Changing the wood grain in a 40th...

[Josh83]

I'm wanting to change out the crappy "wood" in my 40th as it is de-laminating(I happen to like the wood, so I'm not gonna just yank it out). Has anyone removed the 40th badge from their wood and applied it to the new wood? I know this sounds corny, but I like the wood and the 40th badging, and don't want to lose either.

 

[Docmallory]

I'm wanting to change out the crappy "wood" in my 40th as it is de-laminating(I happen to like the wood, so I'm not gonna just yank it out). Has anyone removed the 40th badge from their wood and applied it to the new wood? I know this sounds corny, but I like the wood and the 40th badging, and don't want to lose either.

No problem. Just be careful and go slow. Try not to bend the 40th badge too much when you're prying it up. Mine went on the new wood without needing any new adhesive. It was still sticky enough.


Er... I mean, uh... real Land Cruisers don't need no stinking woodgrain! Just take that pansy de-laminating stuff off with an angle grinder and be a man!

 

[Josh83]

Excellent! Just what I wanted to hear. Did you heat the pieces with a hair dryer or anything before you took them off?


Um, I mean, YEAH! Screw wood trim. I'm taking mine out with a chain saw!

 

[Docmallory]

There are several past threads on this. Searching the old posts will give you lots of opinions and info about the woodgrain. Bottom line is, heat helps remove the wood (and the 40th badge). Under the wood you'll still have a gummy mess. I prefer 3M Tar and Adhesive Remover, but others have recommended Goof off and things like that. Also, you may one day decide to be a real man and go without the woodgrain, so be extremely careful prying the old stuff off. I recommend using a plastic putty knife. I used a screwdriver and boogered my dash up pretty good in about 3 places.

 

[Bear80]

here's what I did with mine. I took all my wood off and plan to put in the lx450 wood trim.

 

[stuck in GA]

Just curious. Why is wood so hated by all? I like mine and I don't see any problem with it. I think it looks fine. Hell I mean when these things were distributed im sure it was an upgrade option.

 

[NorCalDoug]

Bear80 - good choice I don't know why they didn't use the same stuff in all the "woodgrain" kits, but the stuff they put in the LX 450s do not craze/glaze over or fade.
I guess they saved the "good stuff" for the fancy-pants version.

Josh - I don't know if you've seen other posts, but many LCs with the fake wood have problems with the stuff fading and crackling. It looks pretty bad. Some are not as bad as others, but I've seen some really bad examples. It really looks like crap in some cases.

 

[drenwick]

Wood is Good!

 

[cruiserdan]

Just curious. Why is wood so hated by all? I like mine and I don't see any problem with it. I think it looks fine. Hell I mean when these things were distributed im sure it was an upgrade option.

It looks fine when new but it does not age well. It is not good wiskey......

Do be careful when removing the badge. As already mentioned, avoid bending it as much as possible. It IS NOT replaceable.


D-

 

[elmariachi]

here's what I did with mine. I took all my wood off and plan to put in the lx450 wood trim.

I just bought a 40th that does NOT have wood from the Toyota port, but does have the badge. I am contemplating whether or not to add wood. Where are you planning on getting your Lexus woodgrain?

 

[Bear80]

I just bought a 40th that does NOT have wood from the Toyota port, but does have the badge. I am contemplating whether or not to add wood. Where are you planning on getting your Lexus woodgrain?

well I was going to try junk yards. They are pretty rare but I did find one in san antonio, but the center pice was screwed and a back door was gone. I'd try some online listed junkyards. But I"m not in a rush right now. got springs/sliders/winch to worry about.

 

[fzj80kidpen]

My 96's has the original faded, delaminated burlwood.
I saw another 96 that had a different type of wood.
It looked like a light oak.
Were there different options for the wood or what?
I have been thinking about replacing mine with some maple I have

 

[Critter]

I am in the process of removing mine (seemingly one piece at a time to avoid getting angry and tearing something up).

I just want to replace the piece that goes on top of the console where the shifters are, is there anywhere I can order just that piece from?? I really don't care about replacing the rest of it unless it is will with the lexus stuff (I like the way the switch panel on the lx450 door looks).

 

[NorCalDoug]

Just a note for those replacing Toyota wood grain with Lexus wood grain. I have only seen Lexus woodgrain parts for the center consol and the door panels.

If stuff for the dash exists, I have yet to see it. So...be extra, very, super careful when removing the delaminated stuff from the dash -- I don't you'll find OEM Lex stuff to cover any screw ups.

 

[sjcruiser]

On the LX, center console (shifter area), door switch plates, and door panels are the only OEM woodgrain parts. Any others like sticky tapes around the control panel are all aftermarkets.

 

[wob]

Just a note for those replacing Toyota wood grain with Lexus wood grain. I have only seen Lexus woodgrain parts for the center consol and the door panels.

If stuff for the dash exists, I have yet to see it. So...be extra, very, super careful when removing the delaminated stuff from the dash -- I don't you'll find OEM Lex stuff to cover any screw ups.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=1820&page=1&highlight=wood+part

post #4. Imagine the Lexi stuff would be equally as expensive if not more.

 

[NorCalDoug]

yeah - the key is IF you can get it. Lexus seems real quick to discontinue stuff. could be just lazy parts guys not wanting to order stuff...

I'd start whittling wood grain panels before I spent $1200 for an OEM kit.

 

[elmariachi]

The guy on eBay selling them for $145 seems to be the best solution. He sent me samples and they look far better than Toyota.

 

[Kaderabek]

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1997 FJ-80 40th Ann.
Lone Star Land Cruisers, www.lslc.org
TLCA # 6760



TJK