Patch's LX450 Build Thread

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

cruiserpatch

Supporting Vendor
Joined
Nov 24, 2020
Threads
137
Messages
1,350
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
Website
www.cruiserpatch.com
Backstory
Scooped up a 1997 Lexus LX450 showing 277,845 miles. Previous owners purchased it in 2007 from a Police officer who bought it for his kids (they chose the BMW- their loss). The vehicle spent its life in south Georgia and to my knowledge has never left the state except for road trips.

Classifieds ad

IMG_4342.webp

Even the trees have grey hair in the south. Spanish moss will forever remind me of my grandfather, Dick Lee who may have passed on the Cruiser bug unknowingly.

granddaddy-cruiser-IMG_2545.webp
granddaddy-cruiser-IMG_2546.webp

I found out in 2024 that my Grandfather, "Granddaddy" we called him, owned a Land Cruiser. My mom had always referred to it as the "J**p" and told us about how she learned to drive on it. I heard stories about it growing up but it wasn't until I got into these that my mom put two and two together.

From Dave Stedman: "Overhead wipers, so pre-76. Round taillights and that sheet metal tire carrier 64-67 sporting the K-series axle housing (still in use today)."
Maybe some other can weigh in to find out exactly what year this truck was. Apparently he sold it to a South Carolinian man who intended to restore it. Would be so cool to see it one day.

Granddaddy died in 2019 while I was in college. He loved his children, his grandchildren, his machines and his home. The hole in all of our hearts will not be filled on this earth. I can't wait to see him again and talk about Land Cruisers- seems superficial when talking about cosmic mortality but I know he would love that.



Intentions
It's high time I found an 80 to prototype off of and begin to make some parts kits for. With the death of w*ts *nd there's a hole in the vendor community (that has been filled by a lot of others) but some support for the 80 has been lost.

As of December 13th, 2025 I do not intend to build this one for destroying on the trail but that will be its eventual roll(over). My wife wanted an upgrade from her 2002 2WD 4runner so I'm taking a stab at that request with this '97.

IMG_4347.webp
IMG_4346.webp

I've got my work cut out for me if this is ever going to be superior to a well kept 2002 4R.
 
Intentions (continued)

The head gasket on this 1FZ-FE blew out a few weeks ago thanks to a failed water pump.
I'm currently pricing out the rebuild and comparing it directly to a 2UZ-FE swap...

I have a running 1998 Lexus LX470 with 293,419 miles that's too far gone to restore (part-out here). Seems like I've got a head start on a 2UZ conversion if that ends up being the route to take...

IMG_3882.webp
IMG_3888.webp

1998 Lexus LX470- fireworks went off in the 3rd row. Interior is destroyed.

IMG_3885.webp
 
Can’t wait to see LX450 content. Your LX470 is some of the best content I’ve ever seen. Congrats!
I’m stoked to start it. There’s a chance this won’t work out financially at the moment but if that is the case I’m sure I’ll get back in a 450/FZJ80 at some point.

It’s a platform I’m eager to support and develop
 
I’m stoked to start it. There’s a chance this won’t work out financially at the moment but if that is the case I’m sure I’ll get back in a 450/FZJ80 at some point.

It’s a platform I’m eager to support and develop
Great to hear! I wish I met you and some of the guys at Windrock in October but we ended up being at the park on Tuesday, the day before your event. I burnt my cellphone in a fire and ended up fishing in various parts of TN the rest of the week.
 
Selfishly I’m just excited you have an 80 purely for the parts kits that will surely come from this. :popcorn:

Enjoy your new 80 and I’ll be watching this thread. I’ve always admired from afar your LX470 (especially when I had mine) and I do wish at some point we would’ve crossed paths when I lived in Georgia.

Cheers!
 
Might've gotten a little too excited...

Charissa doesn't like the truck. Objectively, I also have nowhere to work on it...80 Series might have to be a "one day, some day" upgrade...

The good news for all the 80 guys is that I've got some parts kits cooked up anyway and will be adding those to CruiserPatch.com sooner or later
 
Back
Top Bottom