LX470 to build or not to build...

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2001LC

2001LC

SILVER Star
10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Threads
200
Messages
15,379
Location
Colorado
Website
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Well I went an did it, purchased an 01 LX470 ~215K one owner, no NAV. She's a Golden Pearl body & trim. No rust, no accident on CarFax and looks straight. Minor door ding and dents, less than most would expect.

Gave the guy a stack of Benjamin's. He's delivering Her in a few days before he leaves the state for good. I'm sure he'll show up right! Assume she comes home do I go showroom fresh or build Her......??????????????????

Some issue:
  1. CEL on P0133 & P0155.
  2. Air box full of mice food.
  3. AHC not working properly.
  4. Seat leather ok except dirty & areas look like rubbed by coarse sand paper.
  5. Carpet good but dirty.
  6. ~50 rock chip with rust.
  7. Slid along rock on running PS board, scraping some of side plastic.
  8. Front end bumper, molding, headlight, side marker light & hood damage.
Some pre repair & detail pictures:
LX470 days 1 214K 331 (24).webp
LX470 days 1 214K 331 (20).webp


LC will still be the King (01LC) of the garage.;)
WhiteLady (01LX) was aloud in the garage for inspection, while backing out she kissed the king the first night. Then blew smoke in his face (Sea foam fogged).

Driven 5k+ miles on code P0133 & P0155; causes & issues
Engine wash
Rear end up in the air (AHC)
Idler Pulley Bearing, Drive belt (AKA Serpentine or fan belt)
Knock sensor wire cut, what do I do HELP
Soft R&P Steering bushing, which replacement is best?
Best Tire Tread on front/rear, or damage TCase?
You've got to see this hood, who would do such a thing?
Best starter for the money today?
Split Intake Manifold take a look & Gaskets & Seals Poll
When to change spark plugs?
When to clean or replace fuel injectors
When to replace Ignition coils.
FWIW: Steering Flush & Cleaning
Pictures: Inside of Intake Manifold, Fuel Injector cleaning & testing
What is this grease?
Replace ball joint boots, what to do with the kit's wire?
Front Axle Hub Flange backlash?

Body trim polishing & correcting compounds
Finished product pictures:
1 (2).webp
1 (6) 2.webp
1 (18).webp
 
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Assuming that the LC is already fully built, what would be the advantage of building a 2nd nearly identical vehicle the same way?
 
Nope. LC is pure stock, over maintained, DD and show room fresh.

LX needs running broads, tires and AHC has never been flushed.
 
2001LC said:
Nope. LC is pure stock, over maintained, DD and show room fresh.

LX needs running broads, tires and AHC has never been flushed.
Click to expand...

Running broads? I'm not sure I want to know about that....

Well, you live in an area where you could have some fun playing with the LX. Why not baseline it, maybe try putting some slightly larger AT tires and step sliders on the LX.
 
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Running boards are a bit unsightly, but the only off road this girl has seen, is when She slip on driveway ice, girls will be girls.
IMG_0077.webp


Great minds think-a-like. (sliders & oversized tires). My plan is to baseline 1st.

I'll be gather cosmetic parts as I go through it thoroughly mechanically to see what I've got.

From all pre DD I did, she not under maintain 100. Oil change ~5K I'm told, one transmission flush at 122k, with only a handful of Dealer recorded oil service last at ~170K miles. The tell of improper maintenance was the driveshaft spider joints, which will throw grease on undercarriage. She was a bit dry as you can see. This is very common in most I inspect, so lube is all she'll need I bet.

I really can't wait until she get here, so I can dig in and see what's up.

IMG_0093.webp
 
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Sickness. It's a sickness I tell you!!!!

I think it's rad that you bought a second truck. I truly enjoy having a choice.

This past weekend I attended Desert Rendezvous out in Anza-Borrego down in SoCal area. I decided to take my 80 series. I drove my 100 to work today:).

A 100 as a DD? And another 100 built for adventure? Why not? Enjoy!!!!!
 
