Builds My LX450 Build (and new Costa Fab bumper) (1 Viewer)

[BltByKrmn]

I've been meaning to start this thread for a while, but now that I picked up my new bumper I'm actually getting to it.

Early in 2015 I grew tired of the 2004 BMW 330ci I was driving and wanted to get back into a Toyota truck. While my wife daily drives our 2014 4Runner, I really missed my 2007 FJC which I had before the BMW.

After searching off and on over the years for a 80 and a failed attempt at buying a friend's MINT LX470, I finally found a FJ I was happy with. Car #20 was to appropriately be a 20 year old 1996 Lexus LX450, had it shipped up from the South and it became my daily driver in March 2015.

The day the 330 went and the FZJ became the daily:

I immediately purchased the center differential lock button and the 285 Duratracs I had on the FJ went on soon after.

Next step was suspension, went with this in July 2015:

OME 2860 Coil Spring Front
OME 2851 Coil Spring Rear
Fox 2.0 Performance Series Shock Front 985-24-070
Fox 2.0 Performance Series Shock Rear 985-24-073

What a difference from the 20 year old 250k stock stuff.

Realized the OME steering stabilizer that was sent to me was the wrong one and it was missing the hardware, so as a stopgap I used a generic Monroe damper. Has been fine for the last 6 months, no issues so far.

 

[BltByKrmn]

Here's some crappy pics of me actually getting it on the beach which is the real reason I own it.

 

[BltByKrmn]

This brings us to last week, picked up my Costa Fab bumper:

It's currently coated in KBS Rust Seal but in the very near future I will be rolling on black Monstaliner. Rich did a great job on the bumper, very happy with it.

This is the light bar I went with: New Brights Hybrid 22" Curved 120W Cree LED Offroad Light Bar Amazon.com: New Brights Hybrid 22" Inch Curved 120W Cree LED Offroad Light Bar - Other Sizes Available - 40 x 3W Cree LEDs - 9600LM - Wiring Harness/Relay/Switch Box Included - Flood/Spot Combo Beam: Automotive

Don't mind the salty spray all over the front of the truck, I assure you that it's not shot paint.

 

[BltByKrmn]

People are the ****ing worst, my truck was either keyed from tip to tail or someone drove way too close and scratched the **** out of it.

So today I ripped all the flares and cladding off in preparation for the Monstaliner once it gets warmer.

While the 100 or so holes suck, I like it much better already. The tires now look appropriately sized and are no longer dwarfed by the flares.

 

[97 greenmonster]

Looks good, any chance you still have flares and cladding?

 

[BltByKrmn]

Looks good, any chance you still have flares and cladding?

I do but just about every tab is broken off. The right side must have been taken off at some point, those tabs were already epoxied previously.

 

[97 greenmonster]

Ok thanks, I had a friend hit wall on highway in ice about a month ago and he's looking for cladding and flares. Figured I'd ask.

 

[BltByKrmn]

While the prep was a huge pain in the ass, I'm definitely happy with it.

The aluminum tape to cover the holes worked pretty well but not great. You can definitely see the outline for some of the holes, but most people won't notice.

1 gallon was exactly the amount I needed for the sides and rear plus some patch spots where the roof rack was. It was not enough to do the roof or front bumper as I had originally planned.

I decided to have the front bumper sprayed by a pro, there's no way I could get a consistent finish with full coverage via roller.

 

[skyline223]

Looks really sharp man!

 

[BltByKrmn]

Looks really sharp man!

Thanks!

 

[dogfishlake]

The deflare and Monstaliner look sweet, nice 80

 

[BltByKrmn]

The deflare and Monstaliner look sweet, nice 80

Thanks!

 

[BltByKrmn]

Next on my list is to trim the rear bumper flares, that extra metal definitely has to go.

 

[BltByKrmn]

Ditched the trailer hitch and bumper remnants.

 

[RDC76]

Can't wait to see it with the bumper back on. I'm debating on texture coating my truck as well.

 

[BltByKrmn]

Good news is my bumper has a coat of paint.

Bad news is the shop I asked to spray it didn't actually spray it since they didn't want the monstaliner to screw up their paint gun. They decided to roll it on with a normal wall paint roller and it came out terrible. I'm now out the $50 for the paint and have to roll it myself.

 

[BltByKrmn]

 

[BltByKrmn]

Removed the OEM dash speakers completely and replaced the 4 door speakers.

While the 4 6.5" Pioneers aren't all that great, it's obviously infinitely better than blown OEM:

 

[Walletclan]

Nice write up and the rig looks great!

 

[LoopersLX]

Looking good! I Also have a 97 LX450 and one of the many items on my to do is removing the roof rack. You remove yours yourself? Any advice? My current thought is to get them off myself then take to a body shop to get the holes covered/finished. Any insight is appreciated.