LX450 baseline project

[zentaury]

Hello everyone!

This is my "Grandpa Gold" 1997 LX with 345.000 miles:

I have a some basic tools, a driveway where I can do basic stuff.

I have to be honest, sometimes I am not so good with the details, I get distracted easily, so is important for me that I can complete this before I get bored and try to sell it haha. I will try to commit to this thread as my file cabinet and to keep me accountable to keep working on it. Let's see how it goes.


So the list to start is (please help me if I am missing something important):

Fluids

Oil change: 10-30w? (PNW temperatures)

Front diff oil:

Rear diff oil:

Transfer case:

Trans oil:

Coolant: OEM Toyota red 50/50 replaced July 2022

Brake fluid:

Power steering fluid

Grease

Front knuckles

Driveshafts?


Tune up

Spark plugs: Denso replaced September 2022

Wires: Denso replaced September 2022:

Distributor cap:

Air filter:


Parts that wear?

Belts: Cheap Dayco V-belt replaced August 2022

Radiator big hoses: Gates replaced July 2022

Thermostat: Aisin replaced July 2022

Water pump: Aisin replaced July 2022

Fan clutch:

Valve cover gasket: Not leaking on Jan 2023.

Distributor gasket: Not leaking Jan 2023

Pads and rotors: Front and rear replaced on June 2022

Small hoses:

Fuel filter:

Front bearings: checked, tightened, and greased November 2022.

Rear bearings:

 

[manofthewoods]

Hello everyone!

This is my "Grandpa Gold" 1997 LX with 345.000 miles:

View attachment 3232932


I have a some basic tools, a driveway where I can do basic stuff.

I have to be honest, sometimes I am not so good with the details, I get distracted easily, so is important for me that I can complete this before I get bored and try to sell it haha. I will try to commit to this thread as my file cabinet and to keep me accountable to keep working on it. Let's see how it goes.


So the list to start is (please help me if I am missing something important):

Fluids

Oil change: 10-30w? (PNW temperatures)

Front diff oil:

Rear diff oil:

Transfer case:

Trans oil:

Coolant: OEM Toyota red 50/50 replaced July 2022

Brake fluid:

Power steering fluid

Grease

Front knuckles

Driveshafts?


Tune up

Spark plugs: Denso replaced September 2022

Wires: Denso replaced September 2022:

Distributor cap:

Air filter:


Parts that wear?

Belts: Cheap Dayco V-belt replaced August 2022

Radiator big hoses: Gates replaced July 2022

Thermostat: Aisin replaced July 2022

Water pump: Aisin replaced July 2022

Fan clutch:

Valve cover gasket: Not leaking on Jan 2023.

Distributor gasket: Not leaking Jan 2023

Pads and rotors: Front and rear replaced on June 2022

Small hoses:

Fuel filter:

Front bearings: checked, tightened, and greased November 2022.

Rear bearings:

I have the twin sister vehicle.
I did a complete rebuild and will post notes in a few days.
Does yours have code K294? AKA f/r lockers?

 

[zentaury]

I have the twin sister vehicle.
I did a complete rebuild and will post notes in a few days.
Does yours have code K294? AKA f/r lockers?

No lockers, and no phone system. Looking forward to see yours!

 

[zentaury]

Doing an inspection under it to see what else I need to add on my list.

Seems like the PHH had been replaced?

 

[LandCruiser65]

Doing an inspection under it to see what else I need to add on my list.

Seems like the PHH had been replaced?


View attachment 3234464

With the worm gear clamps, yes I would assume its been changed. If it was me tho, I would still replace it and use better clamps(constant tension clamps) and gates hose or Toyota hose. Good looking rig!

 

[zentaury]

A few more pictures of her “good side”

The aesthetic stuff is her strength, the big issues are some rust and a very damaged exhaust system.

 

[zentaury]

After a couple of days spraying PB blaster, today I was able to loose the inspection knuckles bolts , tomorrow I will try to add some grease, seems like they are dry. No clunks or clicking when turning.

I don’t know if there are more grease fittings, in the driveshafts for example?

 

[manofthewoods]

After a couple of days spraying PB blaster, today I was able to loose the inspection knuckles bolts , tomorrow I will try to add some grease, seems like they are dry. No clunks or clicking when turning.

I don’t know if there are more grease fittings, in the driveshafts for example?
View attachment 3234702

6 total zerks for f & r drive shafts. Do some searching for the correct amount/type of grease.

On a different note. You're in Canada. Where's the deep snow?

 

[WiscoPat]

After a couple of days spraying PB blaster, today I was able to loose the inspection knuckles bolts , tomorrow I will try to add some grease, seems like they are dry. No clunks or clicking when turning.

I don’t know if there are more grease fittings, in the driveshafts for example?
View attachment 3234702

There should be three grease fittings on each drive shaft: one on each ujoint and one on the slip yoke. So, six in total.

Careful with the slip yokes - only one or two pumps should do it.

 

[WiscoPat]

6 total zerks for f & r drive shafts. Do some searching for the correct amount/type of grease.

On a different note. You're in Canada. Where's the deep snow?

Great minds think alike! Just posted something similar.

Lucas red and tacky has served me well.

 

[zentaury]

Great minds think alike! Just posted something similar.

Lucas red and tacky has served me well.

This one? Does it work for knuckles and driveshafts or they need different grease?

 

[zentaury]

6 total zerks for f & r drive shafts. Do some searching for the correct amount/type of grease.

On a different note. You're in Canada. Where's the deep snow?

There is a wet and slushy stuff the we call snow but it happens like once a year haha

That day the Lexus was upgraded to company car, I picked up everyone to get to work. Sometimes is nice to have 7 seats.

 

[WiscoPat]

View attachment 3235162

This one? Does it work for knuckles and driveshafts or they need different grease?

That'll work for wheel bearings and your driveline - knuckles require (gray) moly grease.

 

[zentaury]

Well, looks like a little of maintenance goes a long way!

Always felt like the engine was suffering, decided to double check my spark plug #6 and seems like the gap was like .19 instead of .31

Also, tighten a little bit the cheap dayco belts that were squeaking.

Replaced the six year old Fram air filter with an OEM.

Added some grease to the knuckles.

And truck feels so much better!

Now waiting for the OEM belts from Wits End, and the Aisin Fan clutch.

I will buy the new diff plugs from Wits End too, and then diff fluid will be next.

In the meantime, something that can give me more clearance to wire wheel under the truck:

 

[manofthewoods]

I promised a write up of my project. I don't know if you've seen it

link is here, a little light reading
Paying it forward, My LX450 "reset/complete rebuild" notes & lessons learned - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/paying-it-forward-my-lx450-reset-complete-rebuild-notes-lessons-learned.1305084/

let me know what you think

 

[RC51]

thank goodness this isn't the other lx450 thats for sale in Vancouver, I had to on go Facebook to check. That one is totally rotted out and painted over.