Project Miramar - LX470 Build (5 Viewers)

[MobiusR]

Hi All,

After years of visiting the forum and wanting a project of my own, I picked up an LX from back home in Puerto Rico. Needs a lot of work but the fundamentals are there for a solid rig. Objective is to mechanically restore, perform a mild restoration/ build with the end goal to visit Alaska.

This is a long term project and I'm learning a lot on the way. Wanted to bring people along the journey and seek advice as I go. As a starting point - I picked up the rig in May of 2021 for $10K at 122K Miles. Picture below should tell you what you need to know from where we started:

 

[Aracobuilt]

Congrats on the project. Looks pretty clean. You say it needs a lot of work. What does it need?

 

[MobiusR]

Congrats on the project. Looks pretty clean. You say it needs a lot of work. What does it need?

Thank you! Its a lot of preventative maintenance mostly. My most ambitious goal is to restore the AHC. Will keep posting pictures shortly.

 

[pavell]

looks gangster with those wheels! congrats

 

[FxFormat]

Body looks clean, those wheels gotta go though. Did they spray paint the windows and windshield? dark as hell

 

[excessive]

i actually kindof dig the look with those wheels

 

[Exiled]

Those wheels/tires on the trail will lead to possible kidney displacement!

All kidding aside, I like your plan and the mileage on that truck...how's the interior and undercarriage?

 

[MobiusR]

** Disclaimer - I knew exactly what I was getting into and knew about this issue before buying the LX **

First things first -- I had to tackle an issue with the instrument cluster. See if you can pick it out below.



I had noticed the check engine light was covered when I bought the car. The prior owner had removed the AHC system (botched it - more on that later) and they didn't disconnect the computer properly, prompting the lights. I pulled the codes and got a drivers side pre-cat code.

Pulled the instrument cluster out and apart and found my issue. In the process of rebuilding I think I placed the needles slightly off - I'll get some help from Mud on this at a later date.



I replaced all the O2 sensors but it turns out in the end the drivers side cat was bad. After replacing, no more check engine light!

 

[MobiusR]

Body looks clean, those wheels gotta go though. Did they spray paint the windows and windshield? dark as hell

Limo tint. Not my favorite -- you couldn't drive it at night, though I appreciated the UV protection in a place like Puerto Rico.

Those wheels/tires on the trail will lead to possible kidney displacement!

All kidding aside, I like your plan and the mileage on that truck...how's the interior and undercarriage?

the ride was absolutely atrocious. Some trouble spots here or there but the interior and undercarriage are in great shape. The worst spot of the undercarriage is some rust caused by a leaky brake master cylinder (or spillage from a prior mechanic), more on that (and pictures!) later.