Build Ruby - '21 GX Build Thread

[weejub]

Hi all - New to the GX460, but had a GX470. Looking forward to building this truck up for offroad/camping/etc.

2021 - Purchased with 34K miles. Premium / Sepia Interior / Red Claret Mica Exterior

Bone stock w/ starter pics next to Reba.

 

[weejub]

List of things we have done:

1. Transmission Drain/Fill; Xfer Case Drain/Fill; Oil Change
2. Victory 3rd Row Seat Delete
3. Front Runner Slimline II Rack
4. OEM Transmission Cooler
5. CBI Bumper
6. CBI Skids
7. RCI Sliders
8. Moved tires/wheels over
9. Fairing for roof rack
10. 2" hitch

Next up:

1. Differentials Drain/Fill
2. Dual Battery w/ Rear Outlets for fridge etc

Current Pic:

 

[weejub]

First step: Transmission fluid and xfer case. Transmission was just under 3 quarts, but also came out over the refill indicator plug when I tested it. Put her up on 4 stands, leveled her and went through the steps. Fluid was surprisingly brown for 34K miles

 

[weejub]

Removed 3rd row seats and did the Victory base. Wife liked the covered look of the side panels. I had a bunch of leftover stuff from the Tacoma and the Tundras:

 

[weejub]

I have a little Odyssey PC680 battery that I think I might be able to slip into the gap between the fuse box and the brake master/stuff. Its older and only 16 AH to begin with - likely to barely keep everything going overnight - but its just sitting on a charger anyway. More to come on this.

 

[weejub]

Moving the TRD Pro wheels w/ 255/80R17 Falken Wildpeaks over from Reba to Ruby (GX) as soon as I get some trimming done.

 

[TXGX]

Where did you get the tan sticky foam?

 

[weejub]

Where did you get the tan sticky foam?

Amazon - Noico closed cell foam:

Amazon.com: Noico Red 150 mil 18 sqft Car Sound Insulation, Heat and Cool Liner, Self-Adhesive Closed Cell Deadening Material (PE Foam Sound Deadener) : Automotive

Buy Noico Red 150 mil 18 sqft Car Sound Insulation, Heat and Cool Liner, Self-Adhesive Closed Cell Deadening Material (PE Foam Sound Deadener): Insulation - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[ShumbaTX1999]

Wow, I'm envious man! I love that color. And you have two of them! That Tundra is really nice too. Welcome. I'm fairly new myself. Can't wait to see what it looks like down the road.

 

[weejub]

Wow, I'm envious man! I love that color. And you have two of them! That Tundra is really nice too. Welcome. I'm fairly new myself. Can't wait to see what it looks like down the road.

Thanks! Reba has to go eventually - we decided to move from the Tundra and a Rav4 to one vehicle = Ruby. But now, I keep coming up with reasons to need a truck, and would love to have a beater car just to put miles on for work and around town for short trips.

 

[weejub]

We found a good used Slimline II Frontrunner rack in Charleston for $750 -so are heading down there this weekend to buy/install it. Will take some pics after done.

 

[weejub]

A guy in Raleigh has a brand new CBI front bumper - I am considering buying it - it looks easy to install. I need to read some more build threads to see if folks like it or not.

 

[weejub]

Thoughts on the GX460 Transmission - let me know if I am thinking about this wrong.

1. Very strange to see my TFT on the Scangauge II go up in the 200 degree range with just normal around town driving
2. Definitely doing the transmission cooler :\
3. I miss the 750F transmission on the 470 and the 4th Gen 4Runner - being able to turn off overdrive, etc.
4. The shift points feel weird on the 460 - getting used to it
5. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: I can't just auto follow like in the CVT Rav4 - - the transmission does crazy stuff. On hills, I have already learned to either pass or just back off and cruise far enough back the auto follow doesn't engage.
6. DRCC: I think paying a premium (newer truck) for DRCC was a mistake, but Wife doesn't trust my driving so she wanted it LOL. The 2020 4Runner didn't seem as "weird" about this.

 

[xychromosome]

A guy in Raleigh has a brand new CBI front bumper - I am considering buying it - it looks easy to install. I need to read some more build threads to see if folks like it or not.

I think I aslo saw that post, he totalled his truck the week before the bumper arrived. Felt bad for him!
I suggest looking at the Victory blitz. I chose that over the CBI mainly due to winch accessibility and coverage underneath. You'll see lots of comparisons in your search.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

First step: Transmission fluid and xfer case. Transmission was just under 3 quarts, but also came out over the refill indicator plug when I tested it. Put her up on 4 stands, leveled her and went through the steps. Fluid was surprisingly brown for 34K miles

View attachment 3979776

That is much browner than I was going to expect with those low miles. My fluid at 140 something thousand was just a little darker than that.

 

[r2m]

List of things we have done:

1. Transmission Drain/Fill; Xfer Case Drain/Fill; Oil Change
2. Victory 3rd Row Seat Delete
3. Front Runner Slimline II Rack

Next up:

1. Differentials Drain/Fill
2. Wheels/Tires
3. Dual Battery w/ Rear Outlets for fridge etc
4. Front Bumper
5. OEM Transmission Cooler Install
6. Sliders
7. Prolly Dobinsons ~2" lift . . prefer to keep it as short as possible

Don't forget skid plates! A must have even for light off roading.
Also, if you're not doing a rear bumper, you'll probably need to trim the rear factory bumper up a wee bit for a better departure angle.

 

[NorthwoodsGX]

On the transmission fluid are you planning to do anything to get more fluid out? Just curious as I am about to do my second spill and fill along with another oil change (had the truck about 6 months) so I was wondering how other people like to handle it. Love the matching red trucks!

 

[weejub]

On the transmission fluid are you planning to do anything to get more fluid out? Just curious as I am about to do my second spill and fill along with another oil change (had the truck about 6 months) so I was wondering how other people like to handle it. Love the matching red trucks!

Thanks NWGX!

No - Since the car is pretty low miles, just plan to drain an fill forever.

Given I did this at 35K miles, the next time depends on the temps of the transmission and how hard I push it. I watch my trans temp like a hawk. If I find myself briefly up in the 220+ range and putting hard miles on it - then sooner vs later (maybe again around 50K). If I don't see this thing get above 200 the rest of my days, maybe wait till 100+K before I drain and fill again.

I'm not signing up to do a drain and fill any more than I feel I absolutely have to.

 

[llm]

is that 220f pan or tc?i used to routinely see 220 tc frequently but haven’t seen it above 200 since i pinned tstat and added aux cooler.

 

[weejub]

is that 220f pan or tc?i used to routinely see 220 tc frequently but haven’t seen it above 200 since i pinned tstat and added aux cooler.

Did the Alternative TFT that worked on Scangauge II. I believe this is the pan. I would need to figure out which one of the Alts I used - have it written down somewhere or can check the gauge: