New guy from St. Louis checking in

[shainerman]

Hey all. Figured id make a short intro. Been trolling for years while lusting over an 80 series. I come from a background of early yota pickups, into 4runner, while always hunting for a LC or LX. As of last night I can finally say I am an owner!!

Found locally after weeks of considering traveling to find the right 80. I was ready to give up my search and begin another 4runner build, but yesterday before leaving work I hopped on craigslist for one final bout and there it was. Listed 2 hours ago! I called, confirmed his address, and went with no questions over the phone.

1997 LX450, the fella I got it from was the 2nd owner, 230k on the clock, open diffs (bummer, but not a deal breaker) and extremely clean body. 4 pages of Lexus maint records, everything checked out, only hiccup was shakey mirrors and in need of shocks. He mustve liked me and we agreed on 3800 which I felt was VERY fair.

I only have one picture from this morning, but Ill be sure to post more. Thanks for a great and INFORMATIVE site. Im beyond stoked to see where this takes me...

 

[shainerman]

 

[greentruck]

Looks good

If it's on its original coils, they probably need changing as much as the shocks. You may know this having 4Runner experience, but a fresh set all around will make a world of difference. Of course, if you're going to build it, maybe something more extreme than stock height (OME861/862) is in it's future already?

Any plans yet or just the excitement?

No comment on the running boards. I'm sure you can find a trail to take them off easy enough.

Does it have 3rd row seats?

 

[shainerman]

It looks like at some point coils and shocks replaced, but they feel EXTRA soft. Ive been told the LX was pretty soft in the first place, but boy, this one is not fun merging on the highway. I would like to go to a bit of a lift spring, but for the time being I just need to avoid the body roll. Im going to take a break from building purely to crawl or wheel, and focus more on and overland build, as I have 3 kids and we already spend every weekend exploring rural Missouri. My goal as of now is to find a set of new LC coils and shocks to throw on here. Ill probably gain about an inch and a stiffer ride. Input on that would be great, haha.

Plenty of plans, but slow to start with Christmas coming and a new baby.

Running boards are coming off while the oil drains tonight during the change

It is 3rd row and looks to be never sat in. 3rd row made the 80 and easy sell for my wife haha.

 

[shainerman]

Few more pictures. Need to clean the interior up a bit. Normal wear on front seat bottoms as well.

I LOVE the look of the LX headlights!

 

[WarWagon]

Nice looking rig!

 

[greentruck]

It looks like at some point coils and shocks replaced, but they feel EXTRA soft. Ive been told the LX was pretty soft in the first place, but boy, this one is not fun merging on the highway. I would like to go to a bit of a lift spring, but for the time being I just need to avoid the body roll. Im going to take a break from building purely to crawl or wheel, and focus more on and overland build, as I have 3 kids and we already spend every weekend exploring rural Missouri. My goal as of now is to find a set of new LC coils and shocks to throw on here. Ill probably gain about an inch and a stiffer ride. Input on that would be great, haha.

You'd need to check with some of the MUD parts vendors on cost of OEM new coils, but I'd almost bet that a set of the OME 861/862 is actually cheaper than Toyota's will be, if they are still available. And they will give you about an extra inch, plus a heck of a lot better ride and handling. Like a whole new truck.

On shocks, for the money it's hard to beat the OEM Tokicos from Toyota which work fine with the OME coils, too, as they only need to be stock length. Price has gone up, but some said recently they're ~$140/set with the usual MUD discount. That should wring out the wimpy Lexus juice and get it feeling more like a truck -- or better, a LandCruiser.

It is 3rd row and looks to be never sat in. 3rd row made the 80 and easy sell for my wife haha.

Sounds like they'll get some use. I was actually fishing again to see If I could get rid of mine but sounds like you're good! Thought I had them sold a few months back to someone from St. Louis, but they may have found a set closer. It's not a long drive up here and we're right in the middle of StL, Chicago and Indianapolis, so someone will eventually take them.

Looks like a sweet ride. You'll be feeling the 80 magic for sure once those boards are gone. I suspect we can expect a pic?

 

[VWEeplusa]

Very nice. Not many from St Louis on here. I have an 92 80 (92,000 orig mi + tasteful mods) and an 87 HJ60 (frame off resto). I like to think mine are as nice as they come in STL so I'm eager to see how you build. Congrats.

 

[ewillis]

Looks good

No comment on the running boards. I'm sure you can find a trail to take them off easy enough.

Trying to find a trail to convince the running boards to come off is not as easy as one might think...mine are still intact!

 

[voorland80]

Congrats! Beautiful find!
X2 on what @greentruck suggests regarding springs and shocks.

 

[shainerman]

Thanks for the feedback!

@greentruck I agree on the coils. After spending a lot of time in it yesterday, I feel the coils are equally as bad as the shocks. Just going to pull the trigger and do it all at once. OME here I come!

Got the running boards off, fixed the mirror wobbles, oil change, pcv, and a few other quick fixes it needed. Hauled all my musical gear to a winery yesterday and snapped a picture of it with the boards off:

@VWEeplusa Ill keep an eye out for you! If i see you expect to have your brain picked haha. Great looking 80

 

[greentruck]

The truck looks like it's ready for action without the boards.

I can see ewillis's point they're not that easy to rub off -- was just kidding about that, didn't mean it so literally -- but I gotta wonder if they sprung back after his pic was taken. I'm pretty cautious about getting too eager to test the breakover angle, whether boards or not. Sliders exist for a reason. BTDT. When I first got my FJ55 all fresh and eager to go, I managed to put a big dent in the rocker panel right under the driver's door within the first month
That taught me a lesson. Must've happened to others enough that sliders were invented...there was no such thing AFAIK in 1977 unless you made it yourself.

The OME 861/862 will do you right and are a very simple and uncomplicated install so long as you have decent jackstands to prop up these hefties.

Slee has an excellent illustrated write-up to help guide you. It shows OME coils with lift, but yours will be simpler because it is just the coils and the extra effort associated with caster correction, brake line extensions, etc that come with raising up above stock height can be ignored. The key is juicing everything with PBBlaster or other rust cutter several times or more in the week before the install. The tricky fasteners are those with the rear shocks, but juicing them will usually avoid any coarse unpleasantness emitting from your lips.
Slee - OME Suspension Installation (Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser)

 

[Miescha]

Welcome from a fellow St. Louis cruiser-head. Truck looks sharp.

Let me know if you ever get in a pinch and need a hand turning a wrench!

 

[Wayne]

Your Lexie looks real nice, just keep your wallet out, the addiction has begun.