| From new to old | A slow LX470 build thread (3 Viewers)

[CGreene]

Got everything done today minus the starter and valve cover gaskets! The timing belt looked nearly new, but it’s a good thing we dug into it when we did because the water pump was weeping and not far from giving out all together it looks like. I’m of the mindset that I’ve already bought the parts and set aside the date to do it all, so I’m gonna just get it done and now I know 100% for sure that it’s taken care of. It was an aftermarket pump so that kinda says it all to me. Too often do I see 5vz-fe and 2uz-fe’s come through the shop with bad/faulty water pumps from parts stores and I’m not sure if it’s just coincidence or not, but I always put value in a factory/aisin pump.

At any rate, the job went smoothly and nothing went south. The main PCV vent hose snapped in half from being so brittle but we found some spare vacuum piping to hold it over til the new formed hose comes in next week. I have a new valve to put in there too when I do that, I just forgot to bring it with me today.

We also got the seeping transmission pan taken care of as well, so the cruiser has the next couple weeks to look forward to a lift and some new wheel bearings/brakes! Soaked everything in PB blaster to hopefully make removing everything as painless as possible, though all the hardware I saw was in fairly good shape and shouldn’t be too bad.

 

[CGreene]

So it begins!

Before we start I just wanted to put this here; factory wheel bearings supply Koyo and Timken parts, for the outer and inner bearings respectively. I’ve heard some back and forth on this, and at least for me, this is how they came.

Measuring up the corners so I can have a before and after for setting droop and all that good stuff. Hoping everything works out fine since I have a few days to get this done. Will post updates as I get things moving… super excited!

 

[CGreene]

Found some crust and dust and grime! Most of this is from where this passenger CV axle had slung grease before, and nobody cleaned it up… so now it’s got 10 years of road grime and cv grease putty everywhere. Got a big jug of purple power and a date with the pressure washer after this suspension install for sure!

Gonna need upper ball joints before too long, so I’m shopping now to figure out which UCA’s to run. Can’t immediately afford them, but they’ll be on the to-do list along with a few other things coming up…including those poor poor sway bar and link bushings and main sway bar bushings, I’ve got those on hand ready for install also. The AHC fluid came out clear and had no trouble opening the bleeders to purge the system, which I’m thankful for. Really wasn’t wanting to take a shower with that stuff, it smells VERY strange lol

Wheel bearings/hubs are in serviceable shape, but I’ll be replacing that stuff, so if anyone is perhaps interested in picking these up for rebuild/spares lmk. Somebody had been in here in the last 30-40k miles, but I’m not sure that the correct grease was used for the wheel bearings. Everything still looks like it would clean up great though. The 100 will be down a few days while I work on it after work, but everything is going just fine so far at my snails pace. Eager to get it all done and see the end result!

 

[CGreene]

Making progress! Hit a few snags on the way but we got it done, and I learned some tricks for the other side which will definitely help me get it done faster this time around.

 

[CGreene]

Couple more pictures

 

[CGreene]

Finally got everything buttoned up this afternoon!

Overall, the lift install itself was not that bad. The shock nuts on the rear were a huge pain (especially on the drivers side), but everything else was just a matter of simple unbolting and preparing for new parts to be installed. I certainly wouldn’t do it again in my garage though, a lift would have been a lifesaver more than a few times! I got my torsion bars pretty close to where they need to be, I’ve got a short drive to and from work so I’m gonna let it settle for a day or two and remeasure/adjust before I get it lined up. On the test drive the truck drives great. Definitely not as firm as OME sports I’ve ridden in before, but I’d say it’s about like the factory suspension set in the 2nd firmest setting, just less bouncy.

The brakes and rotors and wheel bearings are night and day and now I don’t have that slight roaring noise I was getting from the passengers side front.

Big improvement to what it drove like earlier this week before I did this work, I’ll post up some better pictures of it when it’s sunny out tomorrow. Looks and drives more like a proper cruiser now, I’m a happy camper!

 

[CGreene]

I think the front suspension is settled in now. Truck drives great, and is an improvement over the AHC system imo. Gonna get it lined up this week and see how close we can get it. I’d really like to get UCA’s before doing an alignment but that’s just not possible right now, so that will have to wait a little bit and just get it realigned after.

Also, here’s a neat little doodad for those who don’t know/may be interested in this. Here’s the part number for the AHC control panel delete, and what it looks like. It’s a smaller cubby, but it’s certainly more useful than a switch panel that doesn’t have any use anymore!

 

[cruisersandlxs]

So in! I'm literally about a year behind you on my build. Thanks so much for the detail and inspiration!

 

[CGreene]

So in! I'm literally about a year behind you on my build. Thanks so much for the detail and inspiration!

I appreciate that, thank you! Hopefully I’ll be able to get many more modifications and some adventures documented in here over the years

 

[CGreene]

Finally joined the club! Here’s to 300k more

 

[cruisersandlxs]

Nice man! I'm projecting to hit 300k this fall!

 

[CGreene]

Wanting to get some small little projects done on the ol 100, just gotta find the time to do it. Mostly I’m wanting to get my oem driving light switch hooked up so I don’t have an awkward little button hanging out of the switch hole lol I found a part number that works well and even matches the stock backlight color, I’ll post some pictures up soon as I get around to doing that.

 

[CGreene]

Took the 100 fishing near the Dam last night, got the camera out and snapped a few photos. This one is my favorite of the lot though!

 

[CGreene]

Been eyeballing 200’s lately. I’d like to hang onto this 100 and have them both, but the more I’ve thought about it, the less that makes sense. Either way, if I decide to sell, I’ll give mud the first dibs on it before I post it elsewhere.

For now though, I’d like to find some time to take this thing out in the woods and test the new lift! It’s been too long since I’ve been camping and had a weekend out in the mountains.

 

[CGreene]

Been having a few issues with two of my wheels. They keep losing air from around the valve stems and after trying everything we know, they keep doing it so I ordered a set of stealth customs F5’s, and I’m hoping they’ll be here before next weekend! I wasn’t really wanting to buy wheels right now, but that’s alrighty gives me enough reason to do so! Will post up pictures soon as they get put on!

 

[CGreene]

Finally got them put on this afternoon, what a huge difference in the looks and the way it drives! Please don’t mind my absolutely filthy tires, I haven’t had a chance to wash the thing since they were installed. Everything balanced out great, and I can tell a different in the way it turns, stops, and accelerates now. The oem wheels were heavier than these for sure!

These provide just enough of a poke to be tasteful and not interfere with anything, and overall im super happy with the outcome! I’d have preferred grey I think, but the black looks good too.

For those who may be new to the thread, I’m using Mickey Thompson Baja legend EXP’s in 285/75-16, Ironman stage 2 nitro lift, and the wheels are stealth custom series in matte black 16x8 +10.