Builds "Rednexus" - 2007 GX470 Build and Fabrication Thread (2 Viewers)

[Rednexus]

Is there a situation that is better with full disablement of ATRAC/VSC? Or just hooning around? (No judgement here; gotta have fun)

With street tire pressures, ice, deep snow, and mud. When aired down, the only situation I've encountered where it might be preferable to use the button is driving on uphill on talus/scree-covered trails where ATRAC limits throttle and can kill momentum.

90% of my use of it is for hooning. I was hooning just the other day and realized that I may never grow out of it if I'm still hooning at 40.....

 

[DRANGED]

having a Subaru history: there are times I'd prefer to drive the GX in AWD w/o throttle nannies on snow vs locked center (which disables FOR traction nannies, particularly throttle reduction)...
but in GX what I love is you can drive low range in AWD, so that's nice for descending the mountain in AWD w/o riding the brakes.

 

[Rednexus]

Took a break from house stuff today (we are over the hump on a number of things) and engaged in my #1 hobby - even surpassing my Lexus - hiking! Went to the tallest (not the highest) mountain in MO and stretched my legs for a bit. Just shy of 1,000 ft of climbing in a bit over a mile.

One nice thing about have a "real" 4x4 like a GX is the ability to pull off and park safely on just about any stretch of two-lane letter highway to catch the one sliver of public, non-posted land that gives you legal access to your off-trail destination. Dunno if my old Forester or even our Outback cold have made it back up this. The GX didn't even spin a tire.

 

[Gxnewbie]

I took today as a wheeling day and checked out a trail in the Mark Twain National Forest that I hadn't been down in almost a decade. It starts as a 12-mile long, dead-end gravel road through the woods before necks down to a very tight side-by-side trail and ending at a river. I brought a pair of loppers and a M18 sawzall and cut quite a few branches, saplings, and small trees to avoid body damage and pinstripes. I made it as far as I was willing to go solo without a winch or lockers. The pictures don't do this trail justice. It's around a 30% slope and the rocks are super-loose. I'll return this fall with a buddy who has a WJ with a winch and we'll try to do the whole thing.
View attachment 3096976
View attachment 3096977
View attachment 3096978
View attachment 3096979

Beautiful gx and sweet trIls

 

[Rednexus]

Christmas in January! The OEM trussed 8.2 housing arrived this afternoon (Toyota 42110-60A91). It had a Castaway-in-reverse journey from Japan to Memphis via FedEx air freight, but luckily it didn't end up in the ocean. And the shipping cost more than the part, but it was only around $150 more than getting a non-trussed new housing from my local Toyota dealer (who said there were no trussed housings available in the US Toyota parts stock). This was ordered the first week of January from Megazip. They must have just produced a new batch, as they are now back in stock on Parsouq, and actually a bit cheaper with UAE shipping than I paid from Japan (earlier this month Partsouq had them as "0 in stock" with no ETA).

I'm kind of curious on if anyone knows of one of these actually being installed in a USDM GX470, FJ Cruiser, or even a 4Runner before. There are some forum posts acknowledging it's existence, I have not found a documented install. Perhaps this will be the only GX470 in the USA with this housing in it. Regardless, it's barely more expensive than a junkyard 8.2, so this seems to be the way to go if you are upgrading from an 8".

 

[TLar25]

Christmas in January! The OEM trussed 8.2 housing arrived this afternoon (Toyota 42110-60A91). It had a Castaway-in-reverse journey from Japan to Memphis via FedEx air freight, but luckily it didn't end up in the ocean. And the shipping cost more than the part, but it was only around $150 more than getting a non-trussed new housing from my local Toyota dealer (who said there were no trussed housings available in the US Toyota parts stock). This was ordered the first week of January from Megazip. They must have just produced a new batch, as they are now back in stock on Parsouq, and actually a bit cheaper with UAE shipping than I paid from Japan (earlier this month Partsouq had them as "0 in stock" with no ETA).

I'm kind of curious on if anyone knows of one of these actually being installed in a USDM GX470, FJ Cruiser, or even a 4Runner before. There are some forum posts acknowledging it's existence, I have not found a documented install. Perhaps this will be the only GX470 in the USA with this housing in it. Regardless, it's barely more expensive than a junkyard 8.2, so this seems to be the way to go if you are upgrading from an 8".
View attachment 3828699
View attachment 3828700

Didn't know this existed! Sweet! What's the OEM application?

 

[Rednexus]

Didn't know this existed! Sweet! What's the OEM application?

Mexico-spec FJ Cruiser, and some Gulf, Australian, and JDM-spec Prado 150s. They also make a OEM elocker version, but I'll be using a Harrop elocker so I got the non-locker version.

I'm thinking the truss will really limit housing flex and make this the "ultimate" 8.2. I'm not wanting to mess the cost that comes with a Dana 60 or 9.5, so this seemed like a nice option that's still stronger than a USDM 8.2. I'm also not ever planning on running more than 35s.

 

[Rednexus]

Few more pics of the housing and truss.

 

[Rednexus]

Parts are continuing to trickle in. Got a 2023 T4R takeoff sway bar with links for $125 on eBay. It fits the AUDM housing perfectly. I'll extend the links and make them adjustable like I did with with the cheap Moog links I have now.

