Builds LX450 where to start! (1 Viewer)

[scottryana]

Oh no I haven't seen it, I will have to go look it up. When mine works it gets cold enough to freeze you out of the cab. But I think the loss of refrigerant, and the fact it made the leak detector go off in the passenger footwell makes me think it is a dried up o-ring, or leak in the evaporator. Before I order any parts though I will go see if I can find the thread and see if there are some things I am missing.

 

[Luke111]

Check your calipers.... my rear pads didn't pass inspection so i went out and bought new pads. The tech started putting the pads in and said I needed a shim kit because they were pretty rusted and also indicated my calipers were not completely frozen but pretty much done....so a simple pad change ended with mo money spent...I feel your pain... but i did end up with new calipers..

Lou

 

[scottryana]

Thanks Garth,

I just went and read the thread, I will have some of the same mods. I will have a fan in front of the condenser but I will also have a heat exchanger for the air to water system. I have upgraded the fan clutch. I think it will be fine, after I replace some of the old parts. I really do think with the low refrigerant, the known issues with the expansion valves, and the fact the truck probably hasn't had much A/C work done, and it is used 9-10 months out of the year here in Texas, that it is a fair bit of money, but probably money well spent.

 

[scottryana]

Good advice Lou!

I will be doing a complete overhaul it looks like. I have the new longer OEM lines, will have the new rotors and pads, I will have to check the calipers while I am in there. I wonder if while I have the front end apart if I should just put new birfs in, they aren't clicking now, but I am sure as soon as I put the front end back together they will start a week later. haha. Always something isn't it?

 

[Luke111]

Hahaha....I need to find that statement you posted on my thread

I know I said I was going to try and not spend a lot of money on my 80 and I still feel that way, I am going to keep it pretty mild.

Hmmmm....300-350 AWHP You did say "try"

Lou

 

[scottryana]

Haha, yeah that does sound like something I would say.... "My name is Ryan and I have a problem, I am addicted to modifications." lol. Well I think if Baktash has his way, it will be over 350awhp. We will see what happens. I might sabotage his efforts to get crazy and use small fuel injectors, it also keeps me from wanting to keep turning up the boost. We will see.

 

[scottryana]

Well trying to get ready to turn the LX over to EMS so that they can actually finish up the Turbo stuff, and I figured I would just have to drive the car for a while. Except I have totally neglected the car and it wouldn't even start. So LX to the rescue, pretty bad when your 18 year old truck is your "reliable" one. Haha.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I might sabotage his efforts to get crazy and use small fuel injectors, it also keeps me from wanting to keep turning up the boost. We will see.

That usually ends with "why did I not do this the fist time I was in here" as you change from the smaller to larger injectors. Juat get 1000cc/inj and give your self some breathing room.

 

[scottryana]

Haha, sooooooo I just pulled 6 1000cc ID1000's out of the GT-R so I could go bigger, thats the third time.... I was going to sell them, but EMS and I are kind of going back and forth on using 540cc injectors or maybe just trying the 1000cc injectors in the truck.

That usually ends with "why did I not do this the fist time I was in here" as you change from the smaller to larger injectors. Juat get 1000cc/inj and give your self some breathing room.

 

[shfd739]

Your truck is mostly the goal for mine.

I'm really tempted to raid some savings so I can baseline a new motor, catch up some other appearance items, tie up loose ends on a few mods and know it'll be good for 10 more years. Then look at a turbo install.

Tis would make an absolute do it all truck for me.

 

[scottryana]

Thanks, yeah that's basically what I am thinking. I am going to refresh the A/C system, new brakes and front end rebuild and at that point I will have tackled the majority of the systems and it should be basically fuel and oil changes for 5 or 6 years. I think the last thing I will do is Shane's dark brown leather and seat rebuilds, oh and EMS doesn't know it yet but they are going to build me some aluminum cargo drawers and spare tire carrier and then I am done.

 

[mickeyt]

Aluminum cargo drawers for light weight option?

 

[scottryana]

Yeah aluminum for light weight, wood would be an easy alternative but really, building the frame from aluminum tube for those guys won't be hard at all. Their aluminum fabricator is pretty badass. For the way I want it, the aluminum will be a better finished product.

 

[shfd739]

Thanks, yeah that's basically what I am thinking. I am going to refresh the A/C system, new brakes and front end rebuild and at that point I will have tackled the majority of the systems and it should be basically fuel and oil changes for 5 or 6 years. I think the last thing I will do is Shane's dark brown leather and seat rebuilds, oh and EMS doesn't know it yet but they are going to build me some aluminum cargo drawers and spare tire carrier and then I am done.

Pretty much the same here. Rear bumper, bedline the roof and sides, fix a few interior items, fresh motor(and the "while Im in theres" like radiator,electric fans etc.) and Im set for a long time.

I like the aluminum drawer idea. Ive got a decent wooden one now. But it's heavy.

 

[Luke111]

Yeah aluminum for light weight, wood would be an easy alternative but really, building the frame from aluminum tube for those guys won't be hard at all. Their aluminum fabricator is pretty badass. For the way I want it, the aluminum will be a better finished product.

Ryan, I was headed in a similar direction and even sourced detail plans from the land down under....I even purchase skate board bearings per the plans. After getting a few quotes for the metal work and knowing issues would come up .... like any one off project. I decided on the ARB drawers and glad I did... Worth every penny.... Simple install, lock in and lockout drawers, side fit kit for extra storage and the price was right..
If you do plan on building drawers..... look into Accuride lock-in, lock-out heavy duty slides......simple install compared to the skate board bearing method....I may still have those plans I can email them.... when you're ready.

Lou

 

[scottryana]

Mock up continues on EMS's shop 80. Tank brackets are done and A/W intercooler is in the back corner.

 

[lilevo]

Weekend project! Hurry up

 

[scottryana]

Haha! EMS doesn't even have my truck they are doing mockup in their spare time, on their shop truck. If I gave up the truck and was a "fulltime" customer I am sure it would be done by now. Most of the waiting has been on me finding/getting parts.

 

[scottryana]

Water Box is 100% complete. On the right you can see the 20gph water pump and the loop on the left will hold the stock windshield washer pump. The whole reservoir will hold 5+ gallons of water and ethanol i.e. blue windshield washer fluid. The whole system with the intercooler and heat exchanger and hoses should be just shy of 6 gallons.

 

[NLXTACY]

Ethanol or methanol? The windshield washer fluid I'm looking at getting is Methanol.