Builds Homer's 2003 GX470 Build 8.2 4.56 2.5 34s (3 Viewers)

[HomersCanyonero]

I have 5 projects waiting to be installed:

1. Costco Interstate AGM H7 (94R) battery with new vGate terminal post connectors (Amazon) and new tray hold bracket (Amazon) - Done 4/13/2025

2. APEX bolt-on spindle gussets - Done 4/13/2025

3. OVS SCAR 10S winch - Done 5/11/2025

4. Xenon HID H11 Low Beam Conversion Kit 6000K from Headlight Experts - Done 4/13/2025 but maybe I should have gone with 5000K low beams

5. New Toyota master brake actuator - scheduled for 5/28/2025

 

[HomersCanyonero]

A little red paint before I install next week

 

[HomersCanyonero]

The vGate terminal post connector looks like a high quality item and fits my Costco interstate agm h7 battery very well.

Also, the cheaply adjustable battery holder fit perfectly over the AGM battery.

Will try to install soon.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Not done yet…still need to drill the hole thru the spindle, but both sides done to this point.

The 12.5mm drill bit I got from apex seems a tad too big for the GX470 spindle hole. So, I ordered a 12mm drill bit from amazon.

The M12 bolt fits fine thru the factory spindle hole for the sway bar.

Anyways, bolt on spindle gusset almost done.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Costco Interstate AGM H7 (94R) with Amazon battery tie down holder and vGate post connectors has been installed.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Amazon finally showed up with the cutting oil and the Cobalt 12mm drill bit.

Holes and bolts are in. All done now. Spray painted the hole with a clear coat i had laying around

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Bolts from apex

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Drove around for 20 minutes and voltage drops from initial 14.2V to 13.6V in about 15 minutes.

I’m gonna try the voltage booster from ARCLIGHTLED to add 0.5V

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I had to use a MINI fuse extension cable to fit the ARCLIGHTLED voltage booster that’s for a 5th gen 4R. The orientation of this voltage booster doesn’t fit into the 2003 GX470 fuse box.

On startup in the morning, I now get 14.7V and after the alternator warms up…it drops to 14.2V

That should be within the operating electrical range of the GX470

My ODB2 scanner says the ODB scanner is getting 13.4V to 13.6V…at the same time my cigarette lighter usb voltmeter says 14.4V to 14.6V

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Update on my ARCLIGHTLED voltage booster

I’ve been checking my voltage on startup after being parked overnight and this is what I’m seeing

Today I started up the GX470 and used the cheapie voltmeter from HF at the battery. It’s reading 15.1V at the battery on startup and goes down after the alternator warms up and drops to about 14.4V or lower (probably ends up at 14V after 20 minutes of driving)

The two cigarette lighters have two different usb voltmeter plugs which read different volts at the same time that the battery reads 15.1V.

One usb voltmeter plug reads 14.7V and this one tends to be approx. 0.5V off consistently.

The other usb voltmeter plug says its range has been maxed over 14.6V. This second usb volt meter tends to be consistently about 0.2V off. After 20 minutes it will read about 13.8V

Anyways, copilot says that these discrepancies are normal due to crappy usb voltmeter plugs and wiring distance from battery.

As long as the battery voltage at the battery starts at 15.1V for a few minutes on startup and then drops little by little to about 14.4V after 15 minutes or so…then all this is working within a safe voltage range.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Getting ready to head out for the weekend…somewhere in the Mojave…to try out all my recent mods

 

[Rednexus]

Great looking rig!

 

[aztoytec]

Looking good! What rotorpax mount is that? I haven’t seen one that mounts to the factory roof rack like that.

 

[kody472]

Looking good! What rotorpax mount is that? I haven’t seen one that mounts to the factory roof rack like that.

Was just thinking the same thing.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Was just thinking the same thing.

The exterior side molle panels are from victory 4x4. I like these because they are smaller with a good suction cup and they fold up to allow the quarter panels to pop open. Not perfect but I can pop open the quarter window

The roof rack mounting brackets are from a company called Exigex. It’s their Universal Stock Roof Awning Brackets.

Www.exigex.com

 

[HomersCanyonero]

We had this little cove all to ourselves for the weekend

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Made my own 11.5” ramps to measure the corner travel index.

My 2003 GX470 climbs these ramps with ease…meaning my flex/articulation is good

GX470 Corner Travel Index 11.5” Measurements for Keyboard Off-roaders

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Finished installing my OVS SCAR 10S winch. The hardest part wasn’t the wiring…the hardest part was mounting the winch to my Restless bumper and reinstalling the bumper with winch on the bumper.

But it’s all done now.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Well, well, well.

Moab is making me spend so much money on this rig.

Since I going to be installing 34.1” Mud Terrains that weight like 63 to 67 lbs…I figured I get the Hayden 678 transmission cooler to help in Moab

My research indicates that the Lexus GX470 (and those 120 platform vehicles that use the A750F transmission) has a built in thermal control valve that restricts flow to the transmission cooler when the temps are low.

Once the transmission fluid reaches operating temperature, then the built in thermal control valve opens and lets fluid go to the cooler.

Anyways, I’m trying to confirm all this, but I ordered the Goliath bracket and the Hayden 678.

 

[Rednexus]

A 678 should be fine in your climate. It's what I'm running. However it can really over-cool in the winter. Driving my rig on below-freezing days, sometimes the temp maxes out at like 120F, which is just too low for fuel economy and probably not good on the transmission either. I fixed that by cutting up a sheet of 1/8" rubber that blocks about 2/3 of the cooler during the winter. Since I'm pulling the rig apart in a few weeks to replace the radiator, I'm going to switch to a 698 with the built-in thermal bypass. I doubt you get many below-freezing days, so you may not have the problem that I did.