LX450 baseline project (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Jun 6, 2022
Threads
4
Messages
17
Location
Vancouver BC
Hello everyone!

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

IMG_8524.jpeg



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:
 
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?
 
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!
 
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.

567410C0-1234-4F17-8648-C725738BEAA3.jpeg


2D8C7ACA-C86E-433C-8CEF-108B0A4674E5.jpeg


D420BD7A-AD58-431D-9EDC-34544FDCB59A.jpeg


BA954C83-DBF6-4197-BCDA-6E01282CCBBE.jpeg


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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?
48B9F859-954C-43BB-88AC-4451E4D2A152.jpeg
 
Last edited:
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?:rofl:
 
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.
 
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?:rofl:

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.

97B7626C-4B39-4E9C-B427-C57E8ADCF1E4.jpeg
 
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:

48F77F1D-689D-42FA-9C8C-DDC674450458.jpeg
 
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.
 
Looks like you're making some headway. A couple of things to think about:

  • Lucas red and tacky should NOT be added to the knuckles. If you have concerns about the status of grease in your knuckles you could dip a zip tie in there and see what it looks like. It should be a gray grease with moly. You will have zero idea what is in there, and you may want to consider a knuckle service as part of your baseline PM. You can buy a nice kit from Cruiser outfitters and it will have all the seals you need. There are lots of different greases that you could use, but the widely held consensus is to avoid mixing grease types. This can be hard to do in places like U-joints.
  • if your spark plug gaps are off you would be wise to replace the spark plugs rather than "re-gapping"--I assume you replaced them, but you didn't specify..
Those tires will be pretty fun!
 

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