FamilyCamper
SILVER Star
Thats the worst but glad you were able to have a nice ending and cool to have the bumper so it wasnt nearly as much damage.
Builds Gerry's Build thread: "If it happens again I'm buying an Abrams" (24 Viewers)
- Thread starter MongooseGA
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May be you should drive an Abrams after all 
- Thread starter
- #843
Clean trucks drive better. Change my mind.
Fun week for Gerry. The new(ly rebuilt) cluster is due in Thursday, new tail light Friday, and new driver's mirror on Saturday.
Mileage is 345,260. I had them set the new cluster at 345,500, so I'll get it in just in time.
Fun week for Gerry. The new(ly rebuilt) cluster is due in Thursday, new tail light Friday, and new driver's mirror on Saturday.
Mileage is 345,260. I had them set the new cluster at 345,500, so I'll get it in just in time.
No roof rack is cold. Like it alot!
- Thread starter
- #845
Waiting on items to arrive tomorrow to install. Today I decided to clear out my glove box.
While in there, checked my cabin filters. Good thing
Also found that there was a screw missing from the latch catch. This was a good find because I've had little spacers on the lid to keep it snug. I also learned that there's a soft- close mechanism in the LX, mine has never been attached. So I reattached it, luxury!
Final item today was to insulate the bottom side of the center console. Tired of plastic on plastic squeaking and my drink bottles getting warm. Pulled the console out, chopped up a bunch of tiny pieces and laid them out under the console panel. We'll see if it helps at all
While in there, checked my cabin filters. Good thing
Also found that there was a screw missing from the latch catch. This was a good find because I've had little spacers on the lid to keep it snug. I also learned that there's a soft- close mechanism in the LX, mine has never been attached. So I reattached it, luxury!
Final item today was to insulate the bottom side of the center console. Tired of plastic on plastic squeaking and my drink bottles getting warm. Pulled the console out, chopped up a bunch of tiny pieces and laid them out under the console panel. We'll see if it helps at all
Is the soft close mechanism the little pull loop here? I saw it putting my glove box back together the other day, but was afraid to pull it... Didn't want to trigger the ejection seat!Waiting on items to arrive tomorrow to install. Today I decided to clear out my glove box.
While in there, checked my cabin filters. Good thing
View attachment 3696595
Also found that there was a screw missing from the latch catch. This was a good find because I've had little spacers on the lid to keep it snug. I also learned that there's a soft- close mechanism in the LX, mine has never been attached. So I reattached it, luxury!
Final item today was to insulate the bottom side of the center console. Tired of plastic on plastic squeaking and my drink bottles getting warm. Pulled the console out, chopped up a bunch of tiny pieces and laid them out under the console panel. We'll see if it helps at all
View attachment 3696599
View attachment 3696600
Gotcha! I'll have to get that sorted. With a soft-open tailgate & soon to be cooled seats, my LX absolutely needs a soft-close glove box too.
- Thread starter
- #850
Today I received the rebuilt cluster and new tail light.
This was my old cluster before. All of the lighting still worked but it was very dingey compared to new. Note the dead tach and coolant temp gauges. Speedo was also dead. Each of the gauges worked when it wanted to, usually infrequently.
New cluster- all motors replaced, all bulbs replaced.
Now, observe my brilliance. Behold, the red "D" light! I also had them delete the power to the AHC info on the bottom right. No more wagon silhouette or blinking light.
I just need the new driver's side mirror to arrive and she'll be all back in one piece.
This was my old cluster before. All of the lighting still worked but it was very dingey compared to new. Note the dead tach and coolant temp gauges. Speedo was also dead. Each of the gauges worked when it wanted to, usually infrequently.
New cluster- all motors replaced, all bulbs replaced.
Now, observe my brilliance. Behold, the red "D" light! I also had them delete the power to the AHC info on the bottom right. No more wagon silhouette or blinking light.
I just need the new driver's side mirror to arrive and she'll be all back in one piece.
- Thread starter
- #851
I totally missed this one. Do you have posts about your soft close tailgate? And what are you doing for the cooled seats? I have to know!Gotcha! I'll have to get that sorted. With a soft-open tailgate & soon to be cooled seats, my LX absolutely needs a soft-close glove box too.
