Builds jsig's lx470 build (1 Viewer)

[jsigone]

I took the lex out to desert over the weekend. Very light wheeling after we spent hours on the shooting range.
I need to get the Slee AHC override switch, found myself going bit too fast and suspension kept changing back to N. Also need to find some time to do adjust the torsion bars for bit more lift.

This is parts of Fish Creek in Anza Borrego State park

 

[sigg]

Im usually a fan of stock rims but I dig the bronze rims you have.

100% agree here—usually not a fan of anything not OEM. But these look fantastic. Plus, that’s a great looking color on the LX. Rig’s coming along nicely.

 

[Palmer]

Those wheels look great, makes me want to get them for my black LC!

 

[geanes]

@jsigone ... FYI...the torsion bars won't impact lift on an LX. The only way to lift it is to make adjustments to the 3 height sensors (2 in front and 1 in back). Cranking the torsion bars only balances out the AHC mechanical spring and hydraulic ratio which is the way to keep neutral pressures in spec.

Very nice rig by the way. LOVE LOVE LOVE the wheels.

 

[jsigone]

@geanes thanks for the info on the torsion, it will save a few hours under the truck and some WTF moments.

@Palmer these will look great on black. I'm a fan of bronze or colored wheels. I have bronze/gold rims on my red EVO as well. Plus bronze is less demanding to keep brake dust clean.

 

[Palmer]

Yep, I agree! My stockers are ratty, I'm tempted to do them in bronze to hold me over.

 

[jsigone]

recently I did add a yakima megawarrior basket to the factory rack. I'd love a full replacement but this was $330 amazon prime, good enough band aid fix (mpg sucks more now HAHA). Carry some fuel and fire wood. loaded down the truck got 11mpg on this trip. This month's project is to build a sleeping platform. I'll have to get a bike hitch when I do though

We did a 2 day trip to the desert, good times. About 100 miles in the dirt on trails.

 

[fisherman978]

if your looking for a larger roof rack option cost effective check out the Role roof rack , with the extra extension it runs my whole 100 series and is a nice profile at 200$ shipped from walmart.. yes walmart but actually was quite impressed with the rack comes with waterproofing seals and i siliconed everything and its pretty sweet. just a cheap option for anyone looking for a rack for the LC ready to roll at less than 200$

 

[jsigone]

AWWWW just got struck by the ol dash christmas tree lights plus warning alarm. First time went after a few minutes. came back during lunch and won't go away. Quick forums checks, I did the "press the brake pedal down 30-40 times and start the engine to see if it comes back up". It made it 4 times then brake pedal went to the floor. Turned it on and stayed the same. Brake booster is bye bye and so is my wallet....Blessed I was able to make it back to work to run the pedal test vs driving the hilly route home or worse with the kids in the truck w/ me.

Tow truck on its way....

 

[jsigone]

Been a while, rebuilt the brake master cylinder with the OEM piston kit and new OEM brake booster sub assembly. The brake fluid in there was NASTY!

Also added a sealed AGM battery from vatozone, 24F size

I hope this expensive fix with new OEM parts last another 199k miles before it goes out.

 

[jsigone]

My buddy she got a new TRDPro runner so we had to get it dirty again. Easy trails and had my 3yo son w/ me. Air down to 25psi let er rip on the Mts here in San Diego. My AHC failed to get into high mode, temps were 95* so not sure if that played a roll. Only a cooler and basic tools in the rear. Truck did fine in N mode, a bit more clearance would have been nice but wasn't needed today. Course is just on the other side of Julian, CA. Chariot Canyon and up Oriflame Canyon. This was the first time doing this trail on the lexus, last time I visited I had a FJC on king suspension.