Two truck idea sound very cool.

If I get AHC work well, it could save $ off lift. I'll just need right mind set to get over my OCD of ding and bends of off road use. But your right I live in great place to have some fun and maybe find some fishing holes off the beaten path. I have no idea of what I'll need to build. Tires & sliders is about all on the table right now. What else could I do?????
 
I'd start there (tires & sliders), and you should be able to identify any additional needs with use.
 
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Assuming it still has the factory 16" wheels, I'd go with the 285/75R16 tires (~32.8") and they should work just fine.

Most Tundra or aftermarket wheel options are in the 18" size (or larger) and 275/70R18 (~33.16")would probably be the best choice if you chose to go this route. 285/65R18 (~32.6") is an option, but tends to be more expensive.
 
Yep, LX looked all stock with snow tires. So 285/75R16 would be most cost effective, although slightly under 33" recommended for Ouray, CO this July. But if stock wheels are in good shape, I'd rather get some to beat-up. Will the tundra 18" with 275/70R18 (~33.16") fit stock LX AHC and LC up to 05 or even 07?

IIRC there a speedo gear change I'll need to keep odometer true. I'd liked to find the most readily available cost effective combo wheel/tire, to odometer corrections, that can handle what Colorado & Utah can throw at it.

I'm getting excited at the prospect of a build. I'll need to temper that with cost, as I do tend too get carried away. This is sick..... I love it:):clap::cheers:

This thread will give me some cool visual aids Tundra wheels on 100 series photo thread
 
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2001LC said:
Yep, LX looked all stock with snow tires. So 285/75R16 would be most cost effective, although slightly under 33" recommended for Ouray, CO this July. But if stock wheels are in good shape, I'd rather get some to beat-up. Will the tundra 18" with 275/75R18 (~33.16") fit stock LX AHC and LC up to 05 or even 07?

IIRC there a speedo gear change I'll need to keep odometer true. I'd liked to find the most readily available cost effective combo wheel/tire, to odometer corrections, that can handle what Colorado & Utah can throw at it.

I'm getting excited at the prospect of a build. I'll need to temper that with cost, as I do tend too get carried away. This is sick..... I love it:):clap::cheers:

This thread will give me some cool visual aids Tundra wheels on 100 series photo thread
Click to expand...


I'm putting 295/70/18's (~34.5" tire) on my 2006 LX with stock AHC suspension this weekend (UPS delivered them today!). From everything I have gathered from researching here, its possible to stuff these tires on a stock LX minus some rubbing on the pinch weld in the rear of the front fender wells. I plan to pull the plastic fender wells, bend the pinch weld out of the way, then use a heat gun to push the plastic ridge that accommodates the pinch weld as flat as possible.

I plan on posting pictures/impressions as I do it this weekend if you want to hold off on buying till then.

I used to work for a Jeep shop and while everyone was trying to jack their trucks up as high as possible, we subscribed to the lowest center of gravity and largest tire combo possible. The beauty of the LX is that you can drive around in N mode (low COG) then use the H mode when necessary to clear objects.
 
285/75R16 should be just fine. If you want to obsess about the 33" height, and still use the 16" wheels, a 255/85R16 is (~33.07") is an option, but usually selection is limited to a few MT tires. I prefer the 285/75R16 tire options.

I think you typed 275/75R18 (~34.24")where you meant to type 275/70R18 (~33.16"). There are plenty of posts on this combination on this forum, it is my understanding that there are quite a few on the forum running the 275/70R18 on Tundra wheels without issue. I'm running the 285/65R18 (slightly shorter and wider) on factory LX 18s without issue.

You may or may not need speedometer/odometer correction the theoretical difference between a 275/70R16 and a 285/75R16 is ~3.5MPH @65MPH. The Yellow Box (Official home page of the Yellow Box Speedo Recalibrator) worked just fine on my son's LC. Again there are plenty of posts about speedo correction on this forum.
 