This is what I did for the soft-open tailgate: Possible to soften/dampen the lower tailgate when opening? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/possible-to-soften-dampen-the-lower-tailgate-when-opening.1308750/post-15578571
As far as cooled seats go, the front seat leather in my LX470 was nearly worn all the way through when I bought it. I went with new leather from Mosley Motors (@FJ60Cam) [which I think is actually Katzkin/Roadwire leather from what I've read] with the heated/cooled option. That means the leather is perforated, and it's got reticulated foam attached to the leather to allow the airflow from the Katzkin Degreez systems. I'll have an upcoming post on that - haven't quite got it all installed in the vehicle yet, but the bench top (garage floor?) testing I've done on the front passenger seat seems super promising. A little noisy on high cool setting, but I'll take it!
I will say - the leather seems high-quality, but the color match isn't great for a grey interior LX (color code LG10) at all (I've had very cheap seat leather replacements from china be way closer in the past). I also got replacement leather for the middle row, and the replacement leather doesn't allow for access to the child carseat anchors without cutting holes in it. Not an issue if you don't have kids, but I'm not looking forward to having to cut/glue my new expensive leather since I have a 9 month-old. The reinforced patch where the middle seatbelt comes out of was also just way mispositioned from the factory - it's a solid 1.5" off where it should have been. That's not from me mis-installing it, the actual measurement compared to the old leather is off. Overall, still decently happy, but definitely could be better IMO. I don't have experience with any of the other LC/LX replacement seat leather companies though, so this may be the best it gets. The ability for cooled seats though is awesome! I can't wait for that.
- Thread starter
- #853
Awesome info, thank you. I will dig in to your tail gate thread this weekend.
I'm also glad you mentioned Mosely. I'd actually found them online a few years ago but had completely forgotten who it was that had this option! Good to hear your initial results look promising. Cooled seats are such a luxury.
I'm also glad you mentioned Mosely. I'd actually found them online a few years ago but had completely forgotten who it was that had this option! Good to hear your initial results look promising. Cooled seats are such a luxury.
- Thread starter
- #854
The other day I swapped my Michelins back on as we're not doing any wheeling until October, with a few good road trips in between.
While I had the wheels off, I noticed my front pads were very low. So I've ordered a set of OEM Toyota pads that will be here this week, and I'll likely get them installed this weekend. Current ones have about 40k miles on them.
While I had the wheels off, I noticed my front pads were very low. So I've ordered a set of OEM Toyota pads that will be here this week, and I'll likely get them installed this weekend. Current ones have about 40k miles on them.
Did these bulbs go into the OEM spots without needing any special adapter?
- Thread starter
- #856
Did the front pads over the weekend, They were pretty low, but not metal-on-metal. I'm kind of surprised they only lasted 40k, but maybe that's something to do with driving like a dick.
I've also been dabbling in a little project. I've resisted doing tailgate storage because I went to close a buddy's tailgate once, and the damn thing was 100lbs of damn near impossible. I figured my Ms would never be able to get in and out of the tailgate. But @LJE inspired me with his soft-close addition, so I stole his idea and ordered a pair of struts for the tailgate. This enabled me to finally let me freak flag fly and chop up my tailgate.
Since I'm doing this myself, I had no template to use as if I'd ordered the Huracan kit. So, I just copied photos from install DIYs. @Wermz came by because it seems like I never cut any sheet metal without him around. Thanks, buddy.
And then I sound deadened the entire cavity. While in here, I had to rig a solution for a broken plastic holder for one of the rear latch cables, and I (actually Ryan) fixed the horrible rattle that my reverse light panel has been making forever. Now I get a nice solid "thnk" when I close the tailgate and hatch, with no backtalk.
I've also been dabbling in a little project. I've resisted doing tailgate storage because I went to close a buddy's tailgate once, and the damn thing was 100lbs of damn near impossible. I figured my Ms would never be able to get in and out of the tailgate. But @LJE inspired me with his soft-close addition, so I stole his idea and ordered a pair of struts for the tailgate. This enabled me to finally let me freak flag fly and chop up my tailgate.