I told my son to park his truck, he did so next to an ant hill, not sure how many got on his feet/flipflops before he ran away

abandoned brick shack in the middle of no where. About 1/2 mile away from the Pacific Crest Trail we had just crossed

At the bottom of the Oriflame Trail split about to climb up the rocky section to the summit

Looking back into the valley, almost near the top

 

[jsigone]

Son was enjoying the day out

Summited just after sunset, we still had 5 miles or so to go back down to Banner grade in the dark. I really need to get those Rigid lights installed

 

[jsigone]

also hit a milestone on the drive home, hopefully many more to come!

 

[jsigone]

holy fat bar came in today from Sway Away. Ordered and shipped same day, quick service!!

 

[jsigone]

more parts trickling in, Front shock and OME 860s. Waiting on rear shocks to be here next week and still need to order a diff drop kit.

 

[GasRN]

You're making me miss SoCal even more. Love the mountain pics. That toy truck looks legit.

 

[chford]

Hey jsig!

I wanted to ask a couple of questions about what you've posted so far...

First, do you have a model number for the yellow Nokya fogs you put in? That's something I've been wanting to do for a long time.

Second, the Sway Away torsion bars...why'd you go with theirs? Any specific reasoning?

I'm watching your build...and missing the deserts of Arizona when I see all your pics!

 

[jsigone]

Hey jsig!

I wanted to ask a couple of questions about what you've posted so far...

Part number for the Nokya is NOK7615, one side burnt out (common in the reviews but $11 item) and I have a replacement that I haven't installed in yet. Went LED this time. Side note, the Nokya yellows in my EVOX has been running strong for almost 3 yrs now (diff bulb type)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CTMT01G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Swayaway torsion bar is 31mm and cost $199 + shipping, the OME bars most run are $315 and are 30.5mm diameter. I don't think my butt will feel that half mil of difference. The SAW bars used to be $400+ when they came out so scared allot of people away to OME. Now they are 30% cheaper so went w/ them. They make good products, were popular brand when I had a FJC

Lift kit so far cost $499+$168+$222=$889......As much as I'd love to run 2.5" shocks on this truck like my FJC, I can't pull the trigger on that cost and maintenance of rebuilding them. The Fox 2.0 are pretty cheap per corner and hopefully as the review say, kinda plush n soft. I run FOX forks on my pedal bikes and its nice. Doesn't hurt that they are local here in San Diego so valving/rebuilding/replacing them should be a breeze.

Still need to get Diff drop kit, low profile wrenches and a case of beer with pizzas. Also need to rent a TQ wrench that goes to 150ft/lbs

 

[jsigone]

Still haven't installed my lift kit, one of these free weekend or have a shop do it. Debating on get Upper control arms at this point as well.

After church n lunch I took kiddos (3&5yo)up the Mt, the rocky fireroads climbing to 5400ft rocked them to sleep. No visit to the duck pond this time.

did I mention the black leather amazon steerwheel wrap feels good, way better than the spinters I was getting from the old wood

driving and posing with the AHC in High mode

 

[jsigone]

lift is in process, did the fronts first yesterday thinking it would be more work. Nothing eventful on the fronts, looped the ahc lines back to the frame and zip tied them in place for now. First time installing T-bars, wasn't that bad. The mounts were already marked and so was the Sway-away bars so matching was pretty straight forward. Diff drop kit went on fine, Not sure were there 6th small spacer goes, I thought the ctr of the skid plate but doesn't seem the frame was tapped hole there. So I left it out for now til I figure it out.

The rear top bolts were royal PITA, with advice on here I got the longest flex 12mm wrench and a gearwrench low profile open socket set which is quite nice. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NIAKJK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F512F7Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not sure how else I would have gotten the 22mm on the top of the rear shocks. Those 12mm bolts sucked too. One of the rear shock lower bolts was hand tight, but the sleeves fused to each other. I tried to torch n pry it out but no give and was getting to late to use the louder tools. I'll wrap up the rears tonight and adjust the front T-bars.

Another heatwave is to hit San Diego today, yesterday was 99* working on the truck. drank lots of fluids but didn't tap into the 6pack of shocktop I got. I'll save those for tonight I guess.