Build "Choyota" 2002 LX470 Thread

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choyota

choyota

Joined
May 10, 2023
Threads
27
Messages
369
Location
Placentia, CA
Website
www.instagram.com
*This is somewhat for personal record-keeping and a little bit of sharing. I'll go back and refine some of the stuff I listed with actual model numbers and some pics here and there.

Picked up an Black 2002 LX470 in May 2023 w/ 235k on the odo, bone stock (aside from a AHC-delete), from a single owner that passed the vehicle down to his son/daughter in Newport Beach, CA.

Here's how it looked upon day of purchase:

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As it sits now (March '25):

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...and this is what I sold prior to the LX:

Taco2.jpg




Here's what went into that: Choyota's 2018 MGM LT+2 TRD *Locked* Sport 4x4 Build - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/choyotas-2018-mgm-lt-2-trd-locked-sport-4x4-build.703752/

Anyhow. This is what had been done so far. I'm going to really simplify things here, since what I had here had a bevy of maintenance items and small crafts projects that I certainly have been dated:

SUSPENSION:
Front -
2.5" Radflo w/ Adjusters
SPC UCA
Swayaway Torsion Bars
Ironman Diff Drop
Removed Sway Bar
Durobumps Bumpstops

Rear -
2.5" Radflo w/ Adjusters from 80 series
Dobinson Dual-Rate Springs from 80 series
*Moved lower shock mount up
Removed Sway Bar
Durobumps Bumpstops
Dobinsons Lower Links
OEM Spec Upper Links
Eimkeith Panhard Correction
Adjustable Panhard Bar (Freedom Offroad)

TIRES/WHEELS:
17" Raceline Ryno TR, 0 offset
37" Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT

ARMOR:
Front - Coastal Offroad w/ Custom Tubing
Rear - Nguyen Works Dual Swing Out (the first Nguyen Works for the 100, I might add)
Iron Ryno Fab (Lomita, CA) Custom Sliders
Talon Garage Tri-Skids
Lighting

UNDERCARRIAGE/UNDER THE HOOD:
Yukon 4.88
E-Lockers F+R
New Engine (237k)
Lutz Speedo Correction
Magnaflow Muffler, Resonator-delete
Charcoal Canister from the late 90s (Camry)

LIGHTING:
Teq Customs Headlights
Strands 20" Lightbar
Ronin Metalworks Ditch Light Mounts
Baja Designs Pods
Dark Defense Pods
Amazon Pods
Auxbeam + Lumberjack Engineering Mount
Go Fluxx Lighting - Interior

INTERIOR:
Yodateq Gullwings
Prospeed Attic Rack
Wolfbox Rear Mirror
Ohana Rig Supply Dash Mount
Ben3D Build Goodies
Cruiser Manufacturing Goodies
Lumberjack Engineering Goodies

SOUND:
Yatour Bluetooth Unit
Focal Speakers F+R
Skar Subwoofer

APPEARANCE:
Viper Ceramic 30 Tint
Wellvisors Rainguards
Lumberjack Engineering Rear Spoiler
Wiper Delete
Partial Hood Wrap

OTHER:
Custom Fender Liners
Midland Radio
ValvoMax Drain Plug
ICECO APL35 Fridge
Ecoflow Delta 3
Smittybilt 10k winch
Powertank
Mojab Hydraulic Jack

ON TAP:
Eezi-Awn Load Bars - Roof Rack
Twin Compressor w/ Lumberjack Engineering Mount (Backup for Air)
 
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choyota said:
New Dobinsons lower links, panhard bar from Japan swapped in (thanks Ebay), Mevotech upper links from Rock Auto, the eimkeith PCK (Panhard Correction) welded in, and PS hose swapped. Had a leak.

Panhard Bar is now completely horizontal. Love it.

View attachment 3525979

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Click to expand...

How did you panhard bar look after the axel side only was installed? I just did the axel side and only slightly out of level and it drives much better.

I haven't done the frame side yet out of fear it will make it slightly unlevel the other way.

.
 
Eph said:
How did you panhard bar look after the axel side only was installed? I just did the axel side and only slightly out of level and it drives much better.

I haven't done the frame side yet out of fear it will make it slightly unlevel the other way.

.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen the angle with just one side, I took it to TJ Auto and Tommy welded in the PCK. Right now, it's basically dead on horizontal. That, along with the new arms and panhard bar with fresh bushings, the rear end rides 10x better.
 
Installed Victory4x4 molle panels. When I pulled the panel off, the original owner had a tshirt stuffed between the panel and the subwoofer. The foam surround disintegrated and fragments were laying on the top of the wheel-well bump. Pulled off the 3rd row seatbelts. Due to the nature of the grab handle orientation and the brackets Victory4x4 provided, the driver side is a little bit higher than the passenger side. No biggie.

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magikaram said:
What grille is that? Think it would look good to replaced the cracked one on my black onyx '00!
Click to expand...

It was from Offer Up, from some GX guy who had the wrong grille sent to him. Got it cheap, but I think it was meant for 03-07, or whenever they changed the grille mounting points. So I had to discard the grille "frame" and make it work. Trip to the hardware store. Probably could get it off eBay.
 
tbisaacs said:
Haven’t heard anything but heartbreak with these. Did you consider OEM?
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I considered, still am. However, I know it's different since my Tacoma was mostly in RWD most of the time, but I've had NAPA on my Tacoma as trail spares after I broke my CV while wheelin', and they've been fine. Of course the LX is a different animal. However, so far so good. Will report back later. I mean, I've heard OEM have problems too, actually.
 
Inspired by many on this forum and Facebook groups, added rechargeable USB hatch lights from Amazon. It also has motion-sensors, but I don't see how it works too well because it hasn't so far. However, it does have a nifty remote and I can change colors between one of many.

Link:

SZOKLED Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lights, 58-LED RGB Closet Lights Wireless, 1100mAh Rechargeable Under Cabinet Lighting Dimmable Night Lights for Kitchen,Bedroom,Wardrobe,Hallway,Stairs (2 Pcs)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLQX54FF?tag=ihco-20


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Also I disabled the DRLs by snipping the red-blue wire on the far right. Thanks to the ih8mud forum members who posted about this. Popped in LED hi-beam bulbs once the DRL umbilical cord was cut.

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Pretty excited to get these mounted up, there's an excellent fabricator in Lomita, CA whose Instagram page is @ironrynofabrication

He's starting to make sliders for 100s now (think the first set he's done was a few months back).

A little bit of the reason in pulling all the AHC stuff off the frame rails.
 
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