Meet Gloria. But then also, meet Gira

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MongooseGA

MongooseGA

Learns things the hard way
Supporting Vendor
SILVER Star
Joined
Jul 9, 2017
Threads
49
Messages
4,957
Location
Atlanta GA
Hey all,

I wanted to start this as a way to document my progress with my car and maybe share some experiences that might be helpful to someone.

I bought my 1999 LX470 last year from a good friend of mine (And avid FJ nut). He was the 2nd owner and the car was local to Virginia Beach its whole life. Super clean underside, not a spec of rust anywhere. I bought the truck with 218k. Since purchasing, I have replaced the radiator, pads and rotors, alternator, heater Ts, installed upgraded accumulators, and various other little things. My first 'mod' was the running board delete, which turned out to be a great idea later that same day. I have taken the truck to the north Georgia mountains and few times and up into Kentucky at Land Between the Lakes. Can't wait to get back there again soon.

Some pics of Gloria from right after my purchase to recent:

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Yeah so that last one was a bummer to take. Leaving Virginia Beach after a visit with my parents, I was juuust about to take the ramp to the highway to head home to ATL. Long story short, I ended up in a bad spot and slammed into a Ford Flex. Luckily, nobody was seriously harmed (including the pooch in my back seat) and the car took care of us. I sent a picture to my friend from the scene and told him to find me a new one ASAP.

Enter Gira:
 
The accident was on a Sunday and I checked out and bought the new one on Monday.

As I found her:

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The car is a 2000 and I purchased with 242k on the clock. Basically back where I started as I'd just rolled 250K on the Lexus on my way up to VA. The odo had 250,158 when they towed it away.

The PO was someone my FJ friend and I have known for years and maintained the car well while he had it. It came with newer Yokohama Geolanders, new hood struts, new serpentine belt and a few other little things. Timing will be due shortly. I got what I felt was a pretty good deal at $6K and took her home. Actually, I took it straight to the radio shop for a new head unit, new speakers, tint and a remote start. (for those interested, I went with 20% ceramic all around except 50% ceramic on the windshield).

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The interior was not as nice as the one from my LX, so I swapped them over. With the exception of the upper console trim (Thanks Nakamichi...) the LC has a full Lexus interior save for the fancy features.

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I was also able to do some dealing and found myself with a set of Rock Warriors already wrapped in 285/70/17 Terra Grapplers. Nice tire, but it's not what I'll ultimately want. I've been eyeing a set of Maxx ST. I'm also actively wanting to buy a set of RW center caps in good condition.

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First thing I did once home in GA was pull the running boards again. They look so much better as SUVs instead of vans. I've also replaced the heater Ts.

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Next up will be repairs, deferred maintenance, and upgrades. I will need to have timing done shortly, as well as VC gaskets, fluid baseline, new alternator (bearings are whining), and remedy a leaking manifold gasket. I'm wanting to splurge for a set of DT headers. Interested in buying a set if anyone has one they're not going to use. Currently waiting for a sale.

Future plans will be a mild lift and accompanying mods, new bushings all around, brakes and Slee brake lines, and bearings. I have just started looking around under the truck so I'm sure I'll dig up more to do. Longer terms objectives are Dissent front bumper, WKOR sliders, Dissent or 4X4L rear bumper, and drawers. My real goal is to be prepped to attend HIH next year.

I'll post any work or upgrades to the truck and probably post stupid questions while I search other threads for answers. Any questions are welcome and any suggestions are appreciated.
 
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I'm diggin the blue! I don't recall the white one having the boards removed. I need to think about pulling them, not sure how the little people I hang out with will feel about it though.
 
Hey Ron! They had come off a while ago. I never missed them at all.

Now the pooch on the other hand... I need to figure something out for him. He's not as spritely any longer.

How are you liking your new one?
 
As of today the alternator finally went kaput. No more bearing noise, and now the battery light is on. Multimeter tells me I'm only putting 11.5v at the battery with engine running.

I'd purchased a used alternator to have rebuilt locally and swap in when it was ready. I may need to expedite plans a bit and buy a parts store reman'd unit. Well poop.

Today I also bought the engine oil for the fluid base line I'll do this week, as well as the washers for the F/R dif and Xfer case plugs. I'll pick up the fluid in the next day or two.
 
Ha! Are you still sitting on your old LX?

The 'new' one should be in by Monday next week. In the interim, I'll likely grab a local one to swap in and sit on the freshly rebuilt spare for down the road. Just inconvenient timing as I'll have company in town this weekend.
 
New 220A alternator is on its way in this week and I'll hopefully get it in before the weekend.

