Introducing my DIRTY LITTLE (Diva) (2 Viewers)

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You know... I still look at this thread every now and again. I was wondering if by any chance you had any updated pics now that everything has settled and has been in for a bit? I'm very interested in a side profile view showing your tires and fenderwell actually. :P Just incase you decided you wanted to post some updated pics of course. :)
 
I will post some this weekend as I need to install the 7CREE reverse lights, do an oil and filter change, and change out my wiper blades....

First one I took right after installing IronMan suspension in April 2010.

The next one is from late December 2011 when I had my windows tinted all the way around with the Llumar Bronze ATR Tint..... 20%

Will try to get some to match the early one with same parking spot and angle of photograph for comparison.

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Still looks good! I've read some of your posts about the Iron Man gear you have in K9's thread and others. You seem to be pleased. It's getting about time for me to pull the trigger on shocks and tbars. I've asked SEO to see if he can get OME parts for me. If so, I'll support him. If not, I may go with Iron Man. For me and the little I wheel, I think it will be 6 and 1/2doz.

Still getting along with tire size and brand? Bumpers treating you well? Any nitpics with any of the upgrades?
 
Yeah. i was looking real hard at those two pics today. I'm amazed that that tire is that wide on the spare. BTW, now that you've had your trail grapplers for some time, what's your opinion now?
 
Still looks good! I've read some of your posts about the Iron Man gear you have in K9's thread and others. You seem to be pleased. It's getting about time for me to pull the trigger on shocks and tbars. I've asked SEO to see if he can get OME parts for me. If so, I'll support him. If not, I may go with Iron Man. For me and the little I wheel, I think it will be 6 and 1/2doz.

Still getting along with tire size and brand? Bumpers treating you well? Any nitpics with any of the upgrades?

Yep, everything is good still...no regrets. Bumpers are still solid, powdercoating is holding up very well, Titan winch still turns every time I test it both wired and wireless. Nitto Trail Grapplers have almost 30,000 miles on them now and still have almost half life remaining but expect quicker wear as they get older...so maybe another year or so...40k+. They are louder now....and howl a little at highways speeds...nothing radio doesnt hide but noticeably noisier than first 25k miles...but still not like Super Swampers or the old GroundHawgs in mud terrain style. No cuts, no tears, no chunking....run at 40psi except 18psi on trails. You can feel every lug slowing below 10mph coming to stop light with their aggressive pattern...but handle exceptionally well in both dry and thunderstorm conditions. Going up to Boone next weekend (3-4 Feb) so will check on light snow if they get any more weather. Only thing I might do different is try to find a slightly skinnier tire next time...either in Trail Grappler or go back to Terra Grappler...that is a lot of meat on the road causing extra friction so along with heavy weight of each tire...you have more rolling resistance. So will look for narrower Trail Grappler or KM2 for replacements unless something else out there catches my eye first...but have had nothing but great results with both of those styles so tend to stick with them.

Yeah. i was looking real hard at those two pics today. I'm amazed that that tire is that wide on the spare. BTW, now that you've had your trail grapplers for some time, what's your opinion now?
Yeah it is 33x11.5x18...it is a meaty tire.....next time as mentioned above I might try to find one in 10.5 range...that little bit more makes difference in weight and how much friction is on ground for rolling resistance in my opinion. Tires are great....wearing very good...but then again, I do a 5 tire rotation (reverse cross) every 4000 miles no matter what....if they start making more noise or vibration then I rotate a little early...and it clears up for another 4-5k miles. Highly recommend though are starting to make some noise now that they are halfway through their available tread depth.
 
Thanks for the feedback! Ive been thinking about 275 on an 18 tundra steel. Is that what you were thinking as well?
 
yeah that is about as good as you can get on 18" wheel...it appears. I would have to go to BFG KM2 in a 255/80/17 wheel to get what I really want....or maybe 265/70/17 in Nitto Trails.