Since I'm doing this myself, I had no template to use as if I'd ordered the Huracan kit. So, I just copied photos from install DIYs. @Wermz came by because it seems like I never cut any sheet metal without him around. Thanks, buddy.
And then I sound deadened the entire cavity. While in here, I had to rig a solution for a broken plastic holder for one of the rear latch cables, and I (actually Ryan) fixed the horrible rattle that my reverse light panel has been making forever. Now I get a nice solid "thnk" when I close the tailgate and hatch, with no backtalk.
- Thread starter
- #857
Here's the fun part: I designed the storage system and will be completing my prototype this week. My plasma table is only 4' wide, so I am having to do it in 2 pieces, but I actually prefer the idea of 2 doors vs 1 so you can access items on one side and still have flat area on the other. I also kept the center support of the factory sheet metal, so this will give me 4 sides of ledge to support the access door.
The image above was digital v1. I cut a test panel, made some adjustments, and went for test v2. I just needed one small adjustment on one of the bolt holes, I reduced the bolt holes from 5/8" to 3/8" (using 1/4-20 nutserts in factory push-pin locations) and otherwise it's about perfect. I have piano hinges and latches being delivered today, so I will make final design changes to account for those 2 items. When this is complete and I've used it for a while, I will begin offering this as a very discounted alternative to a Huracan or similar type of product. I'm using 12ga steel for this prototype, but I can also consider aluminum.
(Don't mind the dross on this piece. It's the backside and hadn't been cleaned up at all).
So that'll be cool.
After bedding in the front pads the other day, I began hearing a terrible squeal from the rears. So I pulled one rear wheel and realized I'd overlooked that the pads back there were due as well. I picked up a set from Mr. T yesterday, and installed today. a random little clip popped out of one side, and I can't find any place he actually belonged. So, I believe I found the source of the noise. No clue how it got in there. Anyway, I bed them in just a bit ago. No more squeak or roughness, just smooth, silent, powerful stopping.
Mileage is 346,880.
And while I wait for deliveries to finish up projects on the LX, I am also wrapping up projects on my 560 Benz. Cooling fans... Ugh. But dammit she looks pretty.
The image above was digital v1. I cut a test panel, made some adjustments, and went for test v2. I just needed one small adjustment on one of the bolt holes, I reduced the bolt holes from 5/8" to 3/8" (using 1/4-20 nutserts in factory push-pin locations) and otherwise it's about perfect. I have piano hinges and latches being delivered today, so I will make final design changes to account for those 2 items. When this is complete and I've used it for a while, I will begin offering this as a very discounted alternative to a Huracan or similar type of product. I'm using 12ga steel for this prototype, but I can also consider aluminum.
(Don't mind the dross on this piece. It's the backside and hadn't been cleaned up at all).
So that'll be cool.
After bedding in the front pads the other day, I began hearing a terrible squeal from the rears. So I pulled one rear wheel and realized I'd overlooked that the pads back there were due as well. I picked up a set from Mr. T yesterday, and installed today. a random little clip popped out of one side, and I can't find any place he actually belonged. So, I believe I found the source of the noise. No clue how it got in there. Anyway, I bed them in just a bit ago. No more squeak or roughness, just smooth, silent, powerful stopping.
Mileage is 346,880.
And while I wait for deliveries to finish up projects on the LX, I am also wrapping up projects on my 560 Benz. Cooling fans... Ugh. But dammit she looks pretty.
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Put me on the list for a storage setup! Definitely curious how it turns out.
- Thread starter
- #859
That's the spirit! Hopefully by COTR I'll have gotten a good impression of it. If it's all greenlight by then, I may bring a few kits with me to TN.
W126 look so sexy when lowered! Are those after market fans? I think the M117 only came with mechanical fan.
Tailgate storage idea is amazing - really curious to hear abt your experience with the soft open/assisted close. I installed Huracan Fab setup in my last truck and while it allowed for a lot of storage, it's weight made it actually dangerous for my wife and kids to open and close!
