Builds Saved from scrap - '97 LX450 build thread (2 Viewers)

[jkl72-40]

Sweet build!!! Where did you get those lights?? I did that with tractor light back in the day!

 

[roflbox]

Finished most of the interior cleaning today. Removed the stuck-on jute carpet backing with a wire brush then scrubbed and washed the entire floor with a carpet extractor. Amazed at the nastiness that came off, especially considering the carpet had already been trashed. Looked like a lot of soda or some other brown, sweet-smelling liquid was all over the floorboards. I was actually pretty impressed with how well the extractor worked - accurate enough to spray down desired areas and avoid electrical, etc. Had a few challenges under and around the shifter because of the tight quarters, but managed to remove the shift knob, raise the selector housing and get most of the crud off.

Tools of the trade - butyl cellosolve based degreaser and an enzyme product to break down any remaining organic residue in the crevices.
View attachment 2370079

Finished results looked pretty good. Definitely smells a lot better. Decided not to pull the rear heater and deal with the coolant lines. Managed to get around it well enough and extract all of the fossilized cheerios.
View attachment 2370098

Removed some baggage while I had the rear panels off. Unused jack and holder, car phone receiver, 3rd row belts. Saving the bracket off the receiver - Looks like it might be useful to mount something else on behind the rear panel. Added some pipe insulation to the connectors I removed from the reciever so they ddon't rattle around inside the rear quarter.
View attachment 2370100

Cleaned the seatbelts with the extractor which worked really well. Mold was removed in one pass. Had to hit the back belts a few extra times - I think they'd been the victim of the same food spills as the floor. Extraction fluid did a good job. Keeping the extraction shoe pointed towards the tensioners kept them dry without having to bag. I'd originally considered pressure washing, but was worried I'd mess the tensioners up and was concerned the webbing may not stand up well to my washer. Belts are hanging to dry now. Hoping there's no residue - If there is I'l extract again with clean water.
View attachment 2370103

Noticed the window seals were jacked up on my rear sliders while I was cleaning the interior. Looks like the outer weather seal wasn't over the panel. Both windows were the same on the bottom horizontals and part of the way up on the ends. Assuming this would have been a contributing factor to the moisture in the cab. Pulled the seals back over the body lip, blew out the drains and lubed the rubber. Blew out the sunroof drains while I was at it since a few Members have mentioned the drains being problematic - Both looked completely clear, but cleaned for good measure.
View attachment 2370115

Ordering some Second Skin Heat Wave Pro to replace the factory jute and ordering a new carpet tonight. I'd thought about removing the factory noise control and installing Damplifier Pro, but I really, really don't want to remove the factory butyl (or what ever it is). I figure if noise bothers me after the install I'll look at some Luxury Liner in the rear which won't be too hard to add.

Looking forward to moving on to some mechanicals - All of this interior stuff never feels very productive.

Do you remember what degreaser / enzymatic products you used for the cleaning?

 

[Feldrian]

Do you remember what degreaser / enzymatic products you used for the cleaning?

Most general purpose degreasers will work. The more commercial products will typically contain butyl cellosolve. I used Diversey's Stench and Stain digester for the enzymatic action.

 

[Feldrian]

Sweet build!!! Where did you get those lights?? I did that with tractor light back in the day!

They're Mictuning rock lights off Amazon. Amazon product ASIN B08PQC2T17

 

[6806goats]

Excellent build and thread. Wish I was closer to Whidbey these days, stationed there for many years and took the ship out of Everett a time or two. Home is far away these days, especially working in Kuwait. I've been thinking about this 8 speed idea, glad to see that you finished the project. Thought about the 10 speed but that's even more coin. Great job!

 

[6806goats]

Double post, slow network and can't delete this.

 

[Feldrian]

Excellent build and thread. Wish I was closer to Whidbey these days, stationed there for many years and took the ship out of Everett a time or two. Home is far away these days, especially working in Kuwait. I've been thinking about this 8 speed idea, glad to see that you finished the project. Thought about the 10 speed but that's even more coin. Great job!

The 10 speed fits as well (same adapter, apparently). The 8 speed was a much better deal with a crate motor though since it was a package "connect and cruise" deal.

 

[MrMikeyG]

Hey. Did you look into any pipe strap products for your rock lights on the sliders? There are a lot of galavanized options. I only ask, because I've had both good and bad luck with zip ties in that type of situation. the rubberized stainless ones might not be available in a big enough size though.

 

[Feldrian]

Ultimately I consider the rock lights consumable - something will take them out at some point no matter how diligent I am with mounting. With the current mounts they're simple to replace. Agreed though, If I'd thought about it and been willing to go to the store I could have installed a strap.

Feel free to laugh at me shamelessly in the future when I write some pissy post complaining about how my zip ties broke and I'd wished I hadn't been so cheap/ lazy.

 

[FMC80]

M, have you wheeled this beast yet or are you still basking in your innovative mounting solution for your rock lights still?

 

[Feldrian]

I've been outrunning snow and tornados driving from Seattle to Arkansas for the last couple of weeks. My carpet install was delayed to this upcoming week - good to go after that.

My chains for the 37s arrived too, so I can go and bash it through the snow as soon as it's back from the shop.

Also, my rock light mounts are f-ing great Stop being a hater.

