Sorich's Humble Build Thread....

[sorich]

Nice. I replaced my original rear springs last year when I was baselining maintenance. I used OEM Lexus springs I got from the dealership and installed myself. It didn't make a massive difference in my pressures, but it did make a slight difference.

My tentative plan has been to add 30mm spacers in the rear in the short term as I start adding more weight, but I've begun to think to the future of how much weight I'll be adding in just the next 6 months, and am now wanting to put a plan in place for the future state. Weather that's new springs in the rear and new globes all around, or if it is a swap out of the AHC, I'm not sure at this point.

 

[PabloCruise]

Quick update....

Lastly, I ordered a set of sliders from BIOR. Long lead time though, so I may not get them on until the end of February.

Next up (besides the stupid window regulator) will be a CarPlay head unit. I’d love to keep the factory speakers and amp, but folks say there are grounding issues because of a lack of common ground between the stereo and chassis. May try it anyways, so if anyone has tips on how to keep the amp and do some grounding trickery, I’m all ears.

Awesome! I bet you will like your sliders from BIO!

I got a Pioneer head unit for Christmas and want to try the install as you do - keeping the amp and speakers. Some folks in here have done it. Hopefully we can team up and help each other!

 

[PabloCruise]

Nice. I replaced my original rear springs last year when I was baselining maintenance. I used OEM Lexus springs I got from the dealership and installed myself. It didn't make a massive difference in my pressures, but it did make a slight difference.

My tentative plan has been to add 30mm spacers in the rear in the short term as I start adding more weight, but I've begun to think to the future of how much weight I'll be adding in just the next 6 months, and am now wanting to put a plan in place for the future state. Weather that's new springs in the rear and new globes all around, or if it is a swap out of the AHC, I'm not sure at this point.

The King springs have been a good addition to our LX. Still need to get my TechStream working so I can check pressures...

 

[sorich]

The King springs have been a good addition to our LX. Still need to get my TechStream working so I can check pressures...

Nice - Are these the ones you went with? I've heard that they increase load bearing by 25%.

King Springs Coil Spring Ktrs-79 Fits Lexus LX Uzj100 1998-2008 | eBay

 

[BillZ260]

Yes! KTRS-79 are what I bought.

 

[PabloCruise]

Nice - Are these the ones you went with? I've heard that they increase load bearing by 25%.

King Springs Coil Spring Ktrs-79 Fits Lexus LX Uzj100 1998-2008 | eBay

Yes sir!

We're in! '99 LX - new to us!

 

[sorich]

Just got an update that my roof rack and sliders are almost ready.... Also, I ordered a rooftop tent from CVT as part of a group buy on here that should be in this week. Let's see if my AHC can handle the extra weight!

 

[MGarland]

Did you go with the tube or step sliders from BIOR? I'm looking forward to an email/call that mine are about done too!

 

[sorich]

Did you go with the tube or step sliders from BIOR? I'm looking forward to an email/call that mine are about done too!

Nice! I went with tube. I'm sure my kids would appreciate the steps, but I like the look of tubes better and like that there are less nooks and crannies for me to pressure wash off after a weekend in the desert/mountains/snow.

 

[MGarland]

Nice! I went with tube. I'm sure my kids would appreciate the steps, but I like the look of tubes better and like that there are less nooks and crannies for me to pressure wash off after a weekend in the desert/mountains/snow.

Looking forward to some pics when you get them mounted up.

 

[PabloCruise]

Just got an update that my roof rack and sliders are almost ready.... Also, I ordered a rooftop tent from CVT as part of a group buy on here that should be in this week. Let's see if my AHC can handle the extra weight!

Awesome! How is your AHC functioning now? All optimized? Did you ever get King springs?

 

[sorich]

Awesome! How is your AHC functioning now? All optimized? Did you ever get King springs?

Everything's working just fine for now, but showing it's age. Pressures are in spec and since I don't have weight, everything is functioning just fine, but I'm only getting 7-9 grads on the tank when I do the H-L test and the ride is a little bumpier than I think is "normal". So, with the added weight, I'm wondering how long I can last on these old accumulators. My expectation is that I'll get everything mounted up, be unhappy with pressures or performance of AHC, and order some new accumulators and those king springs.... All guesses for now, so I'll report back.

 

[BillZ260]

I think I'm in the same boat with AHC Sorich. Trying to milk it till it dies. I have notice that the front bushings and pistons/accumulators allow the upper control arm to touch the piston (Shock) at full droop. I believe this is causing me to tear Outer CV boots repeatedly.... Just something to watch out for.

 

[sorich]

Well I spent a few hours up in Windsor, CO with Mike at Bump It Offroad and got a set of his sliders and a new prototype roof rack installed. The new roof rack is made of steel brackets and braces, but extruded aluminum crossmembers with the t-slots that I’ve seen being used in a lot of the higher end racks these days. It took some trial and error to get the wind deflector cut and reinforced correctly, but the result is a rack that contributes to no meaningful increase in road/wind noise when cruising at 80mph. Impressive. Oh, and the sliders are beefy...

Here are some shots from the process.

Before:

After:

 

[sorich]

And a couple more.

 

[sorich]

Note that all but the last photo shows stainless washers under black screws holding in the wind deflector. The last photo shows the final version... Swapped out the washers with aluminum braces under the deflector and it helped both the noise and the overall look - Solid black across the front. I'm very happy with the end product!

 

[geanes]

That is a SHARP looking rack there! Didn't know Mike was doing these now. Very impressive.

 

[sorich]

That is a SHARP looking rack there! Didn't know Mike was doing these now. Very impressive.

Yeah! I'm really happy with it. I was the first 100 to get one, I believe.... Not on the site yet and some final tweaks to be made, but It's going to be a very compelling option at a very competitive price point, I'll tell ya...

 

[sorich]

RTT will go on this Thursday if all goes well. I'll be checking AHC pressures between now and then, and definitely after the tent is mounted as well.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

RTT will go on this Thursday if all goes well. I'll be checking AHC pressures between now and then, and definitely after the tent is mounted as well.

Think you could grab some pictures of the bottom of your rtt (maybe with a tape measure) and then how it mounts? I have been watching for pictures like these but haven't found much floating around. I am sure they mount up really simple, but, I am planning on building my own roofrack here pretty soon, and I need to see what sort of mounting options I need to incorporate