Ramathorn15 said:
I'm putting 295/70/18's (~34.5" tire) on my 2006 LX with stock AHC suspension this weekend (UPS delivered them today!). From everything I have gathered from researching here, its possible to stuff these tires on a stock LX minus some rubbing on the pinch weld in the rear of the front fender wells. I plan to pull the plastic fender wells, bend the pinch weld out of the way, then use a heat gun to push the plastic ridge that accommodates the pinch weld as flat as possible.

I plan on posting pictures/impressions as I do it this weekend if you want to hold off on buying till then.

I used to work for a Jeep shop and while everyone was trying to jack their trucks up as high as possible, we subscribed to the lowest center of gravity and largest tire combo possible. The beauty of the LX is that you can drive around in N mode (low COG) then use the H mode when necessary to clear objects.
Click to expand...
I do like the idea of low center of gravity, its one reason I'd like to avoid lifting. Please hit me so I'd don't miss your thread, maybe post a link here.
 
jLB said:
285/75R16 should be just fine. If you want to obsess about the 33" height, and still use the 16" wheels, a 255/85R16 is (~33.07") is an option, but usually selection is limited to a few MT tires. I prefer the 285/75R16 tire options.

I think you typed 275/75R18 (~34.24")where you meant to type 275/70R18 (~33.16"). There are plenty of posts on this combination on this forum, it is my understanding that there are quite a few on the forum running the 275/70R18 on Tundra wheels without issue. I'm running the 285/65R18 (slightly shorter and wider) on factory LX 18s without issue.

You may or may not need speedometer/odometer correction the theoretical difference between a 275/70R16 and a 285/75R16 is ~3.5MPH @65MPH. The Yellow Box (Official home page of the Yellow Box Speedo Recalibrator) worked just fine on my son's LC. Again there are plenty of posts about speedo correction on this forum.
Click to expand...
Thanks jLb, for the link, and I corrected that typo.

Only reason I came back to 33" is the "Ouray, CO." recommendation, not a big deal to me. Any particular reason you went wider?

I actually like the idea of staying spot on the mileage/MPH/MPG, OCD I know.
 
2001LC said:
Any particular reason you went wider?
Click to expand...

It wasn't so much about going wider. It was what was available at the time, that I was positive would fit without issue. They're about 14.5mm shorter and 10mm wider than the 275/70R18. If I had to replace them today, I'd probably go with the 275/70R18. The main reason being that there is a ~$45 per tire premium for the 285/65R18 over the 275/70R18 (in the tire I prefer). I don't see any real world benefit to the 285 that justifies the extra ~$225 for a set of 5.
 
jLB said:
It wasn't so much about going wider. It was what was available at the time, that I was positive would fit without issue. They're about 14.5mm shorter and 10mm wider than the 275/70R18. If I had to replace them today, I'd probably go with the 275/70R18. The main reason being that there is a ~$45 per tire premium for the 285/65R18 over the 275/70R18 (in the tire I prefer). I don't see any real world benefit to the 285 that justifies the extra ~$225 for a set of 5.
Click to expand...
I'd be inclined to go with saving the $, 14.5mm not worth $225.

Is there a change in offset I should be concerned with?
Things like eating tires, need to redo alignment after swaps outs with stock or added pressure on wheel bearings?
 
As I said I have OEM 16s on one, and OEM 18s on the other. I haven't personally dabbled with the Tundra wheels (yet), but it would appear from these threads that the offset is the same:


You may want to verify (front) hub clearance for the Tundra wheels you find. You may need spacers depending on hub clearance. You may or may not get the hub caps to fit depending on model:

 
The 285/75/16's are the way to go. Lots of tire options and for all intents and purposes it is a 33" tire. At 32.8" you are talking your axle is .1" closer to the ground than a actual 33" tire. Your tire pressure will be a bigger factor in clearance than splitting hairs at this size. If you are going to be wheeling the truck tire damage is a concern and being able to find a replacement easily really makes sense.
Congrats on the rig.
 
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