Anybody want to switch Lexus wheels later this year....LOL
 
Brock, looking good! I especially like your window treatment...curious to get your feedback about them after you've had an opportunity to use them at night.
 
Today I changed oil (Amsoil 5w30 signature and filter), changed wiper blades all around, check brake fluid, ps fluid, coolant, and washer fluid. I figured out how to install reverse lights I won from FullyLitLED, I found a little rust in bottom edge area near center of lift gate. Thought it was coming from inside by location...took off inside panel and it isnt...all from outside.
Found the gasket is holding moisture at those two spots and has been a few days since rain...so going to get new gasket. Today I wire brushed it good...then put some rust stuff that counters the oxidation and turns black when dry. Doing another coat tomorrow then will cover with some gloss rustoleum white paint for now until I can get original color...but not visible unless I open lift gate and show you.

will drive the LX tonight to get wings with wife and check out brightness of the reverse lights compared to oem with my window treatment.

thanks for all the comments...
 
Brock,

If you have a chance can you post some beam shots on your driveway of the reverse lights?

Good looking Cruiser.:)
 
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Here are some pics from cell phone.....you can see the DS light here...very very very bright compared to OEM.....spare covers other side from this angle.


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Here is PS.....still partially blocked by hi-lift and spare...mostly hi-lift...so might take hi-lift off and get another shot.


From inside looking through mirrors with new tint and the new 7CREE bulbs....it is huge difference. With oem bulbs I could not see ANY LIGHT...at all...with the new tint. With the new bulbs it looks like it did with NO TINT...I can see an illuminated area and it is MUCH MUCH better. Very pleased with the results...be better if PS was not blocked by hi-lift but those are the rules... If bad enough will just roll down windows to make it even easier to see....the magic of AUTO WINDOWS and not having to stretch over and roll it manually. :)
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I thought you won the interior lights too.
 
no, it was the reverse lights only. two different models...I got the 7s and Spresso got the 5s, I think. I dont want interior...they are bright enough already and I have to kill them all for hunting season anyhow so they dont come on when I open my doors.
 
A lot of great information, thanks for all the details, specially in the AHC project removal.

How you feel the ironman suspension and the drive control on the highway (high speed) with the truck full loaded?

I hope to begin with my LX build soon, but look like select the right suspension is a hard decision.
 
I have no regrets on any of the mods including Ironman....I had Old Man Emu mediums and then later heavies on my FJC....I had BDS on my FJ60. To me the Ironman rides like my Old Man Emu mediums....but with more weight capability. I have had it fully loaded and it rides like a caddy when fully loaded. When empty it rides firmer but not teeth shattering.....it is a pleasant feel...controlled in corners and at speed...enough give for speed bumps and potholes. Most of what I feel I think is from having my E rated Trail Grapplers at 42# for around town and on highway....they are very hard.

Glad my descriptions were of a help or will be on the AHC removal.
 
I have no regrets on any of the mods including Ironman....I had Old Man Emu mediums and then later heavies on my FJC....I had BDS on my FJ60. To me the Ironman rides like my Old Man Emu mediums....but with more weight capability. I have had it fully loaded and it rides like a caddy when fully loaded. When empty it rides firmer but not teeth shattering.....it is a pleasant feel...controlled in corners and at speed...enough give for speed bumps and potholes. Most of what I feel I think is from having my E rated Trail Grapplers at 42# for around town and on highway....they are very hard.

good to know that!
thanks
 
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I had an installer ready to custom glass in a tablet. But for a permanent install, here in Georgia summer heat with me parking outside will push some tablets above operating temps. I figured I would be annoyed to spend the money then have to wait for ac to cool it down to operating temps. Installer said I could do a remote start with a thermometer autostart throughout the day when interior temps were high, but this sounded bad for the vehicle, let alone gas costs.
 
This week I replaced the lower gasket on the rear lift door....it is part 68281B and includes the body clips that hold it in place in purchase price. Toyota is VERY PROUD of this small gasket....it is $146. :(

Reason for change.....I found some rust about 2 inches to left of the rear lock on bottom of upper lift gate door. Search of mud showd rust around the handle that is used to open liftgate in rear but mine is perfect there.

At first I thought it was from the rear window washer tube leaking down as it does not work (only thing on truck I can find that does not work) and rusting from inside.

Removal of rear panel to upper door and an inspection inside revealed it was bone dry. The rust was from outside...and there was one pin hole of where it made it all the way through. Crap!!!

So I started thinking and wondered why SO MUCH WATER was between gasket and door itself when it had not rained in couple days. Made sure could see nothing else but with it coming from outside I was able to rule out window glass and such leaking into body panel.

My only guess was the gasket was old and no longer fitting tight as it should against tail gate and I was going to order a new one...clean area really good...wire brush rust area...treat with rust conversion...and cover with Rustoleum white for now to seal back up and see how it goes.


So I ordered the gasket and after I picked myself up off floor from price I also ordered new rear tail gate support cables. One of mine broke when I was lifting a deer I shot into back of LX this year...so replaced both before it broke two and slammed tailgate onto bumper. :)

Anyhow new cables are easy to install... No pics taken...just have proper Torx head socket....remove old set...install new set....DONE!

Gasket removal was easy...used flat door panel tool in case new fasteners were not included as they are like $2 each from Toyota. They were included and may be one reason the gasket is so much. Once I removed it had about a teaspoon of water come from gasket. Thought it might be inside gasket where air holes were clogged but all were open and water was actually forming or setting on gasket itself between body and gasket.....as if it was running down and along gasket and pooling.

Wire brushed rust.....treated with rust conversion and also poured some from inside so it would go through the one small hole smaller than poppy seed. Did this three times to ensure complete coverage and let dry....when turned black. Covered with some Rustoleum gloss white....little over spray on lock bolt but compared to rust that is not big deal to me. Got it looking good....or better.

Then I wiped down door completely once dry....cleaning it and ensuring no dirt, gunk or anything. I also saw that the ends of the gasket had left a residue on door...and surmised they were meant to STICK to the corners....but no longer did. I wondered if they were catching water and allowing it to run down length and started the problem.

New gasket I started at each end...pulling sticky cover off the corners and then putting into place...working around area pushing in the included and mounted attachment clips and gasket. Went around and pushed up tight.....and shut tailgate. It did not shut good first time and a week later I still have to make sure I shut it hard enough or want shut all the way. So I know the gasket is resisting and forming to tail and lift gates to seal.

It rained good the other night and next morning I checked...and bone dry....no water between gasket and lift gate anywhere....hoping this was my problem.

Pictures show gasket itself.....it goes on bottom of upper lift gate..and finger points to area of rust...it wraps around under the gasket and would have been hidden if it did not spread enough to see. Wish I would have taken pics before and during wire brush but that is the breaks.

Check yours for moisture settling and remaining there...and for loose end corners. Unless I had a scratch or something to compromise the paint it had to be doing this for a long time to work through wax, clearcoat, paint and start to rust....worth checking.
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Brock said:
I have no regrets on any of the mods including Ironman....I had Old Man Emu mediums and then later heavies on my FJC....I had BDS on my FJ60. To me the Ironman rides like my Old Man Emu mediums....but with more weight capability. I have had it fully loaded and it rides like a caddy when fully loaded. When empty it rides firmer but not teeth shattering.....it is a pleasant feel...controlled in corners and at speed...enough give for speed bumps and potholes. Most of what I feel I think is from having my E rated Trail Grapplers at 42# for around town and on highway....they are very hard.

Glad my descriptions were of a help or will be on the AHC removal.

Which Ironman suspension did you install? The GR shocks (medium/heavy load), the GRC (comfort/light load), or the FE foam cell?

Also, did you use coil spacers in the rear?
 
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