tried to replicate that design into my bumper. I understand that those bumpers are probably designed a bit differently, but I think this will work here too.