I figured this route would be a lot easier than modifying the new mounts on the new housing to fit my narrower 120 bar.

 

[DRANGED]

Sir!

This is so bBadAz!!

 

[Rednexus]

Here is why we should all install a nanny-off buttons in our rigs .

I've never had a 4x4/AWD vehicle do donuts like a GX will! Must be the combination of SWB plus a V8.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

Here is why we should all install a nanny-off buttons in our rigs .
View attachment 3842594
I've never had a 4x4/AWD vehicle do donuts like a GX will! Must be the combination of SWB plus a V8.

With my ABS and traction control disabled with my warning light issue I'm able to do spectacular donuts in the snow.

 

[Rednexus]

So the Lenz snorkel finally came in. I actually did not find the quality to be that bad - considering it is handmade and the price was OK.

BUT, there is absolutely no way I'm putting this on my GX. After taking the measuring tape to it. the cross-sectional area is about 25% less than the engine's air intake tube in the neck up the A-pillar (where it is about 2.5" square) and a whopping 40" less where the outside tube goes into the fender (where it is about 1.5" thick and 4" wide). With the inside of the tube being rough fiberglass, I don't see how this isn't going to restrict air to my 2UZ-FE. I've spent too much time on headers/exhaust/tune/etc to choke the engine. So, this will be going on eBay for a US-buyer to get at cost without needing to order from Israel.

 

[Rednexus]

As to what I'm going to get, the Dobinsons/Safari/Ironman snorkels are just too hideous, and the head is going to get whacked on trees around here. So, that's a non-starter.

The only options really left are the 4" stainless pipe snorkels from Australia, like this one:

Toyota Prado - 120 Series - Mid Entry Snorkel - Seamless Powder Coated – Fabwitz Industries

STAINLESS STEEL SNORKEL - 4" Style: Mid Entry Weld Type: Seamless Finish: Powder Coated (black only) End Cap Shape: Round End OR Low Cut End To suit both Petrol and Diesel variants *Trimming is required within the guard - please contact us prior to purchase for further information*...

fabwitz.com.au

This should have almost no restriction in flow (4" tubing vs. 3.25" OEM intake tubing) and there is no head to get ripped off by trees/vines/etc.

 

[OG Zuninja]

There's an American manufacturer if you're interested in a stainless snorkel.

TWM Fab Lexus GX 470 Stainless Steel Mid Entry Snorkel

Upgrade your vehicle with the TWM Fabrication Mid-Entry Snorkel, designed for durability, performance, and style. Built with premium 304 stainless steel, this snorkel is precision-crafted to enhance your off-road adventures. Key Features • 4-inch 304 Stainless Steel: Rugged and...

twmfabrication.com

 

[Rednexus]

The Lenz is currently listed on eBay in case anyone wants it. I'm selling it at a slight loss and it's cheaper than getting one from Lenz (and it won't take 4 months to arrive!)

Lenzdesign Travel2 2 Snorkel - Lexus GX470 - New and Primed - USA STOCK! | eBay

These snorkels are handmade in Israel and typically require 4 months to arrive to the USA. You will need to have it painted to match your rig.

www.ebay.com

 

[Sixto Lezcano]

You could get a titanium snorkel from Brockett.

GX470 Titanium Snorkel - Brockett Built

Lexus GX 470 4-Inch Titanium Snorkel Kit with Water Diverter Take your Lexus GX 470 to the next level with our 4-Inch Titanium Snorkel Kit, designed for off-road durability and style. Handmade in the USA, TIG welded and backpurged for superior strength, this kit is crafted from CP1-grade...

brockettbuilt.com

 

[Rednexus]

You could get a titanium snorkel from Brockett.

GX470 Titanium Snorkel - Brockett Built

Lexus GX 470 4-Inch Titanium Snorkel Kit with Water Diverter Take your Lexus GX 470 to the next level with our 4-Inch Titanium Snorkel Kit, designed for off-road durability and style. Handmade in the USA, TIG welded and backpurged for superior strength, this kit is crafted from CP1-grade...

brockettbuilt.com

It's certainly an option depending on shipping from Oz. I do like the design of the down under snorkels a bit better, however. If those don't pan out I may see if Brockett can build me one out of 304SS with a few design tweaks.

 

[Rednexus]

Looks like a Fabwitz snorkel is around $1K USD shipped to my door, with shipping being around $400 of that (if the 0.63 AUD/USD ratio and import tax situation holds). I pinged Brockett and he indicated a custom 304SS snorkel (with some of the design features that the Fabwitz has) would be north of the $1200 for his Ti snorkel. I'm not a fan of the Ti snorkel routing, pie cuts, or color, so I'll probably end up going with one of the Aussie snorkels (but not for at least a few months as my pile of GX parts-to-install is getting bigger and bigger).

Building one myself could be on the table as a successfully built quite a bit of my exhaust using 304SS and flux-core stainless welding wire, but 4" SS tubing is $35/foot right now so it's not cost effective, and my welds aren't pretty enough to prominently display on the A-pillar either.

 

[LRDV8R]

I was Mr. "no snorkel" when I first bought the GX, after seeing where the intake was I was a changed man. I looked at both metal and plastic and settled on the ironman since I couldn't source a safari. I have grown to like it. It provides some paint protection as well