Builds Saved from scrap - '97 LX450 build thread (1 Viewer)

[Dusten]

Hmm, studded tires on an 8 second car???

Wut?

 

[APhelps]

StockIinteriors.com

Looks like a good set - Not in at the moment though due to a succession of delays from my installer. I've been driving around with just the sound deadening on the floor, which is super classy.

I installed the set from rockauto/stockinteriors, and I've got to say just drop it off at an installer. It took me far too long and I made far too many errors. Cut the drivers/passengers areas too much and the passenger side wheel well which fortunately i just ordered new OEM Oak carpet for those areas at a cost of about ~800...

The tailgate piece does install wonderfully. I'd strongly suggest against ordering the mass backing and just doing dynamat/etc. since all the trim was not designed around the mass backing.

I probably spent like 10 hours or so doing the install only to end up throwing a good bit of it away (well maybe I'll repurpose it for carpeting the top of my drawers)

TL: DR - Order the non mass backing and take it to an upholstery shop.

Love the rig, hell of a job man.

 

[Feldrian]

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah - I'm sending it to an installer. Unfortunately the shop I booked at for a late November install has had to delay me twice - Covid and holidays. The truck is due to go in this month. I'm pretty good with my hands, but figured i'd screw this up and it'd be something I'd always notice. Sounds like it'll be worth the money.

I have Second Skin (dynamat) down already and I have heat insulation being installed under the carpet when it's installed, which is similar to the factory jute but with foil backing and a better R value.

Fingers crosses I don't get delayed again. I'm getting tired of driving around with old bath towels under weathertech floor mats.

 

[MrMikeyG]

@Dusten sorry, that was a bit of attempted humor from left field regarding your statement of having more track day car buddies than wheeling type. Hense the studded tires comment.
Fingers crossed for @Feldrian. The interior and exterior of his rig do not "match" quite yet.

 

[Dusten]

@Dusten sorry, that was a bit of attempted humor from left field regarding your statement of having more track day car buddies than wheeling type. Hense the studded tires comment.
Fingers crossed for @Feldrian. The interior and exterior of his rig do not "match" quite yet.

Ah. Except it doesn't usually snow here more than once a year. So I was lost.

 

[Feldrian]

Trip up Green mountain. Decent day - Not too much slush, no one broke and the LX worked well. Going to adjust my tune so the trans holds gear in "L" setting, since I was shifting in to 3rd and 4th on descent in low range.

Found a Suburban that's been on the mountain a while.

Thankfully none of us slid in to the 6' deep fire pit hole on the side of the trail. Makes you realize just how much snow we're actually driving on.

 

[Dusten]

Jesus

 

[COYS]

I stuck with 37x12.50s to reduce the problems with rub. I have air bumps up front on a 1" drop which I drops my effective bump about 2.5" from stock. Planning to articulate everything once I've changed out front springs and see if I need to modify.

Just jacked the truck. No contact at neutral suspension travel on the passenger, but contact on the driver by about an inch on the shoulder lugs. Passenger would contact on articulation with the steering >3/4 lock. Looking at the piuctures, not sure I actually have a bunch of room to come forwards, especially since the axle will travel forward on compression.

Tire contact isn't all the way across the rear inner fender, so only the inner needs to be trimmed. No need to mess with the flares, outer or sliders.
View attachment 2625546
View attachment 2625547

I just recently swapped 17x9 -25 offset wheels for a 17x9 -38 set. I am rubbing exactly in the same area as yours driver side running 37x12.5s when turning left at near full lock. The extra .5” poke is making the difference.

Have any of you actually tried to hammer or bend that mud flap body area for that extra bit of clearance? I think all I need is a centimeter or so. If it’s difficult to do, I’ll just go back to the -25s.

Many thanks.

 

[Feldrian]

I just recently swapped 17x9 -25 offset wheels for a 17x9 -38 set. I am rubbing exactly in the same area as yours driver side running 37x12.5s when turning left at near full lock. The extra .5” poke is making the difference.

Have any of you actually tried to hammer or bend that mud flap body area for that extra bit of clearance? I think all I need is a centimeter or so. If it’s difficult to do, I’ll just go back to the -25s.

Many thanks.

I actually thought I'd posted pictures of my trim in this thread, but i guess i didn't. It was a pretty simple process - Detach the inner fender from it's support, cut the support back, paint the bare metal and then bend the inner fender back. Takes maybe 45 min a side.

 

[COYS]

I actually thought I'd posted pictures of my trim in this thread, but i guess i didn't. It was a pretty simple process - Detach the inner fender from it's support, cut the support back, paint the bare metal and then bend the inner fender back. Takes maybe 45 min a side.

Thanks for the notes. Helped me decide to go back to the -25s.

 

[Feldrian]

Cleaned up a number of small issues that came out of my shakedown runs:

1. Gas pedal is now blocked out off the firewall. Previously had some interference with the floor covering which was stopping me from getting WOT.
2. Installed a transmission dip stick
3. Adjusted the transmission tune to allow maximum torque and not trigger limp mode when I was exceeding the stock (stupidly low) limit.
4. Adjusted the transmission tune to hold gears in "L" so the truck doesn't run away down hill in low range.
5. Reconfigured T-case shifter linkage for better engagement
6. Adjusted Dakota Digital box to display accurate speed

Headed out again this weekend to see what else breaks =)

 

[on the rocks]

No pictures so we can see the goods? Especially underskirt!

 

[Feldrian]

I'll have video by Sunday!

 

[Feldrian]

Unfortunately we had to postpone the trip - One of the rigs I was riding with was heavily vandalized the night before so we decided to reschedule.

 

[Wrencher93]

Unfortunately we had to postpone the trip - One of the rigs I was riding with was heavily vandalized the night before so we decided to reschedule.

By "heavily vandalized" I assume you mean something really awful like they stole the engine and left a cheby in it instead....oh wait, that's yours

 

[Feldrian]

By "heavily vandalized" I assume you mean something really awful like they stole the engine and left a cheby in it instead....oh wait, that's yours

Ouch. I'll have to stick my head out the window when i pass 100 up hill into a headwind to dry my tears.

 

[Dusten]

Ouch. I'll have to stick my head out the window when i pass 100 up hill into a headwind to dry my tears.

And no one will know you're crying over the sound of all the power

 

[Wrencher93]

Ouch. I'll have to stick my head out the window when i pass 100 up hill into a headwind to dry my tears.

Haha fair enough! But who will dry your wallets tears after your burn all that rocket fuel at $4+ / gal?

 

[Dusten]

Haha fair enough! But who will dry your wallets tears after your burn all that rocket fuel at $4+ / gal?

I bet that lt1 gets better mileage than a 1fz...

 

[Wrencher93]

I bet that lt1 gets better mileage than a 1fz...

Not going 100 it doesn't...but yes, the ol' 1FZ does drink like a fish. I wish I didn't know that by experience...