 

[FMC80]

I've been outrunning snow and tornados driving from Seattle to Arkansas for the last couple of weeks. My carpet install was delayed to this upcoming week - good to go after that.

My chains for the 37s arrived too, so I can go and bash it through the snow as soon as it's back from the shop.

Also, my rock light mounts are f-ing great Stop being a hater.

Right on man. I’m looking forward to seeing this thing in still photographic action. A vid would be better. Wheeling together would be ultimate but that’s still a ways off. When I see you, I’m going to ignore the entire truck and only comment on your sweet rock light mounting solution.

 

[Feldrian]

Right on man. I’m looking forward to seeing this thing in still photographic action. A vid would be better. Wheeling together would be ultimate but that’s still a ways off. When I see you, I’m going to ignore the entire truck and only comment on your sweet rock light mounting solution.

I fully expect the rock lights to be the only thing anyone ever notices because I did such a great job installing them.

 

[Feldrian]

Auto interior shop just delayed me again, this time until mid January. Going to have to find a different shop at this point. Been waiting since the start of November.

If I can find some co-conspirators I'll take the truck out this weekend just so @FMC80 doesn't think I built a garage queen.

 

[Dusten]

Auto interior shop just delayed me again, this time until mid January. Going to have to find a different shop at this point. Been waiting since the start of November.

If I can find some co-conspirators I'll take the truck out this weekend just so @FMC80 doesn't think I built a garage queen.

I'll go... Wait nm. Mines broken.

 

[Feldrian]

I'll go... Wait nm. Mines broken.

You have 4 days to fix it!

 

[Dusten]

You have 4 days to fix it!

Tell that to kings transmission lol

 

[Feldrian]

Comedy of errors this weekend.

Rock lights -
Finally hooked the rock lights up and go to test them ... Switch pro flashes and turns off ... Uh-oh, wiring error. Of course I have everything in heat shrink connectors covered by additional heat shrink across the whole splice for all of the lights on the truck and didn't bother checking as I was going because I wasn't going to make a mistake. Yeah, right. After a lot of swearing and cutting heat shrink off I find a reversed connection fixed it and the lights work.

Washer upgrade -
Dropped in my new OEM washer pump and diverter valve since the old one was anemic. Everything worked and I have pressure again ... yay! But I couldn't leave well enough alone. I remember the instructions that came with the Wit's End kit mentioned the sprays were adjustable, so of course I tried to adjust them with a needle. First one moved just fine. Second one needle snapped and blocked the jet with no way to be removed. Guess I'll need a new nozzle.

Tire chains -
Decided to test fit my sexy new tire chains. I get everything wrapped on the tire and put the T bar into the lock to tighten the chains up and manage to bend the lock rather than tighten the chains. Probably means I shouldn't have bought the XL T bar ... but hey, when there's a bigger better tool for $10 more, of course I'm going to buy the bigger better one. Looks like I can pound the lock out in a vice ... good thing I found out in the driveway.

Cooling system -
While I was swearing at the tire chains I received a nasty shower from my overflow bottle overflowing. I'd decided to leave the truck running to let it get up to operating temp rather than just a quick in and out of the garage. Looks like the electric fans aren't kicking in. Ran the garden hose through the rad to cool everything down and pulled the truck back in to the garage. I'll figure that one out tomorrow.

I'm headed to the couch with a beer. I'm going to try not to screw that up.

 

[TYM4FUN]

Comedy of errors this weekend.

Rock lights -
Finally hooked the rock lights up and go to test them ... Switch pro flashes and turns off ... Uh-oh, wiring error. Of course I have everything in heat shrink connectors covered by additional heat shrink across the whole splice for all of the lights on the truck and didn't bother checking as I was going because I wasn't going to make a mistake. Yeah, right. After a lot of swearing and cutting heat shrink off I find a reversed connection fixed it and the lights work.

Washer upgrade -
Dropped in my new OEM washer pump and diverter valve since the old one was anemic. Everything worked and I have pressure again ... yay! But I couldn't leave well enough alone. I remember the instructions that came with the Wit's End kit mentioned the sprays were adjustable, so of course I tried to adjust them with a needle. First one moved just fine. Second one needle snapped and blocked the jet with no way to be removed. Guess I'll need a new nozzle.

Tire chains -
Decided to test fit my sexy new tire chains. I get everything wrapped on the tire and put the T bar into the lock to tighten the chains up and manage to bend the lock rather than tighten the chains. Probably means I shouldn't have bought the XL T bar ... but hey, when there's a bigger better tool for $10 more, of course I'm going to buy the bigger better one. Looks like I can pound the lock out in a vice ... good thing I found out in the driveway.

Cooling system -
While I was swearing at the tire chains I received a nasty shower from my overflow bottle overflowing. I'd decided to leave the truck running to let it get up to operating temp rather than just a quick in and out of the garage. Looks like the electric fans aren't kicking in. Ran the garden hose through the rad to cool everything down and pulled the truck back in to the garage. I'll figure that one out tomorrow.

I'm headed to the couch with a beer. I'm going to try not to screw that up.

Maybe a strong magnet on the washer nozzle?

 

[Dusten]

Maybe a strong magnet on the washer nozzle?

They lodge in there pretty tight. I think removing the nozzle and a can of air or brake clean on the other side might blow it out.

I recently cleaned and aimed mine. Glad I didnt have the same result.