I'm pricing around for timing belt service now. I just got a price quote from a well known shop here that seems waaaay higher than I've been seeing in research.

Included in the quote were a few extras (spark plugs, radiator hoses, coolant) but altogether the quote's for $2360 for the timing belt service. Does this seem realistic or exorbitant?

I also had a quote written up to furnish and install a set of DT headers and studs. Again, I'd been seeing things like $1000 labor to install, but the quote's at $2350.

All seems very high. Any thoughts? Suggestions for good reputable shops in the metro ATL area?

Edit, I've just called the local Lexus and Toyota stores. Funny enough, Lexus was cheaper at $1350 and Toyota is at $1600. I'm disappointed with the quote from the independent shop as I was looking forward to working with them. They've got a great following.
 
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Will check him out, thanks!

Edit, just spoke to Patrick. What a nice guy! He was emphatic that he wanted to get as much overlapping labor removed from his figures as possible. Sort of refreshing to talk to a tech like him. I'm planning to drop the rig off with him on Monday. Thanks for the referral!
 
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My new alternator arrived this afternoon. I was anxious so I played with it a little- I'm hearing an audible sound when I spin the pulley. I haven't had a new or rebuilt unit in my hand in about a year so I can't remember if this is normal or not. Anyone have input?


The sound isn't in sync for some reason, but pretend the sound you hear is in tune with my hand.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PezKkNJXK6p9xogn7
 
MongooseGA said:
Will check him out, thanks!

Edit, just spoke to Patrick. What a nice guy! He was emphatic that he wanted to get as much overlapping labor removed from his figures as possible. Sort of refreshing to talk to a tech like him. I'm planning to drop the rig off with him on Monday. Thanks for the referral!
Click to expand...

Do you mind sharing how much the quote? I'm not in ATL asking for a comparison.
 
He was at $1100 without dotting and crossing Is and Ts. He was well in range for what I felt was reasonable and after a visit to the shop today I feel confident in them. I'll be dropping it off on Sunday or Monday.

I also spoke with the seller of the alternator I bought. Even he said it was weird and not right. So... On to finding another one before Monday.
 
Thanks for the reply.
 
Small update. The LC is at the shop for timing/WP service. The owner of the shop has been great to deal with in that he will not charge additional labor at all for overlapping projects. What that means to me if free labor to install new spark plugs and VC gaskets while the engine bay is torn apart for the timing and header projects. Same thing for the new alternator as well. I also had him install the new brakes and Slee brake lines all around, and the lower ball joints and new wheel bearings. These were all projects I had intended to do myself, but for the interest of time before a big road trip to WV at the end of next week, I opted to have them do it all. I do feel a little guilty letting someone else do so much to my own rig. Normally I cover it all.

Oh, and I had some eye candy show up at my door on Saturday

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I'll have just enough time after getting the truck back before my road trip to do a baseline of the fluids and lubes. I have new washers on my work bench for the diff and Xfer case plugs, plus PS fluid, engine oil, and drive shaft lube.

Still looking for a nice set of center caps for my Rock Warriors.
 
Small update:

The truck is being buttoned back up from the timing and header install. It's been a little slow going however the shop owner is adamant that the tech is meticulous and takes time to do everything right. Kind of hard to complain about that.

In the mean time, I got these snaps of the bling under the hood:
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I also dropped off my set of new TRD center caps to be popped into the RWs before I take her away.

Here's to hoping I pick her up tomorrow. This WV road trip is going to go very differently in a rental Kia instead of the LC.
 
The truck was finished on Wednesday and we departed for a trip to WV on Thursday morning. She ran great and got good (relative term) mileage at a little over 16MPG. Better than I've ever gotten in a cruiser but I'm not sure if the cost of the DT headers was justified.

I'm likely going to pull the trigger on a lift kit this week. I've narrowed down to an Icon stage 1 or 2 set up or a Tough Dog set up. I've been trying to find threads or videos with comparisons but it doesn't seem to exist. Has anyone ridden in a rig with a system from each and have any opinion? 95% road driven, occasional towing of a 16' camper, gravel/dirt fire roads to trails and mountainous/forest trails with some rocks and maybe mud here and there. I'm very interested in the adjustable rear shocks of the Tough Dog. Not sure if I could justify the beefiest set up with the 53mm front shocks. Only looking for about 2" of lift and 34" tires. Thoughts?
 
I ended up purchasing a TD kit with the 53MM front and 45MM adjustable rear shocks. 3 week lead time, but I can't wait to get this stuff installed! I love suspension work, so this will be a fun project for me. Should have some pics in a few weeks